Green must reduce errors and avoid mental lapses moving forward.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green faced some challenges during Saturday’s game against UAB. The first-year transfer completed 11 of 26 passes for 161 yards and threw an interception in a 37-27 win.
If a team or leader is going to struggle, it’s best if it happens against a weaker opponent. Green struggled with his accuracy early on, not completing his first pass until 14:20 into the first half.
“It was very unusual,” coach Sam Pittman said after the win. “It’s something that can be fixed, and [Green] can do it. Usually, when that happens, it’s because players are trying too hard.
“It might also be related to playing at home for the first time. This was his first game in this stadium with fans. He may have been pushing too much, trying to impress, and playing a bit beyond his usual performance, which is already very good.
“He just had an off night. [Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino] talked to him about his reads and everything, but when he did make plays, it was often when he extended the play by moving around.”
Green’s lack of focus on snaps nearly cost Arkansas the chance to score and extend their lead by 10 points late in the game. During that fourth-quarter drive deep in UAB territory, two bobbled snaps resulted in key moments for Arkansas. One led to a 16-yard first down by Andrew Armstrong at the 36-yard line, while the other resulted in a five-yard loss on a fumble that was counted as a sack, just before a nine-yard touchdown.
For Arkansas to succeed against Auburn, they’ll need to minimize turnovers, mental mistakes, and build confidence. SEC teams are more likely to capitalize on opponents’ errors than Group of Five or FCS programs.
With the road trip to Auburn approaching, both teams have already shown vulnerabilities in non-conference play. History suggests Arkansas often performs better on the road against SEC opponents, but they’ll need a flawless performance from Green to come away with a win at The Plains. If Green’s passing game doesn’t improve soon, opponents will focus on neutralizing his running ability as well.
