Arkansas Razorbacks: Five reasons why Hogs can win the SEC
Nov 15, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen (10) calls a play against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The Arkansas Razorbacks defeat the LSU Tigers 17-0. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
2. Brandon Allen is the Most Underrated QB in the SEC
There are nine teams in the Southeastern Conference that have yet to name a starting quarterback, and two of the teams settled atop the depth chart are planning to rely on a signal caller that has yet to play a full season.
Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema and new offensive coordinator Dan Enos (who joined the staff after a five-year stint as the head coach at Central Michigan) are fortunate to have the most experienced quarterback in the SEC directing their offense on the field. With 25 career starts under his belt, 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior Brandon Allen has five more starts than Mississippi State preseason All-SEC quarterback Dak Prescott and seven more than Missouri’s Maty Mauk.
However, talent trumps experience, so it’s understandable that Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson and Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs enter the season with higher expectations than Allen. Both QBs play in more exciting offensive systems and have flashier tools – specifically Johnson’s rocket arm and Dobbs’ fleet feet.
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“Game manager” has become a bit of a derogatory term when it comes to quarterbacks, because the Razorbacks have talent all over the field – and especially in the running game – Arkansas quarterbacks aren’t asked to do too much. But you might be surprised at the things Allen can do.
Allen has improved his accuracy and his decision-making – which are much more important skills than arm strength and speed in the Razorbacks’ offense. After completing 43 percent of his passes in five games as a freshman and 50 percent in 2013, Allen improved to 56 percent last season. He improved his touchdowns-to-interception ratio from 1:3 in 2012 to 13:10, and then tossed 20 touchdowns and only five picks last year.
Allen’s efficiency was a big reason the Hogs improved from 20.7 points, 148.5 passing yards and 357.2 total yards per game in 2013 to 31.9 points, 188 passing yards and 406 total yards per contest last year. And with so much experience under his belt and a talented group of playmakers in wide receivers Keon Hatcher and Jared Cornelius, plus All-SEC candidate tight end Hunter Henry, there’s still room for improvement for Allen in 2015.
Expect Allen to have more opportunities to make big plays with his arm in 2015. The Razorbacks took plenty of shots under former OC Jim Chaney, especially off of play-action, but the passing game should be more of a factor with Enos calling the plays. Last season at Central Michigan, Enos’ team threw for 243 yards per game, Chippewas’ quarterbacks completed 63.6 percent of their passes and the team and outgained MAC opponents by 107.4 yards per game – the best performance in the conference.
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