LSU football coach Les Miles had some fairly simple advice to offer to the University of Florida defense, one week removed from watching University of Arkansas running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones gash the Tigers’ defense. “When [McFadden] stands back there, and he’s got the ball – tackle him,” he said. “When he hands it to the other guy – tackle that guy.” The task of containing McFadden and Jones, who collectively ran for 319 yards against LSU, may be a little more complex. But Florida coach Urban Meyer realizes the potent ground threat the Razorbacks possess. “Hearing [Arkansas coach Houston] Nutt talk about [McFadden] is like hearing Tommy Tuberville talk about when he had [Carnell Williams] and Ronnie [Brown],” Meyer said in a Monday teleconference. “Those were two running backs that led their team to the Southeastern Conference Championship a few years ago.” McFadden, the more publicized of the two backs, ranks No. 8 in the nation in rushing and averages 124 yards on the ground per contest. One of the most eye-catching aspects of Arkansas’ offense is its special Wildcat formation, which allows McFadden to line up as a quarterback on certain plays. The unique formation has netted 442 yards on 52 plays, an average of 8.6 yards per play. “It’s real fun to be back there under center again,” said McFadden, who played quarterback in high school. “I feel like the coaches are trying to use me to the best of my abilities – whatever it takes for me to get the ball.” Miles added that McFadden’s flashy big-play ability may overshadow an important component of his game. “The thing Florida is going to have to deal with is McFadden is also a very physical back,” he said. “When he goes north and south, he can run you over.” Despite the loss to LSU, Arkansas’ running game has given the team reasons to be confident in its ability to pound the football on the ground. In games this season against Auburn University, the University of Tennessee and LSU, McFadden ran for 145 yards, 181 yards and 182 yards, respectively. “With the offensive line we have up front, I feel like we can run the ball pretty much on any defense that we come up against,” he said. “When you go play a powerhouse like LSU or Tennessee, people respect your more by doing [well] against a team like that.” In the championship game against Florida, the Razorbacks will face the stiffest running defense they have seen all year. The Gators rank No. 5 in the nation in rushing defense by allowing only 70 yards on the ground per game. “I think they do a great job with [McFadden],” Meyer said. “You have to stop the run obviously and force them to throw the ball out of that set. It’s very difficult to defend that.” But Arkansas is not the only team to have a few offensive wrinkles in its scheme. Senior quarterback Chris Leak is mainly a traditional, drop-back passer, but freshman quarterback Tim Tebow is anything but conventional. Tebow is normally a short-yardage player who contributes nearly 33 yards rushing per game for Florida. He has become known for his bullish, short-yardage running with his 6-foot-3-inch, 229-pound frame. “They are a big-play team,” Nutt said. “They’ve got some great receivers, and Chris Leak has a lot of weapons. Then you bring in Tebow, who is one of the strongest runners I’ve seen as a freshman. All-in-all they’ve just got a lot of weapons that they can hit you with.” One disadvantage for Florida is its current injury situation. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that three Gator starters may not play in the championship game – running back DeShawn Wynn, wide receiver Percy Harvin and linebacker Earl Everett. Meyer said Harvin, who injured his neck and was taken off the field on a stretcher Saturday against Florida State University, may have the best chance to play. As far as predicting a winner, Miles would not admit to which team he will be pulling for in the championship game but expects nothing less than a close outcome. “It’s going to be a great game,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll get to watch all of it, but I’ll be peeking.”
—–Contact Kyle Whitfield at [email protected]