by Pete Fiutak

Updated: August 19, 2008, 7:03 PM EST 21 comments

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Yeah, Petrino didn't exactly leave under the best of circumstances, but the NFL is a heartless, cut-throat business that chews up players and coaches and spits them out; Petrino simply won one for the other side. But while the Falcons are a few years (at least) from coming within shouting distance of being interesting again, Arkansas can go from very good to a real, live title contender in a bigger hurry.

The problem is that Petrino now has the reputation for having one foot out the door. As Petrino was turning Louisville into a power, there was the infamous meeting with Auburn officials about taking over for a then-beleaguered Tommy Tuberville before things turned around for the Tigers. Between leaving the Cardinals and ditching the Falcons, Arkansas fans might always be a little nervous, but for now, all seems right with the world.

Looking beyond all the extra issues, Petrino is a fantastic head coach who'll take an Arkansas program that wasn't that bad to begin with and make it better. He has done a terrific job of recruiting in a limited amount of time, with the biggest coup getting big, strong-armed QB Ryan Mallett from Michigan. Petrino has a career college record of 41-9 and had Louisville within a heartbeat of playing for a national title, and now he has more to work with.

Losing Darren McFadden and Felix Jones doesn't help the cause, but while it might seem like the pieces aren't there to run things the way Petrino might like, this might be a case of some players being able to break free of the shackles.

Casey Dick, whose job was to hand the ball off and to not screw up the passing game, appears to have taken to the new passing attack. The O line should still be among the best in the SEC, there are some quick, talented runners ready to take over, the receivers are promising, even if they aren't proven, and the defense that wasn't all that bad last year should come up with even more of a pass rush.

However, while the new coaching staff and the emerging players should keep the train rolling, there are too many big problems to keep this from being a special year. The linebacking corps is a mess, all four starters have to be replaced in the secondary, and yeah, while the skill players are promising, the offense is basically starting from scratch.

Bobby Petrino jumped ship for Arkansas. (Chris Graythen / Getty Images)

The team has the right coach, good young talent, and a recent history of success. Now it'll take a little time to hope everything comes together so Arkansas can go to another level. And then it'll take Petrino sticking around.

What to watch for on offense: The new and improved Casey Dick. He was much better last year than he was over the second half of 2006, but Dick still wasn't exactly the type of quarterback who could step up and beat a team by himself. That might change if this spring was any indication. He threw for 18 touchdown passes with 10 interceptions last season, but his job, to put it nicely, was to be a game-manager. Now he's the main returning offensive weapon and he'll get to be a passing quarterback and a true leader. He's experienced and he has been a quick study, and now the offense is on his shoulders.

What to watch for on defense: The linebacker situation. If you can play linebacker, send in your resume. This was going to be a potential problem spot going into the season anyway, and then Freddie Fairchild, the team's leading returning tackler, was booted of the team after getting charged with suspicion of third-degree battery and false imprisonment. Likely middle man Wendel Davis is also in hot water for an off-the-field incident. That means veteran Elston Forte, redshirt freshman Jerry Franklin, and sophomore Ryan Powers, all undersized but athletic, will have to be stars from day one.

The team will be far better if ... it gets something out of the punting game. Jeremy Davis is fine, but the Hogs struggled in coverage and netted a mediocre 33 yards per kick. The bigger problem has been punt returns after finishing last in the SEC and 107th in the nation. Reggie Fish will get a shot as a returner, but the job might be open to anyone who can produce.

The Schedule: It's an interesting schedule for Petrino's first season with just enough breaks to prevent any sort of long losing streak. Starting off against Western Illinois and UL Monroe will give the team time to prepare for the road trip to Texas and the SEC opener against Alabama. There's a much-needed late September open date before dealing with Florida and at Auburn, and then things lighten up for a while. If the Hogs can upset South Carolina in Columbia, there's a solid chance they can win five in a row before closing out against LSU in a Friday game in Little Rock.

Best Offensive Player: Senior C Jonathan Luigs. Depending on what scouting services you like to follow, Luigs is either first or second on the list of top NFL center prospects. The 2007 Rimington Award winner is the perfect quarterback for a front line that has to learn how to block in the new system. Pass protection will be at a premium, and it'll start in the middle.

Dick threw for 18 TDs in '07. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

Best Defensive Player: Junior DE Adrian Davis. The NFL types are waiting for DE Antwain Robinson to blow up and become the big-time player he has the potential to blossom into, but for now it's Davis who has the skills to be the star speed rusher. Either way, the Hogs are set up front with a scary-good group of pass rushers. At least, they'd better be set, because the back seven needs as much help as it can get.

Key player to a successful season: Senior QB Casey Dick. The offense might be in a little bit of a holding pattern until Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett is eligible next year, but until then Dick will have to carry things. The Hogs will still be able to run the ball, but the offense will have issues if Dick isn't excellent.

The season will be a success if ... the Hogs get to eight wins again. No one's expecting a run for the West title, and the schedule is decent enough to be really grouchy if this isn't a bowl season. After going 8-5 last year, similar success would mean Petrino was able to tread water and keep things from sliding in a season of reshaping.

Key game: Sept. 20 vs. Alabama. A key road game for the Tide to show that things are on the upswing in the Nick Saban era. Bama won 41-38 last year, and now, after going to Texas and with a week off to follow before dealing with Florida and a date at Auburn, the Hogs might need to pull off a win in the SEC opener to avoid a 2-4 start.

OFFENSE

Just imagine what might have been. Had everyone stuck around and Bobby Petrino was the coach, Arkansas could've had now-USC Trojan Mitch Mustain at quarterback, Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the backfield, and star receiver prospect Damian Williams as the main target. The O could've been special, but as is it might not be all that bad if QB Casey Dick is as good as he was this spring. There will still be a running game, but it's not going to be nearly as effective with Michael Smith and true freshman De'Anthony Curtis replacing McFadden and Jones. On the plus side, the line should be fantastic with Rimington Award winning center Jonathan Luigs and guard Mitch Petrus paving the way. The receiving corps is promising, and tight end D.J. Williams will be a breakout star, but it'll need time to become consistent.

Punter Jeremy Davis could be a secret weapon. (Doug Benc / Getty Images)

Quarterbacks: As is, Casey Dick appears to be more than ready for the added responsibility, while the offense can get by with Nathan Dick or Alex Mortensen running the attack. While it would've been nice to have had the option of using Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett, the year to learn and improve in the system should make him a big-time producer in 2009. The new coaching staff will help immeasurably. This is a great group of coaches that know how to get production out of the quarterback. NFL hopefuls are now going to want to play in Fayetteville.

Running Backs: You don't get better by losing all-timer talents like McFadden and Jones, who combined for 2,992 and 27 touchdowns last season, but the Hog running game isn't going to stink. Smith can tear off a home run any time he touches the ball, De'Anthony Curtis is promising and Brandon Barnett is a good talent. This won't be the nation's fourth-best rushing attack, and it won't lead the SEC again, but it'll be productive.

Receivers: The passing game went from lousy to non-existent, finishing 112th in the nation, and with a backfield like the 2007 Hogs had, why not? That'll change, and while the attack will be less efficient than it was last season, it'll be far more productive. The passing game was an afterthought, and often a liability, under Houston Nutt, but now it'll be at the forefront. It's not going to be all fireworks and big numbers right away, but Petrino knows how to get the ball moving. The receivers have to step up and produce now that they're in the spotlight. Tight end D.J. Williams will be a good one, and Carlton Salters has excellent potential, but to go from good to great, the true freshmen have to be the real deal.

Offensive Line: The line was fantastic two years ago, had to rebuild from near-scratch, was better, and now has to do some more tweaking. Luigs and Petrus are great ones to build around, and Valdez is solid. There's plenty of size, good young backups, and enough returning talent to allow the skill players time to figure out what they're doing. Even with several new starters in place, last year's line paved the way for the nation's fourth best running game and finished fifth in the nation in sacks allowed, giving up just 13. Three very good starters are returning, and the two new ones, Ray Dominguez and DeMarcus Love, are excellent.

DEFENSE

This should be interesting for defensive coordinator Willy Robinson. The defensive line might be the best in the SEC if everyone plays up to their talent level, with Ernest Mitchell and Malcolm Sheppard a rock-solid tackle tandem, and Adrian Davis and Antwain Robinson two of the league's best ends. And that's where the fun stops. The linebacking corps is a mess following arrests and the booting of Freddie Fairchild, but if nothing else, it's full of speedsters. The secondary has to replace all four starters, but it shouldn't be all that bad if the pass rush can help the cause.

Defensive Line: This was supposed to be the strength of the defense last year, almost by default, and it's definitely the best unit of the bunch this year. It's not really even close. For having so much talent and decent size across the front, the Hogs struggled a bit too much against the run. Only Missouri truly gouged the D, but it's not like the Hog front four stepped up and stonewalled any good ground game. That needs to change. Antwain Robinson has to be the special player the NFL types think he can be, while Jake Bequette and Adrian Davis should be good ones on the outside. Malcolm Sheppard and Ernest Mitchell are good SEC tackles who won't make many mistakes.

Linebackers: This is hardly the linebacking corps the Hogs were hoping to have going into the season, but to go cliche, it is what it is. It's not like there isn't talent, but it's going to take a little while for everything to come together, if it does. The corps was supposed to be Freddie Fairchild and Elston Forte on the outside and Wendel Davis in the middle with Freddy Burton a main contributor, but things quickly changed thanks to a variety of off-the-field issues. Now it's Forte and a bunch of guys. It's not like the original plan was going to be a big plus anyway, and now, unless Ryan Powers and Jerry Franklin are stars from day one, this will be the team's weakest link by far.

Secondary: Things aren't as bad as they appear. Last year's secondary was replacing a few key starters and it finished second in the nation in pass efficiency defense. All four starters are gone with the biggest losses at safety. Michael Grant made 75 tackles, picked off three passes and broke up 20 passes at free safety, and now there will be a battle for the job with 6-1, 191-pound junior Rashaad Johnson the likely main man. The secondary came up with more picks than in the past, 20, but it also got blasted in a few games giving up 421 yards to Mississippi State, not exactly the New England Patriots throwing the ball, 364 to South Carolina and 327 to Alabama. In other words, last year's crew was good, but it wasn't completely irreplaceable. This year's starting four will be a bit worse, but will turn out to be fine.

Special Teams: Alex Tejada was a big recruit for the program last year, and he came through big time hitting 17 of 23 field goals as a true freshman. Petrino has said he trusts Tejada completely inside the 50, and while the range might not be elite, he really tops out at around 45 yards, he's solid. Returning at punter will senior Jeremy Davis, a serviceable veteran who averaged 40 yards per kick putting 19 inside the 20. He first started out his career as a placekicker, struggled, and now is a reliable punter who won't hurt the cause. Trying to replace Felix Jones on kickoff returns will be Jerell Norton, the team's top punt returner who averaged 7.9 yards per try. He has the speed and the potential to be good, but it's asking too much replace the 29.6 yards per try from Jones.