Hogs offensive coordinator Joe Craddock talked Monday about looking deep into what is causing the team’s issues on third down and it’s caused by first down.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Monday
John and Tommy discuss Arkansas falling short against Texas A&M, Penn State’s 4th down call, Tom Murphy and more!
ROUNDUP: Time to stop playing A&M in Arlington?
To some, the headline above might sound like heresy.
Let’s face it, the Jerry and Gene Jones family has given a lot to the University of Arkansas. No one’s arguing that. Nobody’s arguing playing a game in AT&T Stadium, which come to be known as Jerry’s World, is an important tool in recruiting.
But it may be time to make a non-conference game. It’s no secret that Texas A&M wants out of the deal. They want the series with Arkansas to be a home-and-home series.
Considering the declining attendance, it might be something Jerry’s at least open to discussing now. The attendance for Saturday’s eight meeting in Arlington was 55,383 … or about the equivalent of a Texas Class 5A high school football playoff game.
That may be the biggest problem. Let’s face it, when you turn the lights on you have 30,000 people show up to see what’s going on.
Oh, Jerry can keep the Southwest Classic marketing monitor. Just not have the game against the Aggies every year. As we said, they’re already wanting out of the deal and, from the looks of things, their fans don’t have a great deal more interest in going there than anybody else.
Shoot, the Hogs could probably get 55,000 in that stadium against Baylor, Texas Tech, Houston, TCU or even SMU. Throw Texas and Oklahoma in there on an occasional basis and you get a larger crowd.
In an area growing by leaps and bounds — just over 7.5 million this year — there are more than a couple of Hog fans living there and always has been.
There won’t be any change soon. These things take some time.
But the guess is 55,383 got Jerry’s attention.
A light at end of tunnel?
It was Lou Holtz in 1977 that said the light at the end of the tunnel is sometimes an oncoming train and this week for the Hogs that may, indeed, be the case.
It’s Alabama week and the Hogs’ worst team in years is playing the Crimson Tide’s best in years. Sorry, Nick Saban, but I don’t work for you so I’m not going to make up some negative about the backup long-snapper.
Alabama right now may be the best team in college football history.
ESPN’s Power Index gives Arkansas just a 2.3 percent chance of winning.
My Power Index gives the Hogs just a 1.432 chance of being in the game at the end of the first quarter. Sorry, but the Crimson Tide’s AVERAGE score through five games is 54-13.
That’s actually not a true indicator of how big these blowouts have been for Bama. If the game ended at the end of the third quarter, the average score would have been 51-7. If you just called it off at halftime, the average score would be 39-4.
I can remember teams that strong defensively in college football, but never one as strong on offense and defense.
Big recruiting weekend
From what I’ve heard, there will be an awful lot of Razorback recruits at Saturday’s game and many assume they are there to watch Alabama.
There may be some truth in that, but if you want to play quickly in the SEC, they’ll see there are opportunities all over the field at Arkansas.
How many in attendance could have a shot at starting next year at Alabama?
The guess here is maybe a couple, but that’s a BIG maybe.
They all likely could see the field quickly for the Hogs.
That’s just the way it is right now.
WATCH: Highlights of Hogs’ 24-17 loss to Texas A&M
Via WoodlandsAggie
Hogs’ special teams improved … except for one big play
Texas A&M returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a score and most Arkansas fans probably thought, “oh, here we go again,” after last week’s meltdown against Auburn.
But that’s not really what happened.
“The issues we had were fixable,” Chad Morris said of the problems last week. “We fixed them with a few personnel changes. And then we fixed them with some fundamentals that we needed to continue to work on.”
He also made some personnel moves, getting starters on the coverage teams, particularly the punt return where it was getting embarrassing.
De’Jon Harris, among others, were on the punt return and it made a difference. It helped they moved some folks around and the protection for Reid Bauer helped him average 43.2 yards a kick. A&M had negative return yards on punt returns.
“Your fundamentals have to hold up under pressure,” Morris said. “That’s what we challenged our guys with and they saw it.”
Bauer was also hitting it well, mainly because he wasn’t pressured like he was at Auburn.
“That was one of the reasons why, that you saw, that the punting was better,” Morris said. “He had a lot of confidence in those guys.”
Yes, the special teams weren’t all that bad if you take away one very important play that proved to be kinda critical.
But maybe the most eye-opening was the play of the defense that limited the nation’s top offense to less than the Aggies’ 500 yards-plus they have been average. It wasn’t close, they were 134 yards below their per-game average this year.
“One of these games we’re going to find a way to get a W,” linebacker Dre Greenlaw said later. “We’re not going to stop until we get that W. We just got to keep fighting.”
Greenlaw combined with fellow linebacker De’Jon Harris for 29 tackles and Greenlaw added a couple of interceptions and a sack. Those are monster numbers.
“Unbelievable,” Morris said later. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been a part of two guys that were that productive in one game, very much just all over the field and very impactful.”
Anyone who doubted John Chavis’ effect on this defense, well, he has made a huge difference. Whether you think anything else is better or not, it’s hard to dispute that.
Having a pair of experienced linebackers making plays like Greenlaw and Harris helps.
“We came in the game with a lot of confidence,” Harris said later. “We figured we could get the win, just the small things on special teams probably hurt us, but I feel like we build more confidence from week to week.”
Greenlaw echoed that.
“We continue to get better and better and push ourselves through practice and our work habits,” he said. “We just continue to keep getting better and hopefully that will result in a win.”
The bad news, though, is it’s going to get worse for a week before things may start to improve.
Top-ranked Alabama comes to Fayetteville next week, so progress may be tough to see.
Morris was asked about that and while some may put it off as coach-speak, considering the talent difference between the two teams, it may be the best way to look at it.
“It’s about us getting better every week,” he said “That’s the only thing we can control. We’re going to get back on the plane, and we’re going to go get better. That’s what we’re going to do.”
After next week’s game, the schedule goes downhill.
The Hogs will play their third straight team that’s been ranked in the Top 25 this season. A&M was there until they were hammered by the Crimson Tide last week.
Only one of Arkansas’ last six opponents (LSU) has been ranked this season.
And the schedule sets up with the next five games over six weeks to be played in the state (there is that Little Rock game with Ole Miss a couple of weeks down the road).
We’ll see how the improvement plays out.
Harris on how defense played in loss to Aggies
Arkansas linebacker De’Jon Harris talked after the game about the play of the defense.
Morris recapping loss to Aggies on Saturday
Arkansas coach Chad Morris talked with the media after Saturday’s 24-17 loss to Texas A&M.
Storey talking about rough start against Texas A&M
Razorbacks quarterback Ty Storey talked about the team’s performance against the Aggies in a loss.
Improved Hogs get closer, but fall to Aggies late in Arlington
This was a different-looking Arkansas team … providing you started watching about midway through the first quarter.
After digging an early hole, the Razorbacks bounced back and actually had a shot to at least send the game with Texas A&M to another overtime matchup, but fell late, 24-17.
The loss drops the Hogs to 1-4 on the season, but anyone who wasn’t buying into the improved team mantra after last week’s loss at Auburn, this team DID look better … much better.
Except on one special teams play. The Aggies’ Jashaun Corbin returned the opening kickoff 100 yards. Some Hog fans probably turned the TV off then.
After a quick three-and-out by the Arkansas offense, some more folks quit watching. They missed a booming 50-yard punt by Reid Bauer and returner Roshauud Paul was dropped for a 2-yard loss by De’Jon Harris. Some good things there.
Then A&M drove 79 yards in nine plays with Williams getting 33 on the ground.
Quarterback Kellen Mond, though, made the big plays. First, he scrambled for 12, then hit Paul with a 19-yard pass that set up Williams’ 1-yard scoring run and it was 14-0 for the Aggies.
At that point more Arkansas fans quit watching.
And they missed seeing a team improve steadily the rest of the way to actually have a shot at tying the game at the end.
Quarterback Ty Storey further solidified his hold as the leader of the offense by simply having a solid — not spectacular — day.
Storey finished 14-of-26 passing for 193 yards, one score and just one interception.
Mond was 17-of-26 for 201 yards, no touchdowns, but two interceptions by Dre Greenlaw.
Shoot, the way this game played out, it could be argued the Hogs played toe-to-toe with the Aggies for the last three quarters.
It helped that Cheyenne O’Grady came out of his month-long pouting spell and started making the plays his ability has shown him capable of.
After A&M went up 17-0 early in the second quarter, two passes from Storey to O’Grady — first for 36 yards, then a 17-yard later wrapped around a big-time 16-yard run by Rakeem Boyd — keyed a nine-play, 75-yard drive.
Cole Kelley came in and bulldozed his way into the end zone from a yard out, Connor Limpert added the extra point and it was 17-7 with 9:35 left in the first half.
For Arkansas, a team that has struggled to score offensively the last two weeks, it was a positive sign.
The Hogs took the second-half kickoff and made it 17-0 as Boyd ripped off a 25-yard run early, then Storey hit Jared Cornelius, then Deon Stewart with passes before the drive stalled. Limpert came on and nailed a 47-yard field goal and it was 17-10 with 11:16 left in the third.
As usual in this series, the fourth quarter got a little interesting.
A&M clanged a field goal off the right upright after Randy Ramsey was called for hands to the face of Mond on an incomplete third down. That would have gotten the Aggies off the field nine plays earlier deep in their own territory.
After a three-and-out by the Hogs, A&M put together another drive, aided again by a call for hands to the face of Mond, this time by Jonathan Marshall.
Mond got it in the end zone, though, with a big 20-yard pass to Cameron Buckley that set up Williams’ 5-yard run with 5:03 to play to give the Aggies a 24-10.
It looked like it might not be enough.
Arkansas came right back with Boyd scampering for 11, then Storey hitting O’Grady for 24 yards, then Michael Woods for a 29-yard scoring play down the middle.
That made it 24-17 with 3:16 to play and the Hogs still had life.
Arkansas got the ball back with 1:51 to play and 74 yards away from a tie to send the game to a fourth overtime in five years.
Storey passed first to Jordan Jones, then Boyd to get the ball out to the 45.
A second-down pass from there was late getting to an open De’Vion Warren, but the ball hung and A&M free safety Donovan Wilson made a diving interception to seal the win for the Aggies.
The loss dropped the Hogs to 1-4 on the season (0-2 in SEC play) and things don’t get easier next week with Alabama coming in for an 11 a.m. game at Razorback Stadium.
These Aggies no joke, which means problems for Hogs
Aggies fans. Unfortunately, everybody knows one.
And if you were around for the Southwest Conference days, then you also possess more jokes about Aggies fans than Jim Gaffigan does about bacon. No pun intended.
Have you heard this one?
Three Aggies fans go in to see a fortune teller. The first one asks, “How will Arkansas’s defense play against Texas A&M this Saturday?”
Madam Craft looks into her crystal ball and replies, “A unit that at first seemed strong, fell of off of its path when facing the mountain goat, however, they have slowly begun discovering themselves and their potential again. The Aggie offensive line will have a good push up front, and this will lead the defense to have a ‘bend but don’t break mentality.’
“A man they call ‘Chief’ will need pure focus and a secondary which can better defend the run and the pass.”
The second Aggie doesn’t quite breathe a sigh of relief, but does get hopeful when asking, “What about Arkansas’s offense? How might they fare against our blessed Aggies?”
The lady at the table again waves her hands over her magical aide, glares into it, and states, “What you are hoping for is that young Ty Storey will not be able to perform in Big City. Yet if his offensive line can give him even the slightest extra second to permit him to find open receivers, then the Hogs may be able to hang around making this game close. I see a little Rakeem Boyd in your past but a lot in your future.” “Also, your precious Aggies are coached by Jimbo Fisher, so they are far from blessed.”
“Madam Craft,” the third Aggie asks, “will the special teams for Arkansas hurt our team’s chances for winning?”
The lady looks into the future and does nothing but laugh hysterically.
Finally, the trio requests one last piece of advice from the psychic, “Can you tell us who will win this game Saturday?”
One final time Madam Craft considers her crystal ball, and notes, “What the Razorbacks fans are seeking is a turning of a page with its first meaningful victory of this season. While many have witnessed improvement, there are still many flaws which must be ironed out for this program, along with a focus to build upon successes made last week. However, the growth they saw against the Tiger will continue, but it will not be enough. Texas A&M over Arkansas, 31–24.“
The men forget to thank her and turn to leave. In her rage, Madam Craft casts a spell upon them so they may some day have John L. Smith as a head coach as she screams out “Go HOGS!!!”
Lamest joke ever.
One closing prose: a man that once wore 61 will be hoping for a young man whom now wears a 9 upon his back to make a strong arrival into Jerry World. Will this happen?
Today, we do not need Madam Crafts SEC projections – you have me to rely upon instead.
• Louisiana at (1) Alabama – Tide by 42
• Tennessee at (2) George – Bulldogs by 18
• Southern Missiissippi at (10) Auburn – Tigers by 30
• Tennessee State at Vanderbilt – Commodores by 21
• Florida at (23) Mississippi State – Bulldogs by 3
• South Carolina at (17) Kentucky – Wildcats by 12
• Ole Miss at (5) LSU – Tigers by 24
Follow me on ‘Twitter:’ @PeterMorganWPS
Maybe not watching score best way to see A&M game
Arkansas goes into Saturday’s matchup with Texas A&M as a 20-point (or 21 points, depending on which Vegas line you follow) underdog, which probably surprises no one.
Needless to say, the Aggies are strutting right now. How many teams do you see with a 2-2 record that do a lot of strutting? Only Aggies.
It’s amazing how different both of these teams are viewed. The Razorbacks have considerably less chance of winning this game than the current nominee in Washington has of getting confirmed.
Yes, we’ve dropped to that level. You may not watch the scoreboard as just see if the Hogs get better, because I’m guessing they do.
There was progress by the Hogs last week. With Ty Storey running things, the offense at least settled down a little and didn’t exactly blow up.
No, the Hogs simply couldn’t score against Auburn last week. The Tigers have one of the more physical defenses in all of college football.
It will come down to how well Storey and his receivers can connect, something this team has struggled with since the opener, regardless of the quarterback.
If A&M’s defense has a weakness, defending the pass has been about the only thing to pick on, which is true of what Jimbo Fisher wants to do. He’s obsessed with running and controlling the run.
Against Clemson and Alabama, the Aggies weren’t able to run the ball, but were fairly solid stopping the run.
And that has been the constant theme.
If Arkansas can get 100 yards on the ground, they may actually have a shot at winning this game … if they can keep A&M down around that 100-yard level.
The Aggies will fling it around, but I’m guessing John Chavis is going to bring everybody but the cheerleaders and see if Kevin Mond can handle the pressure, while keeping an eye on him running.
For the last two seasons, A&M quarterbacks have run on the Hogs’ defense to the point where you actually began to wonder if they were going to give out with all those long sprints.
Arkansas will continue to be improved, but it would be shocking if it’s enough to get close to a win.
Texas A&M 35, Arkansas 14
Last week was a good one for the record, evening hitting on Kentucky’s win over Mississippi State. That prompted a message from my cousin, who played there, telling me to quit picking Bulldogs’ games.
The record moves to 39-5 as we have now completed a third of the season.
The games that really don’t even require a lot of thought are Alabama over Louisiana, Auburn over Southern Mississippi and Vanderbilt over Tennessee State.
Tennessee at -33 Georgia
There was a temptation to put this in the games not requiring a lot of thought, but it’s just fun to point out the Vols as a 33-point underdog to a division opponent.
The only way this is an upset is if Tennessee is still in the game halfway through the second quarter. Seriously.
Coach Jeremy Pruitt had a player go to the lockerroom last week in the first half. Reports vary over whether he was sent there by Pruitt or a member of the medical staff.
See, Arkansas isn’t the only place first-year coaches are struggling.
Georgia 56, Tennessee 7
Florida at -8 Mississippi State
Mississippi State was favored last week, but it wasn’t a stretch to see what might — and eventually did — happen against Kentucky.
Now they are favored at home against former coach Dan Mullen and a lot of folks think this favors the Bulldogs, who should be pumped up because of that.
Folks can say what they want, but Mullen left Starkville for Florida more for better players than the sunshine. Yes, he inherited more — and better — players than he left behind with the Bulldogs.
This year the Gators sorta slow-rolled the start to the season, but they’ve been getting better each week.
And now Kentucky showed a way to beat State.
Since I had a perfect week last week because of an upset that hit, let’s try that again.
Florida 35, Mississippi State 31
-1 South Carolina at Kentucky
Are the Wildcats for real?
Well, they’ve got a running back in Benny Snell and a belief now that they can win. sitting at 4-0 in league play and tied with Georgia atop the division.
But it’s still early.
Will Muschamp has the Gamecocks playing better, but they have played one less game due to the hurricane earlier this month and lost to Georgia, 41-17.
Most people are taking South Carolina, but the hunch here is Kentucky may actually be the second best team in the East.
Kentucky 24, South Carolina 21
Ole Miss at -13.5 LSU
We’ll find out how the Tigers compare with Alabama a little this week, hosting a Rebels team that has a high-powered offense with almost no defense.
My guess is the only reason this spread is not more than that is the questions about LSU’s offense.
They’ll handle this one with ease.
LSU 35, Ole Miss 10
