Failure Of Imagination
October 16, 2007 at 6:05am by TipsterHog
Filed under Arkansas Razorbacks, Football
Houston Nutt has sent the message out loud and clear. And this time…he means it.
“You will see more creativity,” Nutt said. “I encouraged (offensive coordinator) David (Lee) last night, ‘Turn it loose. Let it go. Don’t hold anything back now.’”
Last week (you know…when David Lee was still holding back), Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal said Arkansas had a “junior high passing game.”
But now that it’s a “brand-new season,” we’re going to “turn it loose” and “let it go” into…uh…a ‘high school’ passing game? Oh wait…no…that guy last year ran that ‘high school’ stuff.
Hmmm…’turn it loose’…’turn it loose’…where have I heard that before? Oh yeah…SEC Football Media Days, July 27, 2006:
Nutt: “I’m going to let Gus go. I’m going to turn him loose. I don’t think you can mess with a play caller and have veto every play. I think you’re going to disrupt, you’re going to hurt.”
That guy (you know…the one who wasn’t messed with) also ran some crazy thing called the Wildcat all the time…and a silly play called ‘Woody‘…and another one where the quarterback actually snaps the ball. You know…creative stuff like that.
Yeah…that’s what we need…”more creativity.” You know…like how about a throwback pass? Oh wait…already done that twice this year…and last year against Florida…and LSU…and in 2005 while losing to Vanderbilt. Okay…maybe that one isn’t so ‘creative’ anymore. How about a ‘wraparound draw’ play?
Hmmm…still believe he really means it this time?
Junior High passing game? I’ve watched our Junior High QB (former Washington Redskin/Monte Colemans son) at our local school, throw multiple TD’s in games this year, several 50+ yds. We really don’t compete at that level.
Like I told you Tipster, this time the “imaginative play calling” is going to be PRO-STYLE, not that ineffective HIGH SCHOOL stuff.
Take another sip of Kool-aid dude.
If what we’ve witnessed year to date is PRO-STYLE, for goodness sake let’s go back to HIGH SCHOOL stuff. Simply put, the stuff we’re doing this year stinks!!!!!!!
Okay folks let’s realistically assess the situation:
1.The offensive line is not very good
2.The secondary is suspect whether they are in zone or man coverage
3.There are no consistent running backs beind Darren and Felix
4.Contrary to what Wally said today there are no receivers with dependable hands, unless you include Hillis and Miller. Regarding the latter, it would be helpful if someone would tell Houston that it is legal in college football to throw passes to the tight end.
5.The defensive line is good enough to bend but not break (not entirely anyway) but they are not where they need to be regarding SEC offenses. The Auburn game showed that the defense can’t carry the load all by itself
6.The QB is inconsistent and there are reasons for this, but there is no one, got it, no one behind him.
7.The coach has tried to use a running game to use clock and ball control and it has failed against quality opponents.
8.The Hogs can’t depend upon a freshman kicker to bail them out from over 40 yards out
9.The punt return game is, well…, is well… Enough said.
10.Booing is not good, however those who are complaining about the booing should attend some games. Most of the booing was directed at play calling not at the players. One exception is with Dick when he made a bad throw, but that’s the life of a QB, just like a coach. Leaders have to shoulder the good and the bad.. It’s part of the game. As far as supporting the team on the field it’s pretty hard to even get a wave going when the team isn’t going anywhere. The crowd did respond when they wanted the defense to get a stop. When the Hogs finally got to the red zone, the fans were practically delirious. To say that the fans at the games are not supportive is wrong.
11.Booing is hurting recruiting. Au contraire. Most of the “booing” were groans of disappointment. Even losing has its good points with recruiting,. A fast talker could convince a recruit how badly they need him and how quickly he’ll get to play a lot (like Mustain and Williams, I guess).
12.What can be done to improve the team? Darned if I know. I would like to think that if you get paid a million big ones a year then you should be able to think of some ways to win at least a couple more. Let’s hope for the best. I know I’ll keep cheering.
I am going to the game at Ole Miss- and I have zero expectations- wow- zero- I am apathetic and it’s all because of the drama that is HDN. I was on his side for a long time- even throughout the summer- because he did win 10 games in a row- but I want to repent because I drank the Kool Aid- and now it is as bitter as wormwood. I plan to go to the game and again I have zero expectations against Ole Miss. Gee- what is next year going to look like- and if Gus continues putting up the #’s in Tulsa- let’s get the elephant out of the room guys- is he ready to be an SEC head coach? I would give him the reigns and a 2 year grace period before I ask him to get different glasses.
Right on Tipster.
HJHog, you need to poor out your remaining cool-aid. You’ve had enough to drink already.
Michael Stansbury, it is a sad time we are in. You seem to be further along since you are “apathethic” now. Most who are just getting off the band wagon are mad and scary.
Love the cynicism. The first quarter wasn’t even over Saturday night against Auburn before I became very cynical.
I think this time I am going to say show us. Last time with Nutt at the SEC Media Days, I think we all bought it hook, line, and sinker. Not gonna happen this time. I wonder if Nutt is going to give Lee the “gun” so he can use the “bullets” this week.
Gotta love the coaching fraternity that got us Lee AGAIN.
Something smells about these comments by ole Dale. Could they possibly, just go with me on this, possibly be a set up? I mean he has just told the press he is going to “turn David Lee loose,” meaning once again there will be NO BLAME on the Dale if things go wrong, despite the fact he delegated the responsibility, because obviously it wasn’t him it was David Lee. In this instance Dale reminds me of the people in our life who refuse to put others dishes in the dishwasher sighting their reasoning as “we’ll it wasn’t mine that was insert name here mess.” It seems impossible to get people to understand the concept of doing the right thing just to do it, and this falls on Dale as well as those who clean only their dishes. This appears to be a very interesting strategy by the Dale, offering up yet another sacrificed lamb to his mighty ego. I may have completely mis-interpreted the Dale on this, but that’s just what it looks like to me. If all else fails readers now have more respect for dirty dishes.
He waits until the seventh game of the year to let the offensive coordinator do his job and this is our football coach. There was a sequence of plays in the Auburn game where we went up the middle two times in the row and on third down Casey threw the ball to someone not wearing our uniforms, it was hard to watch. If you are Marcus Monk do you come back to this team and sacrifice your pro career?
I have a comfession to make.
I ahve been one of HDN biggest defenders. My married son and I have had hours of arguments on HDN. I felt for the past 10 months that he was being unduely critized. I beleaved with all my heart that he was the man and that what he told us was true. I thought HDN was a fine Christian and would not lie or decieve the fans of Arkansas. Simply put HDN was being persecuted because he was a man of integrity.
With all that said I have reached a different conclusion. Following all the interviews after each game and listening to HDN reaction after each game I finally have to asmit that over the last 4 years we have been sold, and yes I baught into it, a lie. I want to personally apolgize to my son and tell him he was right.
It is obvious that now that HDN has done a horrible job recruiting. Under his leadership we have not been able to reload but we are constantly rebuilding. His play calling has done more to hurt DMac physically than it should. Coach Lee is not what we are needing. And although Cassy Dick is probbably a fine young man, he is not division 1 calliber. Which makes me wonder how we got in such shape that we have no one behind him.. I understand that had Mitch not left we would have a QB but even then we would have had no one behind him. And watching the QB from Fairview that signed with the hogs he may the ability but for him to reach his potiential will take a lot of work and we don’t have the personel for that.
I admit we need a coaching change. I now feel toward HDN that I felt about Stan Heath. His time has come and gone.
One last thought then I will shut up. If Blacksburg VA can have winning programs, And if Boston can have a BCS program then there is no reason the Uof A can’t have a consistant BSC program. NO REASON. Va. and Boston are certainly not basjuns of football prowles. Not to mention South Florida, West Va. and others.
I sure hope Mr. Long will come and clean up the football program.
I think Houston must have his Doobie Brothers 8 track tape out again, because the first verse of the 1976 song called “Turn it Loose” is almost prophetic:
People all around me
Everywhere I go
I thought I had a grip on things
Now I just don’t know
People turn their backs on me
My feet are movin’ slow
I done time, I been shined
Ain’t gonna fight no more
I have a conspiracy theory about this whole thing and that is I have heard that the Cowboys really have there eye on Dmac and are trying to see to what extent they are willing to go to get him on there team. So what if DLee has come here to get a better feel for Dmac and his work ethics and to put him in the worst position a running back can be in to see what he will make of it and what if HDN is aware of it all and is allowing it because they have promised him a position watching tape next to DLee after the seasons over. Think about it.
As Cowboys fan, I wouldn’t doubt it but Nutt could feasible go somewhere and be a player personnel person or scout but not for my beloved Cowboys. I love DMAC but after Sunday we need offensive line and secondary help, not a running back, besides he would probably be better served going to Miami or Cleveland.
Jim Daly Sr. — there our receivers out there that can catch the ball. Lucas Miller made a fine catch. I’ve watched him since he arrived. He can catch the ball, runs great routes, and is a ‘gamer’. He needed to be on the field long ago being trusted.
Casey Dick could be a fine quarterback. He has regressed since his freshman year. Telling someone to just be a bus driver and whatever you do, don’t make a mistake, is a recipe for disaster. Quarterbacks have to have confidence and show leadership.
Houston Dale doesn’t have good quarterbacks because he is not capable of coaching a quarterback. He is terrible at it. The talent gets blamed, but it is the coaching. Even Mitch regressed and was quoted in the LA press has developing ‘bad habits’ at Arkansas. He now feels free to preform again.
Coaching makes a huge difference. I’m tired of blaming the talent. I don’t hear that from other teams. Holtz always managed to have a solid quarterback. Our excuse list is the same every year. I’m tired of excuses. “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Mike in Magnolia, that says a lot coming from you. I can tell you from personal experience that each person reaches his own conclusion on their own time. I held on to the rope longer than most, so I know exactly where you’re coming from.
Some people just saw through the charade quicker than others. Some have a ‘blind faith’ and they will never understand…and that’s ok. Sometimes I wish I had that ‘blind faith’ back. I was a lot happier then.
Are you really trying to make sense of something that Dale said? Well, alrighty then.
My vote is on D-Mac up the middle until they have to carry him off the field. 49 per cent passing with more interceptions than touchdowns. Because that’s just the way the game unfolded. They can’t second guess themselves.
Its not like they have a game plan.
Hogblogger;
I mentioned that Miller looked to have good hands and should be used more. The other receivers may just need more experience. (or better routes).
One thing that I think that Hog fans missed in the dustup with the Springdale three. The key there was not Mustain or Malzahn. Gus was being treated as an outsider, so he was just biding his time to leave when the opportunity presented itself. Mustain probably thought he had the QB job after the second game. When he got platooned then he looked elsewhere. The real key as to where the Razorbacks were headed was with Damian Williams. The Hogs had a QB and Dick’s brother coming. They had Nutt to call the offfense and Lee coming so it’s arguable if Malzahn was absolutely necessary (in hte coaches eyes). But with Monk down, the Hogs really needed Williams. A receiver usually doesn’t care who throws to him as long as it gets there. Williams leaving was the biggest clue that there was not going to be a consequential passing game and he needed to go where he would get touches. Without receivers you don’t have a passing game and it’s obvious that receivers were not a recruiting priority. (tight ends excepted because they are needed to block for sweeps and for pass protection.) the Pulaski Academy kid has reaffirmed his commitment tro U of A, but someone might just get to him bedore crunch time.
What Pulaski Academy kid?
darrell(Hog in LA): I think he’s talking about WR prospect, Cruz Williams.
Okay, the class they have coming in is not all bad actually. They seem to addressing the glaring need for some offensive playmakers and hopefully more than one person can catch the football.