Defense set to battle Commodores

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas football team continued drills Wednesday inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium leading up to Saturday’s 6 p.m. Homecoming game against Vanderbilt. UA, ranked 19th in the AP poll, is 5-2 (2-2, SEC), and the Commodores hold a 2-5 (1-3, SEC) record. Arkansas has held its 2010 opponents to 31-of-99 (.313) on third-down conversions, which is the best percentage in the Southeastern Conference and the 13th in the NCAA.

Defensive coordinator and secondary coach Willy Robinson outlined the Razorback defense’s keys in limiting the Vanderbilt offense on Saturday.

"We feel like they’re going to run the ball a little bit more," Coach Robinson said. "They’ll have their play-action passes, which have been really good for them. We feel comfortable with what we feel like they’re going to do."

Coach Robinson explained that the UA defensive line would work together in winning individual matchups on the football field.

"It’s those one-on-one battles," Coach Robinson said. "Those one-on-one battles go on every snap up front. Those guys take 70-80 snaps up there. They are competing their rear ends off on contact, getting off blocks and reading things."

The Arkansas-Vanderbilt game will air on FSN. For more information on Razorback football, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.