Special Teams Not So Special During Week One

The Sam Pittman era is underway in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks opened the season on Saturday with a 37-10 loss to the 4th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. While Hog fans can argue that this team showed more passion and fight than recent years’ performances, there are still needs on both sides of the ball. Perhaps the most surprising blunders came from the Special Teams units on Saturday.

Georgia Punter Jake Camarda received the week one SEC Player of the Week award for his Special Teams efforts. This honor should come as no surprise to Razorback Nation, as the Hog offense started most of their first-half possessions coming out of their end zone. Camarda racked up a total of seven punts with an average of 49.9 yards per punt. Additionally, Georgia blocked a punt and held the Razorback coverage team at bay. The Bulldogs had plenty of Special Teams errors of their own during the game, but the Hogs outweighed all as the second half progressed.

There are many reasons for hope based on the Razorbacks performance and the bizarre landscape of college football in 2020. However, the Special Teams units will need to show quick improvement to compete as the Hogs progress through a grueling conference schedule.

The Razorbacks will travel to Starkville, Mississippi this week to battle Mike Leach’s 16th-ranked Bulldogs.