Mallett, Razorbacks eyeing next big step

Arkansas came within 10 minutes of shaking up the Southeastern Conference last season before losing a fourth-quarter lead against top-ranked Florida.

Perhaps the Hogs were merely a year away.

"At the end of the game, we were in position to win against a top team," Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams said. "We see it as where we are as a team now — able to compete with everybody."

There will be no tempering of expectations at Arkansas now. The Razorbacks fully believe they can challenge for their first SEC title. Although they're still underdogs in a division that includes defending champion Alabama, the Hogs expect to field one of the nation's most dynamic offenses thanks to quarterback Ryan Mallett.

Mallett threw for 3,624 yards and 30 touchdowns a season ago, and from the moment he announced he was passing up the NFL draft to stay in school, the Razorbacks have been wondering if this might be their year.

"The expectations are something that I put right out in front of the team," coach Bobby Petrino said. "I told them that it was great to have the expectations, the excitement's good. It was a good motivating factor throughout the summer, but now what it's all about is work."

The 6-foot-6 Mallett will again be the center of attention, a role he's comfortable with. After sitting out a season following a transfer from Michigan, he took over as the starter in 2009 and led Arkansas to an SEC-best 36 points per game. The Razorbacks went 8-5 with close losses at Florida and LSU.

Not only is Mallett back, but all his top targets return as well. Williams has caught 98 passes in three seasons, and wide receivers Greg Childs, Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Cobi Hamilton complement each other well.

The Razorbacks received a scare when Mallett broke his foot in February, but they said all along he'd be ready for fall practice, and sure enough, he's back on the field.

With Mallett apparently healthy, Arkansas' biggest remaining question mark is on the other side of the ball. The Razorbacks have been among the worst defensive teams in the SEC the last two seasons.

The Hogs had high expectations in 2009 too, but Georgia delivered a September reality check, coming to Fayetteville and emerging with a wild 52-41 victory.

The Razorbacks haven't held an opponent in single digits since October of 2007. The defense showed signs of improvement in that 23-20 loss to Florida last year, harassing Tim Tebow throughout in a gallant bid for an upset, but that game was a bit of an aberration.

Arkansas will need a big step forward from its secondary. Cornerback Isaac Madison is back after missing 2009 with a knee injury, and safety Elton Ford says he's fully healed after a serious neck injury two years ago. Ford was able to start eight games last season.

Jake Bequette anchors the defensive line after finishing with 5.5 sacks last season.

"This is a league and a game where you have to prove yourself. As a defense, we're looking to make a statement this year," Bequette said. "For the time being, we're going to fly under the radar and just kind of keep that chip on our shoulder, work hard and be the best we're going to be."

With nine returning starters on offense and seven on defense, Arkansas has plenty of familiar veterans in the lineup, but that doesn't mean there won't be competition in practice.

The running back spot, for example, is up in the air. Broderick Green, Dennis Johnson, Ronnie Wingo Jr. and Knile Davis all received plenty of playing time last season, but nobody has developed into a featured back.

Johnson is also a threat on kickoff returns, taking one back for a touchdown in each of the last two seasons. Special teams has been a mixed bag for Arkansas over the years. Kicker Alex Tejada had a couple big misses last season before finishing on a high note with a game-winning kick in the Liberty Bowl.

The Razorbacks hope to play in a more prestigious bowl this season. They caught one break already with Florida dropping off the schedule in favor of Vanderbilt, but to challenge for the conference title, Arkansas will need to navigate an SEC West that includes Alabama, Auburn, LSU and a Mississippi team the Hogs have lost two straight against.

"We just need to take every opportunity we get," Williams said. "The way we're working, I don't see any reason why we can't put ourselves in position to win every game we play."