Flyers Predictions for 2011/12 Arkansas Razorback Football

If the disgusting heat would leave the area, you could almost smell the football in the air. If you went down to the Arkansas Razorback football team’s locker room, you could most definitely smell the football in the air. There’s one simple reason for that — it’s almost time for the 2011 College Football season to kick-off. Can I get a “woo pig?”

Last year Coach Bobby Petrino led our team to its first BCS bowl game. And even though the other team shouldn’t have really even been playing with all of the players dressed out, we barely lost the game. It was heart-breaking, but I think it gave all us fans a glimpse of what’s to come in the Petrino regime. And I’m REALLY sure that it’s a welcome change from our previous coach’s tenure.

So what’s in store for the Razorbacks this year? Let’s ask some current and former Flyers:

BOLD Predictions for the 2011/2012 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Season

1. Last year the Hogs made it to their first BCS Bowl game. Several media personalities think that the Hogs are now set up to be perennial BCS contenders. Do you agree with that statement?

• Seth Gunderson: I really do. I was surprised that Coach Petrino took us to the BCS in Year 3. And from what I’ve seen in his recruiting and development of players so far, I think we could easily threaten to break those BCS borders almost every year.
• Dustin Bartholomew: As long as Bobby Petrino is the coach at Arkansas, the Hogs have an opportunity to contend for the BCS.He’s going to continue to bring in top-tier offensive talent because of his coaching style, and if the last few years are any indication, he and his staff are doing a great job evaluating and developing defensive talent as well.The only problem is that in order for Arkansas to be a perennial BSC contender, they have to be a perennial top 2-3 team in the Southeastern Conference, outperforming the likes of LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, and South Carolina every year.So, perennial contenders? Yes. But, will they make a BCS bowl every year now, or even two out of every 3? That’s not nearly as likely.
• Todd Gill: Yes. We’re done effing around.
• Jonathan Haguewood: While I think we’re certainly coming up in the ranks, I feel it’s a bit premature to claim that we’re now set to be a serious contender on a yearly basis. That said, I do think that we’re now better poised to be serious and consistent BCS contenders than we have been in years past. If we can prove over the next couple of seasons that we can play with and (God-willing) beat the best the SEC and NCAA as a whole has to offer, I’ll gladly agree to that statement. But not any sooner than that.
• Trip Jones: Not quite.  Bobby is an awesome coach, but I am still unsure him and his team can recruit well enough to be a BCS contender every year.  Not because of any lack of ability, just haven’t seen it.
• Hogs Guy: The Hogs team is okay for good and good for a lot of many years to come. We can play championship footbowl games a lot of times for who will be #1. Trick. We are #1 of every time.

2. Predict each game’s outcome:

3.What bowl game will Arkansas play in this year and who will their opponent be?

• Seth: My guess is the Cotton Bowl vs. Oklahoma St.
• Dustin: Back to the Sugar Bowl, taking on the Oklahoma Sooners.
• Todd: Capital One – Michigan
• Jonathan: Capital One Bowl vs Michigan State. How did I come to this conclusion? Does 88MPH mean anything to you? Think about it. (PS – 1.21 Gigawatts)
• Trip: No idea.
• Hogs Guy: The Championship Bowl Game contest versus the entire state of Boys Bois Boysee.

4. The Hogs play AT Alabama and LSU. Those will be tough games. Which other game(s) are you concerned about?

• Seth: I’m worried about the A&M game, but I do think they’re overrated. Mississippi State scares me some.
• Dustin: For some reason Mississippi State scares the bejesus out of me. If it wasn’t in Little Rock, I’d be even more scared.
• Todd: With Davis out, I am concerned (but not too much) about Texas A&M.
• Jonathan: As much as it pains me to say it, I think it’s our turn to lose to A&M in Dallas. I think that South Carolina may prove a bit tricky this year as well although I feel that we’ll take ‘em in the end. And I don’t mean anything weird or inappropriate when I say “take ‘em in the end.” Get your head out of the gutter.
• Trip: All of the SEC games really, but most of all, Texas A&M.  They probably won’t be as good as everyone is making them out to be, but they will have a good team.  I live in Houston, and A&M’s biggest alumni base is here, and I work with a ton of Aggies.  It makes me feel good nearly everyday to see people sporting maroon and white failure all over the place.  I am in fear of losing this unfounded superiority.
• Hogs Guy: I have sad dreams where a NCAA group of leaders say Arkansas Razorbacks have to split up halfway into two fighting sides. Then they make them play football contests at each other in 7 weeks of rows. That game is hard to choose for the winner side.

5. Knile Davis’ injury is a set-back. How will Ronny Wingo Jr., Dennis Johnson and our offense handle the pressure?

• Seth: They’ll handle it fairly well. And it’s nice that we have a few more options at RB than just those two. Losing Knile is no good. But this O-Line will be the difference maker no matter who’s running the ball.
• Dustin: Ronnie Wingo is going to be the man this year. At the practices I’ve been able to make it to, he’s been first in line during all the drills, and he really seems to be working hard. He also looks enormous, and I really think a light went on with him as far as running north and south, and understanding that sometimes it’s better to fall forward for a tough yard instead of dancing around in the backfield for a loss.Dennis Johnson will get his share of carries too, and he’ll make his share of plays as a result. He’s still an absolute bowling ball, and is still really hard to tackle. Also, look for freshment Kody Walker and Kelvin Fisher to make some plays this year.
• Todd: They will form a tag team called the Knile-hilators and win it all.
• Jonathan: While we still have some depth in our running game, losing Knife Knile Davis hurts. Bad. I think that DJ will be able to step up and fill some of the gap, but not all of it. And unless Wingo was bit by a radioactive spider, I’m not expecting much. I hope I’m wrong.
• Trip:  It’s all about BMFP for me.  He is an awesome coach, so it should be less about the individuals and more about the system.  This will be a test of that notion.  Wingo and Johnson are good though, all is not totally lost.
• Hogs Guy: Knife Davis runs hard every day and instead of knocking holes in every step, he broke records and his ankles. There are other running men for us. Their names are Ron Winger Jrs and Dennis Johnny. Then plus you get to say we have for us young mens. No sweats.

6a. Arkansas’ Offensive MVP for the year?

• Seth: Tyler Wilson will do things at QB that we haven’t seen in many years. Like scramble.
• Dustin: I’m going with Ronnie Wingo. Tyler Wilson will play great, but I look for Wingo to have the kind of break-out year that Davis had last year.
• Todd: Ronnie Wingo Jr.
• Jonathan: Greg Childs is gonna catch some footballs, man. Just you wait. Oh yes… just you wait.
• Trip: Joe Adams
• Hogs Guy: Joe Adams is good for watching ball-catches and scoring 6 point touchdowned.

6b. Arkansas’ Defensive MVP for the year?

• Seth: Jerry Franklin
• Dustin: Jake Bequette
• Todd: Robert Thomas
• Jonathan: Jake Bequette’s got the size, weight and experience to dominate. And he will.
• Trip: Jake Bequette
• Hogs Guy: Jay Kebette

6c. Arkansas’ newcomer of the year?

• Seth: Kody Walker
• Dustin: Robert Thomas
• Todd: Chris Gragg
• Jonathan: While I haven’t paid much attention to the 2011 recruiting class, I’m going to opt for Qunita Funderburk because A) his name is awesome and II) I’ve read some good things.
• Trip: Me
• Hogs Guy: Quincy Thunderbutt

7. Can Tyler Wilson effectively take the keys from Mallett and run this offense?

• Seth: I do. I really think that while Mallett was a superior quarterback, I think that Wilson fits better into Petrino’s system. Again, the key is the O-line. If they can protect Wilson and give him the time he needs to operate, he can move this team down the field.
• Dustin: Tyler Wilson has looked like a surgeon at practice. Yes. He’s going to break some records.
• Todd: Actually, BMFP runs the offense. So yes.
• Jonathan: There’s a lot of pressure on Tyler Wilson. While he’s had some playing time and performed quite admirably (let’s forget about those interceptions against AU, shall we?) he’s still very green. I have high hopes and I think he has the potential to be a great quarterback who’s not only a threat from the air but from the ground as well. The first three games will be good indicators of what’s in store for us with Wilson directing traffic and will give him some required confidence… which he’ll need come Sept 24^th and Oct 1^st.
• Trip: I feel like Wilson will be effective, but I don’t think he is as good as Mallet, but maybe he will be better at winning big games late.  That would be cool.
• Hogs Guy: No more Bryan Malletts — he does football on professionals fields. Laser Wilson will throw and throw and throw and hand off balls to everyone that shows him that they are open and can hold the ball. Watch him throw it all over the field. Left. And right. And way up to all a catchers.

8. Will our defense improve on our numbers from last year, or do worse? (22.8 pts/game, 339.8 yards/game, 11 int, 14 fumble recoveries, 37 sacks)

• Seth: Last year, our defense stepped it up (except that Auburn game). But, from what I saw in practice, I think this defense will be improved over last year.
• Dustin: Our defense really is the key to this season. If they can perform up to their potential, the sky is the limit. Short answer, yes, their numbers will improve over last year.
• Todd: Improve. A lot.
• Jonathan: Feeling pretty optimistic here. While I’m not going to throw out any numbers, I think it’s fair to say that our defense might be the best in the SEC this year. Gauntlet thrown!
• Trip: Way better. We’ll probably get like a million.
• Hogs Guy: None points allowed ever and so many intercept pass plays.

9. Who will our top WR be this year?

• Seth: Greg Childs
• Dustin: Joe Adams is going to have a monster year, but keep an eye out for freshman Marquel Wade to make an impact.
• Todd: Joe Adams
• Jonathan: Greg Childs… but we’ve got a lot of talent at the WR spot.
• Trip: Joe Adams
• Hogs Guy: Joe Adams is good for watching ball-catches and scoring 6 point touchdowned.

10. BMFP?

• Seth: Fo’ sho. I’m so glad he’s here and we have that crazy buy-out clause.
• Dustin: … is a bad mammer jammer.
• Todd: B.M.F.P.
• Jonathan: Duh.
• Trip: My wife likes to see him get so mad that he shows his teeth.  I like his monotone press conferences.  I really hope he stays for a while longer.
• Hogs Guy: Bobby Petrinos is so good an cool.

So there they are. The Flyer’s predictions for the upcoming season. Should be an exciting one, no matter what happens. What are your predictions?