With so many high-profile coaches in the SEC, it may come as a surprise that Houston Nutt has led Arkansas to more wins over the past four years than any other head coach in the SEC West. Nutt, entering his fifth season in Fayetteville, has guided the Razorbacks to 30 victories and four bowl games (three on New Year's Day) in his first four seasons at Arkansas. In the SEC West, Mississippi State and Ole Miss have 29 victories each in that same period.
Despite Nutt's success, most observers are forecasting the Razorbacks to finish near the bottom of the SEC West in 2002. For Nutt to prove the doubters wrong once again -- and I believe he will -- the Razorbacks need to become more effective in the passing game.
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| Arkansas RB Cedric Cobbs scores during the first quarter of the Razorbacks' 42-17 win over Auburn last year. |
OFFENSE
Sophomore Matt Jones, athletically gifted at 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, now has a better grasp of the attack and can make things happen with his legs at QB.
The question, though, is whether Jones will remain at QB or shift to WR, another position he played last season. This is contingent on the development of redshirt freshman QB Tarvaris Jackson.
Jackson lacks Jones' experience and running skills on the option, but he provides much better arm strength and has ideal size (6-3, 217). Ryan Sorahan, who saw action against Tennessee and Alabama last year, is also in the mix at QB.
In the backfield, the Razorbacks have plenty of options. Cedric Cobbs is back in the mix after an impressive spring. Fred Talley, who led the team in rushing the past two years, is quick to the hole and has home-run hitting ability. Brandon Holmes, who seemed to get lost in the shuffle some last year, figures to see some action at FB this season. He'll compete for playing time with sophomore Mark Pierce. Also keep an eye on redshirt freshman DeArrius Howard (6-0, 220), a hard-charging big back coming off an impressive spring who catapulted himself into the mix.
Last year at wideout, sophomore George Wilson and junior Richard Smith combined for 78 catches, but the third-leading receiver for the Razorbacks was FB Mark Pierce (eight receptions). This depth problem explains Nutt's thought process in Jones' potential shift to wide receiver. If Jones remains at QB, senior Sparky Hamilton (who came on late last season) must emerge as a solid third option.
When you combine sophomore TE Jason Peters (6-5, 315) with an offensive line that returns super blue-chip sophomore RT Shawn Andrews (6-6, 335), the Razorbacks should have no problem moving defenders off the line of scrimmage and opening up running room. Junior Mark Bokerman (6-5, 305) found a home at RG next to Andrews last season after moving inside from tackle. But Andrews is the key. He's already on his way to establishing himself as the top offensive lineman in school history. The left side of the line is a concern, although the new starters -- LG Scott Davenport, LT Bo Lacy and C Josh Melton -- all have plenty of game experience.
DEFENSE
The strength of the Razorback defense is without question the secondary. Setting the tone are elite CBs Ahmad Carroll and Lawrence Richardson. Carroll, just a sophomore, is already considered one of the best cornerbacks in college football. Richardson, a blue-chip junior, led the SEC with 20 pass breakups in 2001. At FS, junior Ken Hamlin is also a highly regarded performer, but he's been indefinitely suspended for breaking team rules and could miss some game action. His situation must be monitored closely, since Hamlin rates with the top safeties in the nation and is the Razorbacks' most heralded safety since Steve Atwater in the late 1980s.
The challenge for new defensive coordinator Dave Wommack will be developing a true difference-maker in the front seven. Key graduation losses included DE Carlos Hall, DT Curt Davis and MLB Jermaine Petty.
Battle-tested senior Raymond House will be expected to provide the outside pass rush, with senior Jermaine Brooks hunkering down at nose tackle. Brooks missed spring practice due to a shoulder injury but is back at full strength now. Last year, he showed a knack for busting his way into the backfield, leading Razorback defensive linemen with 12 tackles for loss.
To compensate for the graduation loss of Petty, Wommack has shifted junior Caleb Miller from OLB to the inside, while productive junior Tony Bua remains at OLB. Last year, Bua and Miller each recorded over 100 tackles, with Bua earning second team All-SEC honors.
OVERVIEW
With the SEC West not especially well-defined, the Razorbacks have an opportunity once again to sneak up on unsuspecting opponents. If they're to be the sleeper team in the West, they need improvement in the passing game (last year, Jones was just 12-of-27 overall). In the backfield, we must wait and see how things develop with Cobbs, who is coming off his best spring with the Razorbacks when he proved to be more decisive as a north-south runner. The Razorbacks are fortunate to have developed plenty of depth at RB (with Talley, Howard and Holmes). Wilson could be a rising star at WR if Jones/Jackson can get him the football on a more consistent basis. Up front, Andrews is an All-American performer at RT, but linemen on the left side will be under the microscope early as they attempt to gain the necessary cohesion.
Defensively, Brooks is a force on the inside, while House needs to make up for Hall's graduation loss. Petty's loss is also big at MLB, where Miller will have to make the successful transition from OLB to fill the void. Hamlin's status is key. He's a quality FS and needs to be available when the Razorbacks open their SEC slate in late September against Alabama. There is no question that CBs Carroll and Richardson represent a team strength; they rank as two of the elite cover men in college football.
Arkansas should benefit from eight home games in 2002, but its four road games are tough: Tennessee, Auburn, South Carolina and Mississippi State.
