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We Are Who We Thought We Were

October 1, 2008 by Walking on Sunshine 

There is no worse feeling in football than knowing you can’t stop the other side.  And, unfortunately, that’s the current state of this Razorback football team.

Jermaine Love / Quan Cosby (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Sure the offense has had its troubles.  And goodness knows the interceptions returned for touchdowns aren’t helping matters.  The negative plays (4.25 sacks per game, worst in the nation) are keeping this offense from consistently moving the ball, as well as causing continual field position woes.

That said…this may be the worst defense in school history.  To paraphrase the infamous rant by former Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green, “we are who we thought we were.”  While the effort is there, the poor tackling, missed assignments and lack of turnovers have made this defense painful to watch.

Longtime observers of Razorback football consider the 1990 Razorback defense to be the worst in the history of the program.  After winning back-to-back Southwest Conference championships in 1988 and 1989, the cupboard was pretty bare in 1990 for first year coach Jack Crowe.  (Sound familiar?)

Those of you who can remember that far back recall that it was Quinn Grovey’s senior season.  Grovey spent the year running for his life and playing from behind in virtually every game.  The Razorbacks would go on to finish 3-8, 1-7 in the SWC (7th place).

Ironically, lack of coaching on the defensive side of the ball wasn’t an issue in 1990, either.  The defensive staff was led that year by Defensive Coordinator Joe Pate.  It also had longtime Arkansas assistant Louis Campbell coaching the secondary and Bill Johnson, now the defensive line coach with the Denver Broncos.

Statistically, the 1990 unit allowed 4,426 yards (402.3 yards/game) and 360 points (32.7 points/game).  In a four game stretch (TCU, Texas Tech, Texas and Houston), they gave up 214 points, including 62 points to the Cougars.  Through four games, the 2008 squad has yielded 356.5 yards and 38.0 points per game.

Though the years have passed, the current version of the Hogs defense is reminding me more and more of that 1990 bunch.  Let’s just hope their performance last Saturday was the ‘bottom.’

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4 Responses to “We Are Who We Thought We Were”

  1. BlindHog on October 1st, 2008 9:42 am

    It was mentioned here in preseason that the experienced QBs in the East and West would have the most to say about who goes to Atlanta. Well, we have seen the two best QBs we will see this year. This week will make it three. After that maybe we will be able to keep it under 30 points a game.

    Beyond that, I’m not sure what your argument is for this bunch getting better. Sure , they will learn and grow week to week but, of course so will the opposition. This schedule is way too tough for this defense. Some of these freshmen and sophmores will get bigger and stronger and be around in a couple of years. But, if we are to compete in the SEC some will be replaced by bigger, stronger, meaner, guys.

    The best thing that could happen to these guys is an offense that will score and keep them off of the field.

  2. GonzoHog on October 1st, 2008 10:36 am

    Offense, or no offense, we still pretty much stink on defense Blind. Were giving up terrible numbers in the 1st qr. Your right about those QBs. After this week, the best of them will probably be gone until LSU. Lee seem’s to be coming along pretty well for the Tigers. Right now though, I wouldn’t be too eager to line up against Jevan Snead either. Even if he isn’t a consistant passer right now, he still has the wheels to hurt us, and after watching McCoy dismantle us as much with his legs, as he did with his arm, it’s a pretty good bet he will. Snead is a R.S. Fresh, which is really his only problem, and Ole Miss’s defensive front 4, may be as good as any in the SEC. Thier overall speed on defense play’s 2nd to knowone. So what does it all mean for the Hogs? It probably mean’s were not going to get very many breaks in the competition this year. As far as saying our D is as bad or worse than the 1990 D goes, I choose to stay away from that discussion for a few more weeks. The competition was a lot less than what were seeing now, and I can’t even remember what kind of defense we ran then. I also can’t remember a time when our defense had this many young players it was relying on either. All I know for sure, is that this is the absolute worst possible position a new div I coach could get himself into. It’s a complete over-haul to say the least.

  3. Hog Fan 4 Life on October 2nd, 2008 7:17 am

    Can someone let me know what has led to the total implosion of Tejada? Has he been hurt or something? He was money (most of the time) last year, and has just totally faded away. We don’t get much Hog news in TX and wondering if there is a story….thx

  4. GonzoHog on October 2nd, 2008 10:59 am

    Hog Fan, back in the summer, it was reported that Tejada was going through some voluntary drills with his teammates, and dislocated his kneecap on his planting leg. He was reported to be back to 100%, but I really don’t think he ever got his confidence back. It looked like he was doing fine way back in the spring, so that’s really the only thing I can think of.