Chris Bahn: Arkansas Hits Halfway Point Report Card

Each week Arkansas gets graded on its performance in a given game. With half the season gone and the Razorbacks (3-3, 1-3) playing at Ole Miss (4-2, 1-2) on Saturday in the first of their final six games, it seems appropriate to assess the season so far.

OFFENSE A-
HIGHLIGHTS If there's one clear-cut difference between the 2008 and 2009 Razorbacks, it is the addition of quarterback Ryan Mallett. Currently, he leads the SEC in total offense (270.0) and pass efficiency (150.52). Mallett threw for a school-record 408 yards in his second start. He's got 1,646 yards and 14 touchdowns with six games remaining. It helps that Mallett has so many offensive options. Sophomores Greg Childs, Jarius Wright and Joe Adams are among nine different players to catch touchdown passes. Childs has established himself as a big-time threat, catching 25 passes for 480 yards and 5 touchdowns. Wright has 19 catches for 358 yards and 2 TDs, while Adams caught 16 passes for 316 yards and 2 touchdown prior to missing the last two games because of a stroke. When healthy Michael Smith has looked good in averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Ronnie Wingo Jr. hasn't been a consistent factor, but he has shown flashes. Only once have the Razorbacks failed to score inside the red zone (23 of 24, including 15 touchdowns).
LOWLIGHTS It took too long for the running game to get going. Arkansas was limited because of soft blocking, injuries and tentative running by backs like Wingo, Broderick Green and Knile Davis. Injuries have kept a number of Razorbacks off the field including wide receivers Lucas Miller (collarbone), London Crawford (collarbone) and Adams (stroke), and Smith at the running back spot. Tight end D.J. Williams, thought to be an all-SEC candidate before the season started has been too limited in the game plan, though his blocking has greatly improved. Third down has been awful for the Razorbacks, who have converted just 20 of 76 opportunities.
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED Bobby Petrino has reminded us exactly why he's known to be an offensive genius. Besides one rough outing against current No. 1 Alabama, the Razorbacks have put points on the board. And they've done it with key offensive players out with varying degrees of injury. Mallett still needs to develop consistency, but his leadership has been superb. Arkansas might be averaging 34.5 points per game, but it feels like this unit could score anytime it hits the field.

DEFENSE B-
HIGHLIGHTS Over the last three games, the Razorbacks have had a major turnaround on defense. They've cut their points allowed down from 32.3 to 21.7, while recovering 7 more fumbles and cutting the plays over 30 yards down from 7 to 3. Much of the improvement stems from the play of the defensive line. Credit tackles D.D. Jones and Malcolm Sheppard for each being too much for a single player to block. Extra attention on Jones and Sheppard has freed up ends Jake Bequette and Adrian Davis (3 sacks), while giving the team's defensive backs time to get into position. Safety Elton Ford has recovered nicely from last year's broken neck and junior college transfers Andru Stewart and Rudell Crim are developing nicely in the secondary. Jerico Nelson has quickly become a force on the defense.
LOWLIGHTS As good as Arkansas has been over the last three games, its first three outings were nothing short of awful. The Razorbacks were giving up red zone scores at an 86 percent clip, while getting minimum if any pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Big plays allowed (30 yards or more) totaled seven, including four through the air. So far the secondary has only two interceptions, both from safety Tramain Thomas. Highly touted players like safety Anthony Leon and cornerback Darius Winston haven't been as good as advertised.
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED Folks hit the panic button way too early these days. Arkansas' defense was written off three games into the season, but has now given reason for great optimism. Hopefully, those with quick-triggers aren't now over-valuing the defense's abilities with half the season remaining.

SPECIAL TEAMS C-
HIGHLIGHTS Once again the Razorbacks are explosive in the kick return game with Dennis Johnson. He's averaging just under 100 yards per game in return yards. Freshman punter Dylan Breeding won't blow anybody away with his leg strength, but he's landed nine punts inside the 20 and aside from a few awful attempts early on, he's been steady.
LOWLIGHTS Will the Razorbacks ever find a punt return man? No matter who gets work there, the result isn't good. Arkansas averages 3.2 yards per return currently with the longest of the year being a 10-yarder from Jerell Norton. Things were going so well for kicker Alex Tejada until Florida. He missed two field goals that could have been the difference in the game and is now 9 of 11 with no makes from beyond 38 yards.
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED Like the offense and defense, this unit has improved. There's plenty of room for continued growth, especially in the kicking game and on punt returns.

OVERALL B
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED
Arkansas is capable of much more than it showed during the first three games of the year. Continue playing like they did against Texas A&M, Auburn and Florida, and the Razorbacks could put together a brilliant run to end 2009. No longer are people wondering if the Razorbacks make a bowl. Now it's a matter of what caliber bowl Arkansas makes and right now it looks like it could be a good one.

PLAYERS OF THE (HALF) YEAR
OFFENSE This one is so obvious. Quarterback Ryan Mallett has shown great command of the offense and his team through the first six games. He's learning to be more patient in the pocket, developing into a more willing runner when needed and as noted above, he leads the SEC in total offense (270.0) and pass efficiency (150.52). Mallett threw for a school-record 408 yards in his second start. He's got 1,646 yards and 14 touchdowns. Oh, and he's thrown only three interceptions.          
DEFENSE Want to know what linebacker Jerry Franklin means to this team? Think back to his ejection in the Georgia game. Arkansas imploded on defense. Since then, the unit has shown steady improvement and Franklin has been the catalyst. Franklin's 34 tackles are second on the team and he's got a sack, a pass breakup and two fumble recoveries, including one for an 85-yard touchdown.
SPECIAL TEAMS Need a momentum-changing play? Dennis Johnson was the most likely guy to deliver it as a kick return specialist. Johnson, who moonlights as a running back with a 5.0 yards per carry average in limited action, is averaging 31.3 yards per kick return, including a 91-yard touchdown return.