Anyone picking us at the bottom..better read

WPS


For having such a great 2002 season, it sure ended on a down note. After beating LSU in miraculous fashion to get to the SEC title game, the Hogs were thumped by Georgia for the title and was inexplicably blown out by Minnesota in the Music City Bowl. What's most interesting, and most impessive, was how Arkansas got into the SEC championship game at all. Once again, head coach Houston Nutt and his staff did a fantastic job (at least before the Gopher game) and now has enough returning talent to make an honest run at the SEC championship.

The defense has some issues, but it should be fine. The question is in the passing game where the Hogs have to figure out its quarterback situation and has to start giving defenses a scare through the air. Every year Nutt says he's going to boost the passing attack, and every year the Hogs fall back on a fantastic running game. If Matt Jones and/or Ryan Sorahan can give the Hogs a consistent thrower and the pass defense can stop giving up big plays, the sky's the limit for this team.

The Schedule: The Hogs have been outstanding at home under Nutt and will be tested early with North Texas (don't laugh, this is a good team), Auburn and Florida in the first seven games. Sprinkle in road games at Alabama and Texas and this is a nasty first half of the season. Arkansas closes the year at LSU so if the Hogs win the SEC, it'll have truly earned it.

Best Offensive Player: Junior OT Shawn Andrews. He's an unbelievable athlete considering he weighs 371 pounds. There's not a better run blocker in the country.

Best Defensive Player: Senior CB Lawrence Richardson. He'll occasionally make mistakes and get a bit sloppy, but there might not be a better corner in the SEC. With a little bit of improvement, he could be an All-American.

Key player to a successful season: QBs Matt Jones and Ryan Sorahan. The two could platoon throughout the year using the legs of Jones and the arm of Sorahan, but the coaching staff would love to be able to count on one of them to be the team's passing star.

The season will be a success if