Look Arkansas is the DIAMOND state-so the talent is there. Question is how bad does the team want to win a national title? Recruiting has elevated somewhat IMHO but has to backed up with in-your-face tough we are not gonna lose attitude. All the coaching,game planning,practicing, and weight lifting in the world won’t replace a let’s-go-kick-their-ass attitude. HOGS YA’LL.
Being Bret Bielema was on ESPNU last night and that has to amp up the visbility a tremendous amount.
I think LB was the only area this staff was weak on until now. Otherwise, the depth we are creating is amazing and feels new to me. We have had 3 solid classes with Bielema and what stands out is that the bottom of the list of signees is full of solid 3 stars. The bottom group of the list of each class is productive with Bielema’s classes, which is what is creating a lot of the depth we see. We are seeing a good succession plan of SR’s giving way to JR’s and SO’s with fewer FR starting. A system has been developed and is starting to pay dividends. We are 2-3 deep in the secondary, Dline, WR, and QB. RB and Oline are working with new players but the talent is there. Coming full circle, the LB corp is becoming very solid on the 1’s with Josh Williams returning along with Ellis and Greenlaw. The LB back ups are now becoming better with Hackett, Jackson, and Eugene when you can throw in FR like Harris.
I remember what we would have in the past on the Oline and it came down to praying Nobody got injured. The previous recruiting by HDN and BP was top heavy and the bottom was full of low or no rated kids and projects. The top heavy recruiting meant we never had quality and experienced depth. We got lucky during those years that some projects panned out and did well. Conversely, Danny Ford did some good recruiting and doesn’t get the credit he deserves for HDN’s early years.
Well… it looks like the football program is surging in practice right now. DW is the real deal at running back along with RWIII. And also, it appears that the OL is just about ready. 20 days to go? Way too many! HOGS YA’LL.
This year’s influx of talent and last year’s group having a year under their belt is changing the competition dynamic on this team. I may be wrong but the level of competition has improved so much that some players are being pushed more than they expected. You are seeing some players that are in the dog house or not achieving at a level equal to their hype on signing day. We have a WR, a few TE’s, a few Olineman, a QB and a few Dlineman that need the light to come on quickly or take a lesser role. A few of these players have been here for 2-3 years and that is what makes me cringe for them.
Sadly that is just how it is.
It would appear that Ty Storey is the diamond in the rough you were talking about-not to mention Cole Kelly and the coach Enos comments about him. Going to be an epic QB battle next year and AA better put it all together! HOGS YA’LL.
Ty Storey has a chance to make a move while Town is still adjusting. Cole Kelley needs to be RS so he can fully learn the offense, doesn’t waste a year, and we don’t have 3 So QBs next year.
The last few weeks show that It looks like the slow start won’t happen this year. I have been screaming about press coverage’s impact via Tevin Mitchel for a while and that we had a terrible D as a result last year. We are sorely missing it but Rhodes is very credible when he says a few of these guys can play press cover. We are going to know in the first game if the Def Line and Press Coverage improvements are REAL. LB looks solid now that there are players that can relieve Greenlaw and Ellis from playing too many snaps. I think the Oline will be OK early but not good until midway into the schedule. We won’t know about the Oline until the A&M game. We are all very positive this year but I don’t think it is group think. Outsiders believe the the Oline is going to suck, AA is going to suck, RB’s are going to suck and that our Secondary and pass defense can’t improve.
I am very excited about this year. It doesn’t seem too much of a stretch to expect 9 wins. Steady improvement.
We are going to know on Saturday if the Def Line and Cornerback’s capability in Press Coverage is REAL. LaTech has very good WR that can burn us. If our Corners are capable of Press Coverage then I am going to be beyond happy.