Arkansas Razorbacks : Fall Camp Questions
At last the long dark of the off-season is nearing its end. Football is less than one month away, and that means that Fall Camp is getting underway throughout the SEC. The month of August will be absolutely critical in determining how each team fares in September, October, November, and beyond. With that in mind, each team has pressing questions they have to answer before the end of the month. We will continue our series by taking a look at the questions facing Bret Bielema and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Related Story: Fall Camp Questions: Alabama
Can Austin Allen Fill his Big Brother’s Shoes?
Brandon Allen struggled as a starting quarterback his sophomore season, but by his senior year he had blossomed into one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the entire nation. His 166.5 QBR was good for 5th in the country and 1st in the SEC. On the year he completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,440 yards and 30 touchdowns. He will be difficult to replace.
The man who will have the first crack at the job is Brandon’s younger brother Austin. For his career, the younger Allen has completed just nine of 19 passes with one touchdown and one interception. Those aren’t exactly inspiring numbers. Nevertheless, Coach Bielema seems confident in him, naming Allen the starting quarterback midway through the Hogs’ spring practice. Allen did look sharp in this year’s Red and White game completing 13 of 19 passes for 141 yards and leading the White team to victory. He also showed a live arm and good pocket presence.
Verdict: No. But that’s not a knock on Austin Allen so much as an appreciation for how great his brother was last season. If Hog fans expect Austin to be as efficient as his brother they will likely be disappointed. However, Austin does have the potential to be a very good quarterback in the SEC this season.
Will the Running Game be able to Reload?
It is no secret that Bret Bielema likes to line up and run the ball right down the defense’s throat. Last season the Hogs had Alex Collins, a criminally underrated player, running behind a mammoth, veteran offensive line. Collins averaged an incredible 5.8 yards per carry and scored 20 touchdowns on the season. But Collins is now in the NFL, along with left tackle Denver Kirkland, left guard Sebastian Tretola, and center Mitch Smothers.
So who is left? At running back the Hogs have some talented, albeit unproven, options. Senior Kody Walker is a big bruiser at 6’2″ 256. Last year he carried the ball 90 times and racked up 394 yards and 6 touchdowns. Walker is a pure power back, who lacks breakaway speed due to his size. Rawleigh Williams, a true sophomore, is a more balanced back. He had 254 yards and one touchdown on 56 carries. But he suffered an unfortunate neck injury against Auburn and missed the remainder of the season. Assuming he’s healthy, Williams has the potential to be an every-down back. Junior Damon Mitchell and freshmen Devwah Whaley and T.J. Hammonds provide depth.
Along the offensive line the Hogs return two starters. All-SEC right tackle Dan Skipper returns for his senior year and should be dominant again. Junior Frank Ragnow was the starter at right guard last season. This year he is being moved back to center, where he played as a freshman. The other three positions are up for grabs, but Bielema has plenty of young talented options to fill them.
Verdict: Yes. Bret Bielema’s teams never have problems running the ball. He has recruited a stable of gigantic, powerful offensive linemen and has at least two quality running backs. Arkansas will be one of the best rushing offenses in the SEC again this season.
Will the Secondary be Improved?
I’m not going to sugarcoat this; last season Arkansas’s secondary was atrocious. Of the 128 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, Arkansas’s total pass defense was ranked 120th. As you likely guessed, that was good for last in the SEC. In the Mississippi State game Brandon Allen threw for 406 yards and 7 touchdowns. Arkansas lost. Because they let Dak Prescott light them up for 508 yards on 38 completions. If Arkansas is going to be a factor in the SEC West race they have to get better in the secondary.
The good news for Arkansas is that this unit is veteran-heavy. Starting corners Jared Collins and D.J. Dean both return, as does starting free safety Josh Liddell. The only starter from last season who does not return is strong safety Rohan Gaines. Look for junior Kevin Richardson to fill that spot. Also new this season is Paul Rhoads, who replaces Clay Jennings as the Defensive Back Coach.
Verdict: Absolutely, though how much remains to be seen. The three returning starters should all be improved, and Richardson saw time in every game last season. So his transition to full-time starter should be relatively smooth. Also, Rhoads knows what it takes to be a quality defensive back, as he mentored seven time Pro-Bowler Darrelle Revis while he was the Defensive Coordinator at Pitt.
The Hogs have questions, as do all teams at this stage. How Coach Bret Bielema answers them will determine how well the Razorbacks do this season. Let us know how you think he will handle them in the comments. And come back tomorrow to see which questions the Auburn Tigers are currently facing.
