From The Bench

Mallett Will Not be the Difference

Robert Shields

While the national media has all but given the Razorbacks’ starting quarterback job to Ryan Mallett, let’s not count out the backups making a run to give him competition and replace him in that role next season.

Just kidding, but that was the sentiment of fans heading into last season, and I told you all that Mallett would be the starter, which resulted in many nasty e-mails telling me how wrong I was. The backup may be very good but he is not Mallett.

Funny how different a year later makes.

This year the issue for fans is not who will start, but rather the roar becomes louder and louder from fans for Mallett to be a Heisman candidate, and he will be one before he takes a snap this season even with him skipping spring practice. These expectations will be high and need to be managed correctly for a player who has displayed signs of immaturity in the past.

Mallett posted great numbers last year and had some memorable games against Georgia, LSU, and Florida, but all of those games were loses. He finished the season on a flat note in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl with a very subpar performance. I blame it on the cold, although he said it had no effect. I think the freezing temperatures affected the whole team, which was used to playing in the warmth of the SEC.

Mallett had surgery that is sidelining him for this spring practice, so I fully expect fans to talk a lot about one or two other quarterbacks who look good at times and will again spark a small fire for some that the guys in waiting are just as good or almost as good as Mallett. That will be wrong, though.

Mallett is probably the premier quarterback coming back in the SEC, maybe even the nation. He will have a receiving corps as good as any with Cobi Hamilton, Joe Adams, Jarius Wright, and Greg Childs. DJ Williams returns along with Chris Gragg. Mallett will also have a list of running backs including Dennis Johnson (I think this kid is just a football player), Ronnie Wingo, Knile Davis, and Broderick Green (who probably improved the most over last season).

These weapons at Mallett’s disposal will make him very dangerous in addition to what I expect will be an improved offensive line.

The above just explained why expectations will be high on the Razorback offense that fans will expect to be super great in September. These expectations need to be tempered even though I think Mallett has the best raw ability of any quarterback to ever wear the Razorback uniform.

Why should optimism be tempered even though I say Mallett be the best ever? Let me count the ways.

1) He is coming off surgery and nobody knows how he will recover from it. I along with every other Hog fan expect a full recovery and an improved Mallett. Yet only time will tell.

2) Even though Mallett improved during the season, almost all fans could still see weaknesses. He is still slow footed. He got better about not taking sacks, but I expect this next season he will see even more pressure if that is possible. I expect defenses to pick their poison and go man up even more on the corners to bring all the pressure on Mallett they can muster. SEC defensive coordinators have will have had a season of footage of him and had months reviewing and dissecting it on how to get to him. His improvement of finding the open receiver quickly will have to outpace defensive coordinators’ schemes.

3) The foot injury may slow him even more, but nobody hopes that is the case. We all hope that he becomes more agile. Time will tell, but a slower Mallett will not be a better Mallett. Foot injuries can be nagging.

4) Mallett will be a deadly quarterback but only if the Hogs can manage the sticks and stop putting him in long-yardage situations. He often bailed out the offense with some long passes last season. Fans cannot expect that to happen on a regular basis. Maybe he can continue to do it, but it’s a lot to ask even for an NFL quarterback. Defenses love it when they know the quarterback has to throw the ball. The running game will have to improve to make this situation the best for Mallett. A great running game takes the pressure off of him. In the Florida game last year, it helped Mallett when Dennis Johnson started picking up yards on the ground.

5) To have a great season, the defense will have to improve. The defense created opportunities last season, and it will have to do the same next season. It will be very helpful to Mallett if the defense can get some three and outs. The more possessions it creates for this offense, the better it will be. Teams will try to keep Mallett and company off the field, and some teams will certainly try more ball control against the Hogs.

6) The kicking game will have to be solid. Mallett does not need to face every possession looking at 80 yards to go down the field. The kicking game often dictates field position. Great field position will give Mallett great possessions.

7) The receivers have to hold onto the ball. I expect Mallett will have to unload early and often. This means the receivers have to be ready, run proper routes, and come up with the hard catches.

All this said, in long form, is just to remind you that Mallett will not be the difference. He makes the season have a real possibility of being great, but it will be the rest of the team that determines how disappointing Bobby Petrino’s third season will be, not Mallett.


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