A head coach’s job is never quite over during the season. While players got a few days rest during the bye week, Head Coach Hugh Freeze had more work to do. After working with his team and self-scouting the offense and defense to find ways to improve, he hit the recruiting trail to visit various prospects the Rebels are interested in adding to their 2017 recruiting class. He also had time to preview the Rebels’ next opponent, the Arkansas Razorbacks, in their game against Alabama. Though the Razorbacks lost to the Crimson Tide 49-30, Freeze said the game made him feel like Arkansas was one of the top teams in the nation.
Coach Hugh Freeze speaks at Monday’s press conference about this week’s game against Arkansas. (Photo by Taylor Cook)
“This Arkansas team is an extremely gritty football team, and I think they get that of course from their coaches and also from their quarterback,” Freeze said. “This guy (quarterback Austin Allen) is a heck of a competitor. He stands in there and takes hit after hit and continues to throw accurate balls and put up almost 500 yards on an Alabama defense, which is very, very good. Up there, it is going to be a difficult challenge. They have been a tough matchup for us the past two years.”
“We have a lot of work to do to make sure our plans are efficient,” Freeze continued. “We are asking our young men to do something they can do so that they have the best chance to win on the road in a tough environment Saturday night in Fayetteville.”
The Rebels faced Austin Allen’s brother, Brandon Allen, in each of the last three seasons. Allen threw for 442 yards and six touchdowns in last year’s matchup. Freeze saw plenty of similarities between the siblings.
“I feel like I am watching the same guy,” Freeze said. “I think they are extremely accurate, extremely tough, have a great understanding of defenses. The ball goes to the right spot. It’s accurate. Just a really good player.”
Arkansas Head Coach Bret Bielema utilizes a lot of power running sets in his offense but has also been effective through the air against the Landshark defense.
“Like I said earlier in years past, the ability of their tight ends and quarterbacks to be really balanced, and you commit people you felt like you had to commit to stop the run, then those guys winning in space on you and a lot of one on ones, whether it be the receivers or their tight ends,” Freeze said. “They have done a really nice job staying balanced with that. It has given us a lot of problems.”
Arkansas’s defense has had some struggles this season, but Freeze praised Bielema and Defensive Coordinator Robb Smith and said he felt that the defense would be improved this week.
“They have given up some rush yards, but there are some good teams that can do that,” Freeze said. “Typically, they’ve been a lot like us. Just bend and don’t break. You try to hold teams to field goals and banking on your offense scoring some touchdowns. They’ve been very good at that.”
