NWADG College Football

2019

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3201 Market St | rogerS, ar 479-273-0916 www.bonefishgrill.com Come see us after the game! Cupids Lingerie Bentonville & Cupids Lingerie Tonitown! Bentonville 3600 S.E. Guess Who Dr. • 479-802-6223 Tontitown 1032 Henri D Tonti Blvd. • 479-717-6900 NOW in 2 LOCATIONS! www.shopcupids.com Lingerie Sizes : Small to 4x Adult Novelties Bachelorette Party Favors Tonitown Location Only! Private Party Room for Girls Night Out, Bachelorette Parties, Divorce Parties, Champagne Party and Special Events! Find US on FB - E S T 2 0 1 7 - M E N ' S G R O O M I N G & L O U N G E 4204 S JB Hunt Dr Ste 55 Rogers, AR 72758 479-799-3606 www.cavemannwa.com Sunday, August 25, 2019 15 NWA College Football Preview 2019 The statistics from 2018 were ugly. The Razorbacks ranked 117th nationally in total offense with 336 yards per game, and 79th in total defense with 413 yards allowed per game. Their 21.7 points per game tied for 113th, and their 34.8 points allowed per game was 108th. Arkansas' turnover margin of minus-10 tied for 119th out of 129 FBS programs, so ball security on offense and racking up takeaways on defense were a big priority this offseason. "There's a lot of things that certainly can affect the game for us defensively," defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "The easiest and best way is turnovers. If we can average three turnovers a ball- game, we'll be the No. 1 ball team in the nation, no question about that." The Hogs' special teams were mostly a mess with long touchdowns allowed in three consecutive games and assorted other miscues along the way. That's a lot to clean up in one offsea- son. But the arrival of graduate transfer quarterbacks Ben Hicks and Nick Starkel and the natural improvements that come with playing faster and understanding the concepts in the second year of a system have Arkansas fans hopeful their Hogs are bouncing back from rock bottom. Morris and his staff used the term "ev- ery" to motivate during the offseason, as in everything matters, everything must be earned, every drill, every meal, every rep, every snap, every post-practice recovery period is important. He also asked the simple question of why they do what they do. "We had an opportunity to really have some open conversations of 'Why?' The talking time of this season is over," Morris said. "Why do we want to do this? Why do we want to flip the script on Arkansas football? Why do we want to change the course or trajectory now? Why? I asked them to talk. There was some great dia- logue. I'm excited about their why." Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell is sold on the defense's improvement. "We're better right now than we were this time last year," he said at the mid- point of camp. "I believe that. Now how much, we're going to have to wait until we get into live-game situations. That's hard to tell. "We've got to play aggressive. We've got to stop the run. That's our No. 1 pri- ority." Agim did Caldwell one better. "It has gotten a lot better," Agim said. "You can tell guys are flying around, guys know the defense, guys are more com- fortable with the defense." Speaking this summer, freshman re- ceiver Trey Knox spoke about why he and the rookies took a chance on a 2-10 team. "I believe in what Coach Morris is try- ing to do," Knox said. "I know we have to start somewhere. We're starting on the ground but eventually we're going to end up at the top. I want to be a part of that process of being back dominant, ranked, Top 25, bowl games every year, that type of thing." A bowl game is Arkansas' minimum aim, and team leaders say the buy in is complete. "We've been building since [Morris] got here last year," Harris said at SEC me- dia days. "I always respect Coach Morris. It didn't take much for me to buy in. I'm going to do the right things. If I'm doing the right thing helping build this program, everybody else will follow me." v Continued from preceding page NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Arkansas receiver Trey Knox carries the ball into the end zone April 6 during the Razor- backs' spring game in Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

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