I’m glad Arkansas doesn’t have many tall buildings. Obviously a few fans would be in danger based on their reaction to the changing of the quarterback.
Why is this such a surprise to so many people? It’s been coming for weeks now.
So here’s the deal very simply.
Casey got hurt in the spring when Olajubutu hit him from a full run about 10 minutes late after a throw in a scrimmage. The last half of spring practice he was hurt. As the fall began, Casey thought he was well, but turned out he wasn’t. Wasn’t in any physical shape to be the starter going into the season.
So, either Robert Johnson or Mitch Mustain was going to have to start at quarterback against USC. Mitch was struggling mentally and with throwing the ball to the wrong colored jersey in practice, so RoJo became the choice by default. He was playing much better in practice than ever before, but everyone was concerned that he couldn’t take that to the game.
The USC game didn’t go well (to say the least). Mitch led a touchdown drive and got the fans a bit stirred up. Houston Dale, faced with the prospect of hanging with RoJo as he did last year (except this year with more concern that actual gallows would be involved), decided to change the conversation and named Mitch starting quarterback.
At a minimum that would make the fans happier than the alternative. The upside was that maybe Mitch would quickly outgrow the tendencies that he had been displaying in practice and get good in a hurry. In either event, the Hogs had a high powered running game to rely on and the quarterback was only going to have to do so much.
And Mitch did okay. A few bright spots, a few big plays (not that many were necessarily designed the way they were executed), demonstrated capable game management, and apparently was a passing threat of unknown proportions to opposing defenses.
Time passes. Mitch is doing okay, but the coaches don’t see the growth. Bad passes and interceptions mount. The fact that the offense is being scaled back to protect him becomes more visible to opposing defenses as each week passes.
Mitch struggles with issues. His jersey, his shoes, he’s tired, the length and intensity of the season wears on him. The pressure on him is immense. They start selling his jersey in every size imaginable. His performance curve is heading in the wrong direction. As well, the upcoming games are going to demand much more of the quarterback position. The downfield passing game is going to be important. Every pass can’t be outside the hashmarks and towards the sidelines.
The demand curve and the performance curve at quarterback seem to be headed in opposite directions.
In the meantime, Casey gets well. Looks good in practice. Looks good in games. Can be trusted with reads and progressions and with passing the ball over the middle. If the performance curve at quarterback is going to match the demand curve, it seems that Casey may have to play a lot more.
After two fairly mundane outings against lower level competition and a poor week of practice, the stage is set. On the third play of the South Carolina game, Mitch throws an interception. Beyond that, he seems to have failed to throw the ball to fit either of the options the receiver might choose on the option pattern. What was he thinking? He was obviously being quite careful and guided the ball on the throw.
Were the coaches a bit quick on the trigger in making the change? Should he have been given another series or two? I don’t think it matters that much. He was coming out. For the team’s sake, sooner was better than later.
Casey played well. The Razorbacks won. What happens next? We will just have to watch and see. But the coaches made what seemed to me to be the obvious decision that was in need of making. It’s been coming for awhile.
So for you fans in various states of shock – calm down. Every day is not representative of forever. If Mitch gives us a better chance to win, I want him out there. I just don’t think at the present time that he does.
You might say this has been coming but coming from where? left field is what I'd say. Sure Casey did well… well in the FIRST half but he stunk in the SECOND half with only scoring 3 points. If Mitch is as frail as you say, I don't believe that he really showed this to 90% of the fans. Quite frankly, Houston yanked the starter too soon – plain and simple. If we lose against Tennessee this week and Mitch doesn't play, I'd say that Houston isn't going to hear the end of it – and he shouldn't. This isn't a time to "test" new quarterbacks. We've got to have a victory this week.
Houston is up to his usual tricks of making one bad decision after the other.
Joe: Casey did not stink in the 2nd half. In case you weren't watching if Monk catches that ball instead of batting it up in the air, Dick doesn't under throw a wide open Damian, and Monk doesnt drop another ball that hits him in the hands on the 3 yard line Dick has 3 2nd half TD's and there is nothing to gripe about. This isn't that bad of a decision and this complaining is getting redundent. Dick will have 3 TD's against TENN you can count on that. The consistant passing game will also open many more holes for our Heisman Hopeful DMAC. Mitch will be ready next year, but for now lets get a win against uTENN and support DICK
A relevant article to this discussion…
Harry King: Dick deserves to be QB
Dear Joe R'back – you just gotta be a distant cousin of HJHog…
Mitch-Mania will be back some day but for today try to think why the passing game for M16 was drawn to the safety of the hashes as HogBlogger points out. The first pass I saw going down the middle from CD (albeit to Monk) was thrown with authority for a completion. Answer why they pretty much sheltered Mitch from that throw down the middle and they let CD throw it and you'll come to partly understand why the plug was pulled. And then kindly re-read HogBlogger's disertation again. Please don't slash your wrists – the kid'll be back…
I'd have to agree with Joe Razorback here. I've seen a number of deep passes and many outside of the hashes (some caught and some dropped). Ok, so maybe he did didn't stink or maybe he did stink – doesn't really change the facts. They only scored 3 points which IS the point. Got to have more than 3 points to win in this league.
Pulling Mitch after 3 plays was POOR coaching PERIOD!
From what I've heard coaches say, whenever a QB throws a pick they want to talk to them right away and ask them what happened, why did you throw it to the other team. If it's tipped, tell the QB to find the open passing lane. If it slipped out of his hands, remind him to use the towel hanging out the back of his center's butt. If he mad the wrong read, what did he see that made him make the wrong read.
Mitch made the wrong read and that is dangerous becuase it means he's not seeing the defense or he doesn't understand the play. It's a sign of mental fatigue. If he had thrown a pick for any other reason than blowing the read, he might've been back in there, but if he's not mentally ready for the game (whether it's fatigue or lack of knowalge[less likely]) you have to take him out if you have a QB who can do the job.
Mustain does a number of little things better than CD, the way he carry outs his handoff's, the way he handles the ball on end-arounds, the way he gets the offense in and out of the huddle quickly. These are all great and really help him as a QB, but if he's not making the right reads and throwing the ball well, it doesn't amount to a hill of beans.
My 2 concerns with Dick is 1) can he throw the screen pass and 2) can he find other recievers besides Monk. If he can do that, we'll be golden.
A view from the Cheap Seats:
When you look and the whole field from the high altitude of the upper west deck, you kinda notice things. Not being the "expert" at football, but basically a hugh fan of Mustain, and the Razorbacks, I am gonna say that the decision to put CD in as starter looks good from way up here. I know a thing or two about team building exersizes. I watched Mitch @ Springdale and was in was amazed. But from way up here, I rooted for him to go in @ USC. But after 8 wins, I am OK with him sitting out a while, I have seen the field, the open recievers not being read and the apparent stress causing bad decisions. If Mitch truly is an NFL caliber quarterback, a little clipboard time will make him better.
Go Team, cause like hogblogger said. The Team is the real superstar this year in Arkansas. I dont always agree with HDN, and want to see more Malzahn in the offense, But this was the right call in the home stretch of a great season so far.
This has to be the worst coaching move that I've ever witnessed. Dick went 3/17 against LSU and is further stinking up the field tonight. He's one of the worst passing quarterbacks I think I've ever seen in college.
Houston Nutt keeping in Dick cost them the chance to beat Florida. You should be ashamed of yourself, coach.