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Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson expects the most physical game of the season against Alabama on Saturday.
Robinson also knows it will take the No. 14 Razorbacks' best defensive effort to shut down a Crimson Tide running attack that gained 347 yards last week.
Trent Richardson (167 yards) and Eddie Lacy (161) became the first running backs to each rush for more than 150 yards in a game for Alabama in the win over North Texas, aided by runs of 43, 58, 67 and 71 yards.
The No. 3 Crimson Tide (3-0) are averaging 242 yards rushing per game this season, second in the Southeastern Conference. Stopping that ground attack will be the toughest challenge of the season so for an experienced Arkansas (3-0) defense that entered the season with hopes of joining the SEC's elite.
''Both teams might end up in the next week not being able to practice, because of how physical this game is going to be,'' Robinson said. ''We're excited about the challenge of the physical part of it, but it's also a matter of who's not going to give up the big play.''
Big plays hurt the Razorbacks last season when Alabama rallied from a 20-7 second-half deficit to earn a 24-20 win. The Crimson Tide rushed for 227 yards in the win, including a 54-yard touchdown run by Mark Ingram in the first quarter.
Richardson finished with 85 yards rushing in the win, including a 53-yard run near the end of the first half. It was during the second half, however, when Alabama took control of the game by effectively running the ball and shutting down Arkansas' run.
Robinson expects the Crimson Tide to try and follow the same script this season - with either Richardson or Lacy, or a combination of the two.
''It's not like either one of those guys can't pop that hole and take it to the goal line,'' Robinson said. ''There's not much change there. Both of them are outstanding players.''
Alabama coach Nick Saban said last week's rushing performance wasn't as overpowering as the stats would indicate. Richardson and Lacy's big runs combined for 239 of the 347 yards on four plays, and Saban is looking for more consistency from an offensive line that's seen Barrett Jones play every position but right guard and freshman Cyrus Kouandjio growing into the role of left tackle.
''The problem all goes back to the same thing,'' Saban said. ''You guys talk about all the 70-yard runs we had and the 50-yards, those are the same plays that we had a 5-yard loss on. It wasn't like it was a new play. It was blocked correctly against the same defense.''
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has focused recruiting efforts on the defensive line in recent years, specifically for teams like against Alabama. The Razorbacks have 18 defensive linemen on the roster, rotate players throughout games and have allowed an average of 87.7 yards rushing through three nonconference games.
''This is where our size, our physicalness, our ability to rotate guys in there and stay fresh has to help us,'' Petrino said. ''We understand that most of the games in our conference are won in the fourth quarter. We've got to make plays, make stops in the fourth quarter on defense and stop their run and force them to throw the ball.''
The defensive line will be without end Jake Bequette again, due to a hamstring injury from two weeks ago, but Petrino said the senior made some progress this week.
Arkansas junior defensive tackle D.D. Jones said the defense has taken the challenge of stopping Alabama's running game on itself this week. The Razorbacks spent a week preparing for their first SEC game against the Crimson Tide during preseason camp - something they hope pays off on Saturday.
''We've got so many big guys on the inside and a great linebacking corps,'' Jones said. ''Like I said, the defensive line is putting this on our shoulders to go down there, stop the run and force them to pass the ball. That's what we're going to do.''
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AP Sports Writer John Zenor in Tuscaloosa, Ala., contributed.
