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by
Joel Welser
#11 Arkansas Razorbacks
Southeastern Conference
2006 Record: (10-4, 7-1)
Coach: Houston Nutt (65-44 at Arkansas, 70-50
overall)
Starters Returning: 11 (6 offense, 4 defense,
1 specialist)
Offensive Starters Lost: WR Damian Williams,
TE Wes Murphy, OL Stephen Parker, OL Zac Tubbs, OL Tony Ugoh
Offensive Starters Returning: QB Casey Dick,
RB Darren McFadden, FB Farod Jackson, WR Marcus Monk, OL Robert Felton, OL
Jonathan Luigs
Defensive Starters Lost: DT Keith Jackson, DE
Jamaal Anderson, LB Sam Olajubutu, LB Desmond Sims, CB Chris Houston, CB Darius
Vinnett, S Randy Kelly
Defensive Starters Returning: DT Ernest
Mitchell, DE Antwain Robinson, LB Weston Dacus, S Michael Grant
Starting Specialists Lost: P Jacob Skinnger
Starting Specialists Returning: K Jeremy
Davis
Beyond the complaining mothers and the tumultuous
off-season, lies a quality Arkansas squad that hopes to build off of their SEC
West title of a year ago. After losing to LSU, Florida and Wisconsin to finish
up the year, the Razorbacks headed into the offseason with a bad taste in their
mouth. And the events of the spring did not help. However, once the college
football world stops caring about Mitch Mustain and Damian Williams and starts
playing football again, Arkansas will battle to repeat as the West champs.
Offense:
Mustain was supposed to be the quarterback of the
future, but that went south pretty quick when the gunslinger opted to transfer.
Casey Dick and Mustain split the snaps last year, and each threw 132 attempts.
Dick, a 6-2 junior, is by no means the quarterback of the future, but at least
can play within the system and hand the ball off to running backs Darren
McFadden and Felix Jones. When the Razorbacks do want to pass, Dick can heave
the ball up to 6-6 wide receiver Marcus Monk who will use his height and
strength to fight off the defensive backs.
The obvious strength is with Heisman favorite
McFadden and his backfield companion Jones. McFadden tallied 1,647 yards and 14
touchdowns, while Jones added 1,168 yards with six trips to the endzone. The
junior duo will be tough to stop, but the absence of three starters from the
offensive line might make it easier for the opposition to control the running
game. Tackles Tony Ugoh and Zac Tubbs will be tough to replace and big guys like
Jose Valdez, Nate Garner and Cody Green need to give McFadden and Jones some
daylight, not to mention giving Dick some time to throw the ball.
Defense:
The defense was decent last year, but the early
departures of Jamaal Anderson and Chris Houston hurt. Without Anderson on the
end, the line will have to find another dangerous pass rusher to compliment
Antwain Robinson. The likely candidate is Malcolm Sheppard who shined during the
spring. Tackle Marcus Harrison, who started five games last year and was
expected to replace the departed Keith Jackson, tore an ACL in the spring and
may not be ready by the fall.
The linebackers will be led by the lone returning
starter Weston Dacus. However, sophomore Freddie Fairchild was starting before
missing most of the season with a knee injury and leads a group of talented
youngsters ready to take over for the departed Sam Olajubutu and Desmond Sims.
The secondary has similar problems and must replace both corners. Former safety
Jerrell Norton and junior Matterral Richardson are the expected starters and
Norton needs to quickly develop into a solid corner if the Razorbacks want to
have a decent pass defense again.
The Bottom Line:
Arkansas has plenty of talent. The running back
tandem is the best in the nation and any semblance of a passing threat will make
it even better. The losses on defense are big and coordinator Reggie Herring has
some holes to fill and not a lot of time to do it, but at least there is not a
game with USC on the first weekend of the season.
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