|
RB
Darren McFadden (PHOTO CREDIT: Arkansas Sports
Information) |
|
|
2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Houston Nutt
67-44,
9 years |
2006
Record: 10-4 |
|
USC |
LOST
14-50 |
UTAH
STATE |
WON
20-0 |
at
Vanderbilt |
WON
21-19 |
ALABAMA |
WON
24-23 (2OT) |
at
Auburn |
WON
27-10 |
SE
MISSOURI ST |
WON
63-7 |
MISSISSIPPI |
WON
38-3 |
UL-MONROE |
WON
44-10 |
at
South Carolina |
WON
26-20 |
TENNESSEE |
WON
31-14 |
at
Mississippi State |
WON
28-14 |
LOUISIANA
STATE |
LOST
26-31 |
SEC
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME |
vs.
Florida |
LOST
28-38 |
CAPITAL
ONE BOWL |
Wisconsin |
LOST
14-17 |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-15, Coaches-16, BCS-12
|
2007
Outlook |
Even
with the struggles at quarterback
in ’06, head coach Houston Nutt
was able to establish a ground attack
that literally and figuratively carried
his team to the SEC championship.
Nutt gets almost all of his talent
position guys back for his run-first
approach, so all he has to do is replace
the outside parts of his line to keep
the offense going. But for being such
a great running team (No.4 in I-A),
the Hogs didn’t win the time-of-possession
battles. QB Casey Dick bringing consistency
to his modest efforts will cure what
ails their ability to move the ball.
Defensively, there are enough important
cogs back in each unit to make us
think improvements to their No.26
total defense can eventually occur.
Only an early trip to Tuscaloosa looks
like it can upset the learning curve
for Arkansas as they ease in the new
blood. Overall, only five real challenging
contests will have some talking about
the Razorback’s greased path
to another West division crown. But
going to Knoxville and Baton Rouge
for two of their last three means
this squad earns anything they get.
Nutt has done more with less in the
past, so their momentum from ’06
and their potentially superior ground
game has us believing Arkansas can
again run over even their best foes
and remain a top 15 team.
Projected
2007 record: 8-4
|
|
ARKANSAS
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 2.5 |
DL
- 3.5 |
RB
- 5 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Casey Dick, 65-132-6, 991 yds., 9
TD
Rushing: Darren McFadden, 284
att., 1647 yds., 14 TD
Receiving: Marcus Monk, 50
rec., 962 yds., 11 TD
Scoring: Darren McFadden, 16
TD, 1 2-pt. conv., 98 pts.
Punting: None
Kicking: Jeremy Davis, 6-13
FG, 46-48 PAT, 64 pts.
Tackles: Weston Dacus, 95 tot.,
59 solo
Sacks: Antwain Robinson, 8.5
sacks
Interceptions: Michael Grant,
3 for 0 yds.
Kickoff returns: Felix Jones,
23 ret., 24.1 avg., 1 TD
Punt returns: Reggie Fish,
16 ret., 6.1 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
RB/KR
Felix Jones (PHOTO CREDIT: Arkansas Sports
Information) |
|
|
|
ARKANSAS
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 6 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Wes Murphy-TE, Tony Ugoh-OT, Stephen
Parker-OG, Zac Tubbs-OT, Mitch Mustain-QB
(transferred), Damian
Williams-WR (transferred) |
DEFENSE:
Keith
Jackson-DT, Desmond Sims-MLB, Sam Olajubutu-WLB,
Randy Kelly-SS, Jacob Skinner-P, Chris
Houston-CB (NFL), Jamaal Anderson-DE
(NFL) |
|
|
2007
OFFENSE |
With
just about every starter at a talent position
returning, focus will be on securing the
tackle spots so all of this offensive potential
can be reached. Junior QB Casey Dick won’t
be looking over his shoulder (since Mitch
Mustain transferred), which will help this
solid game manager develop more downfield
prowess knowing he won’t be yanked.
Dick definitely has 6’6 target Marcus
Monk as a deep threat and as the Hog’s
‘go to’ guy, but expect the
Lepanto-native to see lots of double-teams
former QB Robert Johnson (now a full-time
WR) into the spotlight more. Johnson is
reportedly in the best shape of his career.
Damian Williams has transferred to USC so
look for others such as Crawford to step
up to the plate. Felix Jones, in an effort
to get him touches, will also be found out
wide when he isn’t in the backfield.
Their TE isn’t often utilized downfield,
if at all; two-back sets as the norm mean
senior FBs/HBs Peyton Hillis or Farod Jackson
often stays on the field in three-receiver
sets and either can be productive in the
flat if not covered. In an offense that
only throws it about 20% of the time, the
efficiency of those few passes is all-important
to keep the box from getting loaded. Still,
even when extra defenders crowd the line,
first-team All-American junior tailback
Darren McFadden will provide yards in huge
chunks. Along with classmate and fellow
all-SEC selection Jones, these two are probably
the best RB tandem in the country. That
is why the new starters along the line are
so important. Jose Valdez has the inside
track at left tackle while Nate Garner graded
well in his extensive reserve roll as a
hybrid G/T on the right. There is substantial
depth up front that just has to evolve,
so expect the running game to do just as
well and sacks to stay at a minimum (second
in the nation with only nine allowed). This
offense, for all of its ground power, only
held the ball an average of 28:35 per game
in ’06 – more methodical ball-control
is needed to keep foes off the field and
Arkansas ahead against seemingly better
opponents.
|
|
C
Jonathan Luigs (PHOTO CREDIT: Arkansas
Sports Information)
|
|
|
ARKANSAS
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Casey
Dick-Jr (6-2, 207) |
Nathan
Emert-So (6-2, 204) |
FB |
Peyton
Hillis-Sr (6-2, 238) |
Farod
Jackson-Sr (6-0, 242) |
TB |
Darren
McFadden-Jr (6-2, 205) |
Felix
Jones-Jr (6-0, 200) |
WR |
Marcus
Monk-Sr (6-6, 217) |
London
Crawford-So (6-3, 200) |
WR |
Robert
Johnson-Sr (6-2, 210) |
Reggie
Fish-Jr (5-7, 156) |
TE |
Ben
Cleveland-So (6-4, 235) |
Andrew
Davie-So (6-6, 275)
Mason Templeton-Sr (6-7, 275) |
OT |
Jose
Valdez-Jr (6-6, 310) |
Ray
Dominguez-Fr (6-5, 285) |
OG |
Mitch
Petrus-Jr (6-5, 288) |
Michael
Aguirre-So (6-6, 310) |
C |
Jonathan
Luigs-Jr (6-4, 305) |
Joey
Crossland-So (6-6, 325) |
OG |
Robert
Felton-Sr (6-4, 316) |
DeMarcus
Love-Fr (6-5, 304) |
OT |
Nate
Garner-Sr (6-6, 325) |
Cody
Green-Jr (6-6, 333) |
K |
Jeremy
Davis-Jr (5-9, 210) |
.. |
|
|
2007
DEFENSE |
As
is true for anyone that succeeds in the
SEC, the Razorback defense is taut and well-balanced
to keep this team in games when the offense
sputters. Junior all-SEC end Antwain Robinson
is a monster who piles up stats as he contains
his side without over-pursuing. RS frosh
Malcolm Sheppard and senior Chris Wade will
try to fill the huge shoes of early departure
Jamaal Anderson, so expect to see foes pick
on the side opposite Robinson until another
worthy end is found to keep foes honest.
The inside of the line looks better off
with two starters and an experienced reserve
around which to build. Add two senior starting
linebackers to all of this and Arkansas
should be close to as good at run stopping
(33rd in ’06). MLB Weston Dacus is
a lane clogger if there ever was one, while
classmate Matt Hewitt is proven in coverage
but could improve his bulk for better leverage
against big linemen on running plays. Sophomores
Wendell and Adrian Davis (no relation) will
compete with classmate Freddie Fairchild
for the weakside start, and the extensive
experience of these three means quality
depth for the corps. The secondary can also
rebuild with minimal drop off in overall
performance level. Matterral Richardson,
their senior leader at corner, has to hope
either Jamar Love or Jerell Norton can step
up enough as the new starter opposite him
to give balance to the coverage…otherwise,
expect Richardson’s numbers to dwindle
while foes pick on his counterpart and move
downfield. Safety Michael Grant should be
back in full from his season-ending knee
injury. Experienced junior Kevin Woods will
now start alongside Grant; their health
is important without much behind them. There
can be no letdowns like there were in ’06
if UA wants to make the bigtime (BCS), so
the early tilt at Alabama will tell if this
Razorback defense (and therefore the team)
is for real or not.
|
|
DE
Antwain Robinson (PHOTO CREDIT: Arkansas
Sports Information)
|
|
|
ARKANSAS
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Malcolm
Sheppard-So (6-2, 255) |
Adrian
Davis-So (6-4, 200) |
DT |
Marcus
Harrison-Sr (6-3, 310) |
Fred
Bledsoe-Sr (6-3, 305) |
DT |
Ernest
Mitchell-Jr (6-2, 292) |
Cord
Gray-Jr (6-2, 290) |
DE |
Antwain
Robinson-Jr (6-3, 255) |
Chris
Wade-Sr (6-6, 250) |
SLB |
Freddie
Fairchild-So (6-2, 222) |
Chip
Gregory-Fr (6-4, 207) |
MLB |
Weston
Dacus-Sr (6-2, 230) |
Wendel
Davis-So (6-1, 205) |
WLB |
Ryan
Powers-Fr (6-2, 198) |
Desmond
Williams-Jr (6-2, 210) |
CB |
Jerell
Norton-So (6-1, 190) |
Jamar
Love-Jr (6-1, 195) |
CB |
Matterral
Richardson-Sr (6-0, 195) |
Shedrick
Johnson-Jr (5-10, 185) |
SS |
Matt
Hewitt-Sr (6-3, 205) |
Dallas
Washington-Jr (6-0, 213) |
FS |
Michael
Grant-Sr (5-11, 198) |
Kevin
Woods-Sr (5-10, 194) |
P |
Jeremy
Davis-Jr (5-9, 210) |
.. |
|
|
|
2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Kicker
Jeremy Davis went 2-for-8 from 30+, making it
tough for coach Nutt to rely on coverting for
three until the offense gets inside the opponent’s
25 yard-line. Davis looks like the punter, though
developments there could last through September.
Hillis should be the punt returner over backup
flanker Reggie Fish, and RB-tandem Jones and McFadden
as kick returners (each ran one back) are so good
it almost isn’t fair.
|
|
|
|
|