Talley earns starting job vs. Auburn

Fred Talley has come all the way back and then some from a broken hand.
Talley, a sophomore from Longview, Texas, opened the season as the backup tailback. He missed two games with the injury and then returned two weeks ago to play against South Carolina. He did well enough to be moved into the starting job this week as Arkansas prepares to play 25th-ranked Auburn, running backs coach Danny Nutt said Monday.
Talley will be the fourth different tailback to start in seven games. Cedric Cobbs started the first three before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Alvin Ray started the next two games and Brandon Holmes took over against South Carolina with Talley returning as the backup.
Holmes and Talley averaged less than 4 yards per carry against the Gamecocks but they ran better than their numbers suggested. Talley's quickness and speed injected some life into the offense, in part because it allows the running game to go outside. The speed, healthier hand and an experience edge on Holmes pushed Talley into the top job.
"I think he started back right where he left off," Nutt said. "I don't think he lost a step."
Thankful that he has recouped one of his big-play threats, Nutt said he doesn't want to tempt fate by overworking Talley, who's 5-9, 190 pounds. He'll be limited to 15 to 20 carries.
"He's a natural tailback," Nutt said. "You want him carrying the ball but you don't want him getting beat up. You've got to give him a breather with big Brandon. I want [Talley] for the next five games. If we have him for the next five games, I think we've got a chance [to finish strong]."
Statistically, Talley has been Arkansas' most effective back with an average of 5.3 yards per carry. But because he played behind Cobbs and then was injured, he has carried just 30 times and scored one touchdown. He could double his carries or more in the next two games.
Arkansas has kept records of game-by-game starters only since the mid-1990s. It's sketchy before the early 1990s. It appears that this will be the first time the Razorbacks have started four different tailbacks within a season in at least 10 years and probably much longer than that.

OL options
Offensive line coach Mike Markuson will try different combinations at center and right guard before deciding which players he'll use against Auburn.
Right guard Kenny Sandlin will split time at center this week with Josh Melton, and backup guard Scott Davenport will fill Sandlin's original spot. A decision on who will start could be made as soon as Wednesday, Markuson said.
Markuson is searching for something, in this case a possible starting shakeup, to give the line a spark. He might stick with the current setup of Melton and Sandlin or he could start a Sandlin-Davenport or Melton-Davenport combination.
Sandlin bruised his knee Thursday and was still bothered by it Monday, Markuson said.
Sandlin and Melton each have started 13 consecutive games at their respective positions. Before moving to guard during last season, Sandlin started four games at center.

Give-and-take slide
So many things have gone wrong that it's hard to know where to start in trying to understand why the Razorbacks are 1-2 in SEC play.
Look no further than the turnover margin for perhaps the best explanation.
Arkansas ranks 90th nationally and 11th in the SEC in turnover margin, having lost the ball four more times than it has taken the ball away. In three conference games, the Hogs have lost the ball nine times and have taken it away just twice.
The last time Arkansas ranked this low in turnovers, 94th in 1997, it finished 4-7.
Coach Houston Nutt's first two teams ranked 10th in 1998 and 20th in 1999 for turnover margin.

Injury report

The projected availability of Arkansas' injured players for the Auburn game, according to trainer Dean Weber:
PLAYER POS. INJURY STATUS
Zak Clark QB Ankle sprain Probable
Cameron Glenn TE Foot sprain Out
Robby Hampton QB Thumb sprain Probable
Derrick Johnson BAN Knee sprain Questionable
Kenny Sandlin OG Knee bruise Probable
Brett Shockley OT Foot sprain Questionable
Boo Williams WR Dislocated shoulder Questionable

Injured and out

These players will not return this season because of injuries:
PLAYER POS. INJURY
Andre Ackee TB Torn knee ligament
Cedric Cobbs TB Separated shoulder
Shane Collins LB Ankle sprain
Harold Harris CB Broken arm
Jared McBride QB Torn knee ligament
Jason Peters DT Separated shoulder
Steve Spivey OG Broken foot
J. Strain TE Torn knee ligament
George Wilson WR Dislocated shoulder

This article was published on Tuesday, October 24, 2000

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