Tough task ahead in Tuscaloosa for Razorback defense

Due to the SEC Coaches Teleconference being cancelled Wednesday due to technical difficulties, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema made a post-practice appearance Wednesday in the media room.

Bielema said he is optimistic senior starting quarterback Austin Allen will play this week after leaving the South Carolina game early with a shoulder injury. He said the good thing is that he has so much playing experience that it shouldn’t be as big an issue as it would be for more inexperienced players in terms of him missing practice time.

“We know we’ve got to protect Austin a little bit better. I think the run game has to obviously help us out in that regard,” Bielema said. “All the tests were negative. Just