Arkansas RB Mike Washington says there are 'a lot of holes' in Tennessee's defense

Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. apparently doesn’t have much concern about facing Tennessee Football’s defense Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium. In fact, it sounded this week like he’s looking forward to the opportunity. 

“They have a great defense,” Washington said, “but a lot of holes. A lot of holes in their defense, so it’s going to be a fun game.” 

Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) hosts Arkansas (2-3, 0-1) on Saturday in a 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff on SEC Network. 

Arkansas is fourth in the SEC in total offense

Both teams are coming off bye weeks, with the Razorbacks playing their first game under interim head coach Bobby Petrino, after Sam Pittman was fired following the 56-13 loss to Notre Dame in Fayetteville two weeks ago. 

Petrino on his first day as interim head coach fired three members of the Arkansas defensive coaching staff, after the Razorbacks allowed 42 points and 420 yards of total offense in the first half against Notre Dame, a week after giving up a 28-10 lead in a 32-31 loss at Memphis.

Offense has been less of a problem for Arkansas, which scored 35 points and had 525 yards of total offense in the 41-35 loss at Ole Miss on September 13. The Razorbacks scored 108 total points over the first two weeks against Alabama A&M and Arkansas State. 

Washington has ran 61 times for 393 yards and four touchdowns this season. He has also caught seven passes for 99 yards and a score. He had a season high 119 yards against Arkansas State and in the loss at Ole Miss he ran for two touchdowns and had two catches for 53 yards.

He played three seasons at Buffalo and one season at New Mexico State before transferring to Arkansas. He has rushed for 2,237 yards and 22 touchdowns over 44 career games. 

‘I feel like we’ve got to go in and be able to move the ball and score points’

Arkansas is second in the SEC in rushing, averaging 213.8 yards per game. Tennessee is 10th in rushing defense, giving up 115.2 yards per game. 

Georgia ran 55 times for 198 yards and three touchdowns in its 44-41 overtime win at Neyland Stadium on September 13 and Mississippi State ran 57 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns in Tennessee’s 41-34 overtime win in Starkville two weeks ago. 

Tennessee is 15th in the SEC in scoring defense, giving up 29.0 points per game, while Arkansas is last at 30.0. The Vols are last in passing defense (258.2 yards per game) and 14th in total defense (373.4).

Arkansas 15th in pass defense (257.0) and last in total defense (425.0).

Petrino was asked on Monday if he was expecting a high-scoring game at Tennessee based on the averages for both defenses.

“You never know on those,” he said. “I’ve went into a lot of games where you thought, oh man, it’s gonna be a shootout and at halftime it’s 10-9. So you never know how that’s gonna play out. We’re certainly, though, I feel like we’ve got to go in and be able to move the ball and score points.”