A continuation from yesterday’s part one on the reasons why we didn’t see the Hogs’ passing game improve this past year.
Reason 7: “The book.” It was obvious from comments made much later that this was an issue between Mitch and Houston Dale in the two weeks leading up to the South Carolina game.
Result: Mitch was struggling both mentally and with execution. He wasn’t growing and performing. Houston Dale apparently didn’t make things any easier on him by coping an attitude of silence and leaving Mitch to wonder.
Reason 8: The rise of McFadden as a Heisman candidate and the increased use of the ‘Wildcat’ formation.
Result:
- Initial success on offense with strategic use of the ‘Wildcat.’ Much more publicity for DMac. It all seemed good at the time.
- As the ‘Wildcat’ evolved, it ate up a lot of practice time. Practice time that did not include the regular quarterbacks. The offense began to appear to rely on it for more than just strategic use. By the LSU game, enough of the ‘Wildcat’ was on film to prepare for it and it became much less effective, especially against the best SEC rushing defenses.
Reason 9: The ‘game planning’ sessions that Houston Dale spoke about often, where everyone had input and joint decisions were reached, were obviously sessions where the offense was continually limited.
Result: As the year progressed, the game plans narrowed. We seemed to bring less and less of the offense into games (and more and more of the ‘Wildcat’). Screens disappeared. Counter and trap plays came in some weeks and were not seen in others. The passing package for the latter games seemed extremely limited. As the season progressed, we looked to have less and less in the arsenal each week.
While there is probably much more that can be said about this, these reasons capture much of the story. In hindsight, the decision to not change terminology really was telling us all the way back in March that the offense was not going to change very much. Ultimately, that decision enabled Houston Dale to essentially define play calling or take it over whenever he wanted.
Which was a shame. In both the spring and fall practices, I saw flashes of what we could have been. There were times where Gus just abused Herring’s defense when getting to ‘do his own thing.’ The pace and confidence of the offense I saw on those days never made it to the field on game day.
Success requires commitment. Houston Dale needs to commit to having an offense with a full range of capabilities.
A full range would include having a passing game that assists in moving the chains as well as go down field.
A full range would mean that, when a team stacks the box and dares us to pass, we can make them pay.
A full range means actually having an approach to the two-minute drill. (I know we had one…we basically saw it once this year. Why did we never see it again?)
Can Houston Dale make this commitment? You tell me.
This may not directly relate to your 9 reasons, but I don't remember Arkansas ever really being a "moving the chains" kind of team. I mean it seems we were always going for the big play. then we end up with 3 and outs because we didn't try to get that measly 10 yards.
I know we had DMac/Jones so that meant we could get 15 yards at a time if we wanted. But just interesting to think about.
Love your 9 reasons recap. One thought though, do you think that maybe the reason the offense was limited was because Malzahn actually had control and was ripping out pages of Houston's playbook? Maybe he couldn't go full spread 1st year and with the weapons he had, along with a few other factors. I do agree it seemed very weak.
I must say although I enjoyed reading some of the reasons. I can't help but to disagree with some of them. First off everyone's seems to blame HDN for the lack of passing and the melt down we had towards the end of the season. I believe the reason we had a lack of passing was not because of HDN but simply we didn't have a qb ready to step up and be the stud needed.You can't force something that doesn't fit and neither CD or M16 were ready both got in games and made a big throw or two but consistency was missing so you have to go with the run because it was the only thing steady.I also have read a lot about the wildcat at the end of the year. I don't think it would even be a topic if we could have made field goals, let the ball go in the endzone, and protected the punter because truthfully those were the major reason behind the losses not the wildcat. I have said it before and i'll say it again I was happy with the season it showed progression from the prior season but if we have another 10 win season only to lose our bowl game and Sec Champ game then a new coach is truley needed.
We all want to go 14-0 and win the national championship, but if we're going to start running off coaches for 10 win seasons then we get what we deserve. I do agree with dieing that lack of passing has more to do with the tools we have than some secret anti-passing agenda on HDN's part. As for reason #7, I don't think HDN risked a 7 game win streak because Mitch hurt his feelings. Let's have some facts instead of just rumours. That's just stupid. Mitch was struggling long before that became an issue. Finally, given the results, I for one am glad we pulled back after the USC disaster and focused on our strengths. Had we continued on that path, then HDN should have been fired.
Carolina I just don't see the point in winning 10 games if you can't win the big one. I think we have won 2 bowl game since HDN has been here thats just not acceptable.
ONE 10 win season out of 9 years is NOT going to cut it. We could be on the upswing and I'm willing to see. However, in 9 years:
1 10+ win season
6 winning seasons
3 losing seaons (including 2 out of the last 3)
Up to this year, the recent "trend" has not been good. Losing 3 games at the end of the season has not been good.
Losing 3 games at the end of the season that you should have and could have won has not been good.
Losing a bowl game has not been good.
Grief caused by the Head Coach during the season has not been good.
Dealing with a Head Coach with an attitude has not been good.
Losing key plays to the draft has not been good.
Unfortunately, we may not be "trending" in the right direction and could easily revert back to normal. This is in spite of having a weak overall schedule next year.
OwassoHog, If you look at the examine next years schedule, I could see us easily going into the LSU game undefeated or no more that one loss.
The biggest grief we have faced this year is by spoiled parents (not the coach)
If you think HDN has an attitude, you obviously didn't see Nolan or Eddie Sutton or Lou Holtz.
Every program in America will lose key Juniors every year (a tribute to the program).
A few breaks go our way and we could be battlling for the same thing in the last game next year as we did this year.
I disagree about the parents… that was too late in the season to be an issue.
You are right on the breaks… we didn't get them the last two years – why? Who knows… maybe poor coaching… maybe poor luck… maybe better coaching would have given better luck. We will never know.
I believe that we should have a 10 win season next year based solely upon the schedule. However, I'm concerned with what do we do if we don't and there are no simple or valid reasons. Even then, a 10 win season next year could still be considered a disaster under certain situations.
10 win season a disaster?! It's only a disaster for you people that hate Nutt or need something to complain about. Go root for Bama. I hear they have a shiny new coach.
Carolina – We've already run off a consistent 10 win coach (Hatfield)… why can't we run off another?
If we are going to place blame for bad luck does that mean we are going to give HDN credit for good luck against Vandy and Bama, because to hear most of you talk we won those in spite of HDN. What's it going to be? Don't be a blamer!
Again I say what good is a 10 win season if you have a cupcake schedule and you can't get it done in a bowl game. I am not a Nutt hater by know means but I am a Hog fan and want them to excel and progress each year and if we keep getting cupcake schedule can't win the big games then should that be good enough.
Cupcake schedule?! We lost to 3 of the top 5 teams this year. How is that a cupcake schedule? Name me a team in the SEC with a cupcake schedule. There are none. Sure, some are easier than others, but it's the SEC. The greatest and toughest conference in the world. We had a chance to win 2 out of those 3 losses to the top 5 teams.
But I ask again is that good enough next year. Shouldn't we want to win the Sec championship and win our bowl games or should just getting there be good enough.
Look at next years schedule again… it we don't win 10 games, it probably is almost definitely a disaster!
Troy, North Texas, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Ole Miss, Florida International, Mississippi State
That's 6 wins right there!
Kentucky, South Carolina on paper should be 2 more
Alabama, Auburn a couple of harder ones but I think we could beat Alabama (on the road) and you've got to win at home (Auburn) for 2 more
Tennessee, LSU are probably losses on the road (oops, probably just lost the SEC West)
If not, Florida wins again in the SEC Championship game – yes, that's another loss
Bowl game (TBD) – based upon history – LOSS
So, here we sit 10-3 (maybe 4) – AGAIN – do you call this success?
Keep in mind, that is probably Best case. What happens if we have injuries, coaching lapses, surprises, bad breaks, and not to mention poor refs!
Yes, it used to be if you won 10 games, you'd be a great coach. However, with chances at 14 games, this 10 game win is no longer great but probably good at best.
A coach that only hits 10 games once in 9 years…….. well?
I think someone just asked about the cupcake schedule just look above.
Everybody keeps talking about 10 wins. We did have a great win over Auburn and over Tennessee (without a qb). We barely beat Alabama thanks to their field goal kicker (for a change). Almost got beat by Vandy (thanks for that gust of wind). Who else did we beat, I forget. The teams we lost to, it really showed we don't have a complete offense. I think we can, but surely Florida proved you can win with a spread offense even if you are only throwing 5 or 10 yards.
More great points everyone.
Please be sure and notice something. I have never, and never will take the position of calling for a coaches job. I provide 'observational commentary'. You can agree or not – that's part of the fun .
Carolina – while I agree that Mitch was having struggles for a few games, actually Houston Dale has commented on the period around the South Carolina game regarding the book and where Mitch's head was. You can go back to my fall writings – the issue that Mitch continually struggled with was the mental side of the game, both in picking things up and in dealing with the huge expectations everyone had of him.
Just fyi folks. I don't make stuff up or just sit around and imagine reasons for things. And, I don't bring stuff up just because I heard one comment from someone. And, I don't write near everything that I hear or can confirm. I will confess to weaving things together and trying to make some sense out of it.
Just to give you an idea – the previous post had a comment regarding what the USC film showed and the coaches reaction. Unless I had heard from someone in that film room I couldn't know something like that.
I'm glad to have all of you reading and making comments. That's the real fun part of the blogging conversation.
I'm off the football kick until spring practice unless someone reallly interesting occurs. Excited about the bball team. Go Hogs!!!
I think it is amazing that we can't enjoy a 10-win season in football, considering that its been a few years since we've done that in the past.
I think it is amazing to read the unrealistic expectations as it relates to our football program. I think it is reasonable to expect winning seasons most every year. I also think it is reasonable to expect losing seasons when the NCAA drags their feet in making decisions concerning rules violations (as it affects the quality of recruits who will come to Arkansas).
I never cease to be amazed by the lack of appreciation by Hog fans for the strength of fellow SEC football teams from top to bottom. There are no such things as gimme wins in the SEC.
I find it absolutely incredulous at the number of people willing to kick HDN to the curb for losing 4 times to teams who were all ranked in the top 10, but will not under any circumstance give HDN credit for beating 2 other top 10 teams.
I'm absolutely flabbergasted that we can't seem to understand that outstanding quarterback play from a true freshman and sophomore are the exception to the rule and not the rule.
For the life of me, I can't understand why we are not willing to accept a 6 win game improvement over the last year as positive signs for the future of this football program.
I continue to be amazed by all of the Malzahn "experts" who are sure that HDN is restricting Malzahn's innovativeness. They point out that Malzahn didn't run this much in high school. For the record, check out Malzahn's first couple of years at Springdale…they ran the ball…a lot!
I am stunned by the continual unwillingness of Hog fans to recognize that raw talent still needs to be developed – and the developmental process may take a couple of years.
There are a few other things that gives me a headache of disbelief…if I was reading this crap and didn't know any better, I would have thought the Hogs had another losing season. This crap is so freaking unbelievable!
How many of you can honestly say that you were expecting a 10-win season before the season began? There wasn't anybody in my circle of friends who were bold enough to predict such a thing. If someone had come to us before the season guaranteeing that we would win 10 games this season…would anybody really had been upset by this?
Someone griped about HDN winning 10 games once in 9 years, but, of course, never mind that NCAA violations (not of Nutt's doing, mind you) screwed up 3 of his recruiting classes. I think HDN is on the verge of building something nice – along the lines of Virginia Tech. Will we have the patience to see this through, or will we allow our boosters to ruin our program so that it will never rise to the top?
Ok, Taxhawg, I'll bite on this one.
A few points here… I understand where you are coming with respect to the violations. Why weren't there any 10+ wins seasons BEFORE the NCAA dragged their feet! And isn't one of the main responsibilities of a Head Coach to ensure a CLEAN program? I realize that probably minor stuff will happen (some of the NCAAs regs are just stupid). But I don't believe that it is reasonable for a Head Coach to be caught without knowing that things of significant nature are going on. This is HIS responsibility PERIOD!
Again 10+ wins used to mean something "SPECIAL" before. It isn't ANYMORE. It is still good but no special.
Yes, we made improvements this year over the last 2 BUT, in my opinion, POOR COACHING probably cost us a few games the last couple. So, the "Real Improvement" here is much less than you expected.
Unless, of course, you factor in to the mix, 2-3 games at the end of the season that we SHOULD have won.
So, yes, this season was successful (at times) and it was disastrous (at times). If you only look at this ONE season. However, I am willing to see what happens next year. if we go 8-4 during the regular season, are you going to be satisfied? Not me!
But unfortuantely, we have stacked the season with cupcakes and we probably so do no worse than 8-4. If this is the low end, then isn't it sorta by nature, expected that a 9-3 or even a 10-2 season more "reasonsable"?
If so, the what is expected for a great year?
I just love how folks are willing to except something less then the full potential!
I agree Taxhawg. It is way too early to start pointing fingers at a new coaching staff, new QB's, after a 10 win season, when almost no one thought we would finish any higher than 4th in the SEC west. I've never witnessed a team get detroyed, because of lack of defense, in the first game of the season, and then come back and win 10 straight to gain a top 5 national ranking. Our 3 straight loses at the end of the year were to #3 LSU, #1 Florida, and #6 Winsconsin. We were never out of any of these games. We did this with inconsistant QB's and special teams. This is not accomplished without good coaching. Look at the teams, I listed above. None of those teams head coaches, had to deal with these types of problems, because of experience at those positions. Ecspectations should be high for next year, but blame, for loses that occurd this year does not belong entirely to HDN. Come on Hog fans, quit your cryin and get back behind your coach again. He deserves that much, he,s earned it this year.
GONZOHOG
It is the responsibility of the Coach to recruit quarterbacks that can complete basic pass plays. We haven't really had one that HDN has recruited.
And here I thought it was the responsibility of the head coach to delegate such duties to capable assistants (and/or the staff recruiting said player). Otherwise, he would be accused of not delegating responsiblity. And who gets the blame when/if a top-notch recruit just can't get it done at the next level? Not saying this is the case with any of the existing Hog QBs but…I suspect certain posters on this blog would find fault with the Coach (no matter who he was) if the waterboy didn't get the gatoraid out in time. I'm willing to be patient and see what develops with the team next year. It took quite a while for the Hogs to get their first SWC title (not to mention their fiirst national title) so let's be patient. I trust the coaches (ALL of them) and just hope we can retain enough of them to continue to develop/maintain continuity (anyone heard if Markuson is on his way to the 'Great White North' or not?). Especially in the absence of anything even remotely resembling evidence that HDN (or any other coach) has (knowingly or unknowingly) sabotaged the team.
Isn't sticking with Casey Dick for the last part of the year evidence enough?
Nah. Still circumstantial at best but nice try, though. ;^) One thing I'd like some opinions on: why didn't we see more passing out of the 'Wildcat' after the Tennessee game?
Here is the fundamental area where OwassoHog and I differ. He states, "I just love how folks are willing to except something less then the full potential!"
Assuming that he really meant "accept", instead of "except", it really boils down to whether or not the Razorbacks played to their full potential. I believe that we did this year, and that it is unreasonable to expect much more out of this season with a freshman or sophomore qb running the show.
So, Owasso, no..I disagree with your premise that I (or any other Hog fan) accepts mediocrity (not your words) or something less than full potential. I expect full potential and full effort at every game that the Hogs play…short of that is not acceptable. But where we differ is our expectation concerning the talent pool…some believe that we should be able to recruit a top 5 or 10 recruiting class every year. I don't think that is reasonable at this time. Why? Because top recruits want to go to top programs. Until we prove we are a top program by consistently winning 9, 10 or 11 games every year without top players, (keep in mind that Marcus Monk, Jamaal Anderson, and Chris Houston were all ranked 2 stars out of high school), generally speaking, those top recruits will not be considering Arkansas.
I think HDN is on the verge of getting our program to the top on a regular basis, such that we might be able to get over that hump…but we change coaches now…you can kiss all of this good-bye. How many times are we going to have to learn this lesson? I think this is the reason why JFB has stuck with HDN…the program won't get to the top with regular coaching changes.
One last thing…OwassoHog must have had his head buried in the sand somewhere – or perhaps he wasn't old enough to know what was going on. The violations related to our players were not under Nutt's regime, but under Ford's regime. The violations were made public via a lawsuit filed by a booster's ex-daughter-in-law who was in the process of going through a nasty divorce. A lot of folks were to blame for the violations, including JFB, the booster, the players…but blaming Nutt for something that happened prior to his arrival is a bit of a stretch.
I know there are a lot of folks who can't stand the ground Pres Bush walks on…so much so that they would love for our country to fail in Iraq…this is not only sad, but it is wrong. Similarly, for any fan to wish the Hogs would lose so that they can get rid of Nutt is just as deplorable…and you guys know who you are! I suggest you find another team to root for, it will keep your blood pressure down, and heck, who knows, you might actually live longer and enjoy life better.
That's the good thing about this type of environment… we can all disagree and still get a long.
FYI – I'm not sure running off Nutt is going to make a difference… after all, isn't he only the 8th highest paid coach in the SEC? Not in the Top 5 for sure… so, why would we expect to get a Top 5 performance from him? You mostly get what you pay for.
As for QBs not getting us to the "Promise Land". I couldn't disagree more. What about the muff'd kick, the blocked punt, lack of tackle for a touchdown? The QBs didn't make us but they sure didn't BREAK us either. Mostly, they were a non-factor. It was the total effort that failed.
I'm sure we are all hoping that we've turned the corner with the program but taking 9 years to do it is pitiful!
Breaking news in Owasso (just north of Tulsa)!!!
The Gus bus has left the state of Arkansas and is headed to T-Town!!!!
I guess we all now know the true story of our failure to finish the year!