Hogs' '18 fate unknown

I don't know how Arkansas will fare this fall in its first season under new head coach Chad Morris.

The thing is, nobody knows. Nobody really has any clue. Arkansas is entering the upcoming season with, if not the most uncertainty since 1998, then at least 2006.

The Razorbacks had talent returning ahead of both seasons. Their success hinged on how well the coaches could maximize their potential. The talent shone through, despite lingering criticisms of the coaches.

Even the harshest critics of Houston Nutt admit the man could motivate. It was exactly what the 1998 team needed on the way to an 8-0 start.

The talent level, as well as the pros and cons of Nutt's coaching, were mostly known each season throughout the rest of his tenure, save for 2006. Nutt himself asked for a two-year reprieve from the fan base ahead of two poor seasons in 2004-05.

Arkansas showed flashes of potential in 2005, but the coaching staff experienced enough turnover for the same questions from 1998 to be asked in 2006. I'm not going to touch on the 2006 season. Let's just say Arkansas was a pretty good team with some pretty good players.

Say what you will about Bret Bielema -- and there is plenty to say -- but he did not leave a "bare cupboard" as we saw after Nutt and Bobby Petrino both exited the head Arkansas job. Bielema was still in the progress of building depth in his program, keeping players for four, five and six years to maximize their production within the program. Numerous walk-ons earned scholarships and Bielema opened his door to transfers, and he was generally successful in this approach.

The disconnect was in maximizing the potential of the players on the field. For the life of me I don't know how he was so good at this at Wisconsin and failed so miserably at Arkansas.

Bielema and his staff were definitely unlucky with injuries to Brandon Allen, Jonathan Williams, Rawleigh Williams, Keon Hatcher, Jared Cornelius, Ryan Pulley, Dre Greenlaw, Chase Hayden, Frank Ragnow, Austin Allen and on and on and on. However, enough other players are showing their quality in the NFL and it is hard to feel they reached their potential in college.

Deatrich Wise and Jeremiah Ledbetter are certainly exceeding expectations based on their college production. Ragnow is expected to join a growing and unexpectedly successful crop of Razorbacks in the NFL ranks. Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks did not believe in Alex Collins.

So, Collins was released early last season and signed with Baltimore. He ran 212 times for 973 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games for the Ravens.

Then, you look back to Fayetteville. How were Bielema and other Arkansas coaches not able to get more out of star players such as Devwah Whaley and Jeremy Sprinkle? How do you not figure out how to get the ball in the hands of T.J. Hammonds? A host of highly-rated offensive lineman either rode the bench or woefully underperformed on the field.

Robb Smith and Paul Rhoads' defenses were easily the most passive and reactive defensive systems I have ever seen. I thought Bielema would give Rhoads more freedom, and maybe he did, but the players definitely felt the strain.

"When was the last time you seen an Arkansas defense dial up pressure???" Randy Ramsey tweeted Saturday after Arkansas' Red-White spring game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. "I Been waiting my whole career to rush the QB and this coaching staff is giving me that opportunity!!"

If Morris and his staff simply give the players those opportunities they desire, the Razorbacks might just surprise everyone in 2018.

Sports on 04/09/2018

Upcoming Events