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The Heisman Trophy runner-up and Doak Walker award winner, Darren McFadden, returns to a team that won the SEC West. So does Felix Jones, another 1,000-yard rusher. So, Arkansas should barely break a sweat in winning the SEC. “Hands-down, right?” coach Houston Nutt says, tongue in cheek. As dynamic as those two backs are, Nutt knows they can’t carry the program to its first SEC overall title alone. Spruce up the passing game and make a few key defensive replacements, and the Hogs could work their way back to Atlanta, where they fell to eventual national champion Florida last year. McFadden and Jones give the Razorbacks a two-headed threat that conjures up memories of Auburn’s Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams, who went second and fifth, respectively, in the 2005 NFL Draft. McFadden might be better than both. “He’s as a good as we’ve seen in our league in a while, maybe across the country,” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville says. “He’s got the size, and he’s got the speed and the quicks. Go back and look at Ronnie Brown and Carnell. Neither one had the burst after five yards that this kid’s got. He’s got the total package.” Georgia coach Mark Richt says, “There aren’t many guys since I’ve been in this league the last six years that really could dominate the way he can dominate, just flat out make people miss and then once he does can take it to the house.” The sooner McFadden starts his Heisman run, the sooner the Razorbacks can forget about a turbulent and bizarre offseason. A booster and close friend of the Nutt family sent a profanity-filled e-mail to quarterback Mitch Mustain urging him to leave. Nutt’s wife, Diana, forwarded a similar e-mail from the same person to an acquaintance and noted that derogatory things written in it about people from Springdale, Ark., (Mustain and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, among others) were “funny.” Fans then criticized Nutt and blamed him for the unpopular exit of Malzahn and the transfers of Mustain and receiver Damian Williams. Nutt made a PR goof by calling a radio show to confront a newspaper columnist who had criticized him. UA chancellor John White issued a statement supporting Nutt despite there being no serious speculation about Nutt’s job being in jeopardy. Then, two fans obtained Nutt’s cell phone records showing he had sent hundreds of text messages to a female reporter and circulated them widely. A lawyer representing Nutt sent an intimidating letter to at least one of the men. Topping it all off, the landing gear collapsed on a private plane carrying Nutt while landing in Fayetteville. No one was injured. “This is the first time in my 26 years of coaching there has been this much as far as distractions and things that involve me personally,” Nutt says. “But I feel good about our team, our players, how they feel, how the majority of our fans feel.” They’ll feel better if Arkansas can replace its best pass rusher and best cornerback and also find steady play at quarterback. Do that and who knows how far the Hogs could go? “You’ve got to stay healthy,” Nutt says. “If we do, it could be a special year.” OFFENSEReclaiming its usual spot as the SEC’s top rushing team shouldn’t be a problem for Arkansas. But to win the big games and contend for a championship, the Razorbacks need to muster some semblance of a passing attack (see consecutive losses to LSU, Florida and Wisconsin to end last season). McFadden and Jones can take the offense a long way. They’re big-play, multi-threats running, receiving, returning kickoffs and, in McFadden’s case, passing occasionally. He proved to be a capable quarterback in a package called “Wildcat” where he takes a direct snap and runs, hands off or throws (7-of-9 for 3 TDs). And don’t forget about fullback Peyton Hillis, who clears out linebackers and catches passes equally well. Marcus Monk has proven to be a big-play receiver, and London Crawford could have a breakout year. But the pressure will be on quarterback Casey Dick to accelerate his game to take advantage of the receivers. Nutt hired offensive coordinator David Lee from the Dallas Cowboys to install a pro passing scheme. Dick might take a few lumps as the line breaks in two new starting tackles, but if he improves his consistency from last year the offense could be a handful for defenses to stop. DEFENSEReplacing the top pass rusher, cover corner and run stopper won’t be easy. Still, the front seven should be solid against the run and in rushing the passer. The key for the defense will be how quickly the secondary is able to come along. The defensive line took a hit when its most talented tackle, Marcus Harrison, tore a knee ligament in the spring. His status is iffy and he could end up redshirting. If Harrison can’t go, then hard-working Cord Gray most likely moves up. Defensive end Antwain Robinson, who made the coaches’ All-SEC second team, has turned into a force against the run and pass. Freddie Fairchild has the physical tools to be one of the program’s best linebackers in years, and nobody questions his toughness after he blew out a knee against Utah State and kept playing. “One of the most courageous things I’ve ever seen,” coordinator Reggie Herring says. Fairchild is expected to be ready for preseason practice. Free safety Michael Grant returns from knee surgery and should make a difference in cutting down big plays. Herring doesn’t have the men to play press coverage on every snap like he prefers after Chris Houston bolted early for the NFL. They’ll still play physical man-to-man often, but zone coverages will be mixed in to protect Matterral Richardson, Jerell Norton and Jamar Love. SPECIALISTSYears of kicking woes have made freshman Alex Tejada and his lively leg perhaps the most anticipated among the signees. Jeremy Davis takes over the punting job he held for half of the 2004 season. Jones and McFadden are two of the SEC’s most dangerous kickoff returners. FINAL ANALYSISMcFadden and Jones give Arkansas a chance to repeat as SEC West champion. Despite some key losses, the defense should be capable in Herring’s blitz-happy attack. The difference between a good season and a great one, barring significant injuries, will be the quarterback play and how well the offense adapts to the pro passing scheme.
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