‘Second Verse, Same As The First’*
March 14, 2007 by HogBlogger
Is it just me that has this feeling of “déjà vu all over again?”
Last week’s newspaper articles were full of information about the Razorbacks former option quarterback trainer and current point man of expertise on the pro-style passing game David Lee’s redesign of the passing offense.
Then this week, spring practice opens up with an early morning start and the following two thoughts from Houston Dale:
With Arkansas spending its second consecutive spring learning new terminology and philosophies in the passing game, Nutt has asked defensive coordinator Reggie Herring to “go all out” with his defensive packages in hopes of immediately pressuring a largely untested group of receivers, a still developing quarterback and an offensive line that must fill three starting spots.
“It’s about executing under pressure,” Nutt said. “Everybody is pretty good when it’s a nice, vanilla defense.”
and this:
“Our guys came with a great attitude and showed a lot of enthusiasm,” Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said. “I was proud of our first third (down) and eight (yards) and our first blitz package.”
Isn’t it bad enough to have to hear the annual pronouncement about the importance of the passing game (and the coaches great understanding and appreciation of that fact) without having to also hear that, by the way, no sense in giving the offense any slack in learning it?
Let’s hit them with full SEC, no-nonsense, ‘go all out’ pressure. Don’t let those receivers off the line. Play that hard-nosed man. It doesn’t matter that most of our opponents play zones — we need to practice what we do best.
Yep, that worked really well last year in developing the passing game.
What was it Einstein said about the definition of insanity?
* Herman’s Hermits - “I’m Henry The Eighth, I Am”
Comments
46 Responses to “‘Second Verse, Same As The First’*”
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Yep…sounds a lot like when they blitzed ole’ “High School” last spring. That was so much fun…let’s do it again!
Houston has never known anything about the passing game. It’s obvious now that Joe Ferguson was responsible for the success we had in 98 and 99. Markuson also appears to be involved in pushing whatever is simplest and easiest for his guys to look good.
As you point out, we will see the same bull this spring and next fall in two a days but as the season progresses we will deteriorate into a run only team. Frank will still be pulling strings and Houston will be as lost as ever. Lee would not be here if he had any integrity or ability to stand up for himself. Gus proved that.
Blindhog, I agree that Ferguson knew much about the passing game, but our ability in those two years stemmed from a seasoned Junior/Senior Pro-Style quarterback and a group of talented receivers like Lucas.
If Gus proved anything it would be “IF I CAN’T HAVE IT MY WAY I’LL TAKE MY TOYS AND GO HOME” That’s the way my children acted when they were 5 years old. That’s not integrity!
I’ll be sitting back laughing at guys like you again next year when we are contending for the Western Division Title again.
I really think Bluffhawg is either Markuson or Theresa… I just can’t figure out which. Either way, this nonsense has to be coming from the Broyles center…. maybe it’s Shanklin.
Bluff - there’s nothing to laugh about next year unless we win the West. As to your comments about Gus - he left and got a new job and hasn’t had a negative word to say. From reading your comments at times I can understand your expertise on the actions of 5 year olds.
Ferguson developed a quarterback. Houston Dale got the benefit of that in his first two years. We’ve not developed a quarterback since.
How did you guess. I’m Theresa Markuson and I really enjoy being positive amongst all this negativity. If I was unhappy and discontent as a few on this site, I’d have to make a change.
HogBlogger, you are the expert at negatvity annd constantly lead this pack of “Goobs” with your constant rants and little jabs like “Houston Dale”.
I never stated that Gus said anything negative, I only stated that he didn’t get things the way he wanted so he left. Get your story straight before calling someone out. You guys will never face the fact that he was over his head at the D-1 level and fit the mold of “High School” as Tipster Hog put it.
If I was you I would never be guilty of referring to anyone else as 5 year old when you write and act as you do on this site.
Bluff - As has been stated here several times before, Houston Nutt is Houston Dale’s father.
Houston Dale was called Houston Dale when he was recruited by Frank and went to school here. It’s the man’s name and it’s what he’s been called in these parts for 20+ years. We didn’t start the fire.
Sincerely,
Head Goob
Next year is going to be big year for Bluff. I expect we will never hear from him again. Gus will have his chance to show what he can do as will Houston and perhaps Stan. And that is of course the only defense these guys have is ‘wait until next year’. All of the facts are against them and they will not argue the issues and the facts, only attack and distract.
Nothing more needs to be said about the promises that were made all last year concerning Gus, the no huddle and the passing game. It is documented fact for anyone wishing to take the time to look it up. Nothing more needs to be said about all of Houston’s lies since December. He wasn’t even a good enough lier to make any of it sound plausible or even get his dates and his facts right with his own previous stories. So, just keep screaming ‘wait until next year’, when, if you even show your face it will be to make excuses and insult people with a real interest in Razorback athletics. The rest of us will continue to address the real issues at hand.
Blindhog, I will be one of the 70 or so thousand fans sitting in the stands just as I am every year. And yes I will be a true razorback fan win, lose or draw.
I’m not interested in what a highschool coach says he was promised. It’s just fortunate for the program that he left, so we could actually hire a Pro-Style Coach (as Romo about that).
One thing about Gus though; to say he took his toys and went home is completely unfair. He was offered a job as a position coach and turned it down. He accepted a job as OC with certain assurances and was completely undermined. He should have known he was only being used ahead of time but, once he found out he no choice but take another road. He was always clear and honest about his intentions. Houston never was.
Houston saying that he had to direct Gus to get the ball to Darren and Felix 40 times a game is just another example of the most childish bull that we get from him. If Gus was smart enought to get this far he knew to give the ball to Darren and Felix without being told.
No, you have no interest in the facts, you’ve proven that.
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According to all the preseason pollsters listed above, this team will certainly be a success next year. Maybe the second verse of the song won’t be so bad after all.
“The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported today this story by Tony Romo, the Dallas Cowboys All-Pro quarterback…..(Quote) “Romo, a free agent from Eastern Illinois who became the Cowboys’ starter last season, had high praise for Coach Lee when he was hired at Arkansas. “I think David is a wonderful addition to the staff at Arkansas,” Romo said. “His knowledge of the game is tremendous. He’s definitely the most fundamentally-gifted quarterbacks coach I’ve ever been around as far as understanding teaching and how to throw. “ I’m going to miss him a lot here in Dallas. But by the same token, I know that this is a great challenge for him at Arkansas and he’s ready for it.”…..SOUNDS GREAT FOR ARKANSAS. THANKS TONY. “
You will be the toast of Razorback Bloggers when we win the national title next year Bluff. I know, I will be among the first to say that you were right. ONce again,
Just Wait Until Next Year!!!
And of course none of that changes anything.
SPIN IT!!! To use a HogBlogger-esque song metaphor…’The Future’s So Bright…I Gotta Wear Shades!!!’*
* Timbuk3
You people are certainly proving my point. You don’t really want to discuss razorback sports. You want to sit around and complain about how bad things are because we got this darn coach. Only one team wins the national championship each year and everyone else is left disapointed. Maybe you guys should start a national complainers site. With your track record, I’m sure you would be a great success.
Discuss, please discuss, we’re waiting.
So far all we have from you is that you are a great fan win, lose, or draw, you hate Gus, Mitch, and his Mom amoung others, and the Hogs have great PR going into next year.
Is that it? Anything else? If we don’t agree with your three ideas then we are not fans, is that the idea?
Bluff - We’re all about proving your point. Maybe we did start the fire.
Sincerely,
Head National Complainer
You’re the complainer Bluff. If everyone doesn’t share your grand vision of all is right on the hill you are going to let them know.
Each of the points we have discussed is simple fact and you have yet to address any of them.
The two QBs Houston has developed and put on the field in 9 years are Robby Hampton and Robert Johnson. The quarterbacks that have transfered are led by T. Jackson, now of the Minesota Vikings. The hogs have the worst passing game in the SEC. We lost all of the big games that mattered because we could not complete a pass (yes we did beat Vandy, Bama, and Auburn with passing, ooops, led by you know who.)
All this bull about Lee is the exact same bull we got with Gus. Even you must be able to see that. No complaining, just fact.
But, thanks for asking.
Boy, this fire is burnin’!
WOW, jump on a plane for a few hours and you miss all of the action!
IMHO, Gus took that high road (sorry Bluff)… he realized that Houston Dale (yes, I’ll use that has that was how he was addressed by Tommy Smith when Houston called to complain about Wally’s comments) wasn’t going to be flexible. Everybody knows about McFadden and Jones’ abilities and it should be obvious that they would be getting the ball a lot. Heck, I don’t even have a problem that Houston would express this. However, Gus just realized that Houston wants to run, run, and run again. How many seasons of run, run, run, and punt did we get before we had some “outside” influence last year?
Tulsa will have a good team next year… they will probably have their largest attendance which has been building for the last few (ever since Keith Burns took them the other way). Gus will be part of this and he will continue to raise his stakes as a true coach.
Arkansas will probably to “ok”… David Lee’s status probably won’t change much. Not trying to knock David but like Houston he’s been around already. Gus has more opportunities in this area.
I don’t believe that we will win the west but I do believe that we can win 10 games. If we don’t, I believe that we all can speculate as to why and still not agree. Will we be a top 10 team next year? Probably not (at least for long). Will we go to a BCS bowl game next year? Probably not. We could but I just don’t see it playing out at this point. Are my expectations too low? Maybe! We are NOT a program moving in the right direction! We are definitely better than where we were 3 years ago but I don’t believe that we are where would should be today.
Geez, I’m not sure that I feel better now but at least that’s off my chest!
BTW - I ran into Eddie and Patsy Sutton today as I flew out of Tulsa. While it has been years since I’ve run into Eddie, I could help but wonder if the last couple of years haven’t been kind to him. He is looking like somebody 10 years older than he is.
I’m with Hogblogger and group. Lots of talk sounds like same song but different verse. I want a passing game that is effective. We haven’t had that since the 1st two years. If Bluff feels differently, I’d like to know how and why. I watched all the games last year. We were very close to greatness and can be again. My personal opinion is we won’t ever reach the top being one dimensional.
As for David Lee, I guess we can hope the 3rd time around the barn brings charm. The 1st 2 here didn’t do anything for me as far as quarterback development or passing game efficiency. He may have done great things for Tony Romo but what did he ever do for a QB here?
I agree here Waldron… think about it - was Lee the reason for Romo or were the Cowboy’s just willing to try somebody else and Romo was the best option. After all, what happened in the last half of his games vs the first half? And how does Romo get a Pro-bowl invite after what 4 games or so?
As you can guess, I don’t expect Lee to be a game changer here! It would be nice…
It’s too bad we don’t have 2 exsperiansed QB’s going into the season. If Casey goes down, it is almost a certainty we will struggle. 2 freshman coming in, that won’t even be here until August, doesn’t make me feel very comfortable with the depth at that position. One good blitz, and it could all be over. What then?, the wildcat package?, every other play? This is the one area of concern I have been debating in my head since Mitch decided to leave. Even if our defense comes through, it wouldn’t be enough. Defense can only be good when your players are fresh. We may have to play the whole season with our fingers crossed. Good luck Casey, GO HOGS!!
We can argue all day about the direction of the team, so I’ll fight that temptation. My issue is the picking apart of David Lee and the comments of how much he is bringing to the table. Of course this is spin. Nobody knows yet if this latest experiment will work but to fault the program and writers for speaking positively of it is just odd. What if HDN came out and said “Yeah, David is doing this crazy drill with having kids throw over a ladder. I just don’t know if this is going to work out.” We’d be calling for his head. Everybody spins in the spring. Its a time of hope. Speaking candidly and honestly, well thats for former Athletic Director’s who say we rank 7th or 8th in potential. Truth is, we just won’t know the outcome of this until fall, but I guess we’ve got to have something to talk about.
Side note: On the issue of Gus being smart enough to give the ball to Darren and Felix. Prior to the Auburn game they average 28 touches a game and in the Auburn game that number jumped to 44. For those wanting to argue and point out that Darren wasn’t full speed yet, look at the stats and you’ll find the difference isn’t how many touches he got, but actually how many touches Felix got from the Auburn game on.
I don’t thing anyone expects anything but spin anymore. They treat us like idiots with some of the stuff they put out. There is actually a difference between spin and promotion and just out right deception and BS.
David is a journeyman QB coach and Houston’s second attempt to call the plays while saying otherwise. Gus was no choice. That should have been obvious to Gus and is now obvious to everyone.
The whole pre-Auburn/post-Auburn is a perfect example of how all of this crap begets more crap. They had figured out by then, and yes Darren was healthy, where there strengths were. Auburn was overrated and light on defense. It was the right game plan. It is the three weeks following where they had no OC, no passing game that they were actually willing to use, that were wasted running the ball against cupcakes rather than preparing a passing game and a QB to win some big games down the line.
Everyone needs to step back and quit talking about coaches/coordinaters and athletic directors. Everyone calling for everyone’s head has led us to having the Chancellor choose the future of the Razorback program. And before everyone starts talking about how it can’t get worse, just STOP! IT CAN GET WORSE! Complaining does not change anything. We are in a tough conference and we just won our division. Sure the passing game was not up to par but the program is trying to address it. Malzahn was not a good fit, so he moved on with grace and opened the door for someone who will most likely fit the offensive and defensive philosophy of the team. With an offense that compliments the defense mindset, who knows, we might win the national championship. Ulitmately, this is new territory for us and none of us know what will happen. I hope every true razorback fan will grow up, stop the bickering, love the hogs, support the team, and enjoy the good times.
The ‘Houston Dale’ references ARE getting old. We know that’s his name, but no one goes around calling everyone by their first and middle name. Say what you want about it not being a dig, but it is.
I wouldn’t say that Malzahn wasn’t a good fit for the program but I would say that he wasn’t a good fit for Nutt.
As to ‘Houston Dale’, go back and listen to the sports show audio where Tommy Smith does reference him as Houston Dale. This happens more than you would like to think for Houston. Most people don’t but this isn’t that uncommon for Houston.
Calling this complaining is like saying Paul Reverve was complaining about the British landing in Boston harbor. I suppose he was but, that was not the point. As far as Dale goes, my favorite name is Teen Drama Queen. He has earned every bit of respect he is getting. I know there are some who think that lieing is really just good business sense. I am not among them. Dale has hardly acted like an adult much less a mil a year SEC football coach. If he has been exposed he can thank himself and then Frank. The fans are a part of this program too.
All Hogblogger was trying to do was make a very good point about the messages coming out of the Broyles complex for about 5 years now. It was a perfectly good point for anyone was wasn’t afraid of the simple truth. Discussing said point could lead some to expound on issues fresh from last season. Next year, hopefully, we will all be talking about the wonderful success of 07 and how that is a reflection of our future. This year, not so much.
If you don’t like the opinions expressed, I for one am always willing to listen to another view point but I can’t understand why that must begin with some reference to complaining. Please skip the complaining about complaining and just offer your differing opinion seems perfectly normal and cordial to me.
Guys - All I know is that it’s a minefield now for posting about football on this site. If you look back at the original post, it’s about football.
Sure we mention the coaches’ names in it. But go back and read it…there’s nothing in it about all the soap opera stuff. Sure there are questions about whether our coaches’ are making the right decisions about how they are trying (again) to develop a passing game. Can we not still question the current leadership of this program anymore?
I know this…most people who come to this site want to read about the football program. And at this point I have no idea how we’re going to write “observational commentary” about it without someone being offended or thinking we are trying to keep the soap opera alive.
Maybe I’m wrong…but I think a lot of people just have “blank-Fatigue” (you fill in the blank) right now about the football program.
The good news is the mainstream media is providing those people with plenty of sunshine articles to keep that fatigue from tiring them out any further. And those articles are linked to every day from this site.
As for us here at RBN, we’re going to keep writing what we feel as fans of the program.
I will make every effort in future to make my comments about football only. Any personal references will be as generic as I can make them.
Darren is a wonderful football player, only slightly more impressive than Monk, Jones and Hillis. If Hillis had not been hurt last year we would not have needed much more of a passing game. He was our second reciever as well as a great blocker.
Tipster Hog, I never said you started the fire, but I can certainly say that you obviously enjoy fanning the fire!! I also disagree that the original post of this conversation was about football. You were taking jabs at the coach on the spring practice report that he gave.
I also never said that I hate Gus or Mitch. I watched and cheered for them every game. But, they are no longer a part of the Razorback program, so at this point they really don’t mean anything other than two guys that didn’t get their way, so they quit.
For some reason I feel that I am among the “springdale mafia” reading the comments that a few make about our program on this site.
I can certainly agree with BlindHog on his last post. We have a tremendous amount of talent on this team. If Hillis had not been hurt the last four games, you would have seen a different outcome to the end of the season (especially LSU).
“GO HOGS”
OK ‘Bluff, I take it back, the soap opera is now a part of Razorback Athletics. And, it should be. There is no reason to deny it or should there be. Once you get on the hot seat you are there until you earn your way off. There is a very good reason that the average coaching tenure is only 6 years.
Bluffhawg, for one that complains about Houston Dale you sure use the “springdale mafia” a lot!
BlindHog only stayed “on the wagon” for less than a day…
You want to talk football? How about a junior QB that has started 9 games with a record of 4-5, a completion percentage below 50, and no back up. That’s Arkansas football.
I am going to try to do better but, I also agree with Bluff and his assessment of Hogblogger’s article. It is no longer possible to discuss ‘passing’ at Arkansas without some reference to the soap opera. As Hogblogger pointed out, this goes back way before the soap opera or even the hot seat. No we did not start the fire and we did not make it an issue. Dale is the one who keeps promising in many and various ways and fails to deliver in any meaningful way year after year. No one told him to make the promises. Just come out and say, “WE ARE A RUNNING TEAM, PERIOD.”
How can you comment on any aspect of that with a straight face? The whole Gus/Mitch deal just takes it to a whole new level, from the ridiculous to the sublime, but it is still the same issue, just made to stink. How many TV games did we have last year where the announcers were actually laughing at our passing game? (All of them, I have the tapes.)
To say they left because they didn’t get their own way is just childish nonsense. Both of them expressed their views clearly before they were recruited and they were lied to and then run off. There is no other way to characterize that honestly. To ignore losing Mitch after all of our years of running off QBs and still say you are talking Arkansas football takes some pretty tight blinders.
Blindhog, When you list Casy Dick as a junior quarterback, that is a bit of a stretch. He’s a sophmore that was thrown into the fire during the last four games of his freshman year, went through a entire spring with a back injury that completely limited his ability to participate and only came back for the stretch run of his sophmore season, due to the team needing him as the competition improved. I think you are being a little hard on Casey. Let’s give him a chance to participate this spring with a pro-style offensive coordinator and see if there’s added improvement.
Gus was the coach, on several ocassions, that stated the biggest reason we were not successful in the passing game last year was due to inexperience at the receiver position. Now is that due to poor recruiting in years past, an investigation hanging over our head keeping players away or his inability as the receivers coach to get the needed production out of our receiving corps.
When you make the statement that Mitch was run off, brings to mind my question of his commitment in the beginning. He never really wanted to come to Arkansas. That can be seen in the fact that he committed and de-commited to Arkansas twice. It’s pretty obvious to me that he always wanted to go to Notre Dame, but they did not reciprocate.
Maybe Arkansas will never be a passing team, but to say that Coach Nutt is making empty promises that he never intends to keep, I feel is unfair. I will say that Houston has no intention to become an all out spread offense, passing offense. But, I do think that he wants a passing offense that complements the running game. I will also say that to date he has not made that happen and that falls directly on his shoulders.
I will stand by my statement that Mitch, Gus & Damien left because they didn’t get their way. They wanted to run a spread, passing offense. It’s obvious that was not going to happen, so they jumped ship. Ben Cleveland, however did not. He for one, even though things were not going as he originally thought, decided to fulfill his commitment and remain a part of the team. He should be commended for that.
I never heard a TV commentator laugh about our passing attack. I did hear the comment in a few situations that we will need an improved passing attack to beat several teams on our schedule. In a few circumstances that held true and in few it didn’t. Eliminate the injury to Peyton Hillis and that argument , in my opinion is a mute point.
Bluff…best comment you’ve made on this site. I don’t necessarily agree with every point, but you put it out there and stated your case. That’s good enough for me.
Bluffhawg, was it because they didn’t get their way or saw the writing on the wall? Any how can you be so sure?
OwassoHog, I guess the only way we will ever know is when we make that final trip to the other side. I really feel that it won’t make much difference and we probably want even care at that point. Whether they saw the handwriting on the wall or didn’t get their way, they still elected to move on and I feel it’s time for us to do the same and quit fanning the fire.
The original post was about football. Several years we’ve heard about the passing game yet the passing game never develops. Same song, second verse.
I talked about what we were doing in practice. I didn’t bring up anything else.
Last year in spring practice I watched the defensive back mug the wide receivers in ways that would have drawn a penalty in an actual game. Hard to practice passing plays when that is happening. Waste a lot of reps in practice. As with the blitzing. We did that last year too early on. Didn’t seem to help. These two things, I feel, hurt the development of the offense. And now we are doing it again this year. I felt bad for Gus, and I feel bad for David Lee, and I feel badly for the players that are not getting a chance to get their feet under them in a new part of the offense..
Notice this comment was only about football and the approach being made to the practices.
Please excuse me if I say that your argument sounds almost like someone might infer that we may not be as well coached as we might be. Some might even say that 5 years would be long enough for some coaches to develop a play action passing game that would compliment a running offense. For some coaches a bit more time might be in order.
Or, if I understand your argument completely, it is possible to go on and on without having any success developing a passing game because you make the same mistakes over and over again.
That is hard to imagine. But, then, I haven’t seen many Razorback practices.
Shutting off comments on this post…we’re moving on.