Depth chart notes
• There is an OR listed at left tackle this week. Myron Cunningham and Colton Jackson, who Chad Morris said was injured in the loss to Auburn, are the top two options at the position.
• No starter is listed at quarterback - same as last week.
Arkansas coach Chad Morris
• We struggled to move the ball consistently, but we knew from a defensive front standpoint that they were going to be as good as we've seen. We knew we'd have to try to get the ball on the edge. They were able to get pressure with four and play good coverage on the back end.
• Good opportunity ahead of us this week. We'll get to work, prepare and be ready.
• Ben Hicks was banged up a little bit this week, so we'll see how that goes in a day or two. Hicks was favoring his left shoulder throughout the loss to Auburn. We felt like Hicks had a greater grasp of the offense last week, so we ran with him over Nick Starkel.
• Not many deficiencies on that Alabama football team. Their staff will do a great job preparing Mac Jones at quarterback, and they have a great cast around him. The speed they have and their ability to run the football is effective. Mac, they'll have a plan for him. He was playing behind a really good quarterback, too.
• Injuries: Mataio Soli will be back this week. We'll re-evaluate Colton Jackson and Hicks (shoulder) today. I expect them to be at practice today. Jackson's injury is to his back.
• Alabama is young defensively at certain spots and talented in the secondary. They stand out and are very experienced. They have a great core on that side of the ball. We can't turn the ball over and have to try to be as balanced as we can.
• We've been trying to get more guys on the field on defense as much as we possibly can. We played a lot of guys in the first half last week. We knew it would be a physical game. These guys have played a lot of physical football over the last couple of weeks and will again this weekend. We'll keep bringing guys along. We'd like to redshirt guys who aren't getting significant time.
• Cunningham played better against Auburn and was a little more consistent at left tackle. Kirby Adcock came in when Austin Capps (concussion protocol) went down. When you look at what he was going up against, he did a good job considering all the circumstances.
• Ricky Stromberg played every snap last week, and when you look at what he went through ... we've got to get better on the offensive line. That's kind of been the theme. We strive to be a balanced run-pass football team. It's not about making excuses. It's about guys getting out there, executing and making plays and coaches putting them in positions to succeed.
• On Alabama's long winning streak against unranked opponents: Everyone gives them their best, and to see them week in and week out continue to play at a high level and win is impressive. We strive to have our program like that in the future. Most teams in the country do, too.
• Christian Harris at linebacker, he's dynamic and all over the field. It's impressive to watch them defensively. They definitely are young, but they're playing extremely well.
• On QBs: I didn't want to put guys in a situation like that Saturday. I think there's a time to do that. We've got to do a good job of developing packages with them. We'll continue to work Treylon Burks back there, too.
• Gabe Richardson wore No. 5 in honor of Dorian Gerald on Saturday. Morris said the two have a great friendship. Richardson approached Morris before the game with the idea was on board.
• Cheyenne O'Grady will be fine, Morris said. He was hit in the throat during the Auburn game.
• Alabama receivers have great speed and are electric with the ball in their hands.
• Burks and Trey Knox have done a good job making catches in space. Burks' circus catch near midfield on Saturday was impressive and one we had to go back and see how he did it. Knox can contort his body and really catch the ball. They're going to have incredible careers. We have to keep growing them and get them the ball more.
• Jordan Jones: He was out there running and we thought we'd have him back a couple of weeks ago, but it just hasn't worked out to this point.
• Difference in QBs: We've seen what Nick brings to the table. He has size, a big arm and quick release. Ben has familiarity with the offense. He can get us in the right checks and get us in the right protections. That's what took Ben over the top to start the year. Ben threw some really good balls the other night. He was tough, played with grit and plays with a lot of confidence. At this stage, we're trying to be consistent as we can, run the football and get the RPOs working like we want.
Offensive coordinator Joe Craddock
• Ben did what he could at times facing Auburn's pressure. He would step up in the pocket and deliver some throws. Hicks told Craddock after the game he felt like he'd been hit by a car. I thought he played about as well as he could.
• We've got to get open quicker and do a better job blocking at other positions, not just offensive line. It's the whole unit. We try to do a lot of things in games to help us get the ball off, and we have to do better there. You need all units to be strong to be a good football team.
• We're going to try a couple of things on the offensive line. We're going to look at a couple of different guys at the left guard spot.
• We did some pretty good things schematically against Alabama last year and kept them off balance. We'll take some of that for this year as well. They have some youth on that side of the ball. They have different personnel and may be better in the back end this season.
• Calling games with Hicks and Starkel: Both guys have their set strengths and weaknesses. One of them has been in the system longer than the other, so he's able to do a little more. Ben was able to understand what was coming and slid protection the right way. Each one has their set deals and you have to play off their strengths.
• Going back to Alabama, his home state: It feels good. I'll have a lot of people I know there, and we're staying in Birmingham. I grew up about 15 minutes from where we're staying. It'll be good to see some people I haven't seen in a while.
• Cunningham's length and quickness showed up. That left tackle spot is his natural position. Moving Myron back there, we saw what he's all about. I wouldn't say he had a great game, but he had a good game in there.
• Alabama's D: They've obviously got really good players and done a good job recruiting. They're playing two freshmen at linebacker. Christian Harris flies around to the ball. Any freshman they are playing is going to be a good player. They have a lot of speed at safety, and up front, Raekwon Davis is a load in the middle. It'll be a challenge.
• We kind of hung our hat on those back-shoulder throws and shots down the field at Clemson. Hicks gave Knox a great ball and he made a good play on the sideline, opening his hips and snatching it out of the air. That play can be really hard to stop. Treylon made an unbelievable catch, too. I wish I could say I coached him to do that. The lights aren't too big for Burks.
Defensive coordinator John Chavis
• The outcome is really disappointing. We had moments. I'm really proud of our unit. We gave Auburn momentum early and we didn't fit a speed sweep. If we had a linebacker make the play there, it's a 2-4 yard gain, but we didn't and they go down and score. Then, for about 35-40 minutes we played about as well as we could. If we line up and we do what we're supposed to and they beat us, they beat us.
• Mac Jones: They won't completely change their scheme. There's not enough tape to know exactly what that is, but he's at Alabama and he's the backup because he's a good player. They may lean on the run more. I don't know. We have to prepare for it all. Even though they lost a good player, there's a quality guy right there behind him.
• Talent-wise, last year, their offense was the best I've ever been on the field with. Why not use your weapons? They've been successful that way and airing it out gives the fans something to cheer about. Fans want you to throw the ball and score all those touchdowns. That's just what they do.
• More on Jones: He's got a good arm. He can move around a little bit and get away from some pressures. He's the next guy up at Alabama, and he's a very fine football player.
• Eric Gregory: We needed to get him some work. It was good to see him play. I've never been in a situation where I've given up on trying to win a ball game, but we had to get Eric in there, and Andrew Parker. I've said before Gregory wasn't going to get much better without playing in a game.
• Micahh Smith, who saw extended time at Nickel: He was in the spots he needed to be. He was part of that 35-40 minutes when we played good football and that's important.
• Alabama winning 88 straight against unranked teams: That speaks highly of the head coach and his prep. He runs a quality program, and there's no doubt they have great athletes. They listen to him. He is the leader of that football team. He's done a great job.
• Tide receivers running slants with good success: They also have the double move and they can dart up the field. It puts a lot of pressure on you. We have to be ready for that.