Some random thoughts after the Razorbacks’ blowout win over Troy.
The Good
The Hogs grabbed three more interceptions Saturday night, making them plus-12 in turnover margin for the season. A stark contrast to last year when they finished minus-9.- In just 10 games, Ryan Mallett has rewritten the Arkansas record books. After his 405 yard, five touchdown performance, Mallett has now set or tied five more school records — the most notable being the single season passing mark which now stands at 2,882 yards and counting.
- Congrats to Dennis Johnson for breaking the school record for most kickoff return yards in a little over two seasons. D.J. now has 1,799 in his career. That either means you are a great return man, or your defense is so bad that you get more chances than you should. Both are true in Johnson’s case.
- We’re not sure we’ve seen a Razorback cover 83 yards faster than Ronnie Wingo, Jr. did Saturday night. After taking a screen pass and getting a few nice blocks, Wingo turned on the afterburners and showed his sprinter’s speed into the endzone. Undoubtedly the most exciting play of the evening.
- Good news that defensive coordinator Willy Robinson was able to return home after being hospitalized on Friday. Robinson is being treated for an infection, and we wish him a speedy recovery and return to the field. Linebacker coach Reggie Johnson called the defensive plays Saturday night.
The Bad
- For the third week in a row, there wasn’t a lot of ‘new bad’ to be found. One that did stand out was the penalty monster rearing its ugly head for the first time in a while on Saturday night. The Hogs suffered through nine penalties for 63 yards, many of which were 5-yard defensive offsides or offensive false starts.
The Ugly
- The official booth review of a third quarter Troy 30-yard reception down the sideline makes you wonder if a 5-year old child was the SEC replay official Saturday night. Jumping up to catch the ball, the Troy receiver clearly landed well out of bounds. The ‘non-reversal’ led to a loud chorus of continuous boos from the Hog faithful as Troy marched downfield for a field goal.
The Wingo play was exciting. Mallett is very impressive for a sophomore. I hope this means the kids are in stretch run form. Next week should be a good game. And then, the shootout in Death Valley.
I hope Mallett wants to stay and compete for a title.
I'm glad to see that Ronnie Wingo got some mention here. His run against a&M and his run the other night are the fastest I've ever seen anyone in a Hog uniform run. I've been surprised we haven't seen it more.
I also think Broderick Green is worth mentioning. He was much maligned in the beginning of the year but I really like the way he is running right now.
Good to see Brandon Barnett get some carries and do a good job.
I'm getting worried that Mallett will be one and done. We all know that we'll be good next year even if he leaves but we have a chance to be special if he stays.
Go Hogs, keep it rolling!
It's the red pants!
I can't wait to see what Nike does with those red pants.
I concur, there is something powerful about the red pants
Yep. I didn't really like them when we put them on for the Cotton Bowl but since then they've really grown on me. We should wear all red for our home games and all white for away.
Or… how 'bout we scrap the ugly red pants and go back to the Hatfield era tyle of uniforms?
The Good:
Two biggest hits of the night delivered by offensive playes Dennis Johnson and Michael Smith.
The Bad:
Continue our streak of the Defense giving up a big play in the Third Quarter every game.
What do you call "giving up a big play"?
Flea Flicker
And this makes it a "big play"? Do you even know how long the "biggest" play was?
I do… 17 yards…
Sorry… but it was a trick question… if I'm not mistaken, it would have been 83 yards (Wingo's run) for the Hogs. I believe that Troy's longest play was 30 yards or so. Of course, these are "biggest" plays for distance… the other perspective would be for impact. Still probably guess it would be Wingo's run for us. I don't recall what I'd pick for Troy's… I guess that should tell you that they DIDN'T have a biggest impact play.
Here is a question. How many total yards did Troy have against us?
Trick question for Owasso.
Troy vs Florida – 139 total yards of offense. 2.4 per play
Troy vs Arkansas – 455 total yards of offense. 5.8 per play
No trick question here…
Troy vs Florida… 23 yards per point
Troy vs Arkansas… 22 yards per point
Thanks for point this out I'll take that stat!
Owasso, your are insane. I think you just came up with a completely useless statistic that emphasizes that Troy scored a lot more points on us than they did on Florida. You are up past your bedtime again aren't you.
Actually, it was to just destory your misconception that the "big play" is EVEN an issue! It's all a matter of perspective. Don't worry about the "big play"! Be thankful that the "big play" was only 30 yards vs. 50, 60, 70, or even 80 yards. We are a WORK IN PROGRESS and I'm enjoying see the progress! Go Hogs!
Do some more math and check the final score on our game.
I'm to the point where I don't care how many scores or yards we give up as long as we come out on top.
If we're going to start throwing in comparisons of the 2 teams against Florida, there's only 1 stat that should come to mind.
Florida-56, Troy-6.
Florida and their refs-23, Arkansas-20.
Florida has a better defense than we do, plus Troy is playing much better at this point in the season.
Beating those guys by 5 TDs, when the line was something like 13 1/2, looks pretty darn good to me. Peace out.
Anyone who thought last year's defense was going to be in the same class with Florida after one recruiting class and one year in the weight room was not paying attention.
We are a few bounces and a few flags away from a pretty special season. We are still thin and young and give up the big play. But, we are successful in turnover margin and red zone defense and headed to a pretty good year.
Oh, and, we played the toughest schedule in America.
Well put!
I still say it is Bad to give up 455 total yards of offense. 5.8 per play to Troy.
I am happy that they are progressing. I was at game with my son and his friend, it was a ton of fun.
Toughest schedule in America? Not even the toughest in your division.
Gators, Bama, Ole Miss on the road…. We faced an undefeated Auburn and Texas A&M…. We played Georgia and USC-E when they were ranked….Troy was getting some Top 25 votes…. That leaves two cupcakes… We still have LSU…..ON THE ROAD…. And MSU at home….. We didn't get Vandy or KU the weakest teams in the East…. So yeah I'd say we have the toughest schedule in the SEC
And the toughest is? Don't just talk shit. let's have some facts.
Carolina,
I think he was refering to the fact that Mississippi St. supposedly had the toughest scheduel in America in the pre-season according to Scout. No kiddin.
I think the UofA was something like 4th, and Georgia was 6th.
I'm not trying to say yall have an easy schedule, but look at it this way. Texas A&M was undefeated when you played them, they're now 5-5. We played Houston, who has as many wins vs big 12 teams as A&M does, and they only played 2. Kentucky and USC played a game decided by 2 points, and they have as many wins as Georgia, so I don't see how that game is vastly different. Troy and MTSU have the same record. All of the SEC west games are the same for both teams. We can say Vandy and JSU are our 2 cupcakes. Our other out of conference game was Georgia Tech. 6 games against teams that have been in the top 12 at some point this year.
Maybe we should just crown the loser of this game the winner of the toughest schedule… what do you think?
I think it will be a good game. MSU got ripped by the refs as well when they played Florida. MSU Dawg are you coming up for the game?
Hogs in Gainsville
Hogs in Tuscaloosa
Hogs in Oxford
Hogs in Baton Rouge
Florida, Bama, Ole Miss, LSU – in Starkville.
I wish I could make it. I work at a hospital and am on call. Had to take it this weekend to get off for the home games. I think this will be a good game, as long as our midget qb doesn't turn it over more than once. Should be exciting!