South Carolina 34, Arkansas 21

9 Responses to “South Carolina 34, Arkansas 21”

1. A Good Afternoon Spoiled | Razorback Expats on November 8th, 2008 4:33 pm

   [...] outcome was not totally unexpected, mind you, but still - what a bummer. To add injury to insult, Michael Smith left the game with shoulder woes. The harm didn’t [...]
2. HognTX on November 8th, 2008 4:51 pm

   I was impressed with the other tailback and Nathan Dicks QB time. He seemed to have a grasp, handle, and abiliity to think while out there. I know it was a short amount of time there but I have seen 6 or 7 of these games this year and he looked the best to me so far this year. We have a lot to look forward to as the Hogs grow. I’m elated for the future and BP’s effort in getting these Hogs ready for the future.
3. Jimdog on November 9th, 2008 11:54 am

   Oh well, The Hogs still have an opportunity to become bowl eligible by beating Miss. State and LSU. Alabama- LSU didn’t resolve a whole lot ifor me insofar as the Hogs last opponent is concerned. Is Alabama that good or is it overated?. Is LSU vunerable since it doesn’t have a consisent QB (to say the least)? LSU QB Lee has probably beaten out Casey Dick for the highest percentage of interceptions turning into TDs. . How LSU kept it close was with defense and a good running game. If Arkansas can keep LSU’s running game out of the end zone they have a chance. LSU’s game with Ole Miss will be more of barometer of how good or bad LSU is and how much of a chance the Razorbacks will have in LR. To my inexperienced eye, LSU looks like an above average SEC team right now, somewhat like South Carolina (in spite of the score, the Hogs were competitive). I’m not that impressed with Alabama per se, but I am with Saban’s ability to win the close ones. My national rankings would be this: Texas Tech, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Okie State, USC, Penn State (the last is my gift to old JO PA). . All the pundits weree predicting that T Tech would ffall to OSU or more likely against Oklahoma. In other words the Texas victory was a Ole Miss-Florida like fluke. Anyone who watched that game or the Texas game should realize that they were looking at the most phenomenal collegiate scoring machine in recent history. Leach has gotten everything right: A QB who can read the field, dump it off, is unbelievably accurate, receivers who run great routes, have great hands and know how to get open, and importantly, an offensive line that can protect the QB. Scoring 7 times in a row! Gundy tried everything to get to the QB, but even with an effective blitz, Harrell calmly threw to a safety valve, usually a running back. Oh, did mention that T Tech aalso has excellent running backs who not only can catch the ball but can gain yards after the catch? All the defense has to do is to make a few more stops than the opposition, and the offense will take care of the rest. The game in Norman should be a classic. What is of interest here for Razorbackers and the SEC is whether Tennessee will try to hire Leach.. And will T Tech match offers that will probably be coming from other schools? (Auburn, Miss State?).
4. GonzoHog on November 10th, 2008 9:15 am

   I think the Hogs played well at times, but SCs defense was as good as advertised.
   In the past, I would have said Casey Dick’s play was a little suspect, but in this game, Casey was constantly being harassed by the SC defense, forcing him into a lot of situations to pass before he was ready, or because he had no recievers open.
   Did anyone see the interception by the SC DE? That’s as good as it gets for a DE.
   I don’t think there’s a 6′2″ QB in the country that could have thrown that pass route on target, and not have it intercepted by that same guy on that play. That was definately a great defensive play.

   All in all, I think the Hogs chances of getting to a bowl are slim, but not hopeless.
   Miss. St. isn’t that good, but neither are we, just yet, and it is a road game. They’ve alway’s played us tough in Starksville.

   LSU isn’t a top 10 team anymore, but their close. They still have some of the most talented players in the country, only not at QB.
   Is Alabama really the best in the Country? Don’t sale them short just yet.
   The old saying “defense wins championships” is still as true as ever.
   LSU did run on them more effectively than anyone else has all year, but give LSU credit. They still have an All-SEC caliber O-Line, and they still have very good RBs and WRs. Throw in the QB they lost to off the field problems, and these guys could very well be playing for another tital.
   I think the Hogs chances of beating them in LR are a little slim, unless they just happen to create a bunch of turnovers. You just never know, untill you play the game.
5. Jimdog on November 10th, 2008 12:28 pm

   Gonzo, Gonzo, Gonzo
   Defense wins games, except in the Big 12. Big 12 teams have 20 or more points scored on them and still double their margin of victory. My son called me from Allen, Texas and asked how do you stop them (T Tech)? Well, by hoping that everybody is off that day. or has the stomach flu . Gundy tried Blitzing -and it didn’t work which left the middle open for big plays after the catch, or for effective screens. Play the receivers zone and Harrell finds a man in the open area; play man and receivers like Crabtree either beat the safety or win the fight for the ball. Interestingly, Harral reads and knows when the safety is going to get beat and gets the ball precisely out in front of the receiver. Regarding defense, I do give you this, it’s Red Zone defense, the ability to keep the opponent out ot the end zone or limit them to a field goal. that wins games Two recent examples were the Tulsa game and the T Tech - Texas contest. .In the latter game the outcome should not have been as close. T Tech learned a lesson: nvever, never, never fhinkl that you have a big enough lead in the Big 12. Now some defensive genius might figure out how to stop such potent offenses. After all, it was finally realized that the way to stop the wishbone for big yardage was to have linebackers and corners who were as fast as the backs. The problem with developing such potent attacks, as in the big 12 , requires a long tutelage for the QB (like McCoy and Harrell) to develope that timing., and of course, pass protetion is everything. Unfortunately for Casey Dick he didn”t have that luxury and he is now just a few steps ahead of QB Lee of LSU. Well, maybe a number of steps ahead, but his developement sure seemed to be retarded under Nutt.
6. GonzoHog on November 11th, 2008 10:57 am

   That’s why you never sell a Saban coached defense short.
   He always seems to know how to coach up a big play defense, and peak at just the right time.
   This years ‘Bama team is very similar to the ‘92 ‘Bama team that won the NC.
   They have a very gifted, composed leader in Wilson at QB, and have a nack for not getting burned deep with great DB play. Their defense always seem to come up with a big turnover when they need it.
   Texas Tech is no different than any other team of the past that was the most “flashy”. (example: Miami ‘93 NC and Oklahoma ‘04 NC. Didn’t both of those teams have Hiesman QBs?)
   The Alabama team, coached by Gene Stallings, was a team that relied on great defense, with great leader ship at QB, who basically didn’t make bad decisions, and always kept long drives going with conservative passing, making the opposing defense stay on the field for long periods of time, while making the “flashy” offense spend their time on the sideline.
   Nobody thought ‘Bama would beat Miami in ‘93, and nobody thought a Nick Saban coached LSU squad, in ‘04, would beat OU either.

   Texas Tech may be for real, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be stopped, just because they beat Texas.
7. Jimdog on November 12th, 2008 9:22 am

   Gonzo

   Your analyses are always well thought out, but I disagree with your assessment of pundits thinking that LSU could not beat Oklahoma for the NC. This was true until the Oklahoma QB got hurt. After that it was an even contest, with the odds favoring LSU. As an old LSU grad I must admit that with the Okie QB being healthy, that the Tigers would probably have lost. The pundits thought so too ,that is why there was a split championship with the pollsters giving it to USC. Head to head matchups between the Big 12 and the SEC would be interestinng and informative. Again, I reiterate, keeping a high scorng team in the red zone out of the end zone is the key for victory. With Harrel’s ability to throw the fade and Crabtree on the receiving end that would be hard to defend. It maybe that the last team to have the ball in Norman will win the game (like the Texas game).. In the SEC it is interesting to note that although Alabama is no. 1 in the nation, current wisdom has it that the Gators offense would beat the Tide’s defense.
8. GonzoHog on November 12th, 2008 11:36 am

   Jimdog,

   I would have to agree with you on Florida.
   I think early in the year, Urban Meyer was trying to get Tebow away from running the ball so much.
   As a result, It looked like Tebow went through a slight learning curve.
   I don’t believe Meyer wanted him to completely abandon the run, but just learn that he didn’t have to rely on his legs as much as in the past.
   Team cemistry also seems to have kicked in for the Gators.
   With the world class speed the Florida offense seems to have at every skilled position, and Tebow finally figuring out how to utilize everyone, i’m not sure if there’s a defense in the country that could stop them right now.

   I’ve been impressed with Texas Tech as of late, but playing on the road is a different matter all together.
   ‘Bama doesn’t have anything to prove in that catagory. Even Florida hasn’t been as battle-tested as the Tide have this year on the road, so if the Red Raiders can impress one more time, on the road this weekend, (in Norman) then i’ll definately admit they have proven themselves worthy of the elite teams in the country.
   *Note* I didn’t say they had to win, just impress.
9. Jimdog on November 16th, 2008 12:19 pm

   Gonao

   Gosh, I agree with you. But my crystal ball has it that if T Tech wins at Norman, even if they don’t win the championship game, it’s Tech vs Florida and bring your high speed calculators.

   It was interesting to note, from an article in the paper blasting the BCS, that there was going to a big BCS controversy if OU wins against Tech. Reporters are many times pretty stupid but this piece deserved a special award for superficial analysis. The controversy will be the big 12’s problem, and secondarily the BCS. If there is a 3 way tie, then it’s the conference who will have to decide which team will be the Big South representative for the big 12 championship game. Of course they could cop out and go with the BCS rankings, but that would be like passing the buck. and admitting that they too do not have a substitute for the BCS. Only if the Big South champ loses to the North Champ will the BCS have to make a decision. . By then it will, still be a team from the Big 12 South, which has happened before. But it could open the door for USC. Thanks to Iowa the biggest controversy has passed, or at least one that would stir the sportswriters passionate key boards . It was beginnig to look like an undefeated team from a weaker conference would bypass tougher conference champions, like the SEC, Big 12, and even USC, which after the pastings that the Trojans have put on big 10 teams in the Rose Bowls it would raise screams of unfairness and Eastern bias out on the left Coast. Let’s all gfve a Thanksgiving toast to the Hawkeyes for sparing us from that.bit of a dustup. I like the idea of all conferences having some type of championship game. For those that don’t have one now, then how about Penn State vs Utah or Boise State: USC (or any other Pac 10 champ) vs Big East Champ. These games would be before the bowls and would help sort out BCS rankings. .