Arkansas Coach: Hog Offense Could be Nation's Best

As you'll see in my 2008 SEC Preview, I don't expect much from the Arkansas Razorbacks.

And why should I?

Besides, this is a team that loses not only superstar tailback Darren McFadden, but also his dangerous backfield mate, Felix Jones, reliable Peyton Hillis, and big-play receiver Marcus Monk. In other words, all of the guys who mattered on offense for the Hogs in 2007 -- with the exception of quarterback Casey Dick -- are gone in 2008. New coach Bobby Petrino is a proven winner, of course, but he's walking into a clear rebuilding situation at Arkansas.

Right?

Well, no. At least not according to some folks down in Fayetteville.

In fact, to hear Arkansas quarterback coach Garrick McGee tell it, the Arkansas offense will be every bit as explosive this year as they were last year. More than that, McGee says, it could be the best offense in the nation.

"We could be as good as anyone in the country," Garrick McGee told the Northwest Arkansas Times. "We could be the No. 1 offense in the nation. I personally feel like we have arguably the best playcaller in the country. We're going to coach hard. We're going to put more pressure on our kids on the practice field than they're going to have in the games, and we have an NFL style of offense that can attack every spot on the field."

Times columnist Brandon Marcello seems to agree, and predicted recently that the Hogs would break several offensive records in the season to come.

So what's up with all the confidence in Fayetteville?

Honestly, I'm not sure. Dick is a very good quarterback, probably one of the best in the SEC, but without McFadden and Jones behind him, and without Monk to throw to, he's going to be flying solo. Quarterbacks need playmakers.

And right now, Arkansas doesn't have them.

Photo: Quarterback Casey Dick is the lone returning star on the Arkansas offense. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images).