Some thoughts, and questions.
The last time I checked, there are alot of programs in the athletic department. As far as I can tell, most of them are quite successful right now. Basketball is on the rise, after many on these boards called for Mike to be fired. Baseball is solid. I doubt anyone would quarrel on that…despite occasional disappointing seasons. Women’s volleyball is a major surprise, with maybe the conference’s best player. Men’s golf is very good…and women’s golf is #1 in the country. Track and field and cross country are always great. Our facilities are second to none. GPA’s are in good shape. No scandals since Petrino left. Yet…many are calling for Long to be fired. Is he not athletic department director? Not merely football director? I don’t get it. I have no personal ties to Long. But is doesn’t make sense to me.
For the “fire Brett right now” crowd, nothing good can come of that. This recruiting class would implode. Plus its just not gonna happen. Waste of energy to even call for that.
I suspect Brett survives if he wins 5 games. Though I think we still have a decent chance to win 6. It may seem impossible. But, LSU just rebounded. Against Florida (like we did last year in a sense). After being smashed by Miss St (who isn’t nearly what some thought they were) and losing to Troy! They bounced back! Ole Miss, Miss St. LSU, Coastal and Mizzou are all winnable. Might not be likely…but its not time to just give up all hope. The kids deserve better than that.
Yes, the offensive line looks awful. As I said in earlier posts, if I were Brett I’d either let Anderson go today, or at least insert myself into his meeting room for the rest of the season. I would personally decide who plays and doesn’t play. Maybe Brett’s already doing this. But if he’s not, he might start…now. There is no question that since Pittman left the o-line play has taken a dramatic nosedive. If every Bielema offensive line had always been terrible…then he could be viewed as the cause. But the active factors seem to be Pittman leaves, Anderson enters. And one could argue Enos’ scheme makes life more difficult for the type of lineman we recruited for Pittman/Chaney.
I would play Cole Kelly until AA is totally healthy. Its not ideal to start Cole against Bama. Obviously. Memories of BA crash in immediately. But I think the staff owes it to AA and his future to NOT play him if he’s dinged. He might literally get put in the hospital. At least Cole is a giant, and seems to be nimble for a guy his size. Ha can stand in there better than AA. AA’s confidence also seems to be shattered. I hate to see Cole’s shattered too…but if AA is dinged, I just don’t see a choice. It may be Cole’s time.
If Cole plays, run the shotgun spread option more. We have to have some semblance of a running game. Let the QB read the d-lineman that the tackles can’t seem to block anyway. Run alot more wildcat, with Haydon and TJ on the fly sweep option. This o-line’s tackles just are sub-SEC standard. It is what it is. Can’t keep hoping they will play better. They will not.
Speaking of tackles, for goodness sake give Wallace a shot. It can’t be worse than what we have. Unless his attitude is terrible…let’s see what he can do. I bet we do Saturday.
I said when Pulley went out that it was devastating. And it has been. Curl has been brutally targeted. It will continue. Strangely, Curl hasn’t failed to cover at all…he just seems to be the victim of interference calls. Maybe not even accurate ones. But the interference calls were game changers. Maybe its officials knowing he’s a freshman and not giving him the benefit of doubt. Bottom line, losing Pulley has really really hurt…but its also obvious Curl will be a very good one. Soon.
Our only real hope now is to play decent against Bama and Auburn in losses…and somehow rally down the stretch. Some on the call ins and this board seem to want a total implosion so Brett will have to be fired. Almost hoping we just fall apart.
I don’t understand that thinking. Frankly, I could never ever pull for any kid nor coach in the Razorback uniform to fail. I love the Razorbacks too much. I hope most fans do too. And don’t give me the “for the longterm good” argument. The kids wearing the Arkansas uniform don’t deserve us to bail on them.
I personally will not.