June 18, 2013

Now The Real Fun Begins

November 2, 2010 by

With hard fought, respectable losses to only Alabama and Auburn entering November, the football Razorbacks find themselves looking ahead to games that will determine whether or not this season will be considered a success.

Ryan Mallett / Bobby Petrino (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)It is a daunting stretch of games.  South Carolina and Mississippi State sit right even with the Hogs in the BCS and LSU currently sits at #10.

Win out and notice is served that consideration and respect should be given to Arkansas football as one of the top programs in the SEC and, therefore, the country.

Lay a serious egg or two along the way and the ‘not quite ready for prime time, same ole Arkansas’ tag will remain.

Which will it be?

Do the Hogs have the talent to play with these guys?

Do the Hogs have the mental toughness and discipline to compete at a high level for all of these games?

Rolling into both Columbia and Starkville and coming home with wins will be tough.  LSU in Little Rock will be a major challenge.

Have we seen a Razorback team so far that is up to these challenges?

What is it that gives us a chance?  What is it that can hurt us along the way?

Your turn to write.

Filed Under: Arkansas Razorbacks, Football
  • http://www.razorbloggers.net/ HogBaller

    What is it that gives us a chance? The coaching staff and talent on offense rank up there with the top teams in the country. The Razorback offense can put points on the board against any defense, and yet we’ve not seen a full game from the offense this year.

    What is it that can hurt us along the way? Defense, Special Teams and Penalties. Our Defense needs to come up huge during this stretch. The coverage team needs to make tackles and limit return yardage, and we need to be mentally tough and not beat ourselves with silly penalties.

    • Jim Dogg

      Succinct and to the point. The kick coverages have got to improve and quit flipping the field for Hog opponents. How they can do this for the next game is beyond me. Maybe Breeding should practice punting out of bounds and Tejada short, high, pooch kicks to the second kickoff line to prevent long returns. Penalties should be easier to correct (hopefully). South Carolina has the worst (or close to it) pass defense in the SEC which should make McGhee excessively salivate. Willy has got to stop Lattimore inside the 20 (same old story). Baller, you didn’t make a point of not making mistakes and turning the ball over. Could be the edge USC needs. Hope Garcia doesn’t get help from the zebras but it’s a home game (as if that really matters in their judgements). IPsychologically, it’s weird but this is not the important game for USC. The Florida game is. If they don’t beat Florida, it doesn’t make any difference if they win or lose against the Hogs (Florida controls it’s own destiny). How this is mentally registering with USC’s attitude and preparation for the Hog game is an unknown. Hope their looking ahead. Spurrier will say they’re not,…but…

      I agree with Carolina. if Mallet/Wilson are on, MSU and LSU can’t score a lot of points and the latter are playing in the Rock. Looking at all three teams it seems that the chances of losing or winning is about the same against all three. However, it seems that USC will give Mallet the best chance of fattening his stats.

      I am assuming that all three SEC opponents will try to rush Mallet and keep him off balance. Running game, O line protection, and sprint outs will be important in neutralizing this.

      My highly presumptious advice to Petrino: If you get a lead don’t sit on it (remember Alabama). It will disrupt your synchrony, rhythym and, importantly, intensity. (Easy for me to say)

  • OwassoHog

    I’m guessing we will win 3 out of 4… does 9-3 seem like success?

    • NielsBoar

      For me, yes, 9-3 with a bowl win would be a successful year.

      As Hog fans, we are used to having teams that can make a run at it every now and then. In a year where we happened to have a good team, we had to win THAT year, because everyone knew we’d probably be back to 5-7 wins the next year.

      Those days are over. This year’s team is capable of winning 10 games, but next year’s team is, too.

      So, I’m a lot less concerned about how we finish. 8-4 would be disappointing, but still I’d be happy knowing what Petrino is building.

      • Carolina Hog

        Totally right. The years of building for 3 years for one shot are over under this administration. I’ve seen many Nationally who say this is our shot because of Mallett but those of us who follow the program know that across the board we are only getting better.

        I also believe that this team is starting to play its best ball and now that we have a run game, I think we are harder than ever to slow down. I think if we beat USC-E, then we win out. I don’t think Miss St. can score with us and for that matter neither can LSU.

        One testament to our coaching and talent is the number of injuries we’ve absorbed this year and still stand at a better record at the 8 game mark than any point in the last 10 years with the exception of 2006 (7-1).

  • Hawgfan100

    “What is it that can hurt us along the way?”

    We’re playing two big games on the road (although, if my supposition is correct, the second game won’t be nearly so big…). Rewind to what happened in the last two big games we played on the road in this league if you have a short memory (Florida, 2009 and Auburn, 2010). Will be hosed by the refs yet again?

  • HB_NHB

    I think wins are attainable all the way till we meet LSU, which is still a winnable game, but one that I think will be hard fought against LSU’s defense. As said earlier, our defense, special teams, and limiting penalties will be the deciding factor during this stretch. If we can make progress in these three areas, then I don’t think that we have to rely on a complete game from the offense in order to win.

  • http://www.razorbloggers.net/index.php/2010/10/arkansas-24-texas-am-17/ LRHog326

    9-3 would be great, but I think 8-4 is more likely. We have significant talent, but I think the coaching could be better. We have seldom clicked on all cylinders and when we do, we can’t sustain it. Excessive penalties and special teams are particular coaching weaknesses. I guess my expectations for this year were too high. Looks like we’re still a year or two away. Petrino is the best at implementing a recruiting system that I’ve ever seen.

  • Third

    I see us winning 3 of 4. In the grand scheme, 9-3 is a success in my book. We are making significant progress in all phases of the game, and I have complete faith in Petrino and the way he runs the entire program. Winning 10 games was within the realm of possibility (and still is), but this is an unusually tough year in the West. No shame in going 5-3 in conference given that 4 of 5 divisional opponents spent the entire season in the Top 25 and 3 of those were in the Top 10 most of the season.

  • GolfHog

    On paper we should win all 4. But, the margin is paper thin with South Carolina. Our offense should overwhelm MissSt and our defense should be good enough to handle LSU.

    Petrino has gone 5-7, 7-5, and now, 9-3 would be incremental improvement. That is what we should be happy with. As LRhog says, this team, though the most talented of the three, has lacked focus and has not played a complete game. Even the three quarters last week, although pretty close, had to begin with a slow 1st Quarter, previously our strength.

    But, you have to admit, Mallett really looked as good last week as he has all year. The defense played a great three quarters, and special teams are not leaking oil as badly as a few weeks back. I have been a homer this year, so I won’t forcast the 10-2. But, I do still expect it.

  • GolfHog

    This is a crazy November for everyone. Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Miss ST, and Arkansas all play each other multiple times. The standing could and may go haywire. Any of the three one loss teams is still in it and there is probably some strange combination of losses that puts Miss St and Arkansas back in it.

  • Mike in Magnolia

    What Helps Us? This is the first year I can remember since joining the SEC that we have on both sides of the ball SEC Talent and SEC Size. We have proven we can compete.

    What Will Hurt Us? Penalties! Penalties! Penalties! and just in case I haven’t made my point clear PENALTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Okie Hog

      So what you are saying is Cederic Cobbs, Darren Mcfadden, Matt Jones, Felix Jones, Ahmad Carrol, Anthony Lucas, etc…. were not SEC talent?? All of them went to the pros in some fashion. Some are still there others are not but they all went and your saying that NFL players dont measure up to SEC players???? Please give me a break….

      • Okie Hog

        And I agree Penalties are the deal breaker!!!!

      • Carolina Hog

        I don’t think he said that. Across the board and through the depth chart we have better talent than we have at any point in the last 15 years. In the past, we had one or two studs and Nutt was the master of riding those guys as far as possible, but we didn’t have this kind of talent.

      • http://www.razorbloggers.net/ HogBlogger

        No, that’s not what he said.

        Putting words in someone’s mouth and then getting on them for those words is pretty weak.

        Note Mike said “both sides of the ball.” The key point I’m getting from Mike is that of having that type of talent at all the positions, including on defense.

      • Okie Hog

        Ok I will concede that I read more into that statement and misread what Mike was conveying there. However I hate when people compare older teams to the current team. Its unfair to the former players that call Arkansas their Alma Mater. Its like saying they were not good enough. They simply played at a different time so I tend to come to their defense. Because face it we have had some pretty damn good football players come through Arkansas. Mike I apologize for my misunderstanding and jump to the conclusion that I did.

  • http://GonzoHog GonzoHog

    Two things hurt us more than anything else right now. Penalties (mostly by the O-line) and Sts coverage is horrible.

    If we could just clean up those two areas a little bit, I think our injuries would be much easier to overcome.

    Losing Childs really hurts us going into this November stretch, but if Adams can come back healthy this week and Cobi can step up to the challenge, I like our chances on offense. Look for Petrino to come up with something this week we haven’t seen.

    Our run-game is starting to click with Davis and Wingo. If our run-defense shows up for SC, maybe we can at least slow down Lattimore.

    If we can do this, Garcia will have to throw more. Ashlin Jeffery is a beast, but I think they rely on him too much in the passing game.

    Maybe we can expose their tendencies and come up with an interception or two.

    My prediction at the beggining of the year was 9-3, losing to Bama, AU and SC. Hopefully, I’ll be wrong on this one.

    My hope is that we can finish out the season 10-2 and go to the Capitol One Bowl. That would be huge. Maybe we’d get to play OU in that one. Wouldn’t that be nice?

    • Okie Hog

      I could be wrong but I dont think the Big 12 goes to the Capitol one bowl. If I am wrong please correct me.

    • soupdhog

      Maybe you mean the Cotton Bowl? That would be better for the fans and $$. Given all the undefeateds and the uproar over TCU and Boise this year, the SEC may only get one BCS bowl – either Auburn or Bama in the NC but probably not both in BCS bowls. And if either of those teams meet SC in Atlanta it could be even worse, as SC has their numbers (well, almost Auburn’s number).

      I think this year is already a success. Look, we won our first SEC road game in forever, should have beat Bama, and probably could have beat Auburn with our 2nd string QB if it weren’t for some unfortunate replay calls. In other words, were are competitive with the top teams in the nation, even with our backups.

      Petrino has us in a position where if key players go out at QB, RB, WR, LB, CB, DL, OL, another good one steps in. We haven’t had that since I can remember. Despite some bad performances, our special teams and defense has improved marginally. I’m convinced a coaching change is needed on the defense in order for us to go to the next level. The play calling and substitutions on the defensive side can be horrible at times.

      I think we’re at the point where we’ll be included in the top tier football teams for years to come. That’s a great place to be.

  • Beans, Greens and Co

    Penalties… Know the snap count Oline and TE … Keep rushing game going … Time for Cobi, Ray and at one least one of those youngsters to make a play or two. D must bring more pressure to QB so he can’t throw to those big WRs and be sound at second and third levels and as always play to strenghts SWARMING the ball carrier. Focus and Execution in all phrases for the whole game. 9-3 … very good and reflects progression. 10-2 … plus a major bowl victory puts program over the top and announces to the world that the ‘Backs are back! GHG WPS!!!

    • soupdhog

      You mean like a 71 yd TD catch (Cobi) and a 66 yd KO return (Ray). Uh, they are already making plays.

  • http://GonzoHog GonzoHog

    soupdhog,

    Big difference between Vandy’s D and SC, but I still like what those guys are doing.

    • soupdhog

      Agree, but SCs pass defense is almost the same as Vandy’s :) . I don’t think we’ll be able to run the ball as well against SC, but Mallet or Wilson may throw for 500.

  • http://GonzoHog GonzoHog

    There’s a flipside to that, soup. SC leads the SEC in sacks and it probably wouldn’t be a stretch to say Mallett is the least moble QB in the SEC.

    To make matters even worse, our O-line continues to struggle with untimely and drive-killing penalties. If those penalties continue in this game and are constantly putting us in 3rd and long situations, SC will tear Mallett apart.

    Our O-line will have to have their best game of the year to win with playmakers like Childs and Adams on the sideline.