Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Arkansas FAQ 2018
1. WHO WILL WIN THE STARTING QUARTERBACK JOB?
Perhaps it’s appropriate to discuss this from short-term and long-term perspectives. Ty Storey’s devotion to film study and steadiness with the starting unit has appeared to give the redshirt junior a leg up over Cole Kelley, the more prototypical quarterback with a higher upside but more up-and-down and less maturity to his game. The coaching staff did not let on who had the edge at starter or who was rising fastest among the freshman cluster of Daulton Hyatt, Connor Noland and John Stephen Jones. The long-term answer could come from that trio if the veterans falter. There’s a greater likelihood of three quarterbacks playing vs. Eastern Illinois than one.
2. CAN THE DEFENSE BE BETTER THIS FALL?
The real question is will it be marginally better or substantially better, because it will improve in Season One under coordinator John Chavis. There is veteran talent to work with on all three levels and the man coverage capabilities of Ryan Pulley, Chevin Calloway and company should allow Chavis to run a variety of blitzes. Truly, there is nowhere to go but up for a unit that gave up 196 rushing yards, 242 passing yards and 36.2 points per game in 2017. The Razorbacks also allowed 48 percent third down conversions and a school-record 42.13 points per SEC game.
3. WILL THE HOGS HAVE A 1,000-YARD RUSHER?
No. Though any of the five contenders are well capable of hitting the 1,000-yard milestone, it’s unlikely because the carries will be spread
among Devwah Whaley, T.J. Hammonds, Chase Hayden, Rakeem Boyd and Maleek Williams. Whaley seems to have solidified the top job, and he’s in much better shape than last year, but Hayden and Hammonds have shown the chops to be effective backs in the SEC and Williams’ camp was off to a rousing start at the halfway point. Boyd’s talent is undeniable and if has the conditioning together and the playbook down, he should contribute as well.
4. WILL DE’JON HARRIS AND DRE GREENLAW POST 100 TACKLES AGAIN?
Doubtful. It’s John Chavis’ preference that he rest his two standout linebackers enough
during games that they can be sturdy at
crunch time and won’t have to reach triple digit tackles. For the last several years, the Razorbacks have seemed to be stuck on using only two or three reliable linebackers. The hope is Grant Morgan, Dee Walker, Hayden Henry, Bumper Pool and perhaps others will play well enough to spread the tackles around better.
5. WHAT WILL THE RECEIVER ROTATION LOOK LIKE?
Jared Cornelius, Jonathan Nance, La’Michael Pettway and maybe Mike Woods looked like the top bunch coming out of spring. However, in training camp speedsters De’Vion Warren, Jordan Jones and Gary Cross made quick pushes, while walk-ons Tobias Enlow and Tyson Morris have made their presence known since the arrival of Chad Morris, coordinator Joe Craddock and position coach Justin Stepp. Deon Stewart, second on the club with 33 catches last year, has some catching up to do after a brief hamstring issue in camp. Sophomores Jarrod Barnes and Koilan Jackson, coming off knee surgery, and 6-5 transfer Chase Harrell cannot be ruled out. Can Nance lead the team in receptions two years in a row or will someone knock him off?
6. OVER OR UNDER 25 SACKS?
We’re taking the over, based on the veteran talent on the roster and the propensity of Chavis teams to find ways to strike opposing quarterbacks. The Razorbacks did limited pressure packages last season and had trouble zeroing in on the passer on many of them. Their success rate will go up this fall, and they will also cause more hurried passes.
7. WILL A TIGHT END LEAD THE TEAM IN RECEPTIONS?
This could definitely happen, based on how well players at the spot performed in the spring. Cheyenne O’Grady tied for third on the team with Jordan Jones with 21 catches last year and his role as a pass catcher should expand. A full year of conditioning has done wonders for Jeremy Patton, who was nicked up with an ankle injury for a time in camp, but he should blow well past the 11 catches he had last year. Austin Cantrell, a primo blocker, had 13 catches in 2017. Grayson Gunter’s receiving bonafides have flashed here and there, so it’s not a stretch to say he could be a breakout star in the new offense.
8. OVER OR UNDER 23 TOUCHDOWN PASSES ALLOWED?
Under. Opponents struck for 23 touchdown passes last year, including at key moments in winnable games against Texas A&M, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Missouri. The return of Ryan Pulley will make exploiting the secondary more difficult, and Chevin Calloway at the other corner spot looks ready for the challenge he’s sure to face. The play at safety with veteran Santos Ramirez, converted corner Kam Curl and company should be upgraded. A total of 20 touchdown passes allowed sounds about right.
9. WILL THE RAZORBACKS PULL OFF AN SEC UPSET THIS SEASON?
For the sake of this argument, we’ll consider victories over Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M and Mississippi State to be upsets; victories over Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Missouri to not be upsets, even though the Razorbacks might be slight underdogs in some of those games.
Yes, Arkansas will win at least one game against one of the teams picked to finish in the top five of the SEC West ahead of the Hogs. It won’t be against Auburn (on the road) or Alabama,
which has won 11 in a row in the series. The Aggies have won six in a row, but three of those were in the Hogs’ clutches, so there’s upset potential in the Southwest Classic. LSU has lost a lot of starters, the quarterback situation, which got worse in camp, isn’t guaranteed to work, the Tigers always seem on the brink of an implosion and the Razorbacks have an open date before the Nov. 10 game in Fayetteville. LSU plays Alabama the week before. There’s great upset potential there. Arkansas won its last game in Starkville, Miss., and beating Mississippi State should never feel like an upset.
10. A TWO-WIN IMPROVEMENT WOULD TAKE THE HOGS TO 6-6. CAN THEY GET THERE?
This should be a tight race. The road game at Colorado State in Week Two could take the Razorbacks in a much happier direction, while a loss there could do some damage to their collective psyche. However, if we’re calling for at least one SEC upset, then it stands to reason the Razorbacks could win at least two other league games and at least three nonconference games to get to six wins and the bowl eligibility threshold. We think it’s going to happen.