LITTLE ROCK
Although Brandon Allen's 2013 statistics were so-so at best, the only way to drum up a quarterback controversy at Arkansas is to apply a conspiracy theory to a blurb about A.J. Derby.
Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney confirmed recently that Derby, who moved from quarterback to tight end during spring practice, would take some snaps at quarterback when fall practice begins Monday. Coming only a week or so after Bielema predicted at SEC Media Days that tight end Derby would be one of the surprises in the SEC, the word was surprising.
More than likely, the move is to make sure Derby remembers how to play the position, just in case. Other than Allen, Derby is the only player on campus who has played quarterback in college.
"Keep him alive there," is the way Chaney put it.
Fans who see only a 3-9 record and a completion percentage below 50 every time Allen's name is mentioned might be correct when they interpret Derby at quarterback as a signal that Rafe Peavey will be redshirted. Sight unseen, the freshman has been identified by some as the savior of the program. In reality, he is less than a year removed from high school football in Missouri and nowhere near ready to start in the SEC.
Some still believe Peavey or Allen's younger brother, Austin, will somehow overhaul the starter by making giant strides in August.
Dream on. Brandon Allen's status has been reinforced at every turn.
Early in the year, Bielema touted Allen's year of experience, prompting informed Razorback beat writer Robbie Neiswanger to start his list of five questions facing Arkansas during spring practice with: "Will anyone challenge quarterback Brandon Allen?"
What followed was a quote from Bielema that playing a season is always an advantage, particularly at quarterback. "That's so hard to put a price tag on and that's what separates them right now," he said.
Fifteen practices later, Allen was still the clear leader. At SEC Media Days, Bielema reiterated the stable pecking order by saying, "Sit back and relax because it isn't going to change. ... Unless someone reinvents who they are for those four weeks of preseason practice, B.A. is the guy, hands down."
To me, there is more doubt about whether Allen will get the help he needs to be judged fairly than there is about his capabilities. Even Johnny Manziel needed superb receiver Mike Evans and an offensive line to do his thing.
If the defense improves at more than a half-dozen positions, if a wide receiver emerges as a go-to guy, if the offensive line can retreat and protect the quarterback and attack on behalf of the running backs, Allen will succeed.
Added up, that's a lot of ifs.
Bielema promises the defense under new coordinator Robb Smith will be simpler and therefore more aggressive. Makes sense to someone who knows that a golfer with more than one swing thought will get so tied up thinking that there is no way the swing can be free and aggressive.
Up front on defense, I'm not convinced Arkansas has the players to complement Trey Flowers and Darius Philon. In light of what happened last year, erase preconceived notions about returning starters at linebacker and in the secondary and see if blitzing quarterbacks and bumping receivers helps.
Relying on freshmen receivers such as Jared Cornelius and Cody Hollister is a concern and so is counting on freshman Frank Ragnow to take over at center and UNLV transfer Cameron Jefferson to start at guard.
Many personnel questions will be sorted out in August, but how a player performs against a teammate does not necessarily provide a reading on that same athlete vs. SEC opponents. Truly, this is a work in progress and judgments should be withheld until Texas A&M on Sept. 27 at the very least.
Meanwhile, those pushing Peavey or the younger Allen, forget about it.
Harry King is a sports columnist. His email is [email protected].
Sports on 08/01/2014