No fans will be at the Red-White Game this year and based on the wording of a press release Friday it sounds like the team might not scrimmage at all, but instead only practice inside at the Walker Pavilion.
Arkansas officials called off pregame festivities and closed the scrimmage due to forecasted inclement weather. The practice still will be broadcast on SEC Network. There is no doubt many Hogs fans will tune in.
After a 7-6 season ended on a sour note with Arkansas blowing big leads at Missouri and in the Belk Bowl to Virginia Tech, this is a pivotal spring. Staff changes, formation changes and many holes to fill.
Here are five things to watch as Arkansas doges rain drops and continue the process in trying to redeem itself from a disappointing 2016.
3-4 Defense
Coach Bret Bielema elevated Paul Rhoads from secondary coach to defensive coordinator in the offseason. Bielema elected to switch from the traditional 4-3 defense to 3-4 alignment due to a chronic problem in filling a stable of talented defensive linemen.
I am still skeptical of the switch, but if any coordinator can make the transition it’s Rhoads. He has experience coaching the scheme and had good defensive units at Auburn and Pitt. Bielema has the right coach, but does he have the right scheme? We won’t be able to tell that in the final practice. In fact, the kinks may not be worked out until a couple of weeks into the regular season.
For Saturday, look for how players stay in position and what kind of push the front seven can get in the backfield.
Receivers
This position has some of the biggest holes to fill the departure of seniors Drew Morgan, Dominique Reed, Keon Hatcher and Cody Hollister. Jared Cornelius (More than 500 yards in 2016) is a prime candidate to be Austin Allen’s go-to option. However, others must step up.
Receivers coach Michael Smith is hopeful inexperienced returners Deon Stewart and LeMichael Pettway can produce. There has also been the emergence of reserve sophomore running back T.J. Hammonds. Hammonds moved to receiver in the spring and has shown flashes of brilliance. There is also redshirt Jordan Jones and junior college transfers Brandon Martin and Jonathan Nance.
It will be interesting to see who Allen throws to the most Saturday, and who leads the corps in catches and yards. It could be up and down for a while with the young players and newcomers, but Cornelius’ return in the fall will be a big boost and others may follow his lead.
Backup quarterbacks
Allen is back for his second year as the full-time starter, but offensive coordinator Dan Enos isn’t sure who will be the backup. Ty Storey and Cole Kelley are the main candidates with newcomer Daulton Hyatt and walk-ons Jack Lindsey and Carson Proctor also taking snaps.
Storey was the primary backup last season and was shaky in limited action. He has improved in the spring with decision-making and ball control, but Kelley has challenged throughout.
Normally, with a proven veteran you might use him sparingly in this game and turn it over to the backups. However, I am sure the staff wants to see how Allen meshes with the inexperienced receivers. I wouldn’t focus on that too long, as it seems important to get the backups game experience. One of those guys will be the starter next year. There should be some consideration paid to that although in Bielema’s time on The Hill he hasn’t seemed to concerned about getting backups experience.
Bijhon Jackson
The senior defensive end is in real danger of flirting with being one of the more overrated defensive linemen in recent memory. Jackson came to Fayetteville with huge hype, but he hasn’t realized the potential.
He has a huge frame and can squat a house, but it hasn’t shown on the field. Coaches say he has had a good spring. He is one of the players on defense who must rise to the occasion to ensure the 3-4 scheme is effective.
Hjalte Froholdt
The Danish junior offensive lineman spent much of his sophomore year trying to learn the position after moving from the defensive line. He struggled at times, but comes into the 2017 season with more experience.
He dropped 15 pounds in the offseason and says he is “more nimble.” His emergence could be big for an offensive line that is still pretty young but more experienced. It will be interesting to see how much quicker Froholdt is and how diligent he is on his assignments Saturday. He has the size and athleticism to be one of the more dominant linemen in the SEC if his technique and instincts improve.