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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - LSU

November 25, 2006 by Walking on Sunshine 

Some random thoughts from Sunshine after watching the LSU game.

The Good

  • Darren McFadden (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)Just when you think our two running backs can’t get any better, they roll up 319 net rushing yards against the #1 defense in the country.  McFadden (182 rush yards, 2 TDs) and Jones (137 rush yards, TD) played like champions.
  • The caused fumbles and recoveries by Marcus Harrison and Jarrell Norton were big plays; plays that stopped drives, and gave the Hogs some momentum and field position.
  • The “Good” in all of this is that I think we will bounce back and play well in the SEC Championship next week.  This was not a demoralizing defeat.  A close loss to a team as talented as LSU is not something you wish for, but can be forgotten quickly.  Post-game comments from several players indicated their eagerness to move past this and focus on Florida.  I think they will.

The Bad

  • Matteral “Red” Richardson continues to be picked on and struggles in man coverage as evidenced by LSU’s second touchdown - a 47 yard TD on a third and 13 play.  Red trailed the receiver, then after the ball was under thrown, failed to make a play on the ball.
  • Place kicking…like a punch in the stomach, the missed extra point by Jeremy Davis took some wind out of our sails right off the bat.  Nutt then understandably showed little confidence in the kicker, choosing to go for it on fourth and 3 from the 27 early in the fourth quarter with the Hogs trailing 17-12.

The Ugly

  • Robert Johnson / Jonathan Zenon (AP Photo/David Quinn)Casey Dick’s dismal performance (3 of 17 for 29 yards) left most wondering why Mitch Mustain didn’t get a shot, especially in the fourth quarter when we needed two scores.  Had it not been for a miracle TD catch and run by Monk for 21 yards, the stat line would have been even more embarrassing.  Had Mustain been the starter, and struggled this mightily, we are sure he would have gotten the hook in favor of the backup.  Yards passing: McFadden 33, Dick 29.
  • On fourth and 3 from the 27 early in the fourth quarter, Dick’s inability to recognize that Monk was going to be doubled, and call a timeout doomed the critical play before it started.  LSU safety LaRon Landry rolled up over the top in coverage of Monk before the snap.  With Arkansas coaches yelling for a timeout, Dick snapped the ball and was sacked for a loss of 15 yards.
  • The “throw it up and hope” plays on the last drive showed how pitiful the quarterback play was on Friday.  Instead of trying to put together a drive, we just resorted to that.  Painful to watch.
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Comments

16 Responses to “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - LSU”

  1. shannon on November 25th, 2006 2:03 pm

    Ugly: on the 4th and three play, watch the off side receivers piddling around on the backside. Neither of the two back there made any effort to come across the field to help when Dick got in trouble. Bad design or bad execution - blame should be on the coaching for expecting Monk to even be open and not doubled in that situation.

  2. OwassoHog on November 25th, 2006 2:06 pm

    No question that Casey had his worst game of his career at this most critical time of the year. You really nailed in on “The Ugly” today. If Monk hadn’t caught that TD pass (and I wouldn’t have blamed him if he hadn’t), Casey’s stats would have been much worse. Also, if Mitch had been starting (or even playing), Wonder what the real story is here! Nutt would have yanked him before he could have missed his first target (just because). I do find it interesting that with this game, Casey’s completion stats have now dropped below Mitch’s.

    So, for all those that felt that Casey’s “experience” was going to be a factor, it wasn’t. Obviously, Casey is a much better passer than Mitch it as this point (I believe this completely) but it just goes to show how 1-2 poor games changes the stats in a negative way.

    For those that think that we would have won the game if we stopped this play or that play… give over it. LSU could say the same thing. We’d blown out the Razorbacks if we’d just held McFadden on that 80 yard or if Monk hadn’t caught that miracle pass. We lost a number of fronts!

    I won’t even discuss how inexcusable it was for Nutt’s coaching the final drive. Never kick a person while they are down - if fact, I’m fairly certain he is still second guessing a few things (as he should be).

  3. 10KHog on November 25th, 2006 4:48 pm

    I won’t complain about a specific playcall, but I do wonder overall where the short passing game has gone. The screens, swing passes, and tunnel screens. Anyone wonder why we haven’t seen those in a few games?

    Casey maybe a better “passer” right now… although I really don’t believe that. But, he can’t throw a screen pass or swing pass to save his life. In my opinion this has limited our offense tremendously and is one reason we lost yesterday.

    Pics from the game.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/86535440@N00/sets/72157594391436655/

  4. Wishark on November 25th, 2006 5:05 pm

    I think the short passing game was gone in this game becuase they were not blitzging much and the linebackers are fast. The best way to neutralize that is to run right at them. The short passing game also used Hillis considerably.

  5. Seth on November 26th, 2006 1:49 am

    Since when did Casey’s stats fall below Mustains? Did he throw 3 interceptions against the worst team in the SEC like Mustain did? No, he played a bad game against one of the best in the whole SEC. Watch the replays and see how many times the receivers were lazy and quit on plays or got hit in the hands and dropped the freaking thing. Dick caught better than Cleveland! Dick can throw any pass successfully, but the plays they send in to him aren’t your short route stuff cause he can actually hit Monk. Ask Monk who he wants!!! That’s who needs to be in there. We can say if if if all day long, but if ifs and buts were candy and nuts we would all have a merry christmas. USC won so there was no shot for us in the title game anyway, so we are still sitting in the exact same spot we were before we got beat. We just have to get after those Gators so we get a BCS bowl!

  6. t'Joe on November 26th, 2006 2:12 am

    What a game! Played out just about how I expected, unfortunately.
    Give the Tigers credit where it’s due. Loads of talent across the board. Casey couldn’t hit passes because LSU’s pass defense was and is top in the nation.

    The Hogs can’t expect to beat Florida next Saturday playing one dimention football. Whichever QB Houston picks will do better, because Florida’s pass defense is not so tough. But their run defense is better than LSU’s.

    No way to get past the Gator LUCK. It always seems to rear it’s ugly head when least needed by the opponents.

    Florida 28, Arkansas 25

  7. OwassoHog on November 26th, 2006 9:17 am

    Seth, read my comments properly and you will see that I said COMPLETION STATS. Your comments about dropped passes and receivers giving up on plays are the same comments that I mentioned about some of Mitch’s incompletions too. Regardless of the stats, I’d probably still pick Casey as the primary passer but since we aren’t a passing team, EITHER is probably just as effective overall.

    As for Monk, good receiver (could be great) but he plays too much like Randy Moss to me (only when he wants to)! Sometimes I’m not sure if he is good or just plain lucky!

    As for your assessment in that we are in the same exact spot since USC won, I TOTALLY disagree. Why? Say we lose to Florida (which wouldn’t surprise me as they know how to use 2 quarterbacks effectively and Leak will pass all day on our secondary) - we are NOT going to a BCS bowl with this loss. LSU will be the second SEC BCS bowler not Arkansas. Therefore, we can not be considered to be “sitting in the exact same spot”. Only with a victory or Florida can we be “sitting in the excat same spot”.

  8. Bluffhawg on November 27th, 2006 8:19 am

    I agree the Quarterback play was bad on Friday. However, everyone keeps complaining about the pass play call on 4th and 3, but nothing is mentioned about the fact we wouldn’t have been in that situation if a senior offensive lineman hadn’t jumped offsides. Mental errors and special teams cost us the game. I’m still exited about our chances in the SEC Championship, if we put this behind us and move forward.

  9. Dieinghog on November 27th, 2006 12:36 pm

    I don’t think we have anything to hold our heads down about . We are doing 10 times as good as I thought we would do this season. Fridays game was a hard fought game we just came up a little short. The only thing I am worried about if any is the comment HDN made about not being a play from behind team which after speaking with a players parent and being told that they don’t even have a 2min offense in place made the play calling all the more clearer. This lose is strictly a coaches lose I don’t place the blame on any player but I don’t think anyones job should be taken after a 10 possibly 12 win seasons. Lets just go and take care of business against Florida.

  10. TipsterHog on November 27th, 2006 1:40 pm

    Hey Dieinghog…how was it attending your first Razorback game? I heard from several people that the ‘Rock crowd was good and loud.

  11. Dieinghog on November 27th, 2006 5:42 pm

    It was great. The only complaint was that we lost. You could not ask far a better group of fans. The only silence came after the 90yrd kick return by LSU but even that didn’t last long because after we got the ball back we were right back on our feet cheering those Hogs.

  12. Dieinghog on November 27th, 2006 5:43 pm

    After a football season like this I just hope the basketball team can top it and we are off to a great start so far.

  13. HogBlogger on November 27th, 2006 6:52 pm

    Bluffhog - great point on the procedure call. We had two of those that killed drives. That loud Little Rock crowd needs to learn to be a bit quieter when the Hogs are on offense.

    Dieinghog - we’ve never shown a two-minute offense under Houston Dale, so I don’t find it hard to believe that we might not even have one. However, I have seen them practice it at times. Why we don’t take advantage of game situations to practice it makes no sense to me. Most people road test a new car, even though they are fairly certain it should work correctly.

  14. born&raisedhog on November 27th, 2006 7:44 pm

    ok i understand that the hogs lost that game practicaly….however the hogs lost to themselves and played against themselves the whole game…..
    Nutt made a bad decision leaving Casey Dick in the game with taking Mitch out after one bad play…..
    I think we all come back to that because of the games before that we were untouchable. But now going against Florida I’m worried about our offensive plays and who are players are going to be throughout the game. I feel that Mitch deserves another chance because he had one bad play, Casey a whole bad game. Our special teams showed nothing with the 92yd. punt return touchdown by LSU. I feel that D-Mac can’t do it all although we would all like him to do that. We have to use him because he’s too good not to. Right now he’s a better qb than Casey Dick, and it maybe Casey had a bad game. Mitch had a bad play! Well, D-Mac has earned everything he has recieved and gotten with so much more. I hope the best for him and the heisman race. It would be great for him. No one can compare another rusher like D-Mac anywhere near him. Plus, a rusher that can be a quarterback when we need him at a time. The HOGS have to step up their game at least 2 knotches and do all they can to win against Florida. The Hogs deserve it and should get it. But with our offense I’m sure we all have our doubts. But one thing is for sure.

    D-MAC 4 HEISMAN!!

  15. Woo Pig on December 1st, 2006 8:55 pm

    I’m only 12 but I know Casey Dick’s horrible game helped the hogs lose to LSU. I never talk bad about Arkansas but because I hope to go to college there but they played like s—.

  16. James Lee Arnn on December 2nd, 2006 10:27 am

    I would like to see the kind of consistency, in coaching and play-calling, that was a trademark of Razorback Football back in the 60’s and 70’s. We haven’t had it since the eras of Frank Broyles and Lou Holtz. Coach Nutt seems to be a great motivational leader but could definitely benefit from a few heart-to-heart chats with Mr. Frank about fundamental football strategy.