When Arkansas coach Bret Bielema started to prepare for the 2017 campaign, one position he didn’t figure to worry about was quarterback.

Austin Allen topped the SEC last season with 3,430 yards passing as a first-year starter and proved to be one of the toughest QBs in the conference along the way. There was every reason to believe that he was primed for a monster senior year.

Instead, he’s a combined 23-of-42 for 273 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception through the first two games, which were a lackluster win over Florida A&M and a humbling defeat to TCU. Allen never threw for less than 187 yards in any of his 13 contests in 2016, yet he’s failed to top 140 thus far this season. The aerial attack hasn’t been even remotely sharp.

To be fair, Allen’s supporting cast is radically different. His receiving corps in particular is almost entirely new.

“We had five wide receivers last year,” Bielema said Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference. “Four of those five signed NFL contracts. The other one [Jared Cornelius] just is getting back with us full-time, so I think that had a huge impact in it. In addition to that, the tight end that left us here goes and is now playing for the Redskins, so I think the guys involved in the passing game changed dramatically.”

Wideouts Drew Morgan, Keon Hatcher, Dominique Reed and Cody Hollister caught a total of 135 passes a year ago as seniors, plus tight end Jeremy Sprinkle reeled in another 33. That quintet was responsible for 68 percent of the Hogs’ receptions.

Allen's supporting cast is radically different. His receiving corps in particular is almost entirely new.

While Cornelius was expected to be the primary target after 32 grabs this past season, he’s off to a slow start and has only gotten his hands on one ball in each of the first two games — he’s produced just 8 yards from scrimmage. Newcomer Jonathan Nance has been the most productive weapon so far with 6 catches for an even 100 yards and 1 TD.

Allen doesn’t appear to be taking nearly as much punishment as he did last year, although he’s still been sacked five times.

“We’re a little better up front to give him the protection and to get everybody operating on all cylinders,” Bielema said, “so I’m excited. I think it’s our third game and everybody’s back being healthy, including everybody involved from quarterback to receivers, to tight ends and O-linemen, and hopefully we’re gonna have better results on Saturday.”

Arkansas (1-1) has a huge game against Texas A&M (2-1) in Week 4 at neutral-site AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Both the Razorbacks and Aggies are in danger of falling out of the race in the West quickly, so neither can afford a second loss in September.

Credit: Joey Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

The Hogs are yet to beat A&M in four tries during Bielema’s tenure — the Ags have won five straight overall in the series. Last season, Allen actually threw the ball incredibly well against coach Kevin Sumlin’s club, as he was 28-of-42 for 371 yards with 2 scores and 0 INTs. But the blocking up front was lacking, resulting in 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Luckily for Allen, Texas A&M no longer has the pass-rushing combo of Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall, who are both now in the pros.

"He doesn't have to do anybody's job but his own, and I think it's really calming him down. Obviously you got a new perspective, a new look on things, and hopefully something better will happen on Saturday." -- Bret Bielema

“With a young guy, a first-year starter, you try to move him off his spot,” Sumlin said. “We moved him off spots. He still made throws. He took hits. Everybody watched that game last year.”

Preparing to face a QB for the second time presents its own unique challenges, plus Sumlin doesn’t believe that Allen has forgotten how to play the game’s most important position. He knows his defense will have its hands full.

“He’s a really, really, really good football player,” he said, “and we got to be on top of our game because as soon as you rush him, he moves. He makes throws on the run. If you sit back, he’ll find holes in the zone. (He’s from a) coaching family. I think he’s one of the better quarterbacks in our league.”

With the bye coming so early for Arkansas, Allen and Co. had an extra week to prepare for the Aggies and get the passing game on the same page. A&M allows 323.7 yards per game through the air, dead last in the league, so this is an opportunity to right the ship. According to Bielema, his signal caller was especially crisp Tuesday during 7-on-7 action.

“I believe we only had one miscue or one incomplete pass out of the entire session,” he said, “so I just think he’s feeling better. I think everybody around him is feeling more confident. There’s a definite vibe in the program to allow him to do what he does best.”

Allen continues to be guilty of trying to make too many big plays, which leads to mistakes. That was his primary flaw as a junior, too.

“He doesn’t have to do it all on his own,” Bielema said. “I think that’s the number one thing we try to get across to him is this is a passing team or a passing game or a passing call. There’s 11 guys involved with it. He doesn’t have to do anybody’s job but his own, and I think it’s really calming him down. Obviously you got a new perspective, a new look on things, and hopefully something better will happen on Saturday.”

The Ags have been awfully Jekyll-and-Hyde to this point, flip-flopping back and forth between being dominant and getting dominated. Allen must return to his early-2016 form, when there wasn’t much tape on him, if the Razorbacks want to emerge victorius.