The Arkansas Razorbacks will finally get an opportunity to tend to their wounded this week. Sadly for the Hogs, they won’t be getting any of their offensive weapons back by the time Auburn rolls to town on October 24th. The Razorbacks limp into their bye week with a 2-4 record overall, and 1-2 in conference.
Oct 10, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Kenyan Drake (17) gets pushed back by Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Dwayne Eugene (35) and defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter (55) during the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Whether you think it is a valid excuse or not, the Hogs depth chart is officially in shambles. When you factor in injuries, the Razorbacks are now missing 13 starters/contributors from last year’s squad. That’s a pretty hard hole to fill in on a depth chart that, as I’ve explained in previous articles, is about as deep as a kiddie pool.
Arkansas isn’t the only struggling team in the SEC this year. In fact, if you look at the group of coaches who were hired in 2012, none of them are doing so hot right now. Tennessee, Kentucky, Auburn, and Arkansas are all bruised, beaten, and not living up to fan’s high expectations for 2015.
Which could turn out to be good news for the Razorbacks. Again, as we’ve talked about before on this site, one of the biggest strengths of Bret Bielema’s teams while at Arkansas is that they absolutely never quit. That attitude is what turned the team around in 2014 and got them to a bowl game, and it could happen again this year. The Hogs will host Auburn, UT Martin, Mississippi State, and Missouri in Fayetteville this season. All of those games are winnable games, especially if the Razorback’s defense can continue to play the type of smashmouth defense they’ve showcased against TAMU, Tennessee, and Alabama. Say what you will about those games and the Hog’s struggles, but the defense has meshed in a big way since Texas Tech. Apart from Ole Miss, the Hogs don’t face another dynamic offense this season.
I’m usually the type of person that is telling you why everything is awful and why you should be sad. I don’t feel that way about the Razorbacks right now. I did after the Texas Tech game. But as it stands, the Hogs defense is playing at a high level, and we’ve seen the offense play well. They won’t face a defensive front 7 as deep as Alabama’s again. Although Ole Miss has some great defenders for sure.
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The Razorbacks have 2 weeks to prepare for Auburn in a must win game for the Hogs. Even without another road win, Arkansas can make a bowl game. This is a key moment in the season for Bret Bielema. Can he diagnose the ills that have plagued the offense and fix them? We’ll see. The Hogs have got to be able to lean on the running game like they did against TAMU and Tennessee. This Razorbacks team is full of tough, weathered, gritty players. That determination and toughness will hopefully pay off for the Hogs down the stretch. If all that was needed to win games was to be full of heart, then Brandon Allen would be an All-American. But the Hogs need to see that heart translate into points on the scoreboard, especially late in games. And a BYE week placed before a stretch of home games could be the very thing the Hogs need to get it corrected.