2011 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Preview

Some doubted whether or not coach Bobby Petrino could replicate his Louisville success at Arkansas. Others doubted his willingness to stay long enough to make the Razorbacks a contender in the brutal SEC West. After posting a 10-3 season and a trip to the Sugar Bowl, Petrino seems to have answered the doubts about his ability to build a program. Now entering his fourth season at the helm and armed with a new contract (and enormous buyout), Petrino is planting roots and has Arkansas poised to be a perennial contender. Even with some of the personnel losses (notably quarterback Ryan Mallett), the Razorbacks return 13 starters from last year’s Sugar Bowl squad and will be tough again in 2011.

Few college coaches groom quarterbacks as well as Petrino. Over his career he’s developed Auburn’s Jason Campbell, Louisville’s Stefan Lefors and Brian Brohm, and Mallett into top flight college football quarterbacks. Petrino’s history of success with quarterbacks portends good things for Tyler Wilson, who now steps into the role opened up by Mallett’s departure to the NFL. Wilson came in for relief of Mallett against Auburn and despite playing less than three full quarters of the game, threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns. There won’t be much of a dropoff in production at quarterback because in addition to Petrino’s aptitude, he also has the luxury of all three of his dangerous wideouts: Yes, Greg Childs, Joe Adams, and Jarius Wright all return.

The biggest myth about Petrino is that he is a pass-happy play-caller when the reality is more complex. Petrino loves to pound opposing defenses with the running game and he’ll have the horses to do it - both big-play threat Knile Davis and grinder Ronnie Wingo return to carry the ball. The challenge for Petrino is finding suitable replacements at both tackle positions. One piece of relief could come from highly touted freshman Brey Cook, who graduated early and enrolled in the spring. Cook could be the answer at right tackle. If a worth replacement is found at left tackle and at tight end, then Petrino will have all the pieces to field yet another deadly offense.

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For the first time in perhaps his entire career, Petrino may actually field a defense that opponents have to worry about. Defensive end Jake Bequette earned second team all-SEC honors in 2010 and he returns along with Tenarius Wright, Chris Smith, and Colton Miles-Nash. The four defensive ends were terrors in spring practice and should give the Hogs a healthy pass rush in 2011. They’ll also help keep offensive linemen off the three senior linebackers that return, including Jerry Franklin, the team’s leading tackler. Arkansas should have a solid front seven which is an absolute must in the physical and grinding SEC West.

The Hogs’ secondary struggled against many of the better passing teams on the schedule and was flat out helpless against Cam Newton and the Auburn offense. The return of second team All-SEC safety Tramain Thomas and corner Isaac Madison should stabilize the secondary as it breaks in two new contributors. There’s also a chance that highly touted cornerback Tevin Mitchell could push for early playing time as a true freshman. The group will have the luxury of a good pass rush to help them this season.

The Hogs’ schedule is about as easy as an SEC West team could hope for. The Hogs open with three cupcakes ( Missouri State, New Mexico, and Troy) before heading out on the road to face Alabama. They avoid Florida and Georgia from the East and get South Carolina at home. The final stretch of games against Tennessee, at Mississippi State, and at LSU will determine if Petrino takes the next step in the program’s development and brings Arkansas back to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta for the first time since 2006.