Three Keys For Hogs to Win Nine-Plus Games in 2023

Some changes were common sense while one is an obvious fix for Razorbacks

Author:
Jacob Davis
Publish date:
Aug 27, 2023 3:26 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A storyline that’s been beat to death this offseason is Arkansas lost four games 3 points or less last season. How do the Hogs move past this and have a winning record in the SEC?

Here’s three things that went wrong for Arkansas in 2023 that need to be fixed in order to meet their goals.

Starting the first quarter strong

The Razorbacks punted or turned the football over on the first drive in 11 of their 13 games in 2023. There could be several reasons for that including not scripting the first drive very well.

When the Hogs did start fast in 2022 they were dominant throughout their victories at home against South Carolina and Ole Miss.

The Liberty Bowl victory was a dominant start building 38-13 victory before former offensive coordinator Kendal Briles went ultra conservative in the third quarter. Even then, Arkansas nearly had the game taken away due to several inconsistencies in officiating.

New offensive coordinator Dan Enos has proven to have a great feel to the game when it comes to calling plays.

“I hired Dan Enos because I thought he was the best play-caller I’ve ever worked with, and I felt like that’s what we need,” coach Sam Pittman said during SEC Media Days. “But you’re right. Explosive plays score points, and so would that be a concern? Not necessarily a concern, but we are certainly thinking about that all the time.”

Big plays were a thing in the Hogs offense last season. The Hogs had 34 plays that went for 30+ yards. Obviously, the potency is there to be explosive to score points.

While Enos won’t rely on just the big play to score points his methodical play calling adds a dimension of unpredictability to the offense. The Razorbacks' offense has more pieces to be well-rounded than what his Maryland team was a season ago. The Terrapins produced only five less 30+ yard plays in 2022. The Hogs’ should have more balance and be less stagnant this fall.

Arkansas destroying the notion they’re terrible in the secondary

What a better way of showing last season was a fluke than being a shutdown group. Nothing earth shattering needs to happen except staying healthy and having better talent on the field.

The influx of talent happened via the transfer portal once again. Veteran newcomers Alfahiym Walcott, Lorando Johnson and Jaheim Singletary are projected starters in the secondary to go alongside fellow DB Dwight McGlothern.

There’s nowhere to go but up from the bottom nationally in pass defense. As bad as it was last season, co-DC Marcus Woodson did find good things to build on.

"What I do is go back and look at what are the things we did good, or fairly good, and what’s the biggest areas of improvement," Woodson said. "Whatever those areas of improvement are, that’s what we’re going to emphasize."

Woodson wants his team to play as a unit and not individually. That includes better communication between the members of the secondary.

“I tell the guys all the time, if you want to go far, go together. If you want to get there fast, go by yourself. But it’s a long journey and we want to go far, so we’re going to go together."

Offensive Line Physicality

At times the Hogs lacked something down the stretch. Was it the will to win at the point of attack? It was clear they were out of sync especially against Missouri and Liberty.

If the issue was strength and conditioning then Pittman did right by firing Jamil Walker and hiring former Georgia and Louisville strength coach Ben Sowders.

The Hogs have a chance to hit the reset button with three new starters on the line in Devon Manuel, Joshua Braun and Patrick Kutas. A true two deep is also developing with Andrew Chamblee, Amaury Wiggins, Ty’Kieast Crawford, E’Marrion Harris and Josh Street emerging has viable options if someone goes down.

“Andrew Chamblee certainly deserved reps on Saturday,” Pittman said. “I think there will be an ongoing battle there, and then I think at some point you’ll go, ‘OK, are both of these guys in our top five?”

“If they are then you’ve got to have another conversation on what’s our best five. Where can we put our best five? Lately, in the last few days, Ty’Kieast Crawford has entered into that conversation as well. But I couldn’t be any more proud than I am with Andrew Chamblee. He took an opportunity and proved he’s ready to play. We’re going to play him.”

Pittman’s calling card and if this offensive line doesn’t improve in the physicality department it could spell trouble for the Hogs in 2023.