The Arkansas Razorbacks want to be able to break through the ceiling in the SEC West. They want to be able to dethrone the Alabama Crimson Tide and become a better team than the LSU Tigers. Instead, though, Ole Miss and Auburn have enjoyed more recent successes. The Razorbacks took a big step back last season as they ended up losing six games overall. They ended the season with just two wins in their last six games. Arkansas remains stuck, and something has to happen which gets this program un-stuck before too long.
Who will coordinate the defense?
The departure of Robb Smith to Minnesota to join P.J. Fleck leaves an opening for this coaching staff. This could be seen as a blow to Arkansas in that head coach Bret Bielema has to scramble to find a staffer who must get out on the trail and recruit just a few weeks before National Signing Day. It could also be a problem in that the Razorbacks did reasonably well on defense in a number of games this season, losing because their offense stagnated or committed turnovers. However, Smith’s exit could also be seen as a positive. Auburn crushed this Arkansas defense, and Alabama feasted on it as well. Bielema does have a chance to improve his staff, and whether the change actually is good or not, it’s certainly up to the head coach to make this situation work for Arkansas. It could propel this team forward, but Bielema has to make the right hire at a point in time when his job is very much on the line. Another mediocre season in 2017 should probably get Bielema fired. He will need to win at least eight games in the coming regular season.
How will the offensive line protect Austin Allen?
There were 35 sacks allowed by Arkansas this past season, which was one of the worst marks in the SEC. This team doesn’t have a lot of margin for error to begin with, so when sacks create second and 20 situations or blow up third-down plays, that severely limits the Hogs’ offense. Since the defense was inconsistent this past season, Arkansas has to find ways to ensure that if one side of the ball is not doing well, the other side of the ball can compensate. This was often untrue over the past season, and it’s something football teams often neglect. Allen shows promise as a quarterback. He made a lot of plays in the pocket last season. Yet, he needs to get a lot more help if this team is to be all that it can be in 2017.
Who will emerge at wide receiver?
When one speaks of giving help to Allen, it’s not just a matter of the offensive line providing protection. The receivers have to make above-average catches and become reliable targets in traffic, especially since physical LSU and Alabama defenses are in the Hogs’ division. The Razorbacks will have to execute with great precision and make long plays so that they can strike quickly instead of having to put together 11-play, 80-yard drives – that’s not going to happen often against Bama or LSU.
The big concern is that four Arkansas receivers in 2016 were seniors. Underclassmen and players lower on the 2016 depth chart need to provide real solutions in 2017.
Is Bret Bielema the man for the job?
Originally, it looked like Bielema was a smart hire by the Hogs. His plan was to build the offensive line and bring his punishing ground game over from the Big Ten to the SEC. But looking back at the team’s 2016 campaign, it’s become obvious that 2017 will be a make or break year for Bielema.
The issue is not just that the Hogs are losing some close games, they’re getting smoked by some of the better teams. They’ve looked outcoached multiple times. They were ahead 24-0 at the half of the Belk Bowl and then gave up 35 unanswered points to Virginia Tech in the second half. They also lost 38-10 to LSU and 56-3 to Auburn. These are the types of losses that are ugly and that get coaches fired. He better get his team back on track next season and avoid these types of performances or he could be a goner.
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