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In depth look at Arkansas' running game that is poised for big season
Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:31 pm
Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:31 pm
With a first year starting QB, returning just 2 starting OL from last season, and with plenty of weapons at RB, I'm predicting Arkansas' offense is going to lean more on the run game this season than last. Now that we are in year 4 of Bielema's tenure, I think we'll start seeing the type of offense he really wants and Arkansas will start to look a little more like Bielema's Wisconsin teams. For comparison:
Year / Team / Rushing Yards Per Game / National Rank
'15 Arkansas: 191 YPG (36th)
'14 Arkansas: 195 YPG (40th)
'13 Arkansas: 197 YPG (26th)
'12 Wisconsin: 242 YPG (11th)
'11 Wisconsin: 233 YPG (9th)
'10 Wisconsin: 239 YPG (12th)
Soph RB Rawleigh Williams III (RW3) took several tackles yesterday without issue after coming back from a neck injury. They say he's bigger and faster than last season. As a freshman, he showed flashes of greatness. Checkout his freshman highlights to get a taste of what he can do - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFWzauuWmtY
True Frosh Devwah Whaley is looking the part of the elite RB he was touted to be coming out of HS. Looks like he's going to do what Alex Collins did his Freshman year and step right in and get a ton of touches and probably have a thousand yard season barring injuries. Bielema said Whaley may be the most complete RB he's ever signed, and that's saying something considering all of the great RB's he's coached. In yesterday's scrimmage, Whaley ran for 96 yards on 14 carries (6.9 YPC) which is impressive considering Arkansas returns most of its front 7 on a D that was 4th in the SEC in rushing defense and held opponents to 3.6 YPC last season.
6th year senior Kody Walker returns from playing FB and some RB last season. He dropped his weight from 260 to 240. He probably won't be one of our feature backs as RW3 and Whaley are just too good. When called upon against LSU last season, he ran 17 times at 5.2 YPC.
Rounding out the RB corps are 4 Star Frosh TJ Hammonds and Jr Damon Mitchell. Both bring more speed and the ability to lineup at WR (Mitchell converted to RB from WR and Hammonds played some WR in HS). Not sure how much of a role they will have, but they're nice to have for depth in a conference where top end speed is needed to win.
Frosh Hayden Johnson (6-3, 250 lbs) has taken the FB spot. We'll also probably see 270 lb RS-FR TE Austin Cantrell and 255 lb RS-FR TE Will Gragg line up at FB. Both were 4 star recruits.
SR Dan Skipper and JR Frank Ragnow anchor the OL. Graduate transfer Jake Raulerson adds experience after playing in 33 games for Texas. Raulerson chose Arkansas over Michigan among others. Raulerson will probably be in a fight with Soph Zach Rogers for the RG spot unless coaches like him at center and move Ragnow to RG. Soph and former 4 star DT Hjalte Froholdt moved to LG in the Spring and seems to have locked down first string. Hjalte has everything you want physically and plays with a chip on his shoulder. He and Skipper on the left side of the line could be quite the force. Arkansas has a few options to choose from to round out the OL, including some JUCO transfers as well as RS freshman Jalen Merrick and Soph Brian Wallace, both 4 stars recruits.
If I had to predict the starting 5 OL today it would be Skipper Froholdt Ragnow Rogers Wallace. The average height/weight of this group is 6-5 322 lbs. Maybe not the biggest OL in football anymore, but definitely up there.
New OL coach Kurt Anderson came from the Buffalo Bills where he was assistant OL coach for 4 seasons. Buffalo was #1 in rushing yards last season, 2nd in 2013, and 6th in 2012. Before that, Anderson was Eastern Michigan's OL coach and running game coordinator. EMU had the nation's 14th best rushing attack in 2011 and rushed for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons for just the second time in school history.
I can't say Arkansas will have the best running game in the SEC due to the stiff competition, but I do know they are going to make a run for it.
Year / Team / Rushing Yards Per Game / National Rank
'15 Arkansas: 191 YPG (36th)
'14 Arkansas: 195 YPG (40th)
'13 Arkansas: 197 YPG (26th)
'12 Wisconsin: 242 YPG (11th)
'11 Wisconsin: 233 YPG (9th)
'10 Wisconsin: 239 YPG (12th)
Soph RB Rawleigh Williams III (RW3) took several tackles yesterday without issue after coming back from a neck injury. They say he's bigger and faster than last season. As a freshman, he showed flashes of greatness. Checkout his freshman highlights to get a taste of what he can do - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFWzauuWmtY
True Frosh Devwah Whaley is looking the part of the elite RB he was touted to be coming out of HS. Looks like he's going to do what Alex Collins did his Freshman year and step right in and get a ton of touches and probably have a thousand yard season barring injuries. Bielema said Whaley may be the most complete RB he's ever signed, and that's saying something considering all of the great RB's he's coached. In yesterday's scrimmage, Whaley ran for 96 yards on 14 carries (6.9 YPC) which is impressive considering Arkansas returns most of its front 7 on a D that was 4th in the SEC in rushing defense and held opponents to 3.6 YPC last season.
6th year senior Kody Walker returns from playing FB and some RB last season. He dropped his weight from 260 to 240. He probably won't be one of our feature backs as RW3 and Whaley are just too good. When called upon against LSU last season, he ran 17 times at 5.2 YPC.
Rounding out the RB corps are 4 Star Frosh TJ Hammonds and Jr Damon Mitchell. Both bring more speed and the ability to lineup at WR (Mitchell converted to RB from WR and Hammonds played some WR in HS). Not sure how much of a role they will have, but they're nice to have for depth in a conference where top end speed is needed to win.
Frosh Hayden Johnson (6-3, 250 lbs) has taken the FB spot. We'll also probably see 270 lb RS-FR TE Austin Cantrell and 255 lb RS-FR TE Will Gragg line up at FB. Both were 4 star recruits.
SR Dan Skipper and JR Frank Ragnow anchor the OL. Graduate transfer Jake Raulerson adds experience after playing in 33 games for Texas. Raulerson chose Arkansas over Michigan among others. Raulerson will probably be in a fight with Soph Zach Rogers for the RG spot unless coaches like him at center and move Ragnow to RG. Soph and former 4 star DT Hjalte Froholdt moved to LG in the Spring and seems to have locked down first string. Hjalte has everything you want physically and plays with a chip on his shoulder. He and Skipper on the left side of the line could be quite the force. Arkansas has a few options to choose from to round out the OL, including some JUCO transfers as well as RS freshman Jalen Merrick and Soph Brian Wallace, both 4 stars recruits.
If I had to predict the starting 5 OL today it would be Skipper Froholdt Ragnow Rogers Wallace. The average height/weight of this group is 6-5 322 lbs. Maybe not the biggest OL in football anymore, but definitely up there.
New OL coach Kurt Anderson came from the Buffalo Bills where he was assistant OL coach for 4 seasons. Buffalo was #1 in rushing yards last season, 2nd in 2013, and 6th in 2012. Before that, Anderson was Eastern Michigan's OL coach and running game coordinator. EMU had the nation's 14th best rushing attack in 2011 and rushed for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons for just the second time in school history.
I can't say Arkansas will have the best running game in the SEC due to the stiff competition, but I do know they are going to make a run for it.
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Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:31 pm to Jon Ham
Diabetes board
Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:32 pm to Jon Ham
Good read thanks this was interesting 
Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:37 pm to Jon Ham
I think you are gonna see us air it out alot more this year than previous. this is our best WR corps under bret. I doubt we look like an old Wisconsin team.
Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:38 pm to Jon Ham
Kody's yards per carry were great yesterday. Limited work though, and he only got a few touches. He stiff armed a linebacker to the ground on a 20 yard carry though.
Arkansas's run game is going to be fu(kin' stout this year. Whaley drug defenders across the goal line on that TD run. The kid is legit AF.
Austin Allen looked sharp too. The biggest question on offense, at this point, is how quickly the newer guys (Raulerson for instance) can pick up the pass protection assignments on the offensive line. If the offensive line play is strong, this team will contend for the SEC title this year. They look incredible.
Arkansas's run game is going to be fu(kin' stout this year. Whaley drug defenders across the goal line on that TD run. The kid is legit AF.
Austin Allen looked sharp too. The biggest question on offense, at this point, is how quickly the newer guys (Raulerson for instance) can pick up the pass protection assignments on the offensive line. If the offensive line play is strong, this team will contend for the SEC title this year. They look incredible.
Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:38 pm to Jon Ham
quote:
Dan Skipper
He needs to quit jumping offsides. Still, I don't think he's human
Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:40 pm to Jon Ham
quote:
'15 Arkansas: 191 YPG (36th)
'14 Arkansas: 195 YPG (40th)
'13 Arkansas: 197 YPG (26th)
Be better at running the ball Bert, it's supposed to be your thing
Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:40 pm to russellvillehog
With a young offensive line, they will lean on the run more than you think, I would imagine. But as I said in my previous post, it just depends on how good those new guys are on the o-line.
From what I've heard, Froholdt plays like an animal out there. He and Skipper are gonna straight maul people on the left side of that line.
From what I've heard, Froholdt plays like an animal out there. He and Skipper are gonna straight maul people on the left side of that line.
Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:40 pm to Jon Ham
You sure used a lot of words to say "Bert finna eat".
Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:42 pm to russellvillehog
quote:
I think you are gonna see us air it out alot more this year than previous. this is our best WR corps under bret. I doubt we look like an old Wisconsin team.
I don't think that's an unreasonable prediction since I agree we have a very nasty WR corps and TE with a QB who can get them the ball. My prediction is based on the fact we have a OL that's more green than experienced and run blocking is easier than pass blocking. If we didn't have the RB corps we have then I'd agree with you, but i think it's just more likely we favor the run considering what we have back there and what Bielema is known to love.
Posted on 8/14/16 at 2:43 pm to wmr
quote:
You sure used a lot of words to say "Bert finna eat".
Bert Is never not "finna eat"
He keeps hot dogs in his pockets at all time just in case
Posted on 8/14/16 at 3:43 pm to BoarEd
Whaley running for 96 yards on 14 carries did impress me against our first team defense. Basically the same defense that kept Fournette to only 91 yards on 19 carries last year and Derrick Henry to 95 yards on 27 carries. Very impressed with him! Now realistically, need to see it in a real game before getting too excited though.
Posted on 8/14/16 at 5:53 pm to Jon Ham
With a few new starter on the OL and a new starting QB , it would seem logical that the offense would go back to the ground game like it did in Brets first 2 years. But the idea that the offense will make a run for top rushing attach in the SEC is funny. UGA , LSU and Bama should be a lot better then Arkansas . I will be shocked if Arkansas is even top 5 in RYPG in conference play.
Posted on 8/14/16 at 5:56 pm to tjv305
No, what's funny is you posting in another Arkansas thread.
Posted on 8/14/16 at 5:58 pm to Hogattack
Well, the thing about it is that Bielema instructed Robb Smith to not dial up much pressure. Defensive line still recorded 7 sacks...with Deatrich Wise and McTelvin Agim seeing limited action for whatever reason.
That tells me they're really gonna need to lean on the ground game, and it appears that Whaley is the real deal. So that's good. But Arkansas's offense may be in trouble in passing situations. Time will tell.
It could also mean, however, that Arkansas's defense is pretty elite. Let's hope that that's the case.
Either way, Whaley was able to run through and over some very good d-linemen and linebackers.
That tells me they're really gonna need to lean on the ground game, and it appears that Whaley is the real deal. So that's good. But Arkansas's offense may be in trouble in passing situations. Time will tell.
It could also mean, however, that Arkansas's defense is pretty elite. Let's hope that that's the case.
Either way, Whaley was able to run through and over some very good d-linemen and linebackers.
Posted on 8/14/16 at 5:59 pm to Jon Ham
Holy Toledo.
Posted on 8/14/16 at 6:00 pm to tjv305
Well, the Gaytors are going to get an up close and personal look at it this season. So I guess you guys will get a pretty good feel for it then. I think Rawleigh Williams will be among the league's most productive RBs this season.
Posted on 8/14/16 at 6:04 pm to Hawgeye
I post in Tennessee threads too. Arkansas and Tennessee fans are always good for a laugh. You guys are but great in the offseason then the games start and reality sets in 
Posted on 8/14/16 at 6:17 pm to tjv305
Gators will be playing in a whole different climate than they are use to...NWA in November could be brutal...
This post was edited on 8/14/16 at 6:18 pm
Posted on 8/14/16 at 6:19 pm to Jon Ham
Good luck bro. Iike Arkansas football.
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