Arkansas Razorbacks Spring Practice Preview: 3 Storylines To Watch
Arkansas Razorbacks spring practice preview for 2017. Here are three storylines to watch when the Razorbacks hit the field on March 28.
Arkansas Razorbacks spring practice preview for 2017. Here are three storylines to watch when the Razorbacks hit the field on March 28.
When the Razorbacks held a 24-0 halftime lead over Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl, it looked like the 2016 season would end victoriously for Arkansas and give Bret Bielema’s program some momentum heading into the offseason.
Then the second half came and the Hogs folded like a cheap picnic table, giving up 35 straight points for a 35-24 loss.
Bielema has a lot of talent coming back, including running back Rawleigh Williams III, one of the premier rushers in the country, and quarterback Austin Allen, who threw for 3,430 yards and 25 touchdowns with 15 interceptions this past season and appears ready for a breakout year in his last season.
Here are three storylines to watch out for as the Razorbacks begin spring practice on March 28.
Arkansas Razorbacks Spring Practice Storylines
1. Improvement On Defense
The Hogs were bad on stopping the run last season, allowing 205.46 rushing yards per game, unusual for a Bielema-coached team. Last year’s defensive coordinator Robb Smith is now at Minnesota, and Paul Rhoads is in charge of remaking a unit that was pounded mercilessly last season.
The important task for Rhoads will be in the trenches, as the defensive line saw three of its four starters from the bowl game graduate. The excellent play of McTelvin Agim, who splashed onto the season as a freshman last season, is no secret, but who will help him is a conundrum. Briston Guidry could be a bright spot, along with Bijhon Jackson, who brings three years of experience to the line. No matter who it is, there will need to be some major improvement as the Hogs try to stop the flood of rushing yards that they gave up last season.
2. On The Other Side
Allen can simply not take the beating in the backfield that he suffered last season. It seemed that every other pass attempt, Allen would end up on his back, and it was due to an offensive line that never seemed to gel with pass protection.
The good news? Arkansas could have one of the best centers in the country returning in Frank Ragnow, and the only starter missing from last year’s unit is Dan Skipper. Hjalte Froholdt, Johnny Gibson, and Brian Wallace all return along with Ragnow, and shoring up pass protection – along with making sure that Williams has plenty of room to do his thing from the running back position – will be a major focus for offensive line coach Kurt Anderson.
3. Hog Mentality
The success that Arkansas thought it would get with the hiring of Bielema has not exactly occurred in his first four seasons, as the Hogs are 25-26 in that span. Granted, his first season was a washout as they struggled to 3-9, but the improvement that Bielema should be delivering is still missing.
How do the Hogs prepare for this season will say a lot about Bielema and the players he has recruited. It is a team full of his players now, and Bielema was brought in to Fayetteville to compete for the SEC West and conference title against the likes of Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and Florida. Will the man who won three straight Big Ten titles be able to get Arkansas to that level? We shall see.
