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Arkansas Runningback Knile Davis Declares For The NFL

Posted by Adam Butler on December 12, 2012

Knile Davis–the dominant, when healthy, but unfortunately oft-injured Arkansas runningback has declared for the NFL draft.

According to collegefootballnews.com, he will be represented by former Hog Track & Field Olympian turned agent, Mike Conley, Sr.

Davis was a 1st-team All-SEC selection in 2010, when he rushed for 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns and led all SEC running backs in those categories.

We wish Knile good health and a return to form. He has been through a lot and is the type of player that deserves some good fortune.

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BlogHawgs Razorback Rewind–A Plain(s) Beatdown.

Posted by Adam Butler on October 8, 2012

That felt good, didn’t it?

Arkansas (2-4, 1-2) emphatically turned the page on one of the ugliest months in program history by pulverizing the homestanding Auburn Tigers 24-7 Saturday before a crowd of 85,813 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The Hogs surprisingly did so behind a much-maligned defense that had been helpless for most of the season before rising up to tally 5 turnovers and 8 sacks on Saturday against Auburn (1-4, 0-3).

Those are overwhelming single-game numbers for any defense, but had to be particularly satisfying for a crew that doubled its previous season totals (2 turnovers, 8 sacks) in both categories a week after giving up 58 points and 716 total yards to Texas A&M.

It was Arkansas’ 4th win in its last 5 meetings with Auburn.

The Razorbacks’ lone loss to the Tigers in that span was Auburn’s controversial,  65-43 shootout win in 2010 in which Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson came into the game in relief of injured starter Ryan Mallett and threw for 332 yards and 3 TDs in less than  2 1/2 quarters of action.

What We Saw

–Arkansas benefitted from another poor performance by Auburn quarterback and Springdale, Arkansas, (Shiloh Christian) product Kiehl Frazier. Frazier was benched at halftime and has quickly gone from “Must Have/Can’t Miss 5-star QB prospect” to Tight End-in waiting in the span of 16 career games played.

Frazier’s numbers Saturday–9 for 14, 118 yards passing, 1 interception–weren’t awful on their face, particularly for a QB who is averaging 133 yards/game passing while completing just 54% of his attempts.

But, Frazier’s statistics belied his performance, which featured “happy feet” and a tendency to hold on to the ball far too long. To be fair, Frazier didn’t have much of a chance. Auburn’s porous offensive line would have spelled trouble for any quarterback in America.

Clint Moseley took over for Frazier and was a bit better (13-21 163 yards, 1 TD 2 Ints.), thanks in large part to 1 of the few coverage busts on the day for Arkansas. Whatever Moseley added in terms of a quicker trigger he gave back with slower feet, though. Moseley was a sitting duck, and Arkansas sophomore defensive end Trey Flowers (3.5 sacks) and company took advantage.

–For the first time all season, Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Haynes gave his defensive ends the green light to come after the quarterback, and also dialed up frequent blitzes.

With an inexperienced and banged up secondary, Haynes has often been wary of mobile opposing quarterbacks this season and has been reticent to call many blitzes or let his ends pin their ears back and rush the passer.

On Saturday, undoubtedly emboldened by Auburn’s shoddy offensive line and quarterback play, Haynes was aggressive and unpredictable. The result was a dominating defensive performance for a team that had been outscored 110-10 in its first 2 SEC games.

–UA Senior linebacker Terrell Williams–a relative non-factor for most of his career–racked up a career-high 12 tackles and also had a sack. Another Arkansas senior, the often-ridiculed Ross Rasner, also had a very productive day with 10 tackles, a forced fumbled and an interception on a perfectly defended pass in the end zone.

What We Didn’t See

–The hesitancy with which Arkansas’ defense had played for much of the 2012 season was gone Saturday.

But for a blown coverage that allowed Moseley to hit wide receiver Emory Blake for a wide open, 21-yard touchdown pass for Auburn’s only score, the Hogs played solid defensive football and knew their assignments Saturday.

Auburn’s limited playbook and even more limited quarterbacks did not present the same matchup problems that more complex, skilled offenses have this season and it showed.

–Plagued by turnover problems and overall ineffectiveness since returning from an injury that cost him the entire 2011 season, Arkansas’ former All-SEC runningback, Knile Davis, didn’t get many opportunities Saturday. Knile carried the ball just 3 times for a total -4 yards.

Arkansas senior runningback Dennis Johnson has been the better back thus far in 2012 and he was rewarded for his efforts with 17 carries on Saturday. Johnson churned out 76 yards and 2 rushing TDs. DJ’s previous high this season was 7 rushing attempts and he had only 27 total carries in the Hogs’ first 5 games.

More surprising than Johnson’s increased role was the fact that UA true freshman runningback Jonathan Williams (6 carries, 34 yards, 1 fumble) was given twice as many carries as Davis.

What You May Not Have Seen

–Arkansas Offensive Coordinator Paul Petrino and the rest of the Hogs’ offensive staff did a good job of self-scouting last week. Petrino has had a tendency in short-yardage situations this season to call strong-side runs from tight, bunched formations.

Petrino adjusted Saturday and called several play action, bootleg passes that allowed Wilson to get outside the pocket and make things happen with his legs and his arm. Arkansas’ play-action passes typically come out of the shotgun (faking a draw play).

–One of those calls turned out to be a key play in the win.  After picking up a first down for the first time in more than a quarter and needing to answer Auburn’s touchdown that made the score 10-7, Petrino dialed up a play-action pass on the 2nd play of the 4th quarter on 1st and 10 from his own 38-yard line.

After taking the snap, turning his back to the line of scrimmage and faking a handoff to Johnson, Wilson deftly eluded Auburn’s 6’4, 246-lb All-SEC defensive end Corey Lemonier and side-armed a pass on target to tight end Austin Tate, who picked up 18 yards for a 1st down at the Auburn 44.

Wilson’s sleight of hand was the difference in backup quarterback-turned wide receiver Brandon Mitchell zipping a reverse-pass TD to  fellow wide receiver Jevontee Herndon two plays later and Arkansas losing a turnover or facing 2nd and 18 from its own 30-yard line with the real possibility of giving Auburn the ball back with momentum and favorable field position (and the Hogs starting to think they were again going to be snakebitten).

–Tate doesn’t have the hands or the speed of injured Arkansas starting tight end Chris Gragg, but if he can be a serviceable target for Wilson, as he was Saturday (4 catches, 44 yards) the Hogs’ offense will have more balance than it has had without Gragg.

–Morgan Linton, a 5’11, 240 lb walk-on fullback from Lonoke, Arkansas, led the way on both of Johnson’s touchdown runs and appears to be capable of putting some of the thump back into Arkansas’ Red Zone offense. Arkansas lost starting fullback Kiero Small and backup Kodi Walker to season-ending injuries early in the season and has struggled mightily when trying to run the ball in the Red Zone in their absence.

What We Hope to See Next Week

While he didn’t nab any of Arkansas’ 5 forced turnovers and he only had a few tackles, starting safety Eric Bennett returned from injury and provided some much-needed stability to the Razorbacks’ secondary on Saturday.

Hopefully starting cornerback Tevin Mitchel (no typo) can play next Saturday for the the first time since suffering a frightening injury versus Louisiana-Monroe in the 2nd game of the season. Mitchel practiced on a limited basis last week.

If he and senior cornerback Kaelon Kelleybrew (concussion) are able to return this week, the Razorbacks’ secondary figures to continue to improve against another generally punchless offense (Kentucky).

Arkansas rue freshman cornerback Will Hines has taken some major lumps, but showed well Saturday with a very nice play on a Frazier overthrow for an interception, as well as the recovery of Arkansas’ first forced turnover (a fumble caused by Rasner) in a month.

Hines has the skill set to be a good player in time, but he will be better served by being allowed to progress slowly. Injuries and underperformance forced him into the fire too soon and he was exposed earlier in the season.

–Arkansas needs to get an early lead and take the opportunity to try to jump start Knile Davis. Davis is one of the team’s core players and is a very talented back who deserves to go out on a better note than he is at this point.

Yes, I know that Davis could come back for the 2013 season if he chose to, but with a long list of injuries and a resume’ and measurables that will draw plenty of interest from NFL teams, this is likely Davis’ last season as a Hog.

He has overcome plenty of obstacles and has been a great Razorback and role model. It would be nice to see Davis and his team turn things around and finish the season on a high note. For now, though, it’s just fun to enjoy a convincing, somewhat unexpected SEC road win.

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Arkansas v. Alabama – BlogHawgs Prediction

Posted by Brett Kincaid on September 14, 2012

GAME SKETCH

  • Line – Alabama (-20.5)
  • Kickoff – 2:30pm at Reynolds Razorback Stadium (Fayetteville)
  • Weather – Mostly cloudy skies with an expected game time temp of 70 degrees, holding steady all afternoon. Expect rain to fall off-and-on throughout the game.
  • Streaks – After what was a very competitive series from 1995-2006 where Arkansas won 7 of 12 games, Alabama has been rolling. The Tide has won the past 5 in the series by an average score of 31-16.

 

Welcome to Arkansas, Bama fan. Enjoy the electricity and running water while you can.

This week has been very difficult for everyone associated with the Razorbacks football program. Players, coaches, administrators, fans…everyone has struggled. It’s difficult to find a silver lining when your starting all-SEC quarterback suffers a concussion (c’mon…let’s call it what it is, UA), your starting CB – a freshman all-American last season – gets strapped to a board with a head/neck injury, and your backup-to-the-backup fullback suffers a broken leg without even being hit. By the time everyone began to process all the negative things that had piled up on Saturday we saw Kolton Browning scamper into the endzone to complete a virtuoso personal performance and historic team victory over a Top Ten football team.

Now everyone – players, coaches, administrators, fans – must pull together and understand one simple truth: there are 10 more weeks of football on the schedule, and the biggest bully in the neighborhood is coming to our house this weekend. Last week in this space I wrote, “Arkansas hosts Alabama next week in Fayetteville. There is no doubt that these kids are looking ahead to that game. But it won’t matter much if the Hogs are 1-1 Saturday night instead of unbeaten.” It turns out that’s exactly what happened, and the Hogs have got to find a way to overcome it. While it’s a bit much to suggest the entire season is on the line this weekend, a blow-out loss could seal the fate for the 2012 Razorbacks. Let’s hope the team has responded better than large sections of the fan base.

Why Arkansas Should Win

Without even considering the intangibles, let’s attempt to look at this game objectively. We already know the bad news, so let’s look at the good things. While Arkansas will very likely start redshirt freshman QB Brandon Allen, he will also have some pretty good experience with him. Knile Davis will still line up at tailback, Dennis Johnson will still line up in the backfield, and Chris Gragg will still start at tight end. Cobi Hamilton turned in another strong performance in Little Rock last weekend and was one of the lone offensive bright spots in Tuscaloosa last year. What does this mean? It means the Razorbacks still have a very talented crop of skill players on offense. If the coaching staff – notably, offensive coordinator Paul Petrino – remembers that Davis and Johnson still play for the team, Arkansas can move the ball and score on Alabama.

Most eyes will be on the defense, and rightfully so. After a mediocre (at best) showing against Jacksonville State and an embarrassing display against Louisiana-Monroe, Paul Haynes crew has a lot to prove. As has been identified on this website a few times, though, the Razorbacks defense got absolutely zero help from the offense in the final 20:00 of play last week. A more-rested defense operating with better field position may have turned in a better performance.

As important as anything this week, though, is something I have not seen anywhere: the Hogs finally get to play a conventional offense. Alabama is Alabama, which means they want to lineup and cram the ball down their opponents’ throats. But last week the Tide only mustered 103 yards rushing against Western Kentucky – padded by an 18-yard run from Cody Mandell on a fake punt. The loss of Jalston Fowler – the Bama version of Kiero Small – is significant, but it’s worth mentioning that Fowler played most of the game before being injured in the 4th quarter. And while A.J. McCarron turned in a strong performance last week, he enjoyed operating on a short field thanks to four Hilltopper turnovers. Western Kentucky also got in its licks, avoiding that vaunted Bama offensive line en route to six sacks on the day.

The key to beating Alabama remains the same as it always has: run the football, stop them from running the football, and win the turnover battle. Given Arkansas’s strength up front on the defensive line and Alabama’s more conventional attack, the Razorbacks defense finally matches up strength v. strength against an opponent. By stopping the run on Saturday, Arkansas will have a chance to win this football game.

One last thing: The last time Alabama lost to an unranked team was November 17, 2007 against…Louisiana-Monroe.

Why Alabama Should Win

It’s simple: they have the better football team. After watching two weeks of games, it’s clear that Bama had the better football team when Arkansas was firing on all cylinders. A.J. McCarron is off to a white hot start with more than 400 yards and 6 TDs through the air already this season. Freshman T.J. Yeldon appears to be the next in the line of great Alabama running backs. He has averaged 8 yards per carry this season and looks like the real deal.

As usual, though, the story of Alabama is their remarkably strong defense. They have surrendered only 493 yards of total offense this season. Nick Saban replaced 3 first round NFL draft picks with 3 future first round NFL draft picks, and the “inexperienced” Tide defensive unit has not shown any real weakness this year. Saban, Kirby Smart, and the rest of the Alabama coaches and players have to be licking their chops when considering the prospect of facing a redshirt freshman quarterback in his first ever start.

 

And the winner is…

Alabama. The Crimson Tide is just too talented and has too much at stake to overlook a talented yet ultimately inferior opponent in Arkansas. I do expect Arkansas to battle, though, and show that they are not ready to fold up the season. Bama has struggled against teams that run the ball effectively, and Arkansas coaches will definitely look at ways to get the ball in the hands of guy like Davis, Johnson, and Ronnie Wingo, Jr. Don’t be surprised, either, to see Brandon Mitchell take 10+ snaps at quarterback. We have seen him operate out the pistol formation in goal line situations in the past, and I expect coaches to build some of those plays into the game plan this week.

In the end, though, the ULM hangover and personnel issues will be too much to overcome. I believe Arkansas could do it against a lesser opponent, but expecting the Razorbacks to improve as much as they need to improve in six days without all of their key components strains credibility. They will fight and give all of us hope for a winning season, but David will not beat Goliath this weekend in the Ozarks. Alabama 34, Arkansas 23

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Arkansas v. UL-Monroe – BlogHawgs Prediction

Posted by Brett Kincaid on September 7, 2012

GAME SKETCH

  • Line: Arkansas (-30.5)
  • Kickoff: 6:05pm, War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock
  • Weather: Expected game-time temperature of 77 degrees, cooling to near 70 in the second half. No rain expected after 10:00am.
  • Streaks: The Razorbacks have not lost a game in the state of Arkansas since losing to Alabama on September 25, 2010

 

For the second week in a row the Arkansas Razorbacks get to take on a team that has prepared for them all summer. UL-Monroe was one of just a few teams that didn’t play last week. The Warhawks return their starting quarterback and starters at running back and wide receiver. Sound familiar? Make no mistake; ULM has a better football team than Jacksonville State – though not by much. The biggest difference between the two is on the defensive side of the ball. The Warhawks employ an unconventional 3-3-5 system that bothers offenses like a stingy 2-3 zone would in basketball. If you don’t believe me, look at the numbers. UL-Monroe ranked 21st in the nation in total yards allowed and 8th in the country in rush defense last season.

The good news for Arkansas is that the Hogs make their money in the passing game. With Kiero Small out of the lineup (limiting Arkansas’s I-formation sets) I expect offensive coordinator Paul Petrino to rely largely on his hyper-efficient passing attack. Tyler Wilson set a school record last week for most passing yards in a season opener, and I believe he’ll put up similar numbers this week. For all the success of the Warhawks defense last season they still ended the year with a 4-8 record and home for the holidays for the 18th straight season as an FBS school. It’s worth noting that most of their success came against similarly mediocre-to-bad competition in the Sun Belt Conference.

Why Arkansas Should Win

Talent. Experience. Focus. Pick your word to describe this team, and that will point you in the direction of why the Hogs will have a successful trip to Little Rock this week. The defense will play better this week than it did against Jacksonville State. One thing the Gamecocks did early last week was run the ball. The Hogs stopped that by early in the 2nd Quarter, but it got the defense off-balance just enough to make a difference. And as defensive coordinator Paul Haynes has said since last Saturday night, his unit did not tackle too well. A devotee to fundamentals, Haynes addressed that with his kids this week. The Hogs defense will play better.

Ultimately, though, this game will be won by Wilson, Knile Davis, Chris Gragg, Cobi Hamilton, etc. The Arkansas offense looked as lethal as ever last week. Turnovers slowed down the Hogs attack, not Jacksonville State. UL-Monroe will present a stiffer test than last week’s opponent, but the Hogs should still have plenty of opportunities to chew up yardage and put points on the board.

Why UL-Monroe Should Win

What if the defense doesn’t improve this week? What if the holes in the secondary and the shoddy tackling are systemic problems rather than opening week rust? The Warhawks run a fast paced offense that puts a lot of pressure on linebacker and safeties to cover the midrange passing game. They also wear down a team’s defensive line – clearly Arkansas’s defensive strength – with their tempo, making it very difficult for coaches to substitute regularly. Experienced players in the backfield that understand the system play with confidence, no matter who is on the other side of the ball. After watching the game film from last week, ULM quarterback Kolton Browning must be looking forward to their trip to Little Rock.

The focus factor is at play here, too. Arkansas hosts Alabama next week in Fayetteville. There is no doubt that these kids are looking ahead to that game. But it won’t matter much if the Hogs are 1-1 Saturday night instead of unbeaten. A confident offense, stingy defense, and potentially over-confident opponent give any underdog a shot. UL-Monroe isn’t a stranger to big upsets, either. This program went to Tuscaloosa and won five years ago. With Alabama next on Arkansas’s schedule, karma could be getting ready to show up at War Memorial if the Hogs aren’t focused.

 

And the winner is…

Arkansas. The Razorbacks are just too talented and have too much at stake to overlook a talented yet ultimately inferior Sun Belt opponent. UL-Monroe will hang tough in the first half, sending thousands of Razorbacks fans into meltdown mode. Those struggles will be a distant memory by the Fourth Quarter, though, as Knile Davis eclipses the 100-yard mark and Tyler Wilson throws for 3 more TDs in a route. Hogs 52, UL-Monroe 20

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Godspeed and Good Health, Hogs.

Posted by Adam Butler on August 24, 2012

This is the 23rd in our series 30 Thoughts About Razorback Football in 30 Days leading up to the 2012 Kickoff.

As a certified Jinxologist, writing this post sends a shiver down my spine. It’s sort of like talking about a no-hitter during a no-hitter. It’s asking for trouble.

But, as we round the final turn and near the Finish Line of a topsy-turvy offseason on a night when Arkansas’ potential All-American running back candidate Knile Davis is going “live”–ie being tackled to the ground–for the first time in over a year (in a “mock game” tonight during the Razorbacks’ practice) it seems like an appropriate time to think about the player that Arkansas can least afford to lose.

Tyler Wilson, the Hogs’ All-SEC Quarterback doesn’t count. He is the most valuable Razorback by acclimation. Established, toolsy, 5th-year Senior QBs that you would like your daughter to marry don’t grow on trees–even in a Petrino-led system.

Add in the fact that Wilson’s former backup–Brandon Mitchell–has spent most of Fall Camp in the Wide Receivers line in an effort to get his athleticism on the field (leaving redshirt freshman Brandon Allen as a talented, but completely inexperienced 2nd-teamer) and there is little doubt Wilson is the most valuable Hog.

But who, other than Wilson, can the Hogs least afford to lose?

The easy answer would be Davis. He is a great, game-changing player and seems to be an extremely well-liked teammate. But, as I forecasted last year in this space (and it holds true, today) Arkansas’ depth at runningback mitigates what would otherwise be a deflating, excruciating, Football Gods-questioning loss.

Scarily, the answer may possibly be currently found on Arkansas’ list of walking wounded. Senior linebackers Tenarius “Tank” Wright (concussion) and Alonzo Highsmith (hamstring) and junior safety Eric Bennett (hamstring) have all been hampered with nagging injuries this Fall with Highsmith’s latest setback following a torn pectoral muscle that cost him almost all of Spring Practice.

The long-term loss of any of those potential playmakers on a defense that is attempting to take on a new, sure-tackling persona would be a tough blow. Of that trio, Bennett might be the most irreplaceable, as the safety position has been a tough one to fill for Arkansas of late after having a long run of record-setters at the position from the late ’90s through the early-to-mid Aughts.

Although Average Hog Fan makes a habit of hating on any cornerback who dares to give up a completed pass, senior Darius Winston and sophomore Tevin Mitchel (no typo…can that be his nickname?) are certainly worth mentioning in this discussion. Both the starting cornerbacks have All-SEC caliber talent and are backed up by a cast of freshmen and walkons.

But for my money, the Mayor of Markham–Wide Receiver Cobi Hamilton–is the player not named Tyler Wilson that Arkansas can least afford to lose.

The Hogs have lost seven (7) receivers off last year’s roster to the NFL, dismissal and transfer. While the Razorbacks have a number of Wide Receivers who could contribute significantly, none of them except Hamilton have, yet.

Quality Wide Receiver depth and production is a must in Arkansas’ pass-happy offense as is reflected by Mitchell’s move to WR and the long look that runningback Ronnie Wingo, Jr. is getting as more of a hybrid receiving target.

Every star quarterback needs a trusted target and Cobi is Wilson’s. With a long line of WRs who might have Hog fans reaching for the numerical roster in the Gameday program, losing Cobi would be toughest injury to overcome.

 

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Believe the Hype

Posted by Brett Kincaid on August 21, 2012

This is the 19th in our series of 30 Thoughts on Razorback Football in 30 Days leading up to the 2012 Kickoff.

Have you heard? Tyler Wilson and Knile Davis are both candidates for the Heisman Trophy this year. Cobi Hamilton is even considered a long-shot candidate by some.

It seems impossible to find a radio station or message board (Okay…I haven’t even looked, but I assume I’m right) without someone lauding Wilson and Davis as sure-fire locks to make it to New York this December as a Heisman finalist. BlogHawgs.com’s own Heisman pundit put both Hogs in his Preseason Heisman 5 + 1 column this week. The anticipation for both of these young men is through the roof, leaving me to wonder if it will affect their performance on the field.

By all accounts Tyler Wilson and Knile Davis are savvy guys that understand success comes from hard work. They know how to talk to the media, often using the time-honored clichés of “We just need to take it one week at a time,” or “If we play to the best of our abilities, I think we can win a lot of games this year.” For some reason, when coming from those two guys, I actually want to believe what they’re saying.

When Ryan Mallett and Darren McFadden were in the Heisman spotlight over the past five seasons, I tended to wince when they were on my television screen doing anything but playing football. Mallett proved to be exceedingly confident (to put it politely) while McFadden never found his footing with the press (again, being polite). Both Wilson and Davis have the ability to string words together in a way that suggests they really are ready for Prime Time.

My hunch is that neither of the two 2012 Razorback Heisman hopefuls will succumb to the pressures of a national campaign. If the Hogs win 10 or 11 games, they’ll each have a shot at an early December trip to New York. Both Wilson and Davis passed on the NFL draft earlier this year, choosing rather to come back to Fayetteville for one more special season. That’s the type of decision one makes when his feet are firmly on the ground. As long as that continues on the field (both literally and figuratively) Arkansas should be in fine shape with on-field leadership on offense this season.

Losing at home to Alabama all but sinks both of their chances – and the team’s chance for a BCS national title also take a serious blow – so I expect Tyler, Knile, and the rest of the Razorbacks to focus on what’s important. If they win this year, a lot of Razorbacks will be up for national awards. If not, we’ll just look back on this time of year and reminisce (again) about how good the 2012 Hogs could have been.

Follow us on Twitter @Blog_Hawgs

 

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BlogHawgs.com Preseason Heisman 5+1

Posted by Adam Butler on August 21, 2012

Be sure to follow @Heisman5plus1 on Twitter

The +1 is laughing at all the pundits discussing how the past two Heisman Trophy winners have “come out of nowhere” to win it and “the players who are picked pre-season to win the Heisman never win it”.

Week One of the 2011 BlogHawgs.com Heisman 5 +1 (September 6, 2011) rolled out and Robert Griffin, III was firmly planted at the #1 spot.

The +1 does not fall in love with the spin doctors’ crushes.  As always, we predict who should win it and not who will win it.

That is why this list will be drastically different than all of the other pretenders out there. Our list was radically different throughout last year, too.

Now that you know how phenomenal we are, here are the 6 you have been waiting on… the 2012 BlogHawgs.com Preseason Heisman 5 + 1.

1. Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin Montee Ball rushed for 39 touchdowns and ran for almost 2,000 yards last year.  Read that sentence again.

2. Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas  Tyler Wilson threw for over 3,600 yards and 24 touchdowns last year.  Wilson only threw 6 interceptions while playing top SEC defenses week in and week out.  There may be other quarterbacks who will throw for more yards or more touchdowns, but there will not be another quarterback who does it while playing defenses as strong as Wilson does.

3. Matt Barkley, QB, USC  The +1 loves Barkley.  He looks like he is always having fun.  He will once again put up monster numbers as he has the best receiving corps in the country.  The only knock on Barkley is USCW plays only 5 teams that had winning records from last year.  It’s easy to pile up wins and numbers against terrible teams.  

4. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia  Murray threw 35 touchdowns last year while playing in a pretty conservative offense.  Murray will get the benefit of playing marquee games in the SEC. However, he will have to cut down on his interception numbers if he truly wants to climb the list and/or avoid falling.

5. Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas  Knile missed the entire 2011 season with a broken ankle.  However, the last full season he played he led the SEC in rushing.  His 6.5 yards per carry in 2010 were the second most in the history of the SEC for running backs with a minimum of 200 carries.  That’s more YPC than Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, Emmitt Smith and Darren McFadden.  Knile is 100% healthy and proved that by posting a 4.33 40 yard dash, bench pressing 415 lbs. and squatting 570 lbs. in the spring.

+1. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina  The +1 went back and forth between Knile Davis and Marcus Lattimore on this list, finally deciding on this order as Knile’s workout numbers make him appear to be 100%.  The Ole Ball Coach has all but said Marcus still hasn’t hit the “100% back” mark yet but we all know what Lattimore is: a strong back who posted ridiculous numbers as a true freshman and can carry his team on his back in the SEC. 

 

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Managing the Backfield

Posted by Brett Kincaid on August 18, 2012

This is the 16th in our series of 30 Thoughts About Razorback Football in 30 Days.

At this time one year ago most of Razorback Nation gnashed their collective teeth worrying about the team’s running game. All-SEC running back Knile Davis had been lost to injury, and the two primary backups, Dennis “DJ” Johnson and Ronnie Wingo, Jr., had never shown they could be The Man. By the end of the season DJ emerged as a very reliable back, Wingo played the role of “contributor” despite his immense talent, and Broderick Green bounced back from ACL surgery in the spring in order to contribute valuable carries. Green is gone, but DJ and Wingo return with a healthy Knile Davis to lead one of the best, most tested backfields in the country. We’ve already examined Wingo and how he should fit into the rotation.

What do you do with DJ?

Dennis Johnson, a Texarkana senior, showed last season that he could literally carry the load. Sure handed out of the backfield and unafraid to get between the tackles, DJ proved to be just what Arkansas needed to replace Davis. With Knile back on the field, coaches have tabbed him as The Man with others playing backup roles. Can DJ return to backup status without disrupting the team chemistry so many insiders have noted as a strength of the team?

The answer seems to be “Yes.” Coaches have not yet allowed full-contact tackling on Davis thus far in camp, meaning DJ and Wingo have received the lion’s share of snaps during live scrimmages. One thing Razorback fans have learned since joining the SEC is that a team needs at least 2 strong running backs in order to compete for titles. While it’s unlikely that we’ll see a run-based offense like the days of Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, and Peyton Hillis, it stands to reason that we may see the offense work to establish the running game more than in seasons past. With several new options at wide receiver and experience in the backfield, coaches would be wise to play to their strengths this season. As we saw in 2010 under former coach Bobby Petrino, the ability to pound away on the ground with a dominant running game can ice away tough SEC games late in the season.

Back to Dennis Johnson, I expect that we will see #33 on the field quite a bit. He will go back to his roots as a full-time kickoff returner and likely pick up 10-12 additional touches throughout the game. Coaches have also been giving him a long look as the replacement to Joe Adams at punt returner. While coaches would like Knile Davis to carry 20-25 times each game, it is comforting to know the Razorbacks have the depth they need to create problems all over the field and throughout the game for opposing defenses. While he won’t get the carries we saw last season, Dennis Johnson will certainly play just as important of a role on the 2012 Razorbacks.

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On a Wingo And a Prayer

Posted by Adam Butler on August 12, 2012

This is the 11th in our series of 30 Thoughts on Razorback Football in the 30 days leading up to the 2012 Kickoff

It is the evening of August 12th, 2012, and few things in life are more certain than the fact that somewhere, a Razorback fan is complaining about Arkansas senior runningback Ronnie Wingo, Jr.

If you have ever visited a Razorback message board or subjected your ears to the blood-curdling, “caller-driven” tripe that is sports talk radio in Arkansas, you know that  Wingo has been a lightning rod for Razorback fan discontent since early in his career at Arkansas.

The origins of irrational fan dissatisfaction are sometimes difficult to pinpoint, but the primary reason for Hog fans’ Wingo angst seems to be the hefty expectations that were placed on him before he even stepped foot on The Hill.

Wingo’s bio on the UA website is illustrative. It reads:

HIGH SCHOOL: Wingo Jr. had a record-breaking prep career in which he shattered 12 single-season or career records and tied three more at St. Louis University High School under coach Gary Kornfeld. He was selected to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl West team and was a first-team Class 6A all-state honoree. He was rated the No. 2 prospect in the state of Missouri, the fourth-fastest athlete in the country and the ninth-ranked athlete nationally by Rivals.com. He was listed on the Rivals.com top 250. He was also ranked as the No. 12 running back by Scout.com. He rushed for 4,449 yards and scored 48 touchdowns in his prep career. As a senior, he rushed for 1,482 yards and 14 touchdowns. During his junior year he had 1,575 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. In one of his most notable games (against Vianney, Oct. 3, 2008), he scored seven touchdowns and rushed for 403 yards. He was also recruited by Oklahoma, Alabama, Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas, Tennessee and Missouri.

With the bar set so high, Wingo had little hope of meeting expectations. But, he has shown glimpses of greatness:

  • a 62-yard TD jaunt in mop-up duty versus Texas A&M in Jerry World in 2009;
  • a 43-yard TD reception to open the 2010 showdown with Bama; and
  • a game-changing, gravity defying, pylon plunge back at Jerry World against TAMU in 2011).

Consistency has been lacking, though, and Razorback fans have also not been particularly fond of Wingo’s running style. Wingo’s detractors wonder why, at 6-3, 231 lbs, he runs more like Fred Astaire than Fred Flintstone. The tag may not be a fair one, but largely because of his tip-toeing tendencies, the durable Wingo is considered “soft” by the chattering class.

Luckily, Wingo’s soft hands may provide an opportunity for a career makeover.

With a pair of All-SEC runningbacks (Knile Davis and Dennis Johnson) ahead of him in the runningback pecking order, a skill set more befitting a NFL H-Back than a go-to runningback, and a mass exodus of SEVEN wide receivers from the Arkansas roster (3 were drafted, 3 were booted, and 1 transferred) since last season, Wingo has a chance to showcase his receiving skills in 2012.

Wingo already has 52 career receptions for 560 yards and 7 TDs. He could double those receiving yardage and TD numbers this season if Arkansas’ coaches follow through on their desire to create mismatches in the passing game with Wingo and stray from a prior propensity to use him as a decoy.

In order to do so, Arkansas must remain relatively healthy in the backfield. And, the confidence in the experiment for all involved would undoubtedly be buoyed if Wingo has early success in a larger, pass-catching role.

If Knile and DJ do manage to stay healthy (a big “IF” considering their injury histories to this point) I look for Wingo to make several key plays for the 2012 Razorbacks. However, I retain complete faith that even if Wingo does greatly increase his production, it won’t be good enough to assuage some Razorback fans who have already decided he is the bane of their Hog fan existence.

It Will Be a Good Season for Ronnie Wingo, Jr. If…

His role in the offense expands,  he produces 4-5 game-changing plays sprinkled throughout the conference slate and he re-emerges on NFL scouts’ radars.

It Will Be a Bad Season for Ronnie Wingo, Jr. If…

He is again blamed for anything and everything that goes wrong with the 2012 Arkansas Razorbacks.

Posted in Sports | Tagged: , , , | 8 Comments »

BlogHawgs’ 2012 Countdown to Kickoff–30 Keys in 30 Days– Day 30–Arkansas’ Wide Receivers

Posted by Adam Butler on August 2, 2012

Can you feel it? It’s that time again. Fall Camp opens today for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

The Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll is out. Arkansas comes in, given its offseason turmoil, at a pretty lofty #10 although we wonder just how badly the Razorbacks have to beat the South Carolina Gamecocks on an annual basis before they will be ranked ahead of Steve Spurrier’s crew. Apparently 3-0 head-to-head the last 3 seasons with a combined score of 118-64 isn’t enough.

We here at BlogHawgs feel a duty to get you emotionally and intellectually (football IQ–little math involved) ready for the season.

And, we like our families/marital statuses, so we are shelving our previous routine of previewing all of the SEC teams during the run up to the season. Instead, we are going to take a brief daily look at different keys to Arkansas’ season to help bridge the now 30-day gap to the season.

With the departure of three record-breaking seniors (Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs) to the NFL, three other underclassmen (Marquel Wade, Maudrecus Humphrey & Kane Whitehurst) due to dismissal and another (Quinta Funderburk) to transfer, wide receiver seems like a good place to start.

It Will Be a Good Season for the Wide Receiving Corps If…..

the Razorbacks develop a few steady options to go with senior Cobi Hamilton, who should have a breakout season. Juniors Jevontee Herndon and Julian Horton are now veterans and are eager to show that they have the goods.

But, JUCO transfer Demetrius Wilson may have the best shot at becoming an impact player. He is tall and lanky (6-3, 180) but is technically sound–a rarity for a JUCO transfer.

If he struggles to make the transition, as JUCO players often do (SEE Leon, Anthony “Juice”), don’t sleep on Keon Hatcher (6-2, 205). Hatcher has a SEC body and the swagger of a guy who expects to contribute from Day 1. He may initially be awestruck by the presence of trees in Northwest Arkansas (he is from Owasso, OK) but otherwise appears capable of grabbing some playing time.

It Will Be A Disappointing Season for the Wide Receiving Corps If…..

Arkansas’ Wide Receivers are manhandled again in its biggest games. Last season Arkansas’ veteran receivers were bullied and rendered largely ineffective at Tuscaloosa and Baton Rouge.

While some of that is understandable given the quality of those defenses and venues, if Arkansas is going to build its program around its electric offense, it can’t have total blackouts on the big stage.

The Most Important Member of the WR Corps Is…..

not even a member of the wide receiving corps. All-Everything running back Knile Davis is crucial to the success of the passing game. And, tight end Chris Gragg is, too. Davis and Gragg, if healthy, will take a lot of pressure off of the wide receivers and keep opposing defenses honest.

That’s all I have for now. Thanks for reading and Happy Day 1 of Fall Camp.

Check back tomorrow for Day 2 of our countdown.

Posted in Commentary, Sports | Tagged: , , , , , , | 7 Comments »

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