Photo by Michael Woods/Arkansas Online
Texas A&M Football
Another season of misery in store in Fayetteville?
The term Big Ten may start having new meaning for Arkansas football coach Bret Bielema.
Bielema had great success at Wisconsin, where his teams captured three Big Ten championships. But unless the Razorbacks demonstrate remarkable improvement, they could be in jeopardy of enduring as many as 10 losses.
Andrew Cagle, TexAgs
The Razorbacks have struggled in several areas since Bielema took over and seem to face many of the same problems in 2014.
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That, of course, would be a big problem for a program which just three years ago was an SEC championship contender.
That was before Bobby Petrino’s motorcycle and Arkansas’ football program simultaneously crashed.
The Razorbacks have managed just seven victories in the past two seasons and face a challenging schedule this year.
Expect Arkansas to field a strong running game behind Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. Also, the defensive line should be stout with DE Trey Flowers providing a powerful pass rush.
But quarterback play has been unreliable, the offensive line projects to be average and the defensive back seven has been prone to allowing big plays.
That’s a lot that has to be fixed.
2013 record: 3-9
Returning starters:
If that’s not enough, sophomore Korliss Marshall emerged this spring as another threat. He has tremendous burst and acceleration. He averaged 8.6 yards on 17 carries last season and figures to get many more chances in 2014. The Razorbacks are so talented at running back they may go to some two-back sets.
Andy Shupe/Arkansas Online
The Razorbacks are typically strong at running back and along the defensive line, where Philon (pictured) is emerging.
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Position of concern: Quarterback Brandon Allen played with a hurt shoulder much of last season, so maybe that’s the reason he was so grossly ineffective. The Hogs certainly hope so. He threw just 13 touchdown passes last season, had 10 interceptions and completed fewer than half of his passes. He needs to raise his level of play to make opponents at least respect the passing game. If he doesn’t, defenses won’t hesitate to stack the line of scrimmages, which could render those talented running backs ineffective.
Time is now: A couple of years ago Darius Philon was set to sign with Alabama until Nick Saban pulled the scholarship offer … on NATIONAL SIGNING DAY. The sophomore defensive tackle may be on the brink of showing that wasn’t just an unethical move, but a bad one, too.
Philon arrived in Fayetteville raw and unreliable. Yet, he made considerable strides last season in which he started five games and posted 46 tackles (including nine for losses) and three sacks. This could be the year he moves from solid contributor to bona fide standout.
Emerging newcomer: Few noticed — or perhaps even cared — when the Razorbacks signed junior college WR transfer Cody Hollister, a two-star prospect who began his career at Nevada. Yet, the 6-4, 205-pounder showed good separation and flypaper-like hands in the spring. He could be a very pleasant surprise at a position of need.
Arkansas’ most difficult stretch is three consecutive games against Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia, but the Hogs’ schedule is so challenging they may be hard-pressed to improve on last year’s three wins.
2014 schedule:
Bielema had great success at Wisconsin, where his teams captured three Big Ten championships. But unless the Razorbacks demonstrate remarkable improvement, they could be in jeopardy of enduring as many as 10 losses.
Andrew Cagle, TexAgs
The Razorbacks have struggled in several areas since Bielema took over and seem to face many of the same problems in 2014.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"The Razorbacks have struggled in several areas since Bielema took over and seem to face many of the same problems in 2014.","MediaItemID":35883}
That was before Bobby Petrino’s motorcycle and Arkansas’ football program simultaneously crashed.
The Razorbacks have managed just seven victories in the past two seasons and face a challenging schedule this year.
Expect Arkansas to field a strong running game behind Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. Also, the defensive line should be stout with DE Trey Flowers providing a powerful pass rush.
But quarterback play has been unreliable, the offensive line projects to be average and the defensive back seven has been prone to allowing big plays.
That’s a lot that has to be fixed.
Arkansas Razorbacks
Coach: Bret Bielema2013 record: 3-9
Returning starters:
- Offense (7): QB Brandon Allen, RB Jonathan Williams, WR Keon Hatcher, TE Hunter Henry, T Brey Cook, G Denver Kirkland, G Dan Skipper
- Defense (6): DE Trey Flowers, LB Brooks Ellis, CB Will Hines, S Rohan Gaines, S Alan Turner, CB Tevin Mitchell
- Special teams (2): P Sam Irwin-Hill, KR Korliss Marshall
If that’s not enough, sophomore Korliss Marshall emerged this spring as another threat. He has tremendous burst and acceleration. He averaged 8.6 yards on 17 carries last season and figures to get many more chances in 2014. The Razorbacks are so talented at running back they may go to some two-back sets.
Andy Shupe/Arkansas Online
The Razorbacks are typically strong at running back and along the defensive line, where Philon (pictured) is emerging.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"The Razorbacks are typically strong at running back and along the defensive line, where Philon (pictured) is emerging.","MediaItemID":44211}
Time is now: A couple of years ago Darius Philon was set to sign with Alabama until Nick Saban pulled the scholarship offer … on NATIONAL SIGNING DAY. The sophomore defensive tackle may be on the brink of showing that wasn’t just an unethical move, but a bad one, too.
Philon arrived in Fayetteville raw and unreliable. Yet, he made considerable strides last season in which he started five games and posted 46 tackles (including nine for losses) and three sacks. This could be the year he moves from solid contributor to bona fide standout.
Emerging newcomer: Few noticed — or perhaps even cared — when the Razorbacks signed junior college WR transfer Cody Hollister, a two-star prospect who began his career at Nevada. Yet, the 6-4, 205-pounder showed good separation and flypaper-like hands in the spring. He could be a very pleasant surprise at a position of need.
Schedule analysis
For the second straight season the Razorbacks face a non-conference opponent from a major conference on the road. That’s not typical for SEC teams and usually not conducive to rebuilding a program. This year the Razorbacks travel to face Texas Tech, which is one of nine Arkansas opponents that posted at least eight victories in 2013.Arkansas’ most difficult stretch is three consecutive games against Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia, but the Hogs’ schedule is so challenging they may be hard-pressed to improve on last year’s three wins.
2014 schedule:
- Aug. 30 at Auburn
- Sept. 6 vs. Nicholls State
- Sept. 13 at Texas Tech
- Sept. 20 vs. Northern Illinois
- Sept. 27 vs. Texas A&M at Arlington
- Oct. 11 vs. Alabama
- Oct. 18 vs. Georgia at Little Rock
- Oct. 25 vs. UAB
- Nov. 1 at Mississippi State
- Nov. 15 vs. LSU
- Nov. 22 vs. Ole Miss
- Nov. 29 at Missouri
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