Breaking down what Hogs need to do for win over Rams

Do we really need to rehash yet again the game last week in Oxford? Who really has the wherewithal to take a second drink of milk to verify it is spoiled?

Yes, Arkansas fans would be in an overt ho-hum if not for one thing, the promotion of Nick Starkel to starting quarterback. If the public speculation is true, the kid from Argyle just became this season’s Obi Wan Kenobi.

Let us not get this wrong. Many of us like Ben Hicks and definitely want him to do well not only during his time on “The Hill” but in life after football as well.

Many were tough on him following this past Saturday’s game because of his attitude on the sideline during the second half.

Remember, he is a competitor who knew he had just lost his job. In sports or in life, most of us would be exactly the same. Give him some time to adjust.

Who knows, maybe this will inspire both of them to play better.

Regardless, the Hogs host Colorado State this weekend at 3:00, and the game can be watched on the SEC Network while you listen to the game on HitThatLine.com.

You all remember the Rams from last year. Cole Kelley had was two-for-two passing with two-touchdowns. Arkansas led 27–9 with 2:48 left in the third quarter, yet the Rams made a great comeback scoring the go-ahead and winning touchdown with eight-seconds left in the game.

Surely you can recall that game, or was the agony blocked by your every synapse? I certainly do recollect.

I tried to omit it from my thought process for a year, however, it’s like the time you forgot you had eaten state fair Mexican until your 15th second on the Scrambler.

News flash: Your ex-girlfriend still evokes your ride of infamy to her children. But I digest… digress.

Enough about our failed REO Speedwagon T-shirt social lives. On to what some are dubbing “revenge” along with quick thoughts for the Razorbacks’ success:

• Our quarterback to receiver timing must be perfect. Colorado State’s defense is not the best we will see all season, yet it is definitely nothing to overlook.

• Have some pride. Channel Houston Nutt’s “Razorback on the Helmet” speech if you have to, players, but find a way to have some sense of who you are and what you represent.

• Close the freezer door. If the WildHog package was the only flavor we had outside of vanilla, keep my offense bland. I only want to hear “wildcat” if something good is happening in Lexington.

• Cover their wide receivers. As mentioned in my interview with Kelly Lyell, Colorado State is known for producing great wideouts, and this year they have a better signal caller to get them the ball.

Protection. Protection. PROTECTION!!!

You did not need it that night after the fair, however, the Hogs will need to protect Starkel even though he has his quick release as he runs this offense for the first time as a starter.

• Call some offensive plays yourself, coach Chad Morris.

• NO DUMB PENALTIES. Hit them high. Hit them in the middle. Hit them low. But ONLY hit them legally and inbounds. Please. And please chill on the false starts … and offsides.

• Make the Rams secondary respect the pass and open up some room for the running game. Keep feeding Rakeem Boyd and Devwah Whaley the ball in this formula, and we will see his full potential.

• Catch the ball!!! I really did not want to say it again this week. Notice it is in lowercase this time. Maybe that will help.

• Remember, we are the SEC Team. We are the home Team. We are the RAZORBACKS! No one is permitted to come into our house and walk away with a victory.

Especially Colorado State.

Like Kane North told me last year, “Even though our talent level is down, we are an SEC school that should always have a minimum of equal talent to a team in the Mountain West Conference. We just got out-coached.”

Arkansas 24 – 17.

Week Two was an 11 – 2 push between Andy Hodges and me our pursuit of the HTL Pick’em Championship Cup race.

Holding onto a slim one-game lead, Hodges feels his 20–6 record is but a small step to what will eventually evolve into a blowout over my current 19–7 standing.

Oh, Mr. Andy, your arrogance rivals that of Ronald Acuna at a Little League game and will thus be your downfall.

On with Week Three:

• Arkansas State at (2) Georgia: Can our in-state Sun Belt Conference contender pull off a major upset at Georgia? As much as I would love to say yes, I feel this is but a paycheck for the Red Wolves. Bulldogs by 30.

• Kansas State at Mississippi State: Tough choice, so I called my Mom, and she said she saw Kansas in concert once. I consulted a psychic, and she told me to avoid a woman with a tattoo on her face. So I flipped a coin. The coin was silver. I choose the Bulldogs in this one as well, only this time it is by 21.

• Chattanooga at Tennessee:  Oh my poor ol’ Volunteers… I simply have no words to express the disdain the Tennessee fans have for Jeremy Pruitt at the moment, however, even though one fan has the coach’s “six”, the squad in orange had better put up far more points than that to even begin to get him off of the hot seat radar this week. Tennessee at home by 40.

• (2) Alabama at South Carolina: The Gamecocks look bad in their defeat by North Carolina. The Tarheels looked bad until the end against Wake Forest. The only way Alabama looks bad is if they run the score up too high. Tide by 44.

• Southeast Louisiana at Ole Miss [SLOPFEST OF THE WEEK]: The Rebels may have been able to beat Arkansas far better than we expected, however, they are still a messy football team. Southeast Louisiana will not win, but they will assist in earning this game the “Slopfest of the Week”. Ole Miss by 24.

• Colorado State at Arkansas: Last chance for me to change my mind…. I just cannot do it. I guess it is just the homer in me. Arkansas by 7.

• Kent State at (8) Auburn: Whatever happened to Stan Heath anyway? Last I heard he was working his “Magic” in the G-League. Oh, Tigers by 48.

• (9) Florida at Kentucky [GAME OF THE WEEK]: The Wildcats remind me of Ricky Bobby, precocious and full of wonderment. The hope which started on the heels of last season takes a lump. Gators by 22.

• Lamar at (16) Texas A&M: I remember playing Lamar in high school. What a pleasant little trip over to Johnson County. The Warriors … What? Oh, my bad. The Cardinals will fare with A&M the way the Warriors fared with us. Aggies by 38.

• Northwestern State at (4) LSU: Set your slumber alarm because this one will be a snoozefest. Tigers by 42.

• Southeast Missouri State at Missouri: Kelly Bryant looked better in Week One. The rest of the Missouri players looked better in Week Two. They really had no other option. The Tigers will continue to improve against the Redhawks. Missouri by 36.

Go HOGS!!!

Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS