Ryan Silverfield isn’t against shaking things up.
It’s kind of a like if a new dinner menu helps, he’s open to it. Considering this season it’s one of the few comparisons that can be made.
“I’m not going to bury my head in the sand and say no, this is the way we always do things. Because believe me, if there’s something, if it’s changing the pasta bar the night before, I’ll do whatever,” Silverfield told us on Monday. “If it’s putting on suits and ties, which I’m sure everybody’s, my players if they hear this are probably rolling their eyes.”
The Arkansas coach doesn’t really think pasta is the problem, though. Apparently everybody is struggling for something these days.
He’d rather see the Razorbacks quit shooting themselves in the foot and stack good drives together.
That’s the job this week as the Hogs (2-4, 0-3 SEC) travel to Nashville. They’ll face Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-3 SEC) on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
A third quarter worth copying
Arkansas gave Silverfield something to build on last weekend.
The Razorbacks lost 24-17 to Tennessee. Still, the offense moved the ball for 288 yards against one of the SEC’s better defenses.
It’s not something that’s going to blow up the scoreboard. As much as they’ve struggled to move the ball and score this year, though, it’s enough of a positive to claim something.
The best stretch came after halftime. The Hogs gained 133 yards on the ground, and all but 20 of them came in the third quarter.
Silverfield wants to see that version a lot more.
“Really establishing the run as we saw in the third quarter, it gives our offense an opportunity to look like it’s clicking with all cylinders,” he said.
Now the Hogs need four quarters of it, and they need it on the road.
Penalties keep wiping out good plays
Some of the damage against Tennessee came from yellow flags.
Silverfield listed a few plays that went the wrong way, including runs by junior running back Braylen Russell and sophomore running back Cam Settles.
“A lot of our issues on offense are those self-inflicted wounds. You look at [Braylen Russell’s] long run and we get called for holding. Another opportunity we get called for a chop block. Where [Cam Settles] slips on the grass and they get called for a high low on that. It’s just unique things.”
Holding, a chop block and a slip on the grass. That’s not a scouting report; that’s a blooper reel.
Consistency kept coming up Monday.
“But on the road just staying ahead of it and finding ways to be efficient. That’s the whole deal with us offensively. Can you be consistent?”
He added that the plan doesn’t change when the team gets on a plane.
“That’s one of the things we’ve got to get better at,” Silverfield said. “Obviously we know going into Vanderbilt, another road game. Playing very good defenses, certainly, in every game, but on the road I don’t think it’s any different, the mindset and the approach. I think it’s how do we get into sync, how do we get into rhythm?”
Road trips have been rough
Away from home, the offense has stalled.
Two trips out of state have produced a combined 17 points.
Arkansas fell 43-10 at Utah in Week 2. Three weeks later, it lost 34-7 at Texas A&M.
Those two games averaged 259.5 yards. Passing accounts for 177.5 of that, and the run game adds only 82.
Saturday won’t help the body clock either. It’s the third straight night game where Arkansas is the visitor.
The coach joked that he’d take an early kickoff if anyone’s offering.
“The scheduling, I’d love to go play one of those 11 a.m. away games, but just again, continue to find ways to execute.”
Practice hasn’t been the issue
Silverfield doesn’t see a problem with how his team prepares.
He likes what he’s seeing Monday through Friday.
So far, those good weeks haven’t shown up on the scoreboard.
“But the focus level’s been there, the mindset’s been there. Obviously some interesting environments,” he said.
He’s hoping the steps forward against Tennessee make the trip to Nashville.
“I think as we continue to look at hopefully the progression that we’re making as a team shows up, and we need to show up on the road, and ultimately find a way.”
Vanderbilt’s defense has given up points
Vanderbilt ranks 117th in the country in scoring defense at 29.5 points per game.
Teams are running for 139.5 yards a game against the Commodores, which sits 64th. They’re also throwing for 214, good for 80th.
Overall, Vanderbilt gives up 353.5 yards per game. That’s 72nd.
Steve Gregory is in his second season calling the defense.
Gregory knows head coach Clark Lea’s system well. Back in 2024, he coached Vanderbilt’s secondary and held the associate defensive coordinator title.
The Tennessee setback was the Razorbacks’ 14th straight SEC loss. A win in Nashville would finally end that streak.
We’ll find out Saturday night if that third quarter was a start or a one-off.
