JessN: 2009 PREVIEWS--Arkansas Razorbacks: Team Overview

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Arkansas Razorbacks: Team Overview
by Jess Nicholas
August 17, 2009

The transition from Houston Nutt to Bob Petrino continues, and it’s not out of the realm of reason for Razorback fans to expect a trip to the postseason in 2009. While Arkansas continues to take baby steps, the Hogs need to make some huge leaps – particularly on defense – if they are to join Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss among the list of contenders in the SEC West. The offense wasn’t a problem in 2008, but the defense was nightmarish and doesn’t look to be much better in 2009. Again, Arkansas will simply have to outscore a lot of teams in order to win.


Returning Offensive Starters: 9 (SE, FL, WR, LT, LG, RG, RT, TE, RB)
Returning Defensive Starters: 7 (RDE, RDT, LDE, MLB, LLB, RCB, SS)
Returning Specialists: 1 (PK)

Projected Overall Record: 7-5 (UA, UGA, UF, OM, LSU)
Projected SEC Record: 2-5 (UA, UGA, UF, OM, LSU)
Projected SEC West Record: 2-3 (UA, LSU, OM)

Ratings (Ex, Vg, Av, Fr, Pr)
Quarterbacks: Fr
Running Backs: Vg
Wide Receivers: Vg
Offensive Line: Av

Defensive Line: Av
Linebackers: Fr
Defensive Backs: Fr
Special Teams: Fr

OFFENSE

Arkansas appears to be headed toward a full implementation of Petrino’s favored pass-happy offense, which means three receivers in the pattern more often than not and an offensive strategy of using the pass to set up the run. But an offensive line that some consider to be overrated could stand in the Hogs’ way.

QUARTERBACKS
Ryan Mallett will finally make his debut under center in 2009 after sitting out a year due to transfer rules. Mallett is close to 6’7”, 250 pounds, making him a potential freak show on the order of former Kentucky QB Jared Lorenzen. Few people doubt Mallett’s raw talent – he almost surely takes over the title of strongest arm in the SEC from whoever held it before – but he’ll still need some time to shake off the rust and get accustomed to the quicker defenses in the SEC.

If Mallett stays healthy, Arkansas should be fine. But if he doesn’t, things go sideways in a hurry. Nathan Dick transferred, leaving redshirt freshman Tyler Wilson as the top backup to Mallett. The only other veteran quarterback on the roster is another freshman, Jim Youngblood. Wilson has skills but is nowhere near Mallett’s talent level. Expect Mallett to probably lead the league in raw passing yardage this year. Signee Brandon Mitchell will probably redshirt.

RUNNING BACKS
Despite being 5’7” and less than 180 pounds, Michael Smith is one of the most effective running backs in the conference. He ran for 1,072 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry in 2008 and was surprisingly tough to bring down on inside runs. He returns for his senior season and should play at the next level. Backup Dennis Johnson is a little bigger than Smith and was a talented kick returner in 2008, but only got 36 carries. De’Anthony Curtis and Brandon Barnett round out the depth chart. All four players are 5’9” or shorter and none has a real powerback look. There is no real fullback in this offense, although true freshman Ronnie Wingo Jr. or sophomore Mitchell Bailey could get a look in short-yardage situations.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Arkansas went from having a lot of questions to returning one of the best all-around units in the league this year. Nine out of the team’s top 10 receivers are back, fronted by tight end D.J. Williams, who caught 61 passes for 723 yards (11.9 avg.) in 2008 and became one of the most respected weapons at the position in the conference. Joe Adams, London Crawford and Jarius Wright are the likely starters at the three wideout positions, although Lucas Miller, Greg Childs and Carlton Salters will each get enough playing time that the starter tag won’t be as important. Reggie Fish also returns. Ben Cleveland backs up Williams at tight end and is essentially a big receiver. The one thing missing is a truly big tight end. Williams is 6’2”, 250 and that makes him the biggest option on the team. Speed and discipline are Arkansas’ biggest weapons.

OFFENSIVE LINE
At first blush, this would appear to be an unqualified strength. Arkansas returns three starters from 2008 and Mitch Petrus, a 2007 starter, is also back. Only center Jonathan Luigs is gone. But there is a problem, and it’s that the three 2008 starters were weaknesses in 2008. Tackles DeMarcus Love and Ray Dominguez have to get more consistent, or Mallett is toast. Many believe Love is playing out of position at right tackle and should be inside. Wade Grayson will likely start at either left guard in front of Grant Cook, or move to center to take Luigs’ spot. But Seth Oxner is battling Grayson for a starting job. Petrus will start at left guard, and his athleticism makes him a weapon when he pulls.

Michael Aguirre gives Arkansas some experience off the bench at guard, but the reserve tackle slots are problematic. Grant Freeman and Matt Hall held the positions out of spring. When Arkansas’ offense sputtered in 2008, it was usually the fault of this group.

DEFENSE

Arkansas used a lot of five-man secondary looks in base packages last year, but the Razorbacks appear to be going more conventional this year with a 4-3 scheme. There is experience aplenty but there is also mediocrity aplenty. Most of what ails Arkansas can only be cured by recruiting. The Razorbacks were 72nd in the nation in total defense last year and dead last in the SEC in stopping the run. The pass defense stats (54th nationally, 10th worst) would have been even dimmer had opponents not been able to beat the Hogs on the ground literally at will.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Three full-time starters return and the fourth, Zach Stadther, was a part-time starter. Replacing Antwain Robinson will be the key here, and only tackle Malcolm Sheppard really scares anyone. Stadther and ends Adrian Davis and Jake Bequette are the other starters, and junior end Demario Ambrose is a good player off the bench, but the rest of the depth is very young.

Arkansas likes freshman end Tenarius Wright but he obviously lacks experience. True freshman DeQuinta Jones is likely to be in the top defensive tackle rotation from day one, next to junior Patrick Jones. Alfred Davis is a fireplug at 6’0”, 320. There’s more beef in the middle than last year, but this group has a lot to prove.

LINEBACKERS
Wendel Davis is seemingly on his 37th year of eligibility. He anchors the middle linebacker post but is smaller than some SEC safeties. Jerry Franklin and longtime sub Freddy Burton look like the most likely starters. The depth situation is bleak, with Jermaine Love and Jelani Smith, neither of whom is large enough for SEC ball, the top backups coming out of spring along with Bret Harris. Freshman Terrell Williams could be the answer to one of the outside spots if he picks up the schemes quickly enough. But this group is going to struggle against most of the league.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
There’s a lot of raw speed and athleticism back here, but Arkansas never put together any kind of continuity in 2008 and gave up a ton of big plays at inopportune times. Strong safety Jerico Nelson is probably the best of the bunch, and Matt Harris and Elton Ford give the Hogs a strong 1-2 punch at free safety. Cornerback is not in great hands, however. Isaac Madison returns to start at one position, but he needs to get more physical and far more consistent or he’s going to get passed by signee David Gordon.

On the other side, it’s an open battle between Ramon Broadway and Jerell Norton, a pair of veterans. Freshmen also dot the landscape at reserve safety. The pieces are OK; someone just has to find out how to get them to fit together. Tramain Thomas could also get in the mix at safety, along with JUCO transfers Rudell Crim and Anthony Leon, the latter bigger than any of the Razorbacks’ starting linebackers.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker Alex Tejada had an excellent season back in 2007, then completely wet the bed in 2008 and may end up getting a push from Cameron Bryan. There will be a new punter, probably junior transfer Briton Forester. If Forester can’t handle the job, Mallett may literally have to do it. Punt and kickoff returns were fairly unimpressive in 2008, although Arkansas likes Dennis Johnson. This is an area that must be improved quickly, and there are precious few bodies available to choose from.