Arkansas 2007 Preview

The Heisman Trophy runner-up and Doak Walker award winner, Darren McFadden, returns to a team that won the SEC West. So does Felix Jones, another 1,000-yard rusher.  So, Arkansas should barely break a sweat in winning the SEC. “Hands-down, right?” coach Houston Nutt says, tongue in cheek.

As dynamic as those two backs are, Nutt knows they can’t carry the program to its first SEC title alone. Spruce up the passing game and make a few key defensive replacements, and the Hogs could work their way back to Atlanta, where they fell to eventual BCS champion Florida last year.

McFadden and Jones give the Razorbacks a two-headed threat that conjures up memories of Auburn’s Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams, who went second and fifth, respectively, in the 2005 NFL Draft. McFadden might be better than both.

“He’s as a good as we’ve seen in our league in a while, maybe across the country,” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville says. “He’s got the size, and he’s got the speed and the quicks. Go back and look at Ronnie Brown and Carnell. Neither one had the burst after five yards that this kid’s got. He’s got the total package.”

Georgia coach Mark Richt says, “There aren’t many guys since I’ve been in this league the last six years that really could dominate the way he can dominate, just flat out make people miss and then once he does can take it to the house.”

The sooner McFadden starts his Heisman run, the sooner the Razorbacks can forget about a turbulent and bizarre offseason.

A booster and close friend of the Nutt family sent a profanity-filled e-mail to quarterback Mitch Mustain urging him to leave. Nutt’s wife, Diana, forwarded a similar e-mail from the same person to an acquaintance and noted that derogatory things written in it about people from Springdale, Ark., (Mustain and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, among others) were “funny.” Fans then criticized Nutt and blamed him for the unpopular exit of Malzahn and the transfers of Mustain and receiver Damian Williams.

Nutt made a PR goof by calling a radio show to confront a newspaper columnist who had criticized him.
 
UA chancellor John White issued a statement supporting Nutt despite there being no serious speculation about Nutt’s job being in jeopardy.

Two fans obtained Nutt’s cell phone records and circulated them widely, trying to draw unflattering conclusions about Nutt personally and professionally. A lawyer representing Nutt sent an intimidating letter to at least one of the men.

Topping it all off, the landing gear collapsed on a private plane carrying Nutt while landing in Fayetteville. No one was injured.

“This is the first time in my 26 years of coaching there has been this much as far as distractions and things that involve me personally,” Nutt says. “But I feel good about our team, our players, how they feel, how the majority of our fans feel.”

They’ll feel better if Arkansas can replace its best pass rusher and best cornerback and also find steady play at quarterback. Do that and who knows how far the Hogs could go?

“You’ve got to stay healthy,” Nutt says. “If we do, it could be a special year.”

Quarterbacks
Protecting Casey Dick is a must; he’s the only quarterback who has played in a Division I-A game. His strengths are his unflappable demeanor and leadership, but he has yet to prove himself as a passer in two partial seasons as a starter. He’ll need to do better than the 49 percent he completed last year to keep defenses from crowding the line. Walk-on Nathan Emert knows the offense and could finish a game should Dick be injured. But nobody wants freshmen Nathan Dick (Casey’s brother) or Joe Chaisson to be forced into action.

Running Backs
It’s always nice to have a 1,000-yard rusher returning. Arkansas has two in McFadden (1,647 yards) and Jones (1,168). They combined for 20 TDs rushing and four receiving. Both scored on kickoff returns, too. McFadden is the rare back who runs with genuine speed and power and chews up defenses between the tackles. He proved to be a capable quarterback in a package called “Wildcat” where he takes a direct snap and runs, hands off or throws (7-of-9 for 3 TDs). Jones can’t break contact as well but can scoot outside even when defenders think they have the angle. Look for them on the field together a lot, but don’t forget about multipurpose fullback Peyton Hillis, healthy again after a thigh injury caused him to miss the last four games. He clears out linebackers and catches passes equally well. Waiting patiently behind them all is speedster Michael Smith, who averaged 7.1 yards per carry as a freshman.

Receivers
Split end Marcus Monk returns for his senior season in the same role he’s held every year — the only proven pass catcher. His size (6'6", 217) and leaping ability make him a tough matchup. London Crawford has the same qualities plus speed and could have a breakout year if the Hogs can get him the ball. Converted quarterback Robert Johnson adapted quickly to flanker last season, showing the group’s surest hands. Reggie Fish is a small target but showed in the spring he’s learned how to shed press coverage and get open.

2007 Schedule
S. 1	Troy	W
S. 15	at Alabama	*
S. 22	Kentucky	*
S. 29	North Texas	W
S. 6	#Chattanooga	W
O. 13	Auburn	*
O. 20	at Ole Miss	W
O. 27	Florida International	W
O. 3	South Carolina	*
N. 10	at Tennessee	L
N. 17	#Mississippi State	W
N. 24	at LSU	L
	#Little Rock, AR
Games in bold represent swing games. W or L indicates a projected win or loss.

Offensive Linemen
The returners are excellent. Center Jonathan Luigs was one of six Rimington Award finalists and made the All-SEC first team. Right guard Robert Felton is a third-year starter who moves well for a 300-pounder. But overall the line isn’t as talented or experienced with three new starters in tackles Nate Garner and Jose Valdez and left guard Mitch Petrus.

Defensive Linemen
This unit already had issues in trying to replace end Jamaal Anderson and tackle Keith Jackson Jr., but it took an additional hit when its most talented tackle, Marcus Harrison, tore a knee ligament in the spring. His status is iffy and he could end up redshirting. If Harrison can’t go, then Cord Gray most likely moves up, and he never takes a play off. Ernest Mitchell, who has starting experience, takes the other inside spot. Antwain Robinson, who made the coaches’ All-SEC second team, anchors one end with plenty of speed, and Malcolm Sheppard is an athletic up-and-comer who replaces Anderson on the other side.

Linebackers
Freddie Fairchild has the physical tools to be one of the program’s best in years, and nobody questions his toughness after he blew out a knee against Utah State and kept playing. “One of the most courageous things I’ve ever seen,” coordinator Reggie Herring says. Fairchild is expected to be full go for preseason practice. Weston Dacus fills the middle, and Ryan Powers is in line to be a first-time starter on the weak side. Opponents will have a hard time running outside because of the speed here.

Defensive Backs
Herring doesn’t have the men to play press coverage on every snap like he prefers after Chris Houston bolted early for the NFL. They’ll still play physical man-to-man often, but zone coverages will be mixed in to protect Matterral Richardson, Jerell Norton and Jamar Love. Free safety Michael Grant is back from knee surgery. He’s not a devastating hitter, but he’s a former track sprinter who’s turned into a fine ball hawker and keeps plays in front of him. Matt Hewitt returns to strong safety after spending last season at outside linebacker.

Specialists
Years of Arkansas kicking woes have made freshman Alex Tejada and his lively leg perhaps the most anticipated among the signees. Jeremy Davis takes over the punting job he held for half of the 2004 season. Jones and McFadden are two of the SEC’s most dangerous kickoff returners.

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