LITTLE ROCK — Will the Razorbacks have to rally from 10 points down to beat a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) school again this year?
Yeah, the Razorbacks trailed Western Illinois 24-14 with 10:34 left in last year's opener and needed a two-touchdown rally, including Carlton Salters' 11-yard catch on fourth-and-10, to subdue the Leathernecks. This year, Arkansas takes on Missouri State, another FCS school, in its season opener, and we're guessing the Razorbacks will not let the Bears dictate the tempo with their running game as Western Illinois did last year. The answer is no.
Is Ryan Mallett the real deal?
Mallett has real potential, but being a Parade All-American in high school guaranteesnothing in the SEC.
Razorbacks fans love the fact he can throw a football 70-plus yards and can flick his wrist to fire a pass on the deep out. Mallett, 6-7, 240 pounds, must stay consistent with his footwork andhis mechanics to keep his throws ontarget, and he's shown a tendency to stray in that department and have streaks of inconsistency. Mallett had a shaky start to fall camp, but midway through he was sharper and his completion percentage was improving.
How big of a jump will the Razorbacks' defense make in 2009?
This could be the key to an Arkansas run to the postseason. The Razorbacks are measurably stronger in all units, so wearing them down with the running game should not be easy. Coaches and players are also touting a better pass rush behind a good crop of ends led by Adrian Davis, Jake Bequette and Damario Ambrose and explosive tackle Malcolm Sheppard, so that should cut down on the time quarterbacks have to sit back in the pocket and exploit the defense, tactics that quarterbacks like Texas' Colt McCoy got away with last year. The Razorbacks are likely to finish in the bottom half of the SEC in total defense, but they should be noticeably stronger, deeper, faster and subsequently better on this side of the ball.
Who will get the most action behind Michael Smith at tailback?
The early guess here is thatDennis Johnson and Broderick Green will be 2Aand 2B in the running back sweepstakes.
Johnson has the jets and great moves that make him a big-play threat, which makes him valuable. Green, who came down sick midway through camp, has shown great pass protection ability, good hands out of the backfield and he's gotten a big chunk of short-yardage and goal-line reps, so he'll get his share. True freshman Ronnie Wingo hasexplosiveness, great hands and balance, so he'll be in the mix as well.
What's the deal with this brutal schedule?
The Razorbacks could have done some finagling to prevent an open date in Week 2, but the teams who would play that week wanted a return game from the Hogs, whose 10-year commitment to the Texas A&M series leaves them no room for nonconference road games.
So the Razorbacks will play on 11 consecutive weekends, including this little murderer's row - Georgia, at Alabama, vs. Texas A&M, Auburn, at Florida and at Ole Miss - in Games 2 through 7. That stretch opens against the preseason No. 13Bulldogs, and each of those road games is against a preseason top-10 team. College football guru Phil Steele rates Arkansas' schedule as the sixth-toughest in the country, and the Hogs will have to pull off some astounding road victories to contend in the rugged SEC West.
Any special teams projections?
The Razorbacks will block atleast one kick this year, will score a couple of special teams touchdowns, including a Dennis Johnson kickoff return, and kicker Alex Tejada will have an improved junior season.
Special teams assistant JohnL. Smith was a key hire, and his influence will help in all facets of the specialty units, where the Razorbacks often looked pitiful in 2008. One area that could drop off is net punting.
Briton Forester and Dylan Breeding were not showing consistency midway through camp. Memo to Michael Smith: We know returning punts will help your NFL stock, but take it easy back there and remember that the fair catch can be your friend.
Who are the best bets for breakout freshmen this season?
Barring injury, receiver Cobi Hamilton should be in the best position to amass good rookiestats. Hamilton has the speed, height and hands to rank among the Razorbacks' top receivers, and he should have 25 or more catches this year. Ronnie Wingo is bucking for time at tailback, and has the kindtalent that should be tapped, at least a little, in 2009. Also look for David Gordon to earn some quality reps in the cornerback rotation, D.D. Jones to get work at defensive tackle and Alvin Bailey to achieve some spot time at offensive guard. A sleeper selection would be Colton Nash, whose 6-6, 260-pound frame looks perfect at tight end.
Can you name some up-and-coming defensive talent?
Let's start with Tramain Thomas, a sophomore safety whose hitting is from the mold of Steve Atwater, the 1980s Hog known for his crunching hits. Thomas should accumulate the best array of collisions this year, with competition from sophomore Elton Ford and junior college transfer Anthony Leon. Watch redshirtfreshman Alfred Davis impact the defensive interior behind sophomore Zach Stadther. Freshman cornerbacks David Gordon and Darius Winston will be special players pretty soon.
And don't forget that linebackers Jerry Franklin, who is already established, Jerico Nelson, Bret Harris and Jelani Smith are all sophomores or younger, as is end Jake Bequette.
Will Bobby Petrino loosen up more in his second season?
He seems to be trying, at least with the media. Petrino cracks wise - albeit briefly - with reporters on many days. On the field, however, Petrino seems even more driven after suffering his first losing season as a college head coach. Because he's a hands-on head coach, in the middle of drills on both sides of the ball and in special teams, he frequently corrects mistakes - loudly and often times using colorful language.
Folks, Bobby Petrino is an intense, no-nonsense, football-first guy.
Period. Laid-back, he ain't.
Will the Razorbacks go to a bowl game?
The crystal ball says ... Liberty Bowl. The Memphis-based bowl would love to get the Razorbacks and their strong-traveling fans on the upswing. But the Razorbacks have their work cut out just to qualify.
They will have to win all the games in which they should be favored, take some difficult games that look like toss-ups (Georgia, South Carolina, Texas A&M) or pull off an upset or two in that wicked road slate.
Sports, Pages 3, 4 on 08/30/2009