Auburn vs Arkansas: 3 Keys to Victory

Sep 14, 2013; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks cornerback Will Hines (9) is congratulated by safety Alan Turner (27) after an interception by Hines during the second quarter against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

2. Create Turnovers: Arkansas has a new defensive coordinator in 2014, and Robb Smith wants to be more aggressive on defense than his predecessor was last season. Smith prefers a similar 4-3 scheme that the Hogs utilized last year, but will bring more pressure from zone blitzes and bump and run coverage in the secondary.

In theory, Smith’s philosophy should help the Razorbacks improve from an SEC worst minus-9 turnover ratio. Getting pressure on the quarterback leads to more sacks, as well as more fumbles and interceptions. Additionally, playing receivers tighter makes it more difficult to complete passes, leading to more incompletions and more interceptions.

But, of course, no system is perfect. An aggressive defense may cause the offense to turn the ball over more, but it can also lead to big plays and touchdowns if the defense fails to execute their assignments. For Arkansas to win, the defense will need to be sound and create some big plays of its own.