CLAY HENRY: Are 2024 Hogs hiding in the weeds?

A few weeks ago I had a conversation with a statewide radio man about the prospects for the 2024 Arkansas football team. He did not think it would go well.

I didn’t dive into why he believed that because it didn’t really matter. And, I knew he had not seen all of the scrimmages, as I did. So he could not and would not take my word for what has happened in the last six months with the Razorbacks.

Now let me say it’s quite possible this man could be right, because the loaded nature of the SEC can reduce almost any middle of the pack team to last place with a couple of key injuries.

But it’s my opinion that this might be Sam Pittman’s best defensive team and with Bobby Petrino’s ability to hand-pick players on offense because of the portal, the offense could be greatly improved. Until the last two weeks when everyone shut down, last year’s defense was the best in 10 years in the Ozarks. It might be better this season.

The offensive line was the death trap for the 2023 Razorbacks. They were so weak at offensive tackle there was not one base play that offensive coordinator Dan Enos could call as a dependable run or pass. A good play was likely a quarterback scramble when the pass rush sailed past KJ Jefferson.

The running game was a series of 1-yard losses, unless the opposing linebackers missed a tackle. They seldom did. The best drives — as was the case at Alabama — were the result of defensive penalties.

If you didn’t see the scrimmages, there would be no way to know how many things have been fixed, including a severe lack of speed at linebacker that has haunted the Arkansas defense for over one decade. Taking deep angles on the perimeter won’t be required of this bunch of fleet linebackers. It makes a difference.

Despite losing three of the top four from last year’s depth chart at inside linebacker, defensive coordinator Travis Williams will have great speed at the position he coaches. Georgia transfer Xavian Sorey, Jr., was a five star when he came to Athens. He was passed by other five stars and left the Bulldogs. He is ready to blossom at Arkansas the same way Drew Sanders did two years ago after leaving Alabama.

Sorey’s elite speed is just what the doctor ordered. He should make a great tandem with Brad Spence, a water moccasin on the other side. I like five or six of the others at linebacker, including true freshmen Wyatt Simmons and Bradley Shaw. You will love Stephen Dix, a starter in the dollar personnel group.

The Hogs are improved at cornerback and that includes the nickel back spot where Doneiko Slaughter emerged in the spring as a play maker. Boundary corner Jaylon Braxton and field corner Kee’yon Stewart are the best cover men the Hogs have had in several seasons.

There are some who think cornerback is the most important position on the field. If you can cover, you can blitz. Pittman talked candidly at SEC media days about improved chances for Williams to play more “cover zero” this season because of those corners. Williams called zero about 50 times last season. That might improve by 50 percent with better corners.

I’m satisfied with the strength in the defensive line, especially Landon Jackson and Cam Ball. Both are SEC studs.

I love what I saw of the Petrino offense. Most suspect the passing game will improve because of better offensive tackles. Most are talking about quarterback Taylen Green, the Boise State transfer. He’s a wonderful player, but transfers Fernando Carmona and Keyshawn Blackstock were the big gets in the offseason. They are SEC offensive tackles.

Petrino told me in June that Carmona will play in the NFL. He’s a true left tackle who can protect the blind side. But what he’s really good at is setting the edge in run plays. He can run and what he will do in the alleys is an amazing improvement. I loved his work in the scrimmages I attended last spring.

I was fascinated last month as Petrino went through the two-deep for some work I did for Hogs+, my favorite assignment every year. What I learned is that he likes five running backs. He said transfer Ja’Quinden Jackson and returnee Rashod Dubinion might as well both be listed as starters. Who goes out first will be determined by the play call.

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True freshman Braylen Russell will only be held back by how fast he understands the depth of the play book. He’s well over 250 and that’s not a problem. He has great hands and enough speed. He’s a load to tackle.

After hearing Petrino talk about the way Russell caught the deep ball in high school, I imagine some plays for Russell on the wheel route like Ronnie Wingo. He said he loved the way Russell caught the ball in the spring.

Petrino loves newcomers Rodney Hill and Tyrell Reed at running back, too. They have sparkled this summer. They each have a different flavor than the others and that makes Petrino smile. Hence, the possibilities at running back are going to surprise most.

The Hogs should be able to attack with the running game anywhere along the offensive line. They have inside power with three or four of those backs. The spring was a slugfest up front. Petrino didn’t back off as he worked all of those backs. He thinks this team will be able to run the ball. Addison Nichols was a surprise at center and gives the Hogs power inside paired with massive Josh Braun.

There are good ones at receiver and tight end, including an influx of speed at wide receiver that has been sorely needed. Petrino named four receivers with 10.4 100 meter speed, or better. You can’t win in the SEC without speed to stretch the defense vertically. If the Hogs do have that kind of speed, safeties can’t pack the box, another reason Petrino thinks this team will be able to run the ball.

Tight end might be a special position with much improved depth over the last several seasons. Luke Hasz is an elite talent and has improved his blocking. Petrino studied second-year man Var’keyes Gumms film from his North Texas days to look for more ways to get him the football. Transfer Andreas Paaske should give the Hogs the in-line blocking tight end that has been missing.

As far as wideout, Petrino mentioned about 10. He considers about five as starters. One of the keys in August will be finding the best spots for some newcomers. He compared Isaiah Sategna to Jarius Wright, a star when Petrino was dialing up a spectacular Arkansas offense a few years ago.

“Sategna has that kind of a skill set,” Petrino said.

One last thing on what my radio friend has said that I don’t think is right or important., the weight of that trip to Stillwater. The Hogs should not be favored against Oklahoma State in week two. The host returns almost everyone from a team that played Texas in the Big 12 championship game.

It’s an important game in that it could jump start a great season for the Hogs, but they are not doomed if they lose to OSU. It’s a good early season test, but there are lots of chances for the Hogs to catch fire as they roll through the season. I’ve always looked at the Texas A&M game in Arlington as a better barometer.

There are things to find out on that trip to Stillwater? Can the Hogs attack the Cowboys with some power running? Is the kicking game steady? Is there enough depth to play a four quarter slugfest?

Those are important questions, but fans should not abandon this team if it’s not a dominant performance against Oklahoma State.

I asked Petrino about leadership. I recalled in year one of his last stint in Fayetteville there was a pre-spring interview — in his office one-on-one — during which he emphasized that he did not want players to try to lead. He wanted them to follow the coaches. In other words, things were going to be so radically different than during the Houston Nutt era that he did not think players should try to lead.

Petrino’s response — and it was reserved for the offense — was completely different this summer. He said there were six or seven competent leaders on this team who had embraced the new system and were well on the way to learning its finer points. The quarterback, both tackles and a player or two at the skilled spots were mentioned as leaders.

That’s another reason I am enthused about the 2024 Razorbacks. Leadership was missing from several areas last season, including a play caller spot and at quarterback. There was no leadership at tackle.

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What I saw in the spring convinced me the Hogs have regained a fighting chance to compete in the SEC. I didn’t watch any other league go through spring and know that the portal should have given anyone on the Hogs’ schedule what they lacked to be good this season.

Toughness was the catch phrase this spring. Pittman set the agenda in December with a tough offseason. There were no easy days in the spring. Petrino loved it, as did Williams.

I was interested in how Williams meshed with Petrino as far as how to set up practices. He embraced Petrino.

“I knew him pretty good,” Williams said. “I was a player at Auburn when he was our offensive coordinator. I was a player for the Atlanta Falcons when he was head coach. I think he is a wonderful offensive strategist. He understands what you are trying to do as far as (defensive) leverages and how to attack them. It was a fun spring.

“Sam set things up as far as the toughness aspect and we couldn’t have been happier to get to play that way in the spring, lots of physical practices. You need that for your defense.”

This is not to predict a 2024 record. But I don’t have a doom and gloom attitude as do some. They may have their reasons, but they were not standing beside me last spring or have the luxury of going through the roster with the two coordinators.

There are plenty of reasons the media picked the Hogs 14th last week at the SEC media briefings. That can be depressing, but it also could be that most are just dead wrong on these Hogs.

It’s easier to see why I think that’s the case if you go through the Hogs+ comments from Petrino and Williams as they are released this week.

Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn never minded low expectations. He told me he likes to be “hiding in the weeds” at the start of every season. He likes to prove everyone wrong.

That guy who told me the Hogs are going to be bad has his reasons. He may tell me in three months that he saw it coming. I see something else coming down the track. It might be a powerful train that gains strength all season.