Over the course of the next several weeks, the SoBros Network crew will be going around the landscape of the SEC, team by team, previewing the upcoming American tackle football season. Up next, our 2021 Arkansas preview!
2021 Arkansas Preview
The Arkansas Razorbacks, in the first year with new head coach Sam Pittman, were one of the surprises of the SEC. Now, you might look back at a 3-7 record and say, “um, what?” But, I would challenge you to take a look at the season a little more closely. The games against the Georgia Bulldogs, Florida Gators, and Alabama Crimson Tide were the only games this surprising squad, helmed by veteran quarterback Feleipe Franks, was never really in. There’s reason for promise in Fayetteville in 2021 – Pittman has done a nice job of transforming the culture at Arkansas, and getting two knockout coordinators on the staff. Kendal Briles did a solid job as offensive coordinator, but getting former Mizzou coach Barry Odom in-house as defensive coordinator was one of the best moves Pittman could’ve made, and it paid immediate dividends, as the defense was clearly better than it was the year before.
Stylistically, they need to grow to become a little more dynamic on offense. We know what we’re going to get in a Briles offense, but should the Razorbacks take the next step on that side of the ball, it’ll be because they’ve developed an ability to be a more plodding offense when the situation calls for it. They’re lacking an element of ‘control the clock’ and ‘wear down the opponent with a solid run game.’ There are plenty of pieces for this to be a stellar unit in 2021. WR Treylon Burks looks like a stud in the making, and is starting to pop up on preseason All-America lists. TE Hudson Henry provides reason for optimism as well. The offensive line is experienced, and should be one of the strengths of this team. But, like many other teams this time of year, the thinking is that it’s all going to come down to the quarterback. KJ Jefferson is the clear choice at quarterback to replace Franks, and faces no real threat to that spot. His dual-threat abilities lend well to Briles’ system. If he firmly takes the reins, the Razorbacks could surprise as one of the best offenses in the league considering all the talent they have at the skill positions, the experience along the offensive line (with Pittman developing that bunch, no less), and Briles calling the plays.
Meanwhile on defense, Odom had a whale of a job to do in correcting course for this defense. Now, it’s not exactly like the Razorbacks became the Steel Curtain in 2020, but there was marked improvement from the previous regime. Now, Odom is in a position with 10 starters returning to keep that moment going. The clear weakness from a season ago was the inability to generate a steady pass rush and aggravate opposing quarterbacks. Pittman brought in new defensive line and linebacker assistants to help with this. And, there’s a promising group of linebackers, led by Grant Morgan, to build around. The hard-hitting secondary, led by Jalen Catalon, will need to improve in man-to-man situations. But by and large, if the coaching staff can figure out how to get more consistent pressure up front, this defense could be a formidable unit.
2021 Razorbacks Schedule
Saturday, 9/4: vs. Rice – Everyone has to start their season off with a veritable preseason game, right? The Razorbacks have to get things tuned up for the Texas Longhorns.
Saturday, 9/11: vs. Texas – Maybe I’m insane for this one, but I think this is a prime spot for an upset – this program has questions, and could still be finding its footing early under new head coach Steve Sarkisian. I’m just saying.
Saturday, 9/18: vs. Georgia Southern – Listen, don’t sleep on the power of the Georgia Southern Eagles. This has become one of the premier “mid-major” college football programs in the country, and for good reason. They won’t be a pushover, but still….this should be a game won simply by SEC talent.
Saturday, 9/25: vs. Texas A&M (Arlington, TX) – This is one of three games on the Arkansas schedule that I’m putting in the ‘no way’ category. The Aggies are going to be good….like, might-finally-push-Alabama-in-the-SEC-West good.
Saturday, 10/2: @ Georgia – Another ‘no way’ game. The Bulldogs look like the realized vision of what this Razorbacks program wants to and could be. Arkansas just isn’t there yet.
Saturday, 10/9: @ Ole Miss – Everyone’s super high on Ole Miss this offseason, and for good reason, but I worry that the hype is getting to be a little too much. I’m not sure I’m giving Ole Miss the automatic win here.
Saturday, 10/16: vs. Auburn – They should’ve beaten Auburn a year ago, and with all the change that the Tigers have undergone, I think the Razorbacks will get ’em this year.
Saturday, 10/23: vs. UAPB (Little Rock, AR) – Usually, teams schedule their ‘breather’ in the penultimate game of the season. Not Arkansas – there’s comes with a third of the season left to play. It should be their last “guaranteed” win, if you will, before a tough slate down the stretch.
Saturday, 10/30 – BYE
Saturday, 11/6: vs. Mississippi State – The Bulldogs are a total wild card this season, but they’re definitely beatable. This is one of those games that Arkansas will need to tough out if they want to get to a bowl game.
Saturday, 11/13: @ LSU – Maybe Coach O is focusing way too much on trying to run things back from 2019. The Tigers were less than impressive in 2020, and I don’t see a whole lot of reason to think they’ll be much better in 2021. Joe Burrow and Joe Brady ain’t walkin’ through that door. Smart folks are taking LSU at home in November, but I’m just saying…crazier things have happened.
Saturday, 11/20: @ Alabama – The third of the ‘no way’ games in 2021 – I just don’t see this program being ready for this kind of spotlight.
Friday, 11/26: vs. Mizzou – I’m high on the Missouri Tigers, and think this will be a tough opponent for Arkansas to end the season on. This game could determine one of the SEC’s bowl slots. Regardless, we can all agree that football on Black Friday RULES.
Prediction
This schedule is tough. It’s entirely possible that this team improves upon its 2020 season on the field, and still finishes with a pretty bad record. The word I keep coming back to is ‘solid.’ This Razorbacks team has some solid talent, with a solid coaching staff. With 17 projected starters coming back from a season ago, there’s certainly reason to believe this can be a bowl team in 2021. To do that, they can’t afford to lose a game they shouldn’t – they’ll need to win every game they’ll be favored in, and then, it might take an upset or two. This team’s bowl hopes could very well come down to that finale against Mizzou at home, but a bowl game is attainable. My official gun-to-my-head prediction is 6-6 with a surprise win at LSU late in the season.
OTHER SEC 2021 SEASON PREVIEWS
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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