SEC West Previews: Q&A with Hot Springs Sentinel-Record (Arkansas)
Nov 2, 2013; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Keon Hatcher (4) runs after a catch during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Jay Bell from the Hot Springs Sentinel-Record was kind enough to answer some questions about Arkansas football for us…
1. Arkansas has gone from a national title contender to a program without a stable head coach to a complete rebuild within the last two years. How are Hog fans feeling about Bret Bielema going forward?
"Most reasonable fans understand that the job Bielema undertook was not a one- or two-year process. Bielema is changing the program from the top down. His first two recruiting classes, while not considered stellar by national rankings, addressed both short term and long term needs. The 2015 class is shaping up to be the program’s best since the 2008 class that Bobby Petrino built his success upon.However, there will always be those fans that hate Bielema because he is not Petrino, Gus Malzahn or whoever else their favored choice was in 2012. It is going to take an 11-win season for some of them to warm up to Bielema."
2. Bielema is looking to play smash-mouth football leaning very heavily on the run. As MSU fans, we heard the same from Sylvester Croom and it didn’t work out because we could not recruit the kind of offensive lineman Alabama, LSU and Georgia can. Is there any concern that Arkansas won’t be able to be effective with this scheme?
"There is little concern at Arkansas about the running game. Arkansas is Running Back U and that will continue to be the case. Jonathan Williams, Alex Collins and Korliss Marshall are reminding a lot of fans of the three-headed attack with Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis back in 2005-2007.Sam Pittman, offensive line coach, is Bielema’s not-so-secret weapon. Pittman recruited two freshman starters last year, and another was projected to start before a preseason injury. Offensive linemen Brian Wallace, Sebastian Tretola and Frank Ragnow in the 2014 class chose Arkansas over teams like Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State and Oklahoma. All signs point to Arkansas having one of the best lines in the country in 2-3 years time. Grad student transfer Cameron Jefferson from UNLV will add some experience this season."
3. The good news is the Razorbacks have some of the best running backs in the SEC. The bad news is the offensive line is expected to be in the lower half of the league. What are your expectations for the offense?
"The offensive line lost the leadership of Travis Swanson and the consistency of David Hurd, but everyone else returns. It may not be an elite SEC offensive line, but it is a solid unit. The issue, as last year, will be the passing game.We will never know how good Brandon Allen could have been in 2013 without an injury so early in the season. Allen was baptized by fire last season and had little help from his receivers, who had a tough time getting separation from SEC defensive backs. Arkansas’ offense will surprise a lot of people if Allen and a young crop of talented receivers can get defenses to back off the line. The offense does not need a high-flying passing game, it just needs more room for the running game to operate."
4. Prognosticators don’t really believe in Arkasnsas’ defense. Is there something they aren’t seeing or is it still a period of rebuilding on that side of the ball?
"The defense should be improved, but it is definitely still a period of rebuilding. The defensive line has the potential to be every bit as good as it has the past few seasons and the defensive backs are steadily improving from what was the world’s worst secondary unit in 2012. Arkansas now has more talent and more depth at cornerback and safety than it has since 2011.The main issue is still talent and depth, or lack thereof, at linebacker. Arkansas only has 2-3 linebackers that could make the roster for some other SEC teams. The defense needs Braylon Mitchell to provide leadership as a senior and for middle linebacker Brooks Ellis to continue the development from his freshman season. Others like Otha Peters, Martrell Spaight and Josh Williams have the physical ability to be good SEC linebackers, but it is unknown whether they can prove it on the field."
5. Mississippi State has won two straight games vs. Arkansas, which is noteworthy considering how one-sided the series has been over the last 20 years. All of MSU’s four wins over the Hogs in the last 19 years have been against first year Arkansas coaches, so MSU would have to break a trend to win the game in 2014 – how do you see this game in Starkville on November 1st?
"The game on Nov. 1 will depend so much on momentum. An experienced, confident Arkansas team would have beaten Mississippi State in Little Rock last year, but the Razorbacks snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on more than one occasion last season.It will be Arkansas’ ninth game of the season and the eighth for State. The Razorbacks have homecoming the week before, while the Bulldogs will have homecoming the week after. A 4-win Arkansas team would have more confidence than last year and the knowledge that a win over MSU would leave them just one win shy of bowl eligibility. Mississippi State will not be feeling that same pressure."