The biggest beneficiary of the new-look Arkansas offense is …
Arkansas football rules the world of Razorbacks sports. So, with your bacon, have some Hogs for Breakfast and get caught up. It’s SEC Country’s weekday column and roundup on all things Arkansas … especially Arkansas football. Opinion, numbers, inane babble and more! And now with ironic exclamation points! There is no place like it on the web.
Sorry for no big lead-in there. But any other choice is the wrong one.
Cole Kelley, Arkansas’ backup quarterback, gets his few snaps a game and they might someday turn into throws. Jordan Jones will find a way to get some touches, too. But it’s the freshman running back who can establish himself as the next major factor in a Bret Bielema offense that has, over the years, been mighty good to its running backs.
Hayden saw a handful of direct snaps in what looks like a future staple when the Razorbacks have the ball. Such plays have never come to mind when thinking about Bielema offenses in the past. Those are more “ground-and-pound” thoughts.
Arkansas figured out, after lots of trial and some major error, that that style with these players wasn’t going to fly with much success in 2017. So, offensive coordinator Dan Enos, Bielema and the group got together and found a way to provide more touches to their best players.
That includes a freshman who is the son of a former NFL player.
This is going to turn out well, methinks, especially when you already hear comparisons to Darren McFadden.
Arkansas needs loads of secondary help Saturday
Not because Arkansas isn’t good. On the contrary, the Razorbacks are quite good. At cornerback, anyway. Safety is a work in progress.
But returning more healthy bodies in the secondary is going to help the Razorbacks against the ninth-ranked passing team in FBS. New Mexico State isn’t going to be afraid to sling it, what with dropping more than 300 yards passing in three of its four games so far.
Kevin Richardson’s return to the Arkansas defensive backfield goes a long way in helping Arkansas make it three in five games. The senior missed most of the Hogs’ loss last week against Texas A&M dealing with an ankle injury. His absence meant safety Josh Liddell shifted into the nickelback role, which, in turn, meant De’Andre Coley saw a lot more snaps at safety than usual.
Richardson will see plenty of action against the Aggies’ slot receivers. New Mexico State already has five players with double-digit receptions.
Arkansas needs to smoke New Mexico State
Long gone are the days when a computer took into consideration margin of victory when it came to spitting out rankings for college football teams. But that doesn’t mean Arkansas can simply beat New Mexico State by a touchdown or 10 points or so and expect to satisfy anyone.
The Razorbacks are 17-point favorites against the cellar dweller of the Sun Belt. New Mexico State has had just one winning season this century, and while the Aggies might be much improved (they are) in 2017, Arkansas absolutely must make them look like the Sun Belt foe they are.
Can you imagine if a middling team from the Sun Belt goes into Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and plays Arkansas well? Or, gasp, beats the Razorbacks?
Lots of phone calls from Jonesboro if that happens, eh?
ICYMI
- Our Trent Shadid breaks down the Arkansas-New Mexico State game from a recruiting standpoint and, goodness, it isn’t close. Arkansas wins that bad boy in a walkover.
- Trent and I also talk about what exactly would happen if Arkansas were to lose to New Mexico State in Sound Off. Hint: It would be very, very bad.
- Arkansas baseball will play Missouri State during the 2018 season, per Missouri State’s schedule announcement Wednesday. The two are developing quite the rivalry and both are expected to be NCAA Tournament teams this spring.
- An HC-130 aircraft will perform a flyover Saturday just after the national anthem against New Mexico State.
- Freelance columnist Nate Allen writes Arkansas doesn’t need to replace Jared Cornelius’ production specifically at receiver.
- A total of 14 people with ties to the Arkansas Razorbacks will be inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame in October. Matt Jones has the list for WholeHogSports.
Tweets and the like
The best corner on the roster is Henre’ Toliver. It’s been that way for three years now, even if he did play out of position in 2016. A healthy, in-position Toliver is awfully good. The numbers back it up.
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) September 27, 2017
“If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.”
If we can do it at 6 a.m., we can do it the last 5 minutes of the game.#DialedIn
pic.twitter.com/594te3bU8V
— Razorback Basketball (@RazorbackMBB) September 27, 2017
Skip Breakfast? C’mon. It’s too important. Catch up with previous versions here.
The post The biggest beneficiary of the new-look Arkansas offense is … appeared first on SEC Country.
No comments