8 questions to ponder as Arkansas enters fall camp

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Razorbacks will conduct the first of 29 practices heading into the 2016 season today in year four under Coach Bret Bielema.

The Razorbacks improved each of the past two years after Bielema's debut in 2013 of 3-9 overall and 0-8 in SEC games. They went 8-5 last season, 5-3 in the SEC, with six victories in their final seven games.

SEC media picked the Razorbacks to finish fifth in the SEC West behind defending College Football Playoff and SEC champion Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.

When a reporter jokingly said to Bielema that he had to admit it was tough trying to predict where the Razorbacks would finish, Bielema responded in good humor, "No it's not, put us No. 1."

One reason the Razorbacks are hard to peg is because Arkansas is dealing with its first major loss of offensive talent under Bielema. In addition to the departure of three-year starting quarterback Brandon Allen, the Razorbacks lost tight end Hunter Henry, a second-round NFL Draft pick; 1,500-yard rusher Alex Collins; tailback Jonathan Williams; and the entire left side of the offensive line in tackle Denver Kirkland, guard Sebastian Tretola and center Mitch Smothers.

The defense brings back nine starters and 12 of the top 13 tacklers from a year ago, led by linebackers Brooks Ellis and Dre Greenlaw and end Deatrich Wise, who finished 2015 with eight sacks.

Here are eight questions facing the Razorbacks in training camp, in order of importance.

1.) How will the offensive line jell?

First-year assistant Kurt Anderson, an assistant O-line coach with the Buffalo Bills last season, has his hands full in his first major college role. Only one player, All-SEC caliber right tackle Dan Skipper, returns at the same position he played last year, when Arkansas led the SEC in fewest sacks allowed for a third consecutive season. Frank Ragnow will make the move from right guard to center, where his knowledge and line calls should pay dividends. Colton Jackson and Hjalte Froholdt, the projected starters on the left side, have no college snaps as offensive linemen. Anderson hopes to have a fully healthy Brian Wallace to lead the competition at right guard after the redshirt sophomore spent much of spring recovering from injuries.

There will be no shortage of players vying for a spot in the starting lineup or two-deep, including Johnny Gibson, Jalen Merrick and Zach Rogers, and newcomers Deion Malone, Jake Raulerson, Paul Ramirez, Jake Heinrich and Jake Hall.

This unit needs to hum early, and Anderson believes it will develop into a powerful group. The earlier the better.

2.) Can Austin Allen make a smooth transition to starting quarterback?

Brandon Allen made incremental improvements as a starter, from 49 percent completions as a redshirt sophomore to 66 percent completions last year. His brother, Austin, has a stronger supporting cast as he becomes the starter, Bielema pointed out this summer. The redshirt junior also starts a second season with Dan Enos as his coordinator and position coach, another positive. It wouldn't be fair to expect two-thirds of his passes to be complete, but a percentage in the mid- to high 50s is reasonable. He should present a more commanding performance in the huddle after running the first team all spring and attending the Manning Passing Academy.

3.) Can the defensive backfield make improvements?

The addition of position coach Paul Rhoads, who is leading a position room again after seven years as head coach at Iowa State, will be a big help for this unit, which underperformed last fall. So will the return of veterans Jared Collins, D.J. Dean, Henre Toliver, Kevin Richardson and Josh Liddell. Rhoads is expected to help the backs with stronger attention to technique and quicker reactions. There is still a lack of depth at the safety spots, where the Razorbacks have struggled to stack quality players for many years.

4.) Can the defensive front make an impact more quickly?

The Razorbacks finished 2015 on a roll, with good pressure on quarterbacks and a solid run of disruptive plays. The first half of the season largely featured quick-release quarterbacks having a field day and eating the Hogs up on third down. Arkansas wasn't generating enough pressure nor batting down enough passes at the line. The coaching staff believes better depth and stronger pass-rush configurations will knock more quarterbacks out of rhythm.

5.) Will the kicking game improve?

The Razorbacks must improve field goal protection and a getting a quicker lift from kicker Cole Hedlund after allowing four blocked field goals last season. Those struggles proved costly, such as a blocked 29-yard field goal in the final minute of the Hogs' 53-52 loss to Mississippi State.

6.) Who will be the primary ballcarriers?

This has the potential for a by-committee approach. Senior Kody Walker finished 2015 strong, but he's not a breakaway threat at 242 pounds. Rawleigh Williams showed promise as a true freshman, but his availability for a heavy load is a question after neck surgery midway through the season. Damon Mitchell is an intriguing option as a tall back and has great open-field instincts. Freshmen Devwah Whaley and T.J. Hammonds provide good big back and scat back possibilities. Will position coach Reggie Mitchell identify an every down back?

7.) Is help on the way at linebacker?

There had to be a point of diminishing returns for Brooks Ellis and Dre Greenlaw, who played a huge percentage of defensive snaps in 2015. Some combination of returning players Josh Williams, Randy Ramsey, Khalia Hackett, Dwayne Eugene and Kendrick Jackson, and newcomers De'Jon Harris, Alexy Jean-Baptiste, Giovanni LaFrance and Dee Walker has to provide quality relief.

8.) Are any tight ends ready to join Jeremy Sprinkle?

The highly touted freshman trio of Austin Cantrell, Will Gragg and Cheyenne O'Grady all redshirted, then had pressure applied in the spring with mixed results. Each has strengths that beg for playing time as well as issues that defenses could exploit. Jack Kraus is looking good in his return from knee surgery. Jamario Bell has a great frame. The Hogs are prepared to diminish their two-tight sets if no one can complement Sprinkle, who is set up for a big senior year.

Sports on 08/04/2016