Hogs need four quarters from Allen

Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen, center, looks for a receiver in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

— Many have predicted Arkansas to be a darkhorse contender in the SEC West this season in large part because of its offense.

The Razorbacks return a pair of 1,000-yard rushers, four starting offensive linemen, an all-SEC tight end and a fifth-year senior quarterback.

However, questions still remain about Brandon Allen, who is entering his third season as Arkansas’ starting quarterback. While Allen increased his number of touchdown passes by close to 50 percent last season and cut his interceptions in half, he continued to struggled late in tight games.

With Allen at quarterback, the Razorbacks have blown fourth quarter leads five times. Arkansas failed to score in the fourth quarter or overtime five times last season.

“For Brandon Allen to take the (next) step, he has to be big in big moments,” Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said. “Fourth quarters, the moments we really need a fifth-year quarterback to shine through, on the road in big ballgames.”

This assertion can easily be backed up using the eye test, but statistics also prove it to be true.

Last season, Allen completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 6.7 yards per attempt in the first three quarters of SEC games.

In the fourth quarter, though, his completion percentage drops to 43.6 percent, for an average of only 4.7 yards per attempt.

Arkansas outscored its SEC opponents 143-96 in the first three quarters last season. The Razorbacks were outscored 81-23 in the fourth quarter of SEC games.

Allen’s touchdown-to-interception ratio is drastically different in the fourth quarter. Allen threw nine touchdowns and two interceptions in the first, second and third quarters combined in SEC play, compared to one touchdown and three interceptions during the fourth quarter.

Bielema has said Allen has responded well to a change in offensive coordinator and position coach. Dan Enos was hired earlier this year to replace Jim Chaney, who took a job at Pittsburgh. Chaney was criticized for much of Bielema's first two years for late-game play-calling.

With four of Arkansas’ six losses in 2014 being by a touchdown or less, fourth quarter play was the difference between a borderline bowl team and a serious SEC West contender.

If the Razorbacks are to live up to their hype this season, they will need four solid quarters from Allen.