Sam Pittman explains where Arkansas must improve after horrid first quarter vs. Auburn

If Arkansas gained any momentum following the win against Florida, it’s already gone. In the blink of an eye on Saturday, Auburn was up 21-0 in Fayetteville and was rolling. Sam Pittman was unsurprisingly not too happy with his team heading into the second quarter.

Auburn really excelled on the offensive end but Pittman highlighted how poor his offense performed in the first quarter. Arkansas punted on all three days, spanning over just nine drives. Pittman wants to block better up front and then when in space, his players need to make a couple of more plays.

“We’re not breaking any tackles,” Pittman said during a mid-game interview with SEC Network. “We’re not blocking them particularly well. We got to figure out our empty protection because we’re not blocking that well. For whatever reason, we’re not tackling, we’re not blocking.”

The only positive for Arkansas in the first quarter was an interception from Dwight McGlothern. While the offense still stalled, it was good enough to put the Hogs in field goal range and cut the deficit to 21-3.

Pittman believes more of those types of plays are needed. Not just so Arkansas can get back into the game on the scoreboard but from a mental standpoint. It would be easy for Arkansas to feel defeated but momentum-changing plays can keep them engaged.

“We got to get them fired up,” Pittman said. “Noodie getting that pick helped us right there. We just need to capitalize on offense.”

Arkansas, Sam Pittman fighting to save 2023 season

Following six straight losses, things were beginning to look pretty bleak for Arkansas this season. Nothing was going their way and questions were being asked about Pittman. After getting the program back to a good spot, the fear was regression was not just coming but already happening.

But after a tough start against Florida, there was a thought that Arkansas could find a way to get things back on the right track. With just six losses, a bowl game was still a possibility, even if finding a way to close the year out with four years in a row seemed daunting.

Auburn came out fighting and now, Pittman’s squad must do the same. Coming back from a 21-3 deficit is going to be difficult, especially with how the offense is playing through one quarter. Any kind of loss and the season is all but over for Arkansas.