Drivers Wanted
April 19, 2007 at 6:05am by HogBlogger
Filed under Arkansas Razorbacks, Football
I’m hoping this is not David Lee’s recruiting pitch to quarterbacks:
“We need a bus driver,” Lee said at last Saturday’s annual Razorback alumni breakfast.  “Just a bus driver to keep us in the road and not in the ditch.”
Yes, I know we have a Heisman Trophy finalist at running back. We have another thousand yard-plus rusher besides in Felix Jones. Michael Smith could be starting for most of the teams in the SEC, and he’s third-string at Arkansas.
As the popular phrase of late goes, “I get it.”
But think about it. From reading the press over time, the criteria to play quarterback at Arkansas seems to be:
- Good hander-offer. Must get the ball to the back deep and quickly.
- Must not make turnovers.
- Must have arm strength to throw the following patterns: fly, corner, outs of various lengths, and fades. Overthrows preferred.
- Must be able to ‘get us out of bad plays.’ Important to be able to identify blitzes and check off to appropriate running play. Once upon a time was important to identify man coverage and check to a pass play, but that is of limited importance currently.
- Must understand the concepts of ‘bus driver,’ ‘between the ditches,’ and ‘throwing the ball away’ and be able to execute appropriately.
Admittedly that’s not bad stuff. But is that all there is?
Can’t the quarterback be expected to actually ‘make a play’ occasionally?
We won’t have balance to our offense until we begin to talk about it in a balanced way. ‘Improved passing game’ and ‘NFL passing offense’ combined with setting the expectations for quarterback play both low – ‘bus driver’ – and in the negative — ‘no turnovers, never, none’ – is a pretty mixed message.
We’ve got ‘Formula One’ running backs. We’ve got some pretty good looking receivers on paper and physically. I think we need to be talking like we expect a lot more out of our quarterback position than ‘don’t screw up.’
While a strong running game is very important – no argument there – it should be obvious after last year that we can’t run our way into a Top 10 ranking at season’s end.
I’m just wondering what folks consider a balanced attack. I’m not trying to start anything I’m just curious. Would it it be 20-25, 25-30? How many touches then should DM & FJ get? Be interseted to here what others think
It’s going to depend on a couple of factors:
–With a youngish O-line, how quickly do they develop experience? The best defenses in the SEC will chew up a ‘green’ line.
–Can we finally have someone step up and provide a viable counter-weight to Monk? This one improvement alone would enhance the passing game tremendously.
Bearing in mind you always take what your opponent gives you (and an offense can reasonably expect to run, what, 45-55 plays a game?) I think we should try to run slightly more rushing plays than passing. Say on the order of 55% vs. 45%. Of course, these percentages depend heavily on how successful the Hogs are in addressing the above points and what the opposing defenses are focusing on.
One positive thing that should improve our passing game this year will be extending the game. The NCAA tried speeding up the game last year by implementing a few clock start changes, but coaches felt it hurt the game due to fewer offensive plays, so they scrapped that. When you are trying to get the ball in Darren and Felix’ hands a certain number of plays, shortening the game would certainly impact our passing game negatively, but with the time clock changes done away with I think it will help.
Mike – great question. I’ve downloaded the stats for NCAA D1 and am in the process of doing a 2006 season comparison of Arkansas to the AP Top 25 teams in offense, defense and special teams. We’ll be rolling that out as a series when fall practice begins. I can’t tell you what we should be, but I can show you what we are compared to everyone else in the Top 25 and you can draw your own conclusions.
Interesting points I’ve noted so far- The top 5 ranked teams score touchdowns with 13% fewer yards than Arkansas. If Arkansas scores a touchdown for every 100 yards of offense, the Top 5 scores a touchdown for every 87 yards of offense. Arkansas had about 6 less touchdowns combined rushing and passing for the year as the average Top 5 team.
The average of the Top 25 teams was that around 50% of their yards came from passing. We don’t pass as much as they do, have much lower yards per attempt, and have a much higher interception ratio. So besides passing less, we are not near as good at it as they are when we do.
If you look at the body of work in the last 7 or so years, all we need really is our receivers to actually catch the dang ball. Sure Matt Jones was a scrambling quarterback and RoJo, Casey, and Dick were green but when they did actually get the ball to our receivers the WR dropped a few balls or just mis judged it in the air. Not to point fingers but even our freshman receiver, who transferred, dropped his fair share of balls himself. They were swing passes!
Yes we have had accuracy issues with the QB’s in the past……..how do you fix that…….the QB coach? We will even look back at T. Jackson when he was here w/ Matt Jones, yes he had a strong arm but he couldn’t get it consistantly to the recievers. We need our QB’s and WR’s to eat, sleep, and hangout with each other ALL the time to create some sort of timing. Then when we do pass, we can compliment the #1 rush offense in the SEC.
I thought this is what spring practice was supposed to be about. Developing the passing game. I thought that’s why McFadden and Jones weren’t going to see a lot of practice time. I thought the running game didn’t need any work done on it and the majority of the focus was going to be on the passing.
I think D Mac should be the quarterback and we should run the wishbone with Hillis, Smith and Jones. If they are going to get 85 percent of the touches, lets take advantage of this unique opportunity. I think they would love it. The fans would love it. Let’s not pretend to have a passing game anymore. Those 15 percent of touches to the pass D Mac could make to Cleveland or Monk who could roam and break free easily with everyone stretched out trying to cover the wishbone. If we are going to run that much a slow Casey Dick isn’t going to help you. We would get a ton of National Attention for doing something different and would be successful with the schedule we have and Darren would win the Heisman.
ReasonRules, I’ve tried envisioning this, and have to agree we would have national attention. The only problem is if you think recruiting is bad now, just wait until you try to bring in a QB or WR, and tell him there will only be about 5 passing attemts a game. HogBlogger, I think you answered your own question. By not throwing interceptions, and executing appropiately, the QB will be making the plays. You have to admit, our QB’s made thier fair share of mistakes last year. Do you remember Trent Dilfer? He was the QB for the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl 34. The Ravens had a great defense, and special teams, to go along with the running of Jamal Anderson. They basically had a “bus driver’ to keep it in the middle of the road. He only made plays when he needed to, and only passed an average of about 13 to 17 pass attemts per game. Does this sound like Hiesman Trophy material or a bus driver? They won the Super Bowl with it. If Chicago would’ve had a bus driver this year in the Super Bowl, we would still be saying Payton Manning can’t win the big one. Look how many years they were supposed to be the hot shots of the NFL, just because they had Payton, and Marcus Harrison. Defense, Special Teams, and a great running game will always prevail when your QB is a great bus driver.
Gonzo — Points taken. However Gonzo, note that you had the quarterback making plays when needed. We agree more than you seem to be thinking. There are times when plays have to be made. When David Lee is talking ‘bus driver’ he’s not using it in the same way you are defining it. For fun, look at the stats for Super Bowl III and tell me if the winning quarterback was a ‘bus driver’ or MVP. Or do stats not really tell the whole story? Also, you last sentence is not true. There is no ‘always’ in sports. Reality doesn’t tend to go by the book in every case.
Bacon – I’m with you on the drops. Glad to see you commenting here – I read your stuff on Hogville and really appreciate it.
You have to note that, whatever the offensive approach, whoever the quarterback, and no matter the receivers, the fundamental weaknesses of the Arkansas passing game under Houston Dale have been the same ever since Joe Ferguson left. And most were there when Ferguson was here.
I will agree with you there HogBlogger. There seems to be a pattern with Houston’s QB’s not being fundamentally sound. This is where the OC has to come into play, and so far, the majority of the past 9 years has been Houston calling the plays. Balance starts with the coaches, not the players. If the coaches don’t have the same mind frame, then the players won’t either. This could be our problem, when it comes to our cemistry between QB’s and recievers. As far as my last sentence not being true, I will hold fast on that statement, since I have not seen evidence that proves otherwise at least 99% of the time.
Anyone else hear that Mustain has indeed decided to go to USC? A friend just called and said he saw that tidbit running on the scrollbar on ESPN tonight.
Did anyone listen to Jimmy Johnsons’ quotes yesterday on “how to be a winning football team”? Run the football, play sound defense, win the turnover battle & have a effective kicking game and you will win. Last year we accomplished 3 out of 4. Maybe this year we can have all three and win it all!
Bluff – you are on the money. Going back to the old rules will add 10-12 plays each game, which might equate to 6-7 more passes a game.
I don’t typically look at the number of run plays vs. the number of pass plays though. Those thing can be skewed by sacks and QB scrambles that go in the books as “runs”, when they were actually “pass” plays. Yards per Attempt is the best measure of effectiveness in the passing game.
99% is almost always.
Hard for me to argue over 1% HogBlogger, so on to more serious things. I here it is official Mitch will be at USC come August. I’m sure every Nutt hating, trash talker will now promote him to be the next Matt Lienert , and Damian will be the next Keyshawn Johnson. I wish these boys the best, and lots of sucsess in what ever offense thier looking for. If they didn’t like not being “the man” at the UofA, I hope they do alot of growing up in the next couple of years. Sanchez will be the back-up next year with Mitch sitting out a year, and likely will be the front-runner the following year, for the starting spot, with a red-shirt year, and a year as a back-up behind him. There’s a very good chance Mitch will be a career 2nd stringer at the Trojan U, unless Sanchez gets hurt or actually goes pro his JR. year. As for Damien, it’s anybody’s guess.
Hey Gonzo,
Mitch was a second stringer at UofA even though he was 8-0. I’d rather be a second stringer as USC if I had to be one. Did you see their cheerleaders?
Can’t argue with you there Reason, they are pretty hot.
Oh me! Some fans seem to make a mountain out of a mole hill in every word that drips out of our coaches’ mouths! Lee’s comment we thought was quite appropriate with inexperienced QBs. You dance with what you have and the Hogs danced quite well last season! Baring untimely injuries, they will likely dance quite well in 2007 if the QBs come along nicely (which I believe they will), and if the coaches are able to get defense to fill the holes left by those going to the Pros and graduating (and once again, I believe they will). Oh, there may be a few rough spots to commence the season, but they will come along nicely.
The Washington Redskins used a “bus driver” in the name of Sonny Kilmer (who could not pass if his life depended upon it…Kilmer makes Quin Grovey look like a Manning with Kilmer’s lack of a passing arm) to drive all the way to the Superbowl and win it! However, like some Arkansas fans, they wanted the Skins to win prettier because that is what they had before in Sonny Jurgenson (a pass, pass, guy…who looked good in losing)! Personally, I like running and passing, but if I had to pick one over the other, running would win hands down. Alabama won a national championship with a “bus driver”…low scores but wins…nothing fancy along with a great defense..
I would like to make a comment to the sporting news that said it was time for Nutt to go,well its time to get off of him and lets get behind him and the Great team we have for next season and the Great opportunity we have of winning a National Championship with Casey Dick at quarterback not Mitch Mustain ( mister interception thrower & I want to be a USC trojan,where he will be sitting on the bench the whole time). Also we have the top running backs in the country.You all just want him to leave now because you’re afraid if he doesn’t that he will win the national championship and than you won’t be able to fire him.Well I say hang in there Nutt and GO HAWGS!!!!!!!!