HOG BLOG Arkansas preview special
For the Hogs, the 2021 season comes with expectations of progress and a scoop of hope on the side. Come along with Wild Hog as he wrestles with the Angels and Demons.
By: Wild Hog
You know that scene from The Emperor’s New Groove where Kronk’s inner angel and demon are arguing on his shoulder and he’s just caught in the middle? That’s the essence of being a Hog fan.
Entering every season, you’ve got a voice in one ear reminding you that existence is pain and Razorback is a synonym for suffering, and a voice in the other ear telling you Bama ain’t shit and you’ve got their number this year.
Our beloved coach is caught between the angels and demons, just like Tom Hanks and Kronk. (Photo: Biscuits & SEC graphics department)
Acknowledging that, this preview will attempt to remain as objective as possible and highlight the good, the bad, and everything in between for the 2021 Razorbacks. We might hear from those voices again though.
We’ll start by stating the obvious - this is not a good team, and expectations must be tempered in Sam Pittman’s sophomore season with the Hogs. There’s still a lot of gaps to be filled in the transition from whatever scheme Chad Morris was recruiting for - still unsure on that one - and the new vision from Pittman. Looking at the schedule could make a fan feel…...less than great. Yet again, the Razorbacks have drawn a schedule that pretty much everyone from Vegas to pundits to sports insiders and even ESPN computer models agree is the toughest schedule in the nation. It’s really our thing at this point. There’s the very real potential this team goes 4-8. Conversely, there are several scenarios where this team could eke out some surprise wins (more on that later) and walk out of 2021 with a 7-5 record.
Angel’s take: “The Hogs will be fun, but anything more than 5-7 is greedy. Be grateful for growth. Be humble”
Demon’s take: “The Hogs will stamp their ownership on Texas, absolutely smoke Rice, UT and A&M, and secure vindication against Auburn, finish 7-5, go bowling, and get Sam his first bowl dub. OH LORD, IT’S HARD TO BE HUMBLE.”
Wild Hog in the Middle: “Lookin’ like 6-6. Several toss-up games with the potential for a bowl, but we’ll take what we can get.”
It appears the biggest question facing the Razorback offense has finally been answered, at least according to the depth chart for the season opener against Rice. KJ Jefferson played in 5 games last season and started against Mizzou at the end of the season, going 20-41 for 295 and three touchdowns. There’s definitely a bright future for KJ, but his, and the overall team’s success depends on some smart, quick play from the sophomore. He’s got great wheels, and we’re looking forward to schemes from Pittman and Briles to take advantage of that. With several returning players on the O-line like Myron Cunningham to help anchor a generally younger squad, fans will be looking for a little more time in the pocket to let KJ cook.
Accompanying KJ on offense are key names like Trelon Smith, whose breakout 2020 production means the backfield is his to run, and certified “freak” Treylon Burks, whose massive hands will surely play a key role in any shot at a winning season for the Hogs this year. Keep an eye out for Raheim “Rocket” Sanders to also make a splash at RB, offering Trelon some room to breathe and some serious speed for opponents to contend with. We’re also expecting big things from Hudson Henry - he’s admittedly got some large shoes to fill thanks to his NFL-rostered brother, but injuries have kept him from reaching the potential we were looking for. With Mike Woods gone from this offense, Hudson needs to step up on blocks to protect a young QB and show out as a receiver to fill the hole from Woods.
We’ve already covered the importance of the defense for the Razorbacks this season in the last Razorback story here on B&S, but suffice to say that Jalen Catalon, Hudson Clarke, Grant Morgan and Bumper Pool will all be lynchpins in a defense that was firing on all cylinders last season and will only get better with another year of Coach Odom establishing himself. Look for newly-minted Razorback John Ridgeway to be a valuable addition to this defensive unit, offering some serious size to the D-line and hopefully put some much-needed pressure on opposing QBs. Reports are expecting the Hogs to run more 4-man sets upfront, and QB pressure will produce bad throws, giving Morgan and Catalon plenty of opportunities to continue last season’s pick frenzy.
Speaking of coaches there have been a few minor shakeups, but the most important three positions have remained the same - obviously, Pittman is still here, and Kendal Briles and Barry Odom are still in at OC and DC, with Briles handling the QB room and Odom giving some extra attention to the safeties. Outside that, the Razorbacks did lose O-Line coach Brad Davis to LSU, but with the addition of Dowell Loggains for TEs and the shift of Cody Kennedy to O-line, the staff seems competent and up to this year’s task.
Schedule Expectations
Rice - Plenty of former opponents on the docket for the Razorbacks this season and an opener against Rice is the perfect stage for the Razorbacks to highlight all the offseason work and growth we’ve been hearing about out of Fayetteville.
Angel: W
Demon: W
Wild Hog in the Middle: W
UT -This is the big one folks. Truly a perfect storm of events has aligned to make this game unquestionably the biggest and most important of our season. Former SWC rivalry, big-name non-conference game, nighttime broadcast slot, swirling rumors of getting tabbed for College GameDay, and of course, UT’s first game against an SEC opponent since announcing their departure from the Big 12. A loss can be forgiven because Texas is back, right? But a win? Oh, a win here would be the sweetest of all victories a Hog fan could ask for this season. In 2011, 6 days after the announcement that A&M would be joining the SEC, Arkansas overcame an 18 point lead and defeated the Aggies. A fan in the stands held aloft a sign saying, “Welcome to the SEC.” The repetition of history seems too good to be true, and a win here would truly be a marquee victory for Pittman, a chance for him to say, “I don’t know about Texas, but Arkansas is back. Now turn that damn jukebox up.”
Angel: L
Demon: W
Wild Hog in the Middle: W
Remember the last time we played these guys? 31-7 Hogs. (Photo: Benjamin Krain, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
GA Southern - Non-conference game that won’t be a pushover, but should be a comfortable win for the Hogs. Anything less is very troubling for Coach Pittman and his ability to grow the program.
Angel: W
Demon: W
Wild Hog in the Middle: W
Texas A&M - The Hogs have not won this matchup since A&M’s entry into the SEC, and with the Aggies looking better than ever, there’s no real indication of that changing this season. Expect a Hog lead through the third, then an unsurprising but nonetheless devastating collapse in the fourth.
Angel: L
Demon: W
Wild Hog in the Middle: L
Georgia - Playing Georgia two years in a row is like playing Bama every year, except that when they pummel you it feels worse because you know they’ll go on to choke at the end of the season anyway.
Angel: L
Demon: L
Wild Hog in the Middle: L
Ole Miss - Why even try to write about this game as if we know what will happen. Blowout? Down to the wire? 4th-and-25 heaves in multiple OTs? There’s literally never anything certain about this game, so let’s just enjoy the ride.
Angel: L
Demon: W
Wild Hog in the Middle: L
Talk to me midseason and maybe I’ll agree with the Demon on this one. (Photo: Wesley Hitt, Getty Images)
Auburn - Absolute revenge game for the Hogs. After a well-documented stolen win last season, the Hogs will be out for blood. They’re not supposed to win this game, but they’ll do it anyway.
Angel: L
Demon: W
Wild Hog in the Middle: W
AR-Pine Bluff - More than just a non-conference expected win, there is immense pressure to win here and preserve state pride. Can’t have flagship universities losing to feeder schools.
Angel: W
Demon: W
Wild Hog in the Middle: W
Mississippi State - The Clangas look to be in disarray, and a locker room exodus in the offseason really helps the Hogs here. Look for this to be one of the Razorbacks’ expected conference wins.
Angel: W
Demon: W
Wild Hog in the Middle: W
LSU - After a truly transcendent, genuinely legendary 2019 season and a wildly mediocre 2020 campaign, the Tigers seem to have righted the ship, making them a challenging opponent for the Hogs, but not unbeatable. The Battle of the Boot should be a fun one as always.
Angel: L
Demon: W
Wild Hog in the Middle: L
Alabama - I won’t waste your time writing about this game.
Angel, Demon, Wild Hog in the Middle: Yea this one’s a fat L.
Mizzou - The force-fed “Battle Line Rivalry” has been pretty lackluster since its official inception in 2015, with Mizzou owning the lion’s share of the wins. They’re looking strong enough this year to be a real problem, and tensions and pressure could easily turn this into a shootout the Razorbacks will not be prepared for.
Angel: L
Demon: W
Wild Hog in the Middle: L
Wrap-Up for the Fans Who Never Learned to Count Good:
Angel: 4-8 - You know the drill. You’ll take those four wins and you will be thankful you’ve got a respectable coach.
Demon: 10-2 - Bama and Georgia have clearly made a deal with the Big Guy Downstairs so no chance there, but everyone else is on the menu. Is this record statistically possible? YES. Is it likely? I’m evil, I never said I was reasonable.
Wild Hog in the Middle: 6-6 - A respectable season marked with progress, some tough losses, and glimmers of good things to come on The Hill.