The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Contrasting Offenses Clash In Fayetteville Saturday
10/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- UAB's football team ranks third in Conference USA in both scoring offense and total offense, averaging 37.6 points per game to go along with 477.9 yards per contest. On Saturday, the Blazers will face a non-traditional offense by Conference USA standards when UAB meets Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The Razorbacks use a methodical, run-heavy attack to rank near the top of the Southeastern Conference in nearly every rushing category. Arkansas ranks second in the SEC in rushing touchdowns with 23 on the year, fourth in the league in rushing offense with 256.9 yards per game and second in time of possession, averaging just over 33 minutes of possession time per game.
In a conference that features high-powered, explosive offensive attacks week in and week out, the UAB defense has adjusted to prepare for Arkansas' run game as the squad worked out in full pads for close to two hours on Tuesday.
"I think we have seen some really good run teams, but I'm not sure we have seen one like this," UAB head coach Bill Clark said. "They can still throw the ball, but they have a three-headed monster at running back and all three are great."
Clark adds that teams cannot expect the Razorbacks to be an exclusively run-only team. Over the last two games, the Razorbacks have proved that as junior quarterback Brandon Allen has thrown for over 200 yards in matchups against Alabama and Georgia -- the first time in his career he has gone over 200 yards in consecutive games.
"They get in these really tight formations where it is run after run and then they sneak guys out," Clark said. "They sneak guys out of the backfield and then cross guys from this side of the formation all the way to the deep third on the other side of the field. It is a really well-designed plan that they have."
Saturday's contest marks the fourth non-conference game for the Razorbacks this season and the first-ever meeting between the two programs on the football field. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on the SEC Network with Dave Neal (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Laura Rutledge (sideline) on the call. Fans can listen to the game on the Blazer IMG Sports Network with David Crane (play-by-play), Steve Irvine (analyst) and Sam Miller (sideline) calling the action locally on WUHT-FM 107.7.
For more information on the UAB football team, follow the Blazers on Twitter @UAB_Football. For more on all Blazer teams, follow @UABAthletics.
