First Football Game: Sept 4 vs. Tennessee Tech

Arkansas opens the season against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (view Arkansas 2010 season schedule and game predictions). Arkansas is really hyped coming into this season and rightfully so, as they have the best quarterback in the SEC along with a creative head coach who is instrumental in the offense in Bobby Petrino. This first game should not reduce that excitement. Here are 5 things you need to know about Arkansas vs. Tennessee Tech:

1. I, along with the rest of the country, will be closely watching Ryan Mallett’s surgically repaired foot as the Razorbacks take the field. It will be a good sign if Mallett comes out and looks fine, or will he be gingerly running the offense? Mallett underwent surgery to repair a screw in his ankle from the previous winter’s injury in which he broke a bone in his foot during a change-of-direction drill. Petrino said they had planned the screw replacement surgery in June to give him enough time to get ready for the season.

2. I fully expect Ryan Mallett’s stats to be padded against the Tennessee Tech defense; a defense, that was ranked 78th in total defense for the Football Championship Subdivision in 2009. Arkansas should be proclaiming Mallett for Heisman after you see his numbers from this one.

3. Arkansas was ranked 81st nationally in rushing offense in 2009. If the Razorbacks are able to complement Mallett’s dynamic passing game with a decent running game, they will be good enough to contend with a title in the West. It starts in game one. If not, they will be one dimensional, again.

4. On the other side of the ball, Arkansas defense was ranked 89th in the country and ranked 12th in the conference in 2009. For most of the year in 2009, the Razorbacks’ defense could not hold teams when the offense was scoring points. They need a shut out to complement Georgia’s goose egg they posted against Tennessee Tech last year to gain some momentum before entering conference play.

5. Bobby Petrino’s brother was the offensive coordinator last year for the Razorbacks. It will be interesting to see how the relationship develops between newly promoted offensive coordinator Garrick McGee and quarterback Ryan Mallett. McGee was promoted from quarterback’s coach to offensive coordinator this year, so the relationship should be still gelling from last year. My bet is Petrino still will pull the strings for the offense.

Arkansas Razorbacks led by Ryan Mallett into 2010 Season