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Clark column: Hogs offense has question marks
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| Preseason All-SEC pick Jonathan Luigs (63) will anchor a Razorback offense that has some holes to fill heading into the 2008 campaign under new head coach Bobby Petrino. |
The Arkansas Razorbacks offense comes into the 2008 football season with a lot of holes to fill and more questions than answers.
After being picked to finish last in the Western Division by the media last week at SEC Media Days, many in the Natural State are wondering what kind of season awaits the Hogs as the Bobby Petrino era begins.
Coming off an 8-5 record last season, the Razorbacks lost the bulk of their offensive production in first round NFL picks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, not to mention the heart and soul of the team in fullback Peyton Hillis.
Replacing that backfield will be tough, but with Petrino’s pass oriented offense, running backs will not be the main — or only — offensive threat for the Hogs anymore.
The offense is led by a stout offensive line anchored by two-time All-American center Jonathan Luigs.
The line should be one of the strengths of the team with a lot of experience returning.
They will be opening up holes for junior running back Michael Smith, who has patiently waited his turn behind Jones and McFadden.
Smith will remind a lot of Hogs fans of Fred Talley and will be helped out in the backfield by returning runner Brandon Barnett and Chip Gregory, who has been moved over after playing linebacker last season.
Petrino likes big backs and he thinks Gregory can provide a punishing runner in the second half of games.
Newcomers DeAnthony Curtis and Dennis Johnson will push the returning backs for time and both should play this fall.
One of the biggest questions heading into the season is can Casey Dick throw the ball well enough for the Hogs to win games?
In the past, Houston Nutt rarely asked Dick to win games with his arm and this year Petrino will ask the opposite of the senior starter.
Highly recruited Greenwood quarterback Tyler Wilson could push Dick and his younger brother Nathan for reps in practice and it will be interesting to see how Wilson progresses this fall.
Another key area in Petrino’s offense is wide receivers.
The Razorback receivers come into the season with the most questions to answer in my opinion.
While there are some holes on the defense that need to be plugged, if the receivers can’t get open and make plays the Hogs are in for a long season.
Things did not get any easier for the Hogs when Marques Wade, who was expected to push for a starting receiving position, was arrested for driving under the influence last weekend in Fayetteville.
Along with Wade, the Hogs are looking to returning starter London Crawford to be an impact player and and some young receivers like Lucas Miller showed glimpses of promise last season.
Fans should expect three freshman receivers from Warren to push for playing time as Greg Childs, Jarius Wright and Chris Gragg will bring talent and speed to the Hogs’ wide receivers corps.
Another freshman receiver, Joe Adams, of Central Arkansas Christian, could also see some time on the field this fall.
However the Hogs lost a big-time wide receiver when Cruz Williams decommitted and transferred to Louisiana Tech.
Another strength of the Hogs offense will be the tight end position where sophomore D.J. Williams could put up big numbers.
I fully expect for Williams to be a household name around the state very early in the season.
Along with Williams, Ben Cleveland has reportedly looked good in practice after missing virtually the entire season last year with neck problems.
If Cleveland comes along and lives up to his potential, the Razorback tight ends could cause a lot of problems in the red zone for teams this fall.
If the Razorback offense can find its way, it should at least be exciting for Arkansas fans who grew tired of Nutt’s power running attack.
One thing I know for sure is that the Hogs will not finish in last place in the West.
More than likely, they will finish where they usually do and that is in front of the two Mississippi schools and behind Auburn and LSU.
You all know how the saying goes in Arkansas: thank goodness for Mississippi.
Another prediction I will make is that early in the opening game of the year on Aug. 30, against Western Illinois, a large cheer will come from the 75,000 fans in Reynolds-Razoback Stadium when Dick airs one out to a receiver.
Whether or not he completes it won’t matter too much against Western Illinois, but his completions and incompletion’s will be the overriding theme in the 2008 Arkansas football season, until Benedict Arnold, I mean, Houston Nutt comes to town.
Cory Clark
After being picked to finish last in the Western Division by the media last week at SEC Media Days, many in the Natural State are wondering what kind of season awaits the Hogs as the Bobby Petrino era begins.
Coming off an 8-5 record last season, the Razorbacks lost the bulk of their offensive production in first round NFL picks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, not to mention the heart and soul of the team in fullback Peyton Hillis.
Replacing that backfield will be tough, but with Petrino’s pass oriented offense, running backs will not be the main — or only — offensive threat for the Hogs anymore.
The offense is led by a stout offensive line anchored by two-time All-American center Jonathan Luigs.
The line should be one of the strengths of the team with a lot of experience returning.
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Smith will remind a lot of Hogs fans of Fred Talley and will be helped out in the backfield by returning runner Brandon Barnett and Chip Gregory, who has been moved over after playing linebacker last season.
Petrino likes big backs and he thinks Gregory can provide a punishing runner in the second half of games.
Newcomers DeAnthony Curtis and Dennis Johnson will push the returning backs for time and both should play this fall.
One of the biggest questions heading into the season is can Casey Dick throw the ball well enough for the Hogs to win games?
In the past, Houston Nutt rarely asked Dick to win games with his arm and this year Petrino will ask the opposite of the senior starter.
Highly recruited Greenwood quarterback Tyler Wilson could push Dick and his younger brother Nathan for reps in practice and it will be interesting to see how Wilson progresses this fall.
Another key area in Petrino’s offense is wide receivers.
The Razorback receivers come into the season with the most questions to answer in my opinion.
While there are some holes on the defense that need to be plugged, if the receivers can’t get open and make plays the Hogs are in for a long season.
Things did not get any easier for the Hogs when Marques Wade, who was expected to push for a starting receiving position, was arrested for driving under the influence last weekend in Fayetteville.
Along with Wade, the Hogs are looking to returning starter London Crawford to be an impact player and and some young receivers like Lucas Miller showed glimpses of promise last season.
Fans should expect three freshman receivers from Warren to push for playing time as Greg Childs, Jarius Wright and Chris Gragg will bring talent and speed to the Hogs’ wide receivers corps.
Another freshman receiver, Joe Adams, of Central Arkansas Christian, could also see some time on the field this fall.
However the Hogs lost a big-time wide receiver when Cruz Williams decommitted and transferred to Louisiana Tech.
Another strength of the Hogs offense will be the tight end position where sophomore D.J. Williams could put up big numbers.
I fully expect for Williams to be a household name around the state very early in the season.
Along with Williams, Ben Cleveland has reportedly looked good in practice after missing virtually the entire season last year with neck problems.
If Cleveland comes along and lives up to his potential, the Razorback tight ends could cause a lot of problems in the red zone for teams this fall.
If the Razorback offense can find its way, it should at least be exciting for Arkansas fans who grew tired of Nutt’s power running attack.
One thing I know for sure is that the Hogs will not finish in last place in the West.
More than likely, they will finish where they usually do and that is in front of the two Mississippi schools and behind Auburn and LSU.
You all know how the saying goes in Arkansas: thank goodness for Mississippi.
Another prediction I will make is that early in the opening game of the year on Aug. 30, against Western Illinois, a large cheer will come from the 75,000 fans in Reynolds-Razoback Stadium when Dick airs one out to a receiver.
Whether or not he completes it won’t matter too much against Western Illinois, but his completions and incompletion’s will be the overriding theme in the 2008 Arkansas football season, until Benedict Arnold, I mean, Houston Nutt comes to town.
Cory Clark
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| Rams golf team tryouts scheduled for this week |
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