Bill Clinton says Razorback woes down to 'a line problem'

Flashback: then-president Bill Clinton roots for Arkansas' hoops team during the 1995 NCAA Tournament. (Getty Images)

The Arkansas Razorbacks' most famous fan hasn't been too busy to form an opinion on what's gone wrong for John L. Smith's team in its disastrous 1-3 start.

Speaking on MSNBC's Morning Joe program and quoted by the Arkansas News, former Hog-Fan-in-Chief Bill Clinton said that the team's woes start up front.

"It doesn't look like they have much of a line on either side of the ball," the former president said.

Asked to elaborate on the Razorbacks' issues, Clinton did.

“They've got a great quarterback and three receivers and nobody else is playing really well," he said. "They have two great, really good, running backs and they are not doing so great this year. So, it looks like -- to me -- like a line problem."

The stats would seem to support Clinton's analysis. Through four weeks the Hogs rank 108th in the FBS in yards-per-carry and are tied for 64th in sacks allowed -- a huge hamper on a Tyler Wilson-led passing game that threw for 419 yards and still wound up on the wrong side of last Saturday's 35-26 loss to Rutgers.

Defensively, Arkansas has fared a little better up front -- 45th in yards per-carry allowed, middle of the pack in sacks. But that hasn't been nearly enough to offset one of the nation's worst pass defense, one that ranks 111th in opposing passer rating and 114th in yards allowed. (The Hogs' statistical profile certainly isn't helped by having already faced No. 1 Alabama, but half of their four games did come against FCS and Sun Belt opposition, too, and Arkansas hasn't yet played a road game.)

Smith himself dryly (and accurately) summed up his defense's problems on Tuesday's SEC coaches teleconference, saying his defenders' issues were "our ability to defend the run and the pass."

One thing both Clinton and Smith will agree on: With a road trip to Kyle Field to take on red-hot Texas A&M this Saturday, things will need to get better in a hurry, or the Razorbacks' season could spiral even further into a bowl-less abyss.

Want a behind-the-scenes look into the Razorbacks' struggles? Watch "College Football Confidential: Arkansas" on CBS Sports Network. Here's Smith addressing the team after the Rutgers loss: