Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports
WHEN: Saturday, October 19; TBD
WHERE: Bryant-Denny Stadium (Tuscaloosa, AL)
LAST SEASON: 4-8 (2-6 Southeastern Conference, 6th in Western Division)
CURRENT PRESEASON RANKING: consensus – unranked
CURRENT BETTING LINE: Alabama by 29
TV: TBD
RADIO: Crimson Tide Sports Network, local affiliates listed here.
SERIES HISTORY: Alabama leads the series 16-7. (Last meeting: 52-0 Alabama in the 2012 SEC opener for both schools. The last Arkansas victory came in 2006 in OT at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
OFFENSE: With the departure of gun-slinging quarterback Tyler Wilson and a brand new offensive scheme under Bret Bielema, a cloud of uncertainty looms over the Razorbacks this season.
Bielema brought on former Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, who is known for his high-flying, high-intensity offense. Chaney also served as the interim at Tennessee for the final game of the 2012 season after Derek Dooley was fired. Chaney mentored Drew Brees during his time at Purdue as the offensive coordinator from 1997-2005. After spending a couple years in the NFL as a position coach with the St. Louis Rams, Chaney learned to embrace the pro-style offense and adapted his spread style to incorporate more pro-style looks.
Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen did see action in five games last season and made one start in the absence of Tyler Wilson, due to injury. Only a sophomore, if Allen earns the starting job he will still suffer from lack of experience especially against SEC opponents like Alabama.
Conclusion: With a strong base in head coach Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, success could be on the horizon in the near future. For now, with an inexperienced quarterback and unanswered questions in the running game, the Razorbacks don’t seem like a major offensive threat. Not to mention Arkansas will face a murderer’s row of opponents before facing the Crimson Tide. The Razorbacks will play Texas A&M, Florida and South Carolina in consecutive weeks before facing Alabama at home.
DEFENSE: After losing several experienced defensive linemen to graduation including DE Chris Smith and DT Robert Thomas, the Razorbacks will look to reload quickly on the defensive side of the ball. Smith and Thomas combined for 52.0 tackles last season, 7.8 percent of the team’s 2012 total.
The 2012 Razorbacks ranked as the 116th overall passing defense in the country last season. It’s a mark that must be improved upon for 2013, especially with experienced SEC West quarterbacks like Johnny Manziel and AJ McCarron.
Expect some growing pains, especially on the defensive side of the ball for the Razorbacks through 2013. Several young players showed promise in the spring game, including freshman CB Ray Buchanan Jr. who lead the white team in tackles. TQ Coleman is also expected to anchor the secondary from his safety position. Coleman comes to Arkansas as the No. 10 overall JUCO safety in the nation after spending two years at Georgia Military College.
Conclusion: The Razorbacks will look to several first-year players to carry the load, especially on the defensive line and in the secondary. Arkansas has recruited well, so the young talent is there, but with such an intimidating conference schedule, learning on the job may prove to be too much at times for these young players.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Arkansas returns senior placekicker Zach Hocker who led the team in scoring a year ago. Hocker was 11-18 on field goals, including a long of 46 yards. He was 21-27 in 2011 and 16-19 in 2010 with longs of over 50 yards.
Sophomore wide receiver D’Arthur Cowan is the leading kick returner from last season. Cowan returned 10 kicks for 176 yards last season as a true freshman.
The Razorbacks will have to replace long-time punter Dylan Breeding who graduated last year. Breeding ranks fifth all-time in punts, punt yardage, and punt average in Arkansas history.
Conclusion: Senior kicker Zach Hocker has the leg to carry the Razorbacks through the 2013 season, but will look to improve on an inconsistent 2012 campaign. D’Arthur Cowan looks to be the leading candidate for kick return duties, but like the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, there are still several unanswered questions heading into the 2013 season for the Hogs.
COACHING: Bret Bielema brings a strong pedigree and proven success to Arkansas. Bielema was the head coach at Wisconsin before taking over the Razorbacks this season, leading the Badgers to three straight Rose Bowls after winning the last three Big Ten titles.
Bielema brings a 68-24 record to Fayetteville and ranks as the ninth-highest winning percentage among active head coaches with at least five years of experience at .739. He is known for his great offensive teams and sound defensive units. Coaching players like Montee Ball, who holds the NCAA record for total touchdowns and rushing touchdowns, and Russell Wilson, who exploded onto the NFL scene in 2012. His style of football seems like a natural fit in the SEC, but it has to be hard walking into the toughest division in the nation and having the expectations of competing with national powers like Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M.
Bret Bielema also brings with him a proven group of coaches. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney has SEC experience with Tennessee and has developed star quarterbacks in the past. Defensive coordinator Chris Ash has risen to prominence under Bielema. He became a respected name throughout the Big Ten and the rest of the country during his time at Wisconsin. Ash hopes to translate that success to the defensive minded SEC. Before joining the Arkansas staff, Chris Ash spent ten seasons at Iowa State beginning as the defensive graduate assistant in 2000.
Conclusion: Bret Bielema’s inaugural season and the return of Jim Chaney to the SEC makes for a great storyline, but that will probably be short lived. Especially if the Razorbacks experience some of the major growing pains expected in 2013. Bielema has surrounded himself with a great staff, but I doubt his relatively inexperienced SEC staff will be able to compete with Nick Saban and the rest of the Alabama coaching staff this season. Expect Bret Bielema to experience some success in the SEC, just not this season. It looks like another rebuilding year for the Razorback faithful.
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