Over the course of the next several weeks, the SoBros Network crew will be going team-by-team through the SEC, previewing the upcoming American tackle football season. Up next, the 2019 Arkansas preview!
2019 ARKANSAS PREVIEW
Thankfully, for Arkansas Razorbacks fans, 2019 can’t go much worse than 2018 did, right? Last season can best be described as ‘fitting square pegs into round holes’ as Chad Morris had no choice but to work with pieces left over from the ground and pound Bret Bielema era. I mean, those two offenses couldn’t be more different.
The result? A 2-10 campaign that saw the Razorbacks go 0-8 in the SEC. They were abysmal – one of the worst teams I’ve seen play in the SEC in my 33 years on this planet.
But, the vision is there. That’s why I like Morris – he brings an offensive philosophy to the SEC that other teams haven’t successfully installed yet. High-tempo and ultra fast. He just needed the horses.
His first recruiting class raised some eyebrows – but it certainly seems like he has some of those horses now. Morris added some serious size at receiver, but Trey Knox may be the star of the receiving corps this fall. The quick Chase Hayden should lead the backfield.
Ben Hicks transferred from SMU, where he spent time playing under Morris. So, that sort of familiarity should lend to him getting the job. But, don’t sleep on former Texas A&M quarterback Nick Starkel, either.
It’s just a matter of whether or not all of the pieces can start to jell, and whether or not emerging offensive coordinator Joe Craddock can continue to develop as a play-caller in this system.
I like what they’re going for at Arkansas – it takes guts, but it’ll also take time.
On defense, it’s going to be a work in progress. Their defensive line has some pieces in place, but there’s not a lot of experience in the secondary…a secondary that didn’t generate a lot of turnovers to begin with in 2018. The defense ranked better than the offense last year, though, so maybe they’re ahead of the game?
That was sarcasm – I wouldn’t trust this Razorbacks defense to stop a nosebleed. They allowed 30+ points eight times in 2018 – Vanderbilt hung 45 on ’em. Mississippi State hung 52 on ’em. North Texas hung 44 on ’em. Alabama hung 65 on ’em.
No matter what you’re talking about with Arkansas, the answer always seems to come back to “it’s going to take time.” You don’t go 2-10 and then suddenly bounce back to the Sugar Bowl. If Morris and company get time, maybe they can shape the Razorbacks into a contender…
….but it’s going to be a long haul.
2019 Razorbacks Schedule
8/31 vs. Portland State – At least the Razorbacks will be able to say they started the season undefeated.
9/7 @ Ole Miss – This is a sneaky game that the Razorbacks could win just by outscoring the Rebels. I just don’t see it. If this game was at home and in November? Maybe. But, in Oxford to open SEC play? I trust Ole Miss a little more.
9/14 vs. Colorado State – At least they get the Rams at home this year after going on the road and losing to ’em a season ago. This one won’t be easy (as evidenced by the fact that Arkansas lost to the Rams a year ago, and the Rams went on to finish 3-9). The Razorbacks HAVE to win this one to have any shot at a bowl game in 2019.
9/21 vs. San Jose State – The inexperienced Spartans shouldn’t pose much of a threat, but see Colorado State above.
9/28 vs. Texas A&M (Arlington, TX) – No way the Razorbacks match the Aggies in a year that should see Texas A&M compete for a top 10 spot in the nation.
10/12 @ Kentucky – They’re lucky to catch the Wildcats in a year that should see them dip back down to the middle of the pack. They’re still the inferior team, but this is one to circle as a potential upset.
10/19 vs. Auburn – If Auburn completely shits the bed this season, maybe this is a game. I just don’t see it.
10/26 @ Alabama – Nope.
11/2 vs. Mississippi State – Maybe? Probably nope, though.
11/9 vs. Western Kentucky – See Colorado State and San Jose State above. I can’t express how important it is for Arkansas to win their non-conference games this season, but it won’t be easy.
11/23 @ LSU – They hung around with the Tigers a season ago, so who knows? Anything is possible. I have LSU as a legitimate CFP contender this season, so as it sits in August, I’m saying ‘no way.’
11/30 vs. Missouri (Little Rock, AR) – A potential shootout against Kelly Bryant? I’m going to take Kelly Bryant.
Prediction
I give Morris and company props for trying to install an offense to hang with Alabama. This is an incredibly difficult adjustment to make. I truly believe that if he’s given time, he can build the antithesis to Alabama and therefore contend for SEC West titles in time. Call me crazy.
I just don’t see it happening in 2019 – we’ll revisit this idea in 2021 or 2022 if Morris is around that long. The schedule sets up so that the Razorbacks could be a surprise bowl team, but they have to go 4-0 in non-conference play and they’ll have to steal two wins in games they won’t be favored in to get there. I could see them surprising Ole Miss, but where does that second one come from? Kentucky? Mississippi State? I like the offense to make strides in 2019, but is it enough to get them those wins? I don’t know.
Hey, the bright side? 4-8 would double the number of wins from last season….so….you have that going for you, Arkansas fans. Otherwise, I’d expect this to be the seventh best team in the SEC West yet again.
OTHER 2019 SEC SEASON PREVIEWS
Alabama Crimson Tide
Auburn Tigers
Florida Gators
Georgia Bulldogs
Kentucky Wildcats
LSU Tigers
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Missouri Tigers
South Carolina Gamecocks
Texas A&M Aggies
Vanderbilt Commodores
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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