Five Reasons I'm Excited about the 2011 Razorback Football Season
by Stephen Expat on Aug 4, 2011 11:28 AM CDT
in Arkansas Razorback Football
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The interminable off season is over: Fall camp starts today and with it come high expectations for the 2011 Razorbacks. There are lots of reasons to be excited about this year's team. Below, I have listed five things that have me particularly jazzed about the soon-to-arrive season.
* The running game. When it came to the ground attack, 2010 was a decidedly bipolar year for the Hogs. As late as mid-October, asking "What's wrong the running game?" was guaranteed to be part of Arkansas fans' Sunday morning conversations. At the end of the season, however, the SEC's leading rusher was a Razorback. Watching Knile Davis develop into a first-team All-SEC member was one of the true joys of 2010. And maybe, just maybe, one of his backfield mates will develop into a consistent threat: Ronnie Wingo reportedly had a fine spring, and Dennis Johnson, who has had a few outstanding games at running back, returns from a painful injury that cost him most of last year.
Could the Hogs have a two- or three-headed monster in the backfield?
* Zach Hocker. I never thought that I would live to see the day when the Razorbacks once again had a kicker who didn't cause me to have a mild stroke when he took the field in a critical moment, but Hocker was that guy in 2010. A more experienced Zach can only mean good things for the Hogs.
* The LSU game. Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday. It's been made even more so by the string of thrilling Razorback-Tiger games that we've seen in recent years. And with a trip to Atlanta possibly, hopefully on the line, this year's showdown has all the makings of another classic. Bonus: this year, the game returns to its rightful place on the Friday after Turkey Day.
* The return of Greg Childs. It's tough to pick a favorite Razorback receiver: there are so many damn good ones. Childs is my favorite, though, and his ability to grind out those few extra yards after a defender starts to tackle him will be a welcome sight in 2011.
* Tyler Wilson. You can't expect him to always play like he did when he was thrust unexpectedly into last year's wild and wholly Auburn game, but it's going to be fun to see what Petrino will do with a more mobile quarterback. Don't get me wrong: I'll miss Ryan Mallett's cannon of an arm, but I think good things are in store for Tyler. After all, he periodically exhibits a powerful indicator of SEC quarterback success: the floppy, Southern frat-guy hairdo.
That's enough from me. What are the five things that have you the most excited about this year's Razorbacks?
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WPS
Football is in the air!
"I solemnly swear to tell the truth as I know it, the whole truth as I believe it to be, and nothing but what I think you need to know."
My 5 reasons to be excited about Razorback football...
1. Bobby Petrino
2. Bobby Petrino
3. Bobby Petrino
4. Jeff Long
5. Bobby Petrino
"How did you feel...being denied these hungry, hungry hippos?"
Don't jinx the kicker!
Now that you said that he’s going to have one of those sophomore regression seasons.
My Five Reasons
1. The WRs. Adams, Childs, Hamilton, Wright, plus young dudes like Horton coming on. If young gun quarterback “T-Dub” delivers on the promise he showed in spot duty last year, and if his blockers can keep his jersey clean – watch out.
2. The Running Game. For all the reasons mentioned above.
3. The Defense. The D showed a lot of improvement last year, and they should be a quality unit again this year. Even so, with the Hogs’ offense looking pretty loaded this year, the other side of the ball doesn’t have to be dominant – merely competent (and opportunistic, when it comes to grabbing turnovers) should suffice.
4. The Southwest Classic. Last year’s win vs. A&M felt somewhat underwhelming at the time, but the Aggies went on to have a fine season (before getting torn apart by LSU in the Cotton Bowl). This year’s showdown at Jerry’s World should be the most competitive yet in the renewed series, with A&M ranked in the preseason Top Ten.
5. The SEC West. Stacked yet again, with five of six in the Top 25. This is getting ridiculous, people.
Can the Hogs survive the brutal conference schedule to win it? (Perhaps.) Is this the year that Arkansas delivers a Bama beatdown? (Hope so.) What crazy end-of-game shenanigans will befall Les Miles? (Loses control of bodily functions.) Will MSU fans finally decide they could do without the tinnitus and leave their cowbells at home? (Not likelly.) Will Houston Dale Nutt avenge last year’s loss to the Hogs and get his Rebs back to a bowl game? (Doubt it.) Will the Chizz and Auburn do a face-plant after losing Cammy and (un)Fairley to the NFL? (No, but they’ll lose a few games.)
Will the BCS Champ again hail from the toughest division in college football? (Probably.)
My 5 reasons in order:
1. The D-line
2. Improved STs coverage
3. Even more talent, experience and depth at RB
4.Not just relying on a strong-armed, non-moble QB, but having more versatility at that position
5.CBP coaching all these guys
6. I’ll add one more to the mix…..cooler weather.
GO HOGS GO, BABY!!!!!
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