State of the Hogs: Numbers prove Arkansas QB has elite arm

Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen throws a pass during practice Tuesday, March 28, 2017, in Fayetteville.

— I've said it over and over: There's nothing like a fifth-year quarterback with starting experience.

When Brandon Allen finished at Arkansas two years ago, it was stunning how much better he played over his previous years under-center. It helped that his group of receivers matured and more talent was added.

But it was plain to see that Allen was just better.

It wasn't a surprise when the Jacksonville Jaguars made Allen their sixth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Much credit was given to new quarterbacks coach Dan Enos for Allen's development. Without a doubt, Enos added some route concepts that made it easier for the passing game to shine as Allen finished his fifth year at Arkansas.

This is all important as Austin Allen heads into his second year as the Arkansas starter and his fifth year on campus. Things slow down for a fifth-year player with starting experience. It's been that way since the beginning of football. Experience makes a difference.

Much of that is mental. The reads become easier.

Enos didn't say all of that Thursday when he met with the media, but he did indicate he's seen a “calmness about Austin” through two days of spring drills that perhaps wasn't there last year. It only makes sense that it would happen, but it's still worth noting when it does.

The other thing that happens – and it happened with Brandon – is that arm strength increases. I've seen it in every passing quarterback through 40 years of covering college football. Quarterbacks develop more arm strength and velocity as they mature – if that's their goal.

I saw Quinn Grovey develop from throwing a soft ball when he first played quarterback at Arkansas as a redshirt freshman to a potent throwing arm as a senior. Quarterback coach David Lee developed Grovey's arm strength with a variety of drills.

Clint Stoerner was a much different passer after four years with quarterback coach Joe Ferguson's arm-strengthening drills.

Quarterbacks can add arm strength throughout their career. Brandon is still working in that area, although his arm strength is much better than anyone believed even when he was finishing up at Arkansas.

The Allen brothers went to the Mastrole Quarterback Academy this spring. Former NFL quarterback Ken Mastrole tutors the likes of Teddy Bridgewater, Tajh Boyd, EJ Manuel and Jeff Driskel.

Mastrole refines the bio mechanics of the QB's throwing, but the real fun for the quarterbacks is the measurement tools available at his camp.

“You can always improve and both Austin and I wanted to see what we could do to get better,” Brandon Allen said. “What's neat about what they do there, they have radar technology. They are checking arm speed, ball speed.

“We wanted to find out where we sat in those measurements and how we compared to the other quarterbacks in the NFL and college.”

What they learned, both Allen brothers have “elite” level arm and ball velocity. The numbers were impressive. The numbers also revealed that they were elite as far as accuracy.

“They measure your accuracy at the various throws, a 15-yard out and everything else,” Brandon Allen said. “We measured elite, me and Austin both did.”

They aren't at the top end. They aren't like Ryan Mallett, but they are at least in the upper end.

“I know what Ryan can do,” Brandon Allen said. “We worked out together in Fayetteville for a few weeks this winter. I can't do what he does, but I can hit some throws in the top end when I need to.”

And that's the key, make sure you throw it hard when throwing it hard is needed. I've said this for two years: both Allen brothers have big arms, better than most think.

“I think there are some throws that you need to make that are top end in velocity,” Brandon Allen said. “Austin and I can both do that. But a lot of the time, you don't want to throw it that hard. You want it to be a catchable ball. The key is knowing when to put a little more on it, or not.

“Now, you always feel like you can do a little more, get a little more strength. And, Austin and I are both doing some drills that we got from (Mastrole) that is helping us. We were happy about what we got, what we learned and what we are doing to get more strength in our arms.

“I guess when you find out you are in the upper end of elite, that gives you some confidence. I think how I would describe my arm strength is sneaky. I only use it when I need it.”

It's been a fun winter for the Allen brothers. They are doing a lot of the same things, working out side by side.

“I have spent time here throwing and I also wanted to work in our strength program,” Brandon Allen said.

He was referencing Arkansas strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert.

“Yes, Coach Herb is still working with me,” Brandon Allen said. “I believe in what he does.”

Interestingly, I told Brandon Allen that of all the quarterbacks I've covered, he's in the upper end as far as arm strength. I covered Ferguson and Mallett at Arkansas, and Troy Aikman at Oklahoma. They are among the few that throw a football that makes a humming noise when it goes past on the sideline.

“I'm not sure mine hums,” Brandon Allen said. “But you do want to see guys like Mallett throw it. You want to compare how he does things, what he works on. It's a lot of the same things.”

Allen returns to Jacksonville on Sunday to begin team off-season programs. He has new coaches as he competes with returning starter Blake Bortles and backup Chad Henne at quarterback.

“We do have a new head coach, but he was our offensive line coach before they made him interim with two games left,” he said. “So we know him.”

It's about just competing and getting better.

“That's always the way I look at things, competing,” he said. “That's all I've ever tried to do, just compete every day. You go back to college, that's all I ever did. You compete with those you are out there with and try to get better every day.

“I will say that I learned a lot from Blake and Chad last year. It was about preparation. Of course, I did a lot of sitting and watching. It was about getting mental reps. I was glad I had that year.

“I'd say it was a lot like a redshirt year, exactly like it.”

Brandon Allen said he was getting in his workout during Arkansas' practice time this week, so wasn't able to provide any personal observations.

“I talked to Austin,” he said. “I think they feel like they are doing really well. I wish I had been out there to watch. I look forward to seeing what they can do. I know everyone's excited about this team.”

It starts at quarterback. The Hogs have an elite arm to lead the way.