Fear the Hogs?

[bayoutider]

Are we afraid of this? Taking a look back at Arkanslaw over the last few years under Nutt just doesn’t impress me that much. Sure Arkansauce beat the Tide in 2000, who didn’t, but it was only by 7 points. That same year Arkanslaw was beaten by Geogia, South Carolina, Auburn, Mississippi, Tennessee, and UNLV. They only beat the creampuffs on their schedule.

On to 2001. Early season losses to Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Then 6 wins over the likes of Webber St., Miss. St., Central Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina before losing the last two games of the season to LSU and Oklahoma. Again, they beat the easy teams.

2002 is no better even though they have 9 wins. Off to a quick two wins over Boise St. and South Florida before losing to Alabama and Tennessee, a win at Auburn followed by a loss at Kentucky. Then comes the meat of another row of cupcakes, Mississippi, Troy St. South Carolina, Louisiana Lafayette, Mississippi St. and a not as good LSU. The season ends again with double losses to Georgia and Minnesota.

2003 another 9 wins at the bakery of SEC football. Tulsa, overrated Texas, North Texas and a win over our pitiful Bama squad that outplayed them all day but couldn’t overcome the onfield numbers of Arkansauce + officials. Even with probation it took the Hogs and officials 2 ot's. Then Auburn, Florida and Mississippi have their way with the Hogs before Nutt gets back to the bakery for wins over Kentucky, South Carolina, New Mexico State, Mississippi State and for the first time in years doesn’t drop his last two games he loses to LSU and wins over Missouri.

2004 has the piglets high with wins over New Mexico State and Louisiana Monroe plus a slim loss to a Texas team that could have beat them worse if they had gone ahead and let Cedric Benson pound the daylights out of them instead of trying to play with their air-Texas passing attack. Against Texas, Matt Jones looked plumb worn out. The mule just couldn’t plow any more that day and Arkanslaw’s fate was sealed.

My point is, this Alabama team isn’t going to play cupcake for Nutt. He probably remembers us running up 31 points on his hogs and them having to come back against a young and tired Bama team. A lot of Bama players have been waiting for this week to roll around again.

Roll Tide, beat the Hogs.

 

[wisten]

Well put .. Roll Tide!!!

 

[crimsonbleeder]

Great post, BT!

As I put in my now famous deleted post, one of the big reasons why R-Kan-Not has no chance of winning is b/c the players have this one circled after last year...

 

[Alanbama27]

Couldn't agree more! This Arkanslaw (nice name) team>

lost 19 starters from an average team last year! Also, Texas is this year as they have been for many years....WAY over rated! Matt Jones is definitely a dominant player, but he can't do it alone and I'll say this now...if he has to run a lot, they'll lose to us by 30 point because somebody will rock his world!

Also, there numbers, like ours are decent, but frankly the number that sticks out to me is their Defense....it really sucks given who they've played and that really bodes well for us! They are allowing a bunch of rushing yards per game and we should run, run and run some more this weekend! I don't care how much people want to see Marc sling the pigskin, I just don't see us throwing too much if we don't need to! With that said, I would expect us to throw one really deep to Brown within the first or second series of the game for us just to weaken them likely putting 8 men in the box. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if we throw the ball three straight downs to start the game if they stack the box, but then, once we make 2 or 3 first downs in a row, watch the running game and clock management take over from there!

The most important thing to me is to get Marc some early confidence by throwing those short to intermediate passes early and get some completions!

 

[TiderinMiss]

The ONLY time Arkansas has "whipped" Bama by more than 10 points was the rare drubbing we received in 1998, 42-6, under a Dubose staff that looked like a deer caught in headlights.

I'm glad Ellis Johnson is gone.

 

[bayoutider]

The ONLY time Arkansas has "whipped" Bama by more than 10 points was the rare drubbing we received in 1998, 42-6, under a Dubose staff that looked like a deer caught in headlights.

I'm glad Ellis Johnson is gone.

It might not take Sly long to be glad Ellis Johnson is gone too.

 

[TiderinMiss]

It might not take Sly long to be glad Ellis Johnson is gone too.

I was just thinking the same thing.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Matt Jones while an excellent player may regret breaking through to Bama's secondary. Maybe he should ask that Ole Miss player what it's like to be hit by #3 before he ventures there! No, I don't want him hurt, but a little scared would do nicely!

 

[Chukker Veteran]

Nutt has got to be the most fun SEC coach to watch lose a game. He jumps around so and makes odd facial expressions. He is well-named.

 

[ThePoloLounge]

Great post, BT...

You make a convincing argument for a 'Bama win.

I have to admit I'm a little worried about our mindset after losing Brodie. A lot of our guys are young and looked to him for leadership, and the rest could start thinking about how the season snowballed on us last year.

This is an important game for us. I believe this is one of those "building block" games where a win could help build a foundation of confidence that we desperately need. I don't necessarily think a loss would be catastrophic, but it would definitely be a setback.

Like someone posted earlier, we need to get Marc comfortable back there early on. I'm excited to watch him play, just not under the present circumstances. Hopefully, he and Spencer can come in and give the team a spark.

If Marc can get some confidence, we loosen up the box and then get the running game geared up. If we can do that, I don't think their defense can stop our rushing attack, especially when you consider that we have four really good RB's to throw at them.

I also like the way our defense has been playing. It's great to see guys flying around the football and connecting with some solid licks. I'm especially thrilled with #3. I'll tell you what, I'm going to enjoy watching that young man hit a lot of people and catch a lot of interceptions over the next few years. He's something special...

 

[bayoutider]

Darby on an 80 yard run up the middle on the first play from scrimmage would set a good tone for the game.

 

[HogJam]

While we've lost several "returning starters" most of our team saw significant action last season. We have our most talented corps of receivers, possibly ever, and also some terrific young RB's.
While I think that most Arkansas fans were very pessimistic going into this season, our offense has proven to be a real surprise. Particularly in the passing department.
You guys may have our number this year, but I promise you this Arkansas squad isn't going to "roll over and die" because of its inexperience.

 

[BamaJeff]

I was on the Southersportstonight board. A UPig fan was boasting that Jones is responsible for 304 yards per game thus far. Is that really a good thing? Do they really have to depend that much on the play of 1 player. :rolleye2:

 

[DiamondDust]

I fear no team to begin with, but it will be a cold day in hell the second I start fearing an Arkansas football team!

 

[wisten]

I posted the bulk of your message of woopig.net. They are less than happy. They come at me with profanity and so on, and I keep telling them to say what they really feel.

Actually, I have been talking about the class and tradition their program has so on, but my, don't many of them have some warped minds.

 

[bayoutider]

I posted the bulk of your message of woopig.net. They are less than happy. They come at me with profanity and so on, and I keep telling them to say what they really feel.

Actually, I have been talking about the class and tradition their program has so on, but my, don't many of them have some warped minds.

That's a special breed of pig on woopig and you are a brave man for posting over there. That or very, very dumb.

 

[TiderinMiss]

While we've lost several "returning starters" most of our team saw significant action last season. We have our most talented corps of receivers, possibly ever, and also some terrific young RB's.
While I think that most Arkansas fans were very pessimistic going into this season, our offense has proven to be a real surprise. Particularly in the passing department.
You guys may have our number this year, but I promise you this Arkansas squad isn't going to "roll over and die" because of its inexperience.

...and, honestly, I don't expect you guys to roll over and die. If you did, you wouldn't come back from being down 21 last year and pulled out a win in Tuscaloosa last year. We can win, but I know you guys will put up a fight.

 

[Crimson-Blitz]

"If Marc can get some confidence..."

AtlTider,

Guillon was born with confidence. Bama fans are in for a pleasant surprise this Saturday.

You make a convincing argument for a 'Bama win.

I have to admit I'm a little worried about our mindset after losing Brodie. A lot of our guys are young and looked to him for leadership, and the rest could start thinking about how the season snowballed on us last year.

This is an important game for us. I believe this is one of those "building block" games where a win could help build a foundation of confidence that we desperately need. I don't necessarily think a loss would be catastrophic, but it would definitely be a setback.

Like someone posted earlier, we need to get Marc comfortable back there early on. I'm excited to watch him play, just not under the present circumstances. Hopefully, he and Spencer can come in and give the team a spark.

If Marc can get some confidence, we loosen up the box and then get the running game geared up. If we can do that, I don't think their defense can stop our rushing attack, especially when you consider that we have four really good RB's to throw at them.

I also like the way our defense has been playing. It's great to see guys flying around the football and connecting with some solid licks. I'm especially thrilled with #3. I'll tell you what, I'm going to enjoy watching that young man hit a lot of people and catch a lot of interceptions over the next few years. He's something special...

 

[ampcast]

I know I'll probably get the boot after posting anything negative -

but exactly who has 'Bama played this year so far?

Western Carolina plays teams that were in the NAIA when I was in college. Ole Miss is going to probably finish near the bottom of the pack in the west.
At least the Hogs have played (and played well) against a top 10 opponent.

IMO until you've played a legit team you really can't say how good (or bad) you are.

 

[Boooger]

I'm just glad to see that I'm not the only one who doesn't think Nutt is that good of a coach. He never schedules the Oklahomas of the world. Texas yes, but they aren't that good, and never are. They are the Big XII version of Auburn, they hardly ever play to their potential, and are very badly coached.
For as bad as Mississippi State is, at least they scheduled Oregon!