re: Arkansas: Great rushing attack?

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We don't need to rush for 250 a game because our defense will keep the score low.

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Or maybe you do need them to win more games.

I personally don't think we had an elite running game last year. I've seen an elite running game in person and while ours was good it wasn't great and it definitely wasn't elite. We often started the game off destroying teams at the point if attack but by the end of the game were just gassed.

On the other hand, I believe that we have a good chance of having a better passing attack this year. Our offensive line WAS very good at protecting the QB and giving him time to work, but our best weapon was a TE and a possession receiver. If we can blow the top off of the better defenses we face this year and make teams play us straight up we could be a really good (still not elite probably) offensive unit and actually do a better job of keeping our defense rested whole also giving them some leverage.

Just like nearly every team in the west, if our few missing pieces show up we could be dominant. If they don't, we could be marginally worse and only win 7 games again. The difference between first and worst isn't all that big this year (unless Coker comes out looking like Drew Bree's and Bama can develop a shut down corner...they could be truly elite).

The Arkansas rushing attack will be greatly improved. We'll have addition by subtraction and better depth on the OL and we'll rotate OL unlike the previous seasons w/ Bielema.

First off, we lose RT Brey Cook, a 4*/5* talent that cared more about partying and chasing puss than working out. He was a whiny bitch that Bielema had to pattycake along because he was a popular guy on the squad and campus. Bielema mentioned a few times about older guys on the OL having their ego's hurt by the newcomers pushing them for playing time and having to massage the fact that the Sr. OL weren't cut out for playing all the snaps in a game and would need to be rested. That never happened and Brey Cook got abused late in games and didn't have enough left to push the DL. We always got stuffed when we ran to his side in the 2nd half. Defenses loading the box when we couldn't complete a pass downfield either didn't help.

Secondly, dumbfrick Chaney is gone. Enos shouldn't shoot ourselves in the foot w/ cutesy stupid shite.

Third, we'll get rushing yards from the QB position. Both Allen brothers can make plays with their feet. I think we'll see more of that this year and passing game involving the RB's which will make teams have to account for that even being a possibility and should make defenses play less aggresively against us on the edges and open the middle of the defense up a little more as safeties will need to lay back momentarily after the snap.

Fourth, we're gonna be much more athletic at G. We'll probably run behind a pulling Frank Ragnow quite a bit and have some trap plays and weakside runs that we didn't do much of last season.

Fifth, Austin Cantrell. Freshman TE that's 6'3 250. He ran the anchor on his HS's sprint relay teams and won the shotput 2 out of the last 3 years in Oklahoma. I think he'll end up being our FB. We never found the replacement for Kiero Small last year. This kid will be a terror and he can catch and smash guys w/ the ball. When we've got Cantrell and Walker in the backfield that's 510+ lbs and will be a nightmare for most defenses in the country.

Sixth, ummmmm we've got 2 1,000 yard rushers returning. We've got experienced and talented guys to run the ball. The rushing attack will be a strength there's no question to it.

I love our backs, but the lack of a coherent passing game certainly kept us from being "elite."

Our OL got gassed against TAMU, and our rushing game was suspect against a number of SEC teams.

I've yet to see us destroy a real SEC defense with our run game. I want to see that before I call us great.

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Just about every team in America that won 7-8 games can say something like this.

If A&M punches it in the endzone with three tries from the two against Mizzu, and the refs call the obvious offsides on LSU on our final drive, A&M probably wins 10 games.

It doesn't mean anything more than you weren't quite good enough to do it.

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It beats getting beat 59-0, which 10-win teams just don't do, like, ever.

If you have a freshmen or two starting or playing significant time on the O line in the SEC there will be trouble. This will be Bert's first year with a somewhat seasoned line starting no Freshmen.