Despite having two of the conference’s most dangerous weapons — quarterback Austin Allen and running back Rawleigh Williams III — Arkansas’ offense still finished the 2016 season in the middle of the pack.

The Hogs scored 30.3 points per game, which, in most conferences, would be enough to win a bunch of games. In the SEC, however, Arkansas posted a 7-6 record and hobbled into the offseason as losers of three its final four games, including a 35-24 loss to Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl.

The production was a dip from 2015, when they finished second in the SEC at 35.9 points per game. That total was unusually high, though, as the Hogs’ 31.9 points per game was seventh in the conference during 2014.

When Arkansas’ offense was working and Allen and Williams were productive, the Hogs scored points in bunches. The Razorbacks went 6-1 when they scored 30 points or more. Their only loss came when they fell to top-ranked Alabama 49-30. Only two other teams — Ole Miss and Clemson — scored 30 points or more against the Crimson Tide.

The problem was the fact that Allen and Williams weren’t always at their best — and now Williams won’t even be there in 2017. Allen, a first-time starting quarterback, stumbled down the stretch, throwing two interceptions in losses to LSU and Missouri at the end of the regular season, and three more against the Hokies in the bowl game.

There are plenty of questions surrounding the offense in 2017. Allen is a cornerstone, but Williams retired from football after suffering a neck injury during the Spring Game. And the Razorbacks must replace their two leading pass-catchers, Keon Hatcher and Drew Morgan, as well as tight end Jeremy Sprinkle.

Allen and offensive coordinator Dan Enos will have their work cut out for them this season.

As you prepare for another season of Arkansas football, here is a breakdown of whether the Razorbacks’ offense will be better or worse in 2017.

Running game

Williams not only was the Hogs’ best running back, but also among the SEC’s best in 2016. His 1,360 yards ranked third behind LSU running back Derrius Guice and Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, respectively, and he was also responsible for 12 touchdowns last season.

Even though Williams was the featured back, freshman Devwah Whaley (110 carries, 602 yards, 3 TDs) performed well when given the opportunity.

Without Williams in the mix, Whaley (below) will have to pick up the slack. The question is whether the Razorbacks will find somebody to carry the same load that Williams did, as his 245 rushing attempts were the second-most in the SEC behind Vanderbilt running back Ralph Webb.

Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Without Williams, it’s hard to imagine Arkansas will be able to run the ball as well as it did in 2016. That could bode major trouble for the Hogs, who were at their best when Williams was allowing them to open up the passing game.

Quarterback

In 2013, Arkansas finished last in the SEC with 1,782 passing yards. The Hogs have thrown for more than 3,400 yards in each of the past two seasons.

Although many wondered whether Allen would be able to command the offense during his debut season, he was a most pleasant surprise in 2016. He led the SEC in passing yards (3,430), finished second in touchdowns (25) and third in quarterback rating (146.0). However, with the good came the bad, as Allen also led the conference with 15 interceptions and was sacked a league-worst 34 times.

Without Williams at his disposal, Allen will have to elevate his game. He’ll have to make better decisions, especially in crucial moments, and throw fewer interceptions. And he’ll certainly have to look to avoid being sacked as often, even if the line continues to struggle the way it did throughout 2016.

It might seem unfair to say an offense will live or die by its quarterback, though Allen will have to be among the conference’s best if the Razorbacks are going to be successful.

Receivers

Only one of the Hogs’ top four receivers returns: Jared Cornelius. Like most of the offense, Cornelius showed flashes of brilliance last year. His best performance came against Alabama, when he hauled in five passes for 146 yards.

But Cornelius wasn’t a key contributor a year ago, catching five passes or more only two times. He has caught just four touchdown passes last season, so it can be a little worrisome to think of him as Allen’s go-to receiver this season.

Although Hatcher, Morgan and Sprinkle are off to the NFL, coach Bret Bielema and his staff did make a concerted effort to recruit more pass-catchers. Arkansas hit a home run in landing the top-ranked junior college tight end Jeremy Patton, as well as the top-ranked JUCO wide receiver Brandon Martin.

The passing game possesses the talent it needs to succeed, though Enos and Allen will have to get on the same page with the new guys quickly if the Razorbacks are going to match their 2016 passing totals.

Red zone

Arkansas came away with points on 79 percent (46-of-58) of its trips to the red zone in 2016. However, the offense only managed to punch it into the end zone 60 percent of the time and had to settle for 11 field goals.

They were better in 2015, when they generated points 83 percent of the time, and scored touchdowns 69 percent of the time.

Part of the Razorbacks’ struggles stemmed from the kicking game, as place kickers Adam McFain and Cole Hedlund combined for four missed field goals last season. Three of those misses came from 40 to 49 yards out, meaning Arkansas was hardly reliable when it came time to kick from just outside the red zone.

With little faith in the kicking game, Arkansas will have to try to rekindle the red zone success it had in 2015. But without Williams, Morgan, Hatcher and Sprinkle, approaching those numbers will be a challenge.

Better or worse in 2017?

Even if Allen is better than he was last year — and he’ll have to be, if Arkansas wants to be successful — there are many concerns surrounding the offense.

Losing three of the top four leading receivers is tough, but Bielema and his staff were prepared for that in recruiting. And, give them credit, they brought in some talented pass-catchers who should be able to make an immediate impact.

Arkansas has had at least one 1,000-yard rusher in four consecutive seasons.

The real blow was losing Williams. That wasn’t something the Hogs could prepare for, and the running game might seriously suffer because of it. Whaley might answer the call, but it’s hard to imagine he’ll be able to replicate the production Williams provided in 2016.

We saw how good Arkansas was when Williams ran for 100 yards or more (6-1), so it’s impossible to picture a scenario where the running attack won’t take a step back. Without Hatcher, Morgan and Sprinkle, it’s likely the passing game will suffer some growing pains, too.

Although Allen will be a year wiser and will have some talented newcomers at his disposal, the Razorbacks offense won’t be better than it was in 2016. The best-case scenario for Arkansas fans would be similar results as last year, though with so many questions that need to be answered, the more likely outcome is the Hogs will be worse in 2017.