Still 3-3, but UA is closer

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ quick rebound to a competitive place among its peers in the SEC West has taken some analysts by surprise, yet the Razorbacks hit the halfway point of their football season this week with the same 3-3 record they held at this point last year.

Arkansas’ style points might be trending way up from last season, but they are still a .500 team.

“We know how close we are, we know how far we’ve come,” quarterback Brandon Allen said. “It’s just about putting it all together for a game.”

Second-year Coach Bret Bielema has instilled his “10” mentality, a mantra that stresses winning the next practice, the next block, the next play, the next game. That philosophy has had to soothe the team’s rough moments after excruciating losses to No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 7 Alabama.

“We’re down about what we’ve lost, but we’re also confident that we know we should have won the games,” tight end AJ Derby said. “We had our chances to win. We know we’re [a few] plays away from being 5-1, but we can’t hang our hats on that.

“We’re a 3-3 team, and we need to start getting some wins to get up there and be bowl eligible.”

Bielema said the team is on track toward being what he expects of it, but he can’t say how far along in the process they are.

“I can tell you that we’re well in line with what I thought we could accomplish this year,” he said. “I knew we’d be a much-improved football team. I didn’t know how many wins it would equate to.

“We left 11 points on the field against Alabama, and we left probably 14 points on the field against A&M,

and both of those were very winnable ball games. … The bottom line is we’ve got to do things better in the end, especially in the fourth quarter, to turn those losses.” Arkansas is averaging 459.5 total yards and 39.3 points per game, which is up 68.4 yards and 13.3 points per game through 6 games last season. The Hogs’ run game, which ranks 10th nationally with an average of 278.7 yards per game this season, is up 62 yards per game from this point last season. The passing game is up 5.5 yards per game at 180.8 yards per game. Defensively, the Razorbacks are allowing 373.8 yards per game, up 34.3 from its average at the halfway point last year, although last year’s team had played only two SEC games through its first six games. Opponents are averaging 23.8 points per game, nearly identical to the 23.5 points allowed per game at this stage last year. Teams are averaging 127.2 rushing yards per game against the Razorbacks, up 2.7 yards from last year, and opponents’ average of 246.7 passing yards per game is up 31 yards per game from a year ago. How the Razorbacks grade out at the halfway point of the season:

QUARTERBACK

Brandon Allen’s strides in maturity, leadership, poise and performance have been among the most noteworthy advances for the team. Allen’s scrambling has been a plus. He had a streak of 116 consecutive passes without an interception end last week. Allen is completing 57.7 percent of his passes (79 of 137) for 997 yards with 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. His 139.96 efficiency rating is 47th in the country and 10th in the SEC. GRADE B-minus

RUNNING BACKS

The deepest position on the team had been rolling until last week. Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins were combining to average more than 200 yards per game before the Hogs’ letdown against Alabama. A thigh injury to Korliss Marshall and the self-inflicted wound of a first-quarter suspension for Collins put a lot on Williams against the Tide. Collins averages 105.7 yards per game and ranks fourth in the SEC, while Williams (94.8) is sixth. GRADE A-minus

RECEIVERS

There has been improvement, but the Razorbacks must improve their speed and 1-on-1 play-making ability. Keon Hatcher (16 catches, 289 yards, 2 touchdowns) has rebounded nicely from an egregious drop at Auburn. A healthy Demetrius Wilson (8105) is important. The Hogs struggled to get open against Alabama’s seven-man zone late last week. The tight end group’s blocking hasn’t been impressive, but AJ Derby (12183, 3), Hunter Henry (11-129, 1) and Jeremy Sprinkle (4-45) add a great element as receivers. GRADE C

LINE

Arkansas had allowed one sack through five games but four against Alabama last week. Fourth- quarter mistakes, a few crucial penalties and a couple of fourth-and-1 stonings have been detrimental over the past two games, and there has been little subbing outside of Frank Ragnow for Mitch Smothers at center since Sebastian Tretola won a starting job in the third game. This unit — led by guard Denver Kirkland and tackles Brey Cook and Dan Skipper — seemed on the brink of being dominant until the Alabama front worked them last week. GRADE B

DEFENSIVE LINE

The sack stats — 10 for 78 yards — aren’t inspiring but much of that is due to facing teams with short drops and quick releases. End Trey Flowers has improved his stock and was excellent against Alabama, as was tackle Darius Philon. The rise of Taiwan Johnson at the slant nose spot has been one of the team’s top success stories, although he’s cooled the past couple of games. Knee injuries to ends Deatrich Wise and Brandon Lewis have had an impact on what could be a standout sophomore trio with JaMichael Winston. GRADE B

LINEBACKERS

The unit has made massive strides with senior Martrell Spaight among the top outside linebackers in the league. Sophomore Brooks Ellis had settled in at middle linebacker before his knee bruise last week. Old hands Braylon Mitchell and Daunte Carr might get more play in the coming weeks, and Josh Williams has a big opening for more time. Youngsters Randy Ramsey, Dwayne Eugene and Khalia Hackett have flashed, and they show promise of being a standout class. GRADE C-plus

SECONDARY

From the Auburn opener to last week’s showing against Alabama, this unit has made a huge move. Shoddy tackling turned sure against the Tide. Corner Henre Toliver ranks among the top freshman defenders in the league and country, and his absence hurt the Hogs against Texas A&M. Tevin Mitchel has recovered from injury to shine in the nickel role. Safeties Alan Turner and Rohan Gaines suffered at Auburn but have made big strides. Jared Collins’ physical tackling against Alabama was impressive. Carroll Washington’s interception against the Aggies could have been a game sealer. GRADE C-minus

SPECIAL TEAMS

Sam Irwin- Hill’s punting average is slightly down, but his thrill factor has been high, thanks to a fake punt that went for a 51-yard touchdown against Texas A&M. Place-kicking has suffered an even bigger drop than expected after Zach Hocker completed his eligibility last season. The kickoff and punt return men, led by Korliss Marshall and D.J. Dean, put up fat numbers in nonconference play but have been mostly neutralized in SEC games. The coverage units have played fairly well outside of the opening kick against Texas A&M. GRADE C

COACHING

Bret Bielema and his staff did a commendable job of instilling the belief they could win SEC games in the off season, and the Hogs appear to be on the brink of a breakthrough. Dominant nonconference victories against Texas Tech and Northern Illinois displayed eye- opening dominance. Keeping the Razorbacks focused after heart-stomping losses to highly rated SEC West teams is this group’s current assignment. GRADE A-minus