Arkansas fans, what should we expect in 2016 from the Hogs?

7-5

Did y'all graduate a bunch of players?

Almost everyone in the two deep on defense return. Should be greatly improved. Always have been strong in the run D but pass D really struggled. An improved pass rush and new DB coach (Paul Rhodes) should help improve that.

The offense is still a question mark. Austin appears to have almost identical numbers in spring/fall scrimmages as his older brother from last year. Lost Collins at RB but return the 2nd and 3rd RB, also add Whaley which looks solid so far. WRs are very experienced and should help a inexperienced QB early. Sprinkle should easily be a top 3 TE in the SEC. Oline is where my biggest worry is atm. Dan Skipper is solid but not very confident in too many of the others.

Appreciate the insight.

quote:

---

Almost everyone in the two deep on defense return. Should be greatly improved. Always have been strong in the run D but pass D really struggled. An improved pass rush and new DB coach (Paul Rhodes) should help improve that.

The offense is still a question mark. Austin appears to have almost identical numbers in spring/fall scrimmages as his older brother from last year. Lost Collins at RB but return the 2nd and 3rd RB, also add Whaley which looks solid so far. WRs are very experienced and should help a inexperienced QB early. Sprinkle should easily be a top 3 TE in the SEC. Oline is where my biggest worry is atm. Dan Skipper is solid but not very confident in too many of the others.

---

That pretty well sums it up.

Basically we expect to take a step back on offense but a step up on defense. Our success this season will be measured by how big those steps are.

Your legs must be tired from running through my mind

quote:

---

Basically we expect to take a step back on offense but a step up on defense. Our success this season will be measured by how big those steps are.

---

Yes, and that is why I think Enos is going to be one of the most important factors. If he is able to put the offense/Allen in good spots with his play calling (like last year) we should be a very good team. Would be surprised if the defense doesn't return to 2014 form.

Austin will be a top 3 sec qb

Dan skipper is a massive dude. He probably dips 2 cans at a time

quote:

---

'll admit I'm not as in tune with your returners, what you lost, positions you are confident/not confident in, or just general expectations

---

I appreciate you as a solid poster, so you will get a solid answer from me...

Offense: Return arguably the deepest WR group I've seen in my lifetime as an Arkansas follower. Very talented group. All are back from a season ago. Jeremy Sprinkle is back at TE. He led the league in TDs for TEs a season ago. He will be a nice replacement for Hunter Henry. Those groups combined, make this an easier transition for Austin Allen, IMO. Reports suggest the passing offense hasn't missed a beat, just a different first name at QB. I'll hold off on that koolaid until I see for myself in a week or so.

Running back should be solid again. Rawleigh Williams, Kody Walker, and Devwah Whaley should provide a pretty lethal ground attack. Bert says Whaley is the best RB he has ever recruited and everyone has raged about him through camp. Walker is a proven 6th year senior who really shines at the end of last season. Williams is coming off a terrible injury just when he had started to find a groove last season. He is super talented and will probably have a great season.

The OL is still going to be solid IMO. Skipper, Ragnow, and Wallace all have significant game snaps under their belts. Wallace isn't with the ones, so competition has been stiff up front. Skipper, Ragnow, Jackson, Raulerson, and Froholdt look to be the starting 5. Raulerson is a grad transfer from Texas who has moved to a guard spot here. As far as the Oline goes, that's usually the strongest part of a Bert team.

On defense Arkansas returns everyone on the two deep from last years front seven, minus one guy. So, 13/14 are back from a unit that held SEC opponents to less than 1,000 rushing yards a season ago. The only other team to do that also, was Alabama. Passing defense was horrible a season ago. Everyone is back, minus one safety. Insert former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoades, and we should see improvement. Players say they played too heavy last season so some weight has been shredded. Hopefully this transitions to them being better out of breaks on coverage. One thing that should help them will be more of a pass rush by Wise and company up front. Overall, the defense should be much better with everyone returning. Top 10 good like 2014? I dunno, maybe. There is more experience and more depth on this defense than there was in 2014.

Overall I picked us to go 9-3. SEC Network guys picked the same thing. I think Arkansas can make a big statement early against TCU. I wouldn't be surprised to see Arkansas 5-0 headed into the Alabama game, but wouldn't be shocked if they were 4-1 or 3-2.