Where Arkansas has to evolve going into Texas A&M and SEC season

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Arkansas football has a lot to improve on as it moves into October, the Texas A&M game, and the heart of its SEC football schedule. Two months, eight SEC games, and a lot of proving-ground moments lie ahead for Ryan Silverfield and his staff. Everyone needs to improve. KJ Jackson does. The running backs do. Receivers other than Chris Marshall do. However, if you had to focus on one aspect of this team which has to evolve the most going into these eight SEC games, what would it be? Our view: line play.

Sports Illustrated offered context and details:

"While Bryant Williams continues to struggle in pass protection this season, his backup Adam Hawkes is that much better at run blocking. That was never more apparent than in the second half when Hawkes played the final 29 offensive snaps of the game and helped the Razorbacks gain 65 yards on the ground.

"'I think end game that was the right decision to make at the right tackle spot,' Silverfield said. 'We've got great faith that Bryant's going to continue to progress and he's one ofthose guys that's you know, there's some good some things that he continues to do. Adam Hawkes gave us a decent spell and and there's some things he'd lookback and say, I got to get this done better…. We tell them every week and we told the offensive line like guys, we the five guys that started last game are the plan is to start them, but man, there's got to be some competition. We got to find ways to continue to improve.'"

The article then pivoted to the defensive line:

"Between Carlon Jones, Xadavien Sims, and Danny Beale have risen up the depth chart as interior pieces behind David Oke and Hunter Osborne. Each of them have played productive snaps when called upon and have been able to create negative plays when things come there way. While they continue to develop, Silverfield wants to provide them with more opportunites aside from feeding them to the sharks.

"'You're getting to see those guys like Danny Beal, a true freshman playing in the SEC,' Silverfield said. 'That's hard. Right now, he didn't get a 100 reps, but I think every week we're going to get to see him. [Xadavien Sims], right? We're going to get to see that progression. So, I do think uh we're just scratching the surface of what that group's capable doing. The more they get to play football, hopefully the the better they'll do.'"

The offensive line needs to evolve because it's a weak spot. The defensive line needs to evolve because it is a point of strength which needs to become stronger and give Arkansas more of a hammer against SEC offenses. In terms of both damage reduction and increased production, line play has to get better for Arkansas to achieve anything of note in these next eight SEC games. Other position groups have to join the parade, but the lines are going to show us if anything is truly possible for the Hogs.

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