Some random thoughts after watching the South Carolina game.
The Good
– You know…just another Razorback Saturday. The stadium field gets a name; the legendary Keith Jackson stops by to ‘Call the Hogs’; Felix rushes for 174, DMac rushes for 321 and we completely steamroller Steve Spurrier. Ho hum? Yeah, right. It was a magical night. What an honor it was to be there to see an ‘Instant Razorback Classic’ in person.
– While he was at Florida, Spurrier’s teams defeated the Hogs by a combined total of 132-17 in three meetings. Many Hog fans remember those blowout games very well. So you could tell that the crowd loved it even more that we were hanging nearly a half-a-hundred points and 650 yards of total offense on the ‘Ole Ball Coach.’ Paybacks are hell.
The Bad
– So exactly what part of this game plan could this team not have run from day one this season? I’m sure tape of what worked last year has been readily available to David Lee since January. Heck…we even tried to tell him that he was screwing up the Wildcat back in September. And it’s amazing what introducing a little misdirection can do to improve the effectiveness of a running game, isn’t it?
Fans are not stupid. They knew this offense was talented. They also knew that the offensive coaching staff have been making excuses for most of this year for poor game planning. According to them…it wasn’t them. As recently as three weeks ago, we heard how defensive coordinators had figured out the Wildcat. Hmmm…still think that after watching the game on Saturday?
The Ugly
– I think I need to just rename this section from ‘The Ugly’ to ‘The Two-Minute Ugly.’ For what seems like the 100th time this season, I use this forum to attempt to describe in words how pathetic our two-minute offense is.
Well…no more. At this point…I say just scrap it all and spend that five minutes of Thursday practice working on special teams. Just admit to the fans now that if we’re behind at the end of any of the remaining games, we’re just going to run the clock out. Because that’ll be less embarrassing than what we’re trying to do now.
Boo!
Now the stars and no stars are great talent after so many running this recruiting class down. Yes, there is good talent in places and the coaches have developed the talent, such as Shephard and company, to a higher level. I still wonder about the overall Senior leadership.
Reminder: D-Mac now appears healthy. It appears that they did not want to dwell on his injury although we could see he was not in his normal groove. You do know that makes a difference when crashing through the line? And do not forget that Monk was back all the way for this game and appeared to be shaking off the horrible double injury. They still have Cleveland and young Crosby Tuck, freshman receiver, out and they both were looking very good. I can't help but believe that one big thing that hurt this team in many close games was the bone-headed penalties that was scattered out among several players at a very key time in the game. And each game had those infractions that were costly. Fortunately, they overcame Robert Johnson's ill-advised fun, but that could have easily cost Arkansas the game.
The Good
Great Game!!! I was sooo glad I was there to witness "two" of the best running backs in Arkansas history do their thing.
The Bad
Why did Rojo spike the ball into the Razorback. Totally negated his touchdown with excellent field position for South Carolina. Dumb mistake on his part.
The Ugly
Michael grant in pass coverage. Enough said.
Good Grief!!!
You forgot to add third down conversions on the first drive. That was very good and did a lot to open up running lanes.
Bluffhawg, if SC completed passes like they did in the second half of last's years game, they would have won. I lost count of how many times I thought that they had a receiver open but missed the throw.
Agree on everything Tipster. I'd add the penelty on RoJo as an ugly. He's a SR and supposedly a leader. I expect for from leaders.
I total agree with the receivers being open. I was just happy their qb was not on his A game. I just can't understand why we still run man coverage it is clear to me that we don't have the quality DB's to continue winning games with man coverage. I was also happy we brought some of the plays back from last year. I would like to see us test the other team deep a few more times especially on games like we just had.
I was satisfied with our D-backs as a whole with the exception of Grant. He had an off night. I thought Red Richardson, Love, Johnson & Hewitt made several good plays.
What a game. I'm glad to see we can compete with the rest of the SEC.
Just one question. I wonder if HDN is still interesetred in the Nebraska job? Let's hope so.
Go Hogs stomp Tenn. and Fulmer
Yes, this was a nice win but I am still want a new coach. I am thinking Erik Ainge is licking his chops. The secondary couldn't cover a table with a sheet yikes, thanks the game have a time limit because South Carolina probabl would have caught us. Did anyone see that shot DMAC took? and had to get the smelling salt to back to earth and that idoit(Nutt) trying to get him to go back in the game when he was obivioulsy light headed. This is win lose lose situation, if they win these next two and give LSU fits do you want him back next year?
Houston was so "happy" to be ahead by 18 at the half that he refused to try for a highly possible 21. Give me a break.
If Dale can win out and make the Cotton Bowl that will at least be something to see. Maybe someone else will hire him after that.
Still wins over Ole Miss and SCar does not a top ten team make.
I am happy for the kids. As usual Tipster has it exactly right. Dale is too stupid and too stubborn to go to the Gus game plan until his back is too the wall.
It is one of the stranger things to watch that I have seen. Dale's ego is too big to let him actually win anything. Truly bizarre. The poor man.
Here's the sad part. If the Hogs beat the Vols and Bulldogs, and give the Tigers all they want, there is a chance our new AD might just keep Nutt around one more year, especially with Frank just around the corner in his new office. THE GOOD – DMac & FJ. THE BAD – They are leaving. THE UGLY – 1 More year of Houston Nutt.
The good- houston is here 2 stay
It was hard for Mitchell to complete passes with the d-line bearing down on him, as well as the coverage.
Houston going? Not unless he chooses to do so. The Program shall suffer if he does not stay. Some fans sure need a reality check. He uses the talent that he has better than any coach in the NCAA. Just like Hatfield he uses the right stuff for the athletes…and most importantly of all is that he cares for these young men. Witness how they support him.
How come everyone keeps saying we should be grateful for the mediorce Bowl Games and torrid non-conference schedules. If this is the best we can do, then so be it. I am thinking he skips town in the off-season because if you have a mentality of we can only be competitiive every three or four years the SEC is no place you.
DWC, what's your take on the final record (excluding bowl game). I'm guessing we will go 1-2 for the next 3 giving us a record of 7-5. Based upon the talent he has, this seems to be under par to me. Going 7-5 and a poor bowl showing will be a fairly good push out the door for Nutt.
However, if he is able to pull it off (unlike last year) and go 2-1 (or even 3-0) plus a good showing at a bowl and he buys another year. Of course, if he so chooses, he may decide to take this as a perfect opportunity to leave on his own.
Don't get me wrong, I have a problem with the way Houston coaches, but it would be really easy to forget that the guy he had planned to be the starting quarterback this year is now playing at USC, and that we're three fourth quarters away from being undefeated. That being said, I'm worried that leaving Houston in place will hurt our ability to recruit anything but running backs in the future. On a more positive note: One hell of a game from the backs!
HogZombie….I have an issue with the suggestion that Mustain is 'playing' at USC. I suspect he will never start a game (MAYBE his sr year) with Sanchez and other talent lined up.
I didn't understand why Mustain would go to USC with Sanchez already there. I would have advised him to go to a school where they don't have highly recruited QBs lined up in waiting. What a bonehead move….
win is a win.
Correction the bonehead move was to come to Arkansas which hasn't produced a quality quarterback the HDN has recruited. You did however get the bonehead move correct.
Reson Rules, good point….
This is Nutts: when we got a first down at the SC 40-yard line near the end of the first half, I immediately looked at the clock, which was approaching 30 seconds. We were all yelling to spike the ball. No way did we need all four downs and we only had one timeout left. So what happens? We diddle around for 15 seconds and run a draw that loses three yards and then call a timeout.
JUST PLAN STUPID!
Win is Win, Mustain should have went to Oklahoma but he still would have had to fight off Bradford. He has looked good this fall on the scout team but I don't think he will beat out Sanchez. T-towner The announcers on TV were same thing same, what was up with the time management at the end of the half, I was thinking they must think Nutt is a coaching genius or something.
T-towner, nutt didn't want to re-live the UK game where Smith fumbled and they ran it back for a TD to end the half. that play really cost us the momentum, and I think the game. It may have been conservative but I can't say I blame him since momentum is so critical.
If he managed the clock better and dick threw an INT or DMac fumbled you would be saying he should have run the clock out. Hindsight is 20/20…..
Question?
Isn't our QB supposed to get us out of bad plays, manage the clock good……………….
Do you get recognized in your family or job for doing exactly what you are supposed to do? That doesn't make sense that Nutt continues to talk about how well Dick did the job he was supposed to do.
DWC, If I remember correctly, the basketball Hogs supported Stan Heath also, but when it was time to let go, they let go. Are you suggesting, for what ever reason, that we cannot do this in football as well? If I remember correctly, Patrick Beverly was considering a transfer, but decided to stay after meeting with our new HC. Pelphery is now on the recruiting trail hot and heavy, and has some very solid commits on his verbal list. Could you please explain to me sir, how this could not happen in football as well. Why is it that we may excel farther in basketball, but may decline (suffer) in football?
I agree with darrell (Hog in LA), comment #15. If this is the best we can do in the SEC, then let's settle for mediocrity. HDN has had 10 years here as coach. In that time he has not gotten us into ANY BCS bowl — just the also rans.
At one point this season (before Ole Miss game) we were tied with Ole Miss for the worst record in the SEC — behind even the perennial losers Vandy and UK. Even recent loser Miss State had at least one win.
I expect with the money Nutt is receiving we should be an upper tier team in the SEC EVERY YEAR. If we continue to accept 7-5 as an accomplishment, we will soon find ourselves in the same basement as the Ole Misses, Miss States, Vandys, etc. of the SEC.
I, too, like darrell of LA, am not happy to settle for a good season once in a while. I expect to finish first or second in the Western Division every year.
NEA Hog Fan, don't get your hopes up. We have a new AD this year so I am not sure what if anything will be done after the season. I am hopeful he can make an honest asssetment of the football program and share I beliefs that Arkansas should be threat to win the SEC West every year.