Auburn game won’t be pretty, but progress may be made

Andy Hodges
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Arkansas should have blown out Colorado State and North Texas.

They didn’t, however, exposing a lot of problems none of us knew existed and it’s not something Chad Morris will be able to fix in one week, so let’s not get giddy about anything with Auburn this week.

The Razorbacks have 16 four-star recruits, a five-star and a whole bunch of high three-stars, so don’t tell me the other teams had better talent.

They did have talent that outplayed all of that higher-rated talent the Hogs have who basically wallowed around for the last six quarters they’ve played.

Publicly, Morris isn’t going to come out and throw everyone under the bus. Coaches can’t do that anymore.

But this is the result of a steady slide in a program that hasn’t had much accountability, discipline or direction for several years.

Morris is doing the only thing he can, which is take things back to the basics and literally start rebuilding from the ground up. I didn’t see it until the last two weeks, but I wasn’t the only one that missed it.

In looking back, Arkansas’ last 10 years in the SEC are the worst since joining the league in 1992, winning just 40 percent of the games.

From 1992-2007, the Razorbacks won 47 percent of their games. The best 10-year period was during the Houston Nutt decade, winning 51 percent of the games at a time when the power of the league was in the East.

Nutt won 60 percent of his games against West opponents. Since then, Arkansas has won just 37 percent of the games against the West, although Alabama’s rise to maybe as big of a dynasty as we’ve seen is a big part of that.

Part of it has been other programs blowing past the Hogs. Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Mississippi State have blown by in recent years, 13-16 in the last decade (the Aggies throw the numbers off because they didn’t pop on the schedule until 2009).

In the previous decade, Arkansas was 16-4 against Ole Miss and State.

What changed? Just about everything. A new athletic director starting with the 2008 season and three coaches if you want to count the John L. Smith caretaker season.

Now the Hogs face one of the teams they have been 5-5 against over the past 10 seasons, but they don’t have a 50-50 shot of winning down on The Plains on Saturday.

The only question is how ugly will it be? Auburn will likely call off the dogs and let the Hogs get a score or two late.

Auburn 56, Arkansas 14

Last week we were dead wrong on the Hogs’ game with North Texas and Auburn losing to LSU for a 9-2 week, dropping the overall season to 31-5.

This week things get a little more interesting as we get into SEC play and the only gimmes are Ole Miss over Kent State and LSU over Louisiana Tech.

Texas A&M at -26 Alabama

Some are seriously giving the Aggies a chance in this game. Granted, most of those people are the Aggies themselves who have never gone into a game thinking they weren’t going to win by at least two touchdowns.

This Crimson Tide team may be the best in school history and that’s a big milestone to reach.

I’m not sure there’s anybody in college football that can even stay close to Alabama for a half, much less an entire game and it would be more interesting if they would just give the Tide the trophy, create one for second place and everybody play for that.

This one won’t be close and Jimbo Fisher will have some motivation for A&M against the Hogs the next week in Arlington.

Alabama 49, Texas A&M 14

-14 Georgia at Missouri

Okay, the Tigers have started off 3-0 and the best team they’ve played was Purdue and they won that game by a point.

The Bulldogs are rolling along and in most years would be considered the top team in the country, but there is that Alabama thing we’ve talked about.

Georgia rolls to keep pace setting up what everyone anticipates will be a huge showdown in Atlanta that may be Championship Game 1 with the Crimson Tide.

Georgia 42, Missouri 21

-2.5 South Carolina at Vanderbilt

Are the Commodores for real? Is Derek Mason the best coach in college football? The answers, in order, are not really and close, but not quite.

Vandy will make a game of this, but the Gamecocks are angling for a runner-up finish in the SEC East, which really isn’t a bad spot to be in.

South Carolina 28, Vanderbilt 24

-9.5 Mississippi State at Kentucky

We’ll find out about both teams from this game as both teams have climbed into respectability (Kentucky) and outright respect (Mississippi State).

But it’s a road game for the Bulldogs, who beat Kansas State on the road, and the Wildcats are riding high after beating Florida a couple of weeks ago for the first time in 31 years.

When I saw the schedule earlier in the year this looked like a trap game for the Bulldogs, who play Florida and former coach Dan Mullen next week.

Which is why I’m taking the Wildcats in an upset.

Kentucky 24, Mississippi State 21

-4 Florida at Tennessee

This one used to be a huge game with national implications. This year I don’t even know if there’s division importance for this game.

The Vols appear to have bought in more to new coach Jeremy Pruitt than some other first-year coaches while the Gators are improved offensively, but the misfires are spectacular at time.

Still, though, I think Florida finds a way to win this one, although it’s not the most confident pick to make.

Florida 21, Tennessee 20

Auburn PxP broadcaster Rod Bramblett joined Halftime on Friday

Tye Richardson
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???? Friday Halftime Pod — Featuring Aaron Torres

Tye Richardson
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???? Friday Halftime Pod — Featuring Aaron Torres

Phil Elson and Tye Richardson talk QB production, interview Aaron Torres, FOMO Friday and more!

SportsInformationTraders.com’s Jon Price joins The Morning Rush to preview the weekend

Tye Richardson
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

Tye Richardson
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

John and Tommy discuss Arkansas-Auburn, interview Raymond House, and Fenceman Friday!

Hogs will go backward to hopefully move forward

Andy Hodges
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1

There are two kinds of errors football players make.

One drives coaches absolutely jump up and down crazy. The other they view as, well, we can get that fixed.

Committing errors due to over-excitement, just flat blowing an assignment or even getting a holding call to keep the quarterback in one piece are the type errors all coaches think they can fix.

Those are errors of commission, I was told by a coach some 35 years or so ago. He quickly added he could fix that.

The other kind are errors of omission that coaches often don’t even try to fix. They’ll either just run the player off or put him on the bench forever.

Those are the errors of doing nothing or, as another coaching said, “thinking about doing something is the same as doing nothing.”

I’ve heard coaches yell for their players to do something — even it’s wrong — as opposed to thinking about things too much and, in effect, doing nothing.

Is that the problem Chad Morris is having right now on offense?

For that matter, is it the same problem John Chavis is having on defense in some areas?

There may not have been a more complex defense in the history of football than Tom Landry’s Flex defense, but Buddy Ryan’s fabled 46 Defense in the 1980’s with Chicago came close.

Rather than use instincts to chase the ball, players were required to control their area in Landry’s system.

Players from Bob Lilly to Randy White talked about how hard it was to quit thinking about what to do and just play. It’s part of the reason Landry would almost go with a veteran less talented than a rookie at times.

It was the same thing with Ryan’s legendary defense. When Mike Singletary finally talked Ryan into eliminating about 75 percent of the playbook, Chicago’s defense terrorized the entire NFL for a few seasons.

That’s why Morris is simplifying things. Going back to the basics, he told us Monday.

Obviously, the players are spending too much time thinking about what to do than just playing. Oh, there are a few attitude issues and Morris reportedly addressed those Sunday night, but the biggest problem is they’re thinking too much and playing too little.

The new systems on both sides of the ball are completely different than what the players here before had been doing. It’s not hard to see them thinking too much before reacting.

What Morris is doing is nothing new.

When Bear Bryant took over at Alabama, he got tired of getting his teeth kicked in. At one point during a game, the president of the university stood up behind the Crimson Tide’s bench and yelled, “Hell’s bells, we done hired an idiot!”

Bryant cut the Crimson Tide’s playbook down to four plays and they didn’t win many, but at least got things headed in a different direction.

Frank Broyles had similar problems early in that same year at Arkansas. He wanted to run the Delaware Wing-T, but discovered he didn’t have the players to do that and cut out stuff down to where they could execute just a few plays.

They lost their first six before figuring it out in 1958 and winning the last four, starting a 38-10 run before a dip, then a 29-3 three-year run and a national title.

When Texas went to the Wishbone in 1968, Emory Bellard had a grand total of four plays in the offense as they started 0-1-1, then ripped off 30 straight wins.

Barry Switzer struggled his first year with the Wishbone, then Oklahoma launched a 54-3-2 run as they kept putting more things into the offense with some really good players.

That’s not say Morris is going to have that kind of success at Arkansas getting his system in place, but it’s likely you won’t see the mess Hog fans have endured the last two weeks.

But everybody struggles with a new system and when that happens, coaches cut it back to what they can do well, even if it’s just a few plays.

Expect the Razorbacks’ offense to be much less complicated for the players against Auburn. Every play will likely still have options, but it’s likely the reads will be less complex and the blocking more basic for their system.

Producing a win over an Auburn team that is likely still ticked by a loss at home to LSU last week probably is out of the question.

In fact, this team could be out of bowl consideration by the time things turn around. That’s due to a schedule not exactly set up for a team learning a new system literally on the fly.

But it’s about the only possible route for Morris to take. It’s the way coaches have eliminated those errors of omission, by reducing the thinking and increasing the playing.

And it’s one that’s worked for other coaches for a long, long time.

Hogs knock off second-ranked Texas A&M, 3-2

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — With the help of a brace from junior Tori Cannata and a first career goal from freshman Bryana Hunter, Arkansas withstood an aggressive match from start to finish to knock off second-ranked Texas A&M, 3-2, Thursday night at Razorback Field.

It’s the first win for Arkansas over Texas A&M since 1993 and snaps the Aggies 25-match overall win streak that dated back to Sept. 17, 2017.

Both of Cannata’s goals were of the go-ahead variety as she gave Arkansas the early lead in the 14th minute before Texas A&M was able to equalize in the 16th minute off a set piece.

The brace was Cannata’s first of her career and her first four-point match in her three years as a Razorback.

Bryana Hunter, who had not appeared in a match yet this year due to an injury, was logging her first career minutes off the bench and came through with a clutch goal in the 75th minute, one of two shots she had in just 23 minutes of action.

Hunter is the ninth different Razorback with at least one goal this year.

The Razorbacks remain undefeated at home at 5-0-1 and tonight’s win was their second over a top-10 team this year and first over a team ranked in the top-two since beating No. 2 Duke, 2-1, on Aug. 26, 2016.

Since 2016, Arkansas has defeated or tied five top-10 teams, which is the most of any team in the SEC.

Sound Bytes

Head coach Colby Hale
“It’s a big win, I told the team at halftime ‘that’s the number-two team in the polls’ we thought that we were every bit as good as them. It’s an upset on the books based on rankings. We thought it was toe to toe, shots were 14 to 12. We thought it was a deserving win. We still have to sort out a few things, but it was good.” — on the win over Texas A&M

“They were really good. Both goals were on set pieces and direct free kicks. In the run of play we were incredibly good defending in every aspect. We’ll clean up a few things and we’ll be good.” — on the defensive play

“I actually said that she was going to score the game-winner at halftime. I said guys, ‘Bryana Hunter is playing up front and she’s going to score the game-winner.” — on Bryana Hunter scoring the game-winner for her first career goal

Tori Cannata – Jr. Forward
“After losing to Texas A&M last year in the SEC Tournament final, we really wanted this win and we got it. I didn’t do all the work tonight. My teammates just passed me the ball and put me in good spots. You just have to keep making runs and you’ll get rewarded.” — on the win over Texas A&M and her two-goal performance

“I thought we were totally engaged the entire game. We were focused and there wasn’t one moment where someone wasn’t paying attention to what was going on. I think that definitely played a role in our win tonight.” — on the focus showed by the entire team throughout the match

Reece Christopherson – Sr. Defender
“Coach (Colby Hale) always talks to us about fearless and tonight we were definitely fearless. Every one of us. Every single substitution. Everyone contributed tonight and was loud. Our fans were incredible. It was a whole Arkansas win.” — on what was the contributing factor to the victory

“That was so awesome. Coach said it at halftime, he said, ‘Bryana, you are going to have the game-winning goal,’ and she did!” — on freshman Bryana Hunter scoring her first goal of her career

How It Went Down

14th minute – It didn’t take long for Arkansas to light up the scoreboard early in the match as Cannata received a great pass from junior Stefani Doyle on the right side of the field, where she one-timed it past the keeper to make it 1-0 Arkansas. Doyle earned two assists on the night, giving her three assists and seven points for the year.

16th minute – Texas A&M quickly answered with of a goal of their own. Kendall Ritchie was able to squeeze the ball past Rachel Harris’ hands in the top shelf off a free kick from 25 yards out.

58th minute – After halftime the Razorbacks earned the lead right back. This time, Cannata found herself, again, in the right place, right-footing a ball past Cosette Morche from roughly 10 yards out off a flip throw from the right side of the field. It was the final lead change of the night.

74th minute – Arkansas doubled its lead 16 minutes later as Doyle was the playmaker again. Racing down the right side of the field on a counterattack, the junior saw an opportunity for a cross off the end line and Hunter stayed onside with a great timed run to chip the ball over Morche’s head. Hunter’s goal made it 3-1 Arkansas, eclipsing the entire total of goals allowed by Texas A&M this season (2).

84th minute – Texas A&M pulled within a single goal with six minutes to play.  Asdis Halldorsdottir scored from 35 yards out, hitting a line drive to the left side of the net to give the Aggies their second goal of the night off a free kick.

Up Next

The Razorbacks go back on the road for their next match as they travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to take on the Crimson Tide on Sunday. First kick is at 6 p.m. and can be seen on SEC Network+.

Weather forecast forces cancellation of OU exhibition

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Due to the threat of heavy rain in the Norman, Oklahoma area this weekend, Arkansas’ scheduled fall exhibition with Oklahoma for this Saturday has been canceled.

A replacement game for a later date is in the works, but the opponent has not been determined at this time. Arkansas is still scheduled to play Wichita State at Baum Stadium on Oct. 5 at 6 p.m.

2018 Fall Exhibition Schedule
Oct. 5 – vs. Wichita State (6 p.m.)

Admission for the game with the Shockers will be free.

The Razorbacks are asking each fan to bring non-perishable food items and new or gently used coats to benefit the Salvation Army and the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Campus Food Pantry, who will be collecting these items at the stadium gates.

Seating throughout the stadium will be first-come, first-serve and parking will be free and the Hog Pen will also be open. Gates will open at 5 p.m.

Light concessions will be available via cash only and fans will also be allowed to bring in outside food and beverages with the exception of alcohol.

No coolers will be allowed in the main seating bowl, but will be allowed in the Hog Pen.

Wichita State, coached by former Arkansas assistant Todd Butler, will be visiting Fayetteville the day before the Razorback football team takes on Alabama.

The Shockers, a 35-win team from a year ago, faces Arkansas for only the second time since 2007.

The Razorbacks and Shockers faced each other one time during the 2013 NCAA Manhattan (Kansas) Regional and were regular opponents almost every year during the 1990s and early 2000s.

All fall practices through the month of September and October at Baum Stadium are open to the public. The dates for the annual Fall World Series will be announced at a later time.

???? Thursday Halftime Pod — Featuring the ADG’s Bob Holt

Tye Richardson
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???? Thursday Halftime Pod — Featuring the ADG’s Bob Holt

Phil Elson and Tye Richardson talk about Chad Morris weathering the storm, the You Spent What Segement, plus Bob Holt of the ADG.

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Thursday

Tye Richardson
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Thursday

John and Tommy talk about recruiting, punt return safety, interviewed Richard Davenport with Brett Goode in the studio!

How will Hogs respond to Morris’ stern lecture Sunday?

Andy Hodges
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After last Saturday’s 44-17 loss to North Texas, one of the better teams in Conference USA, it wasn’t hard to tell Chad Morris was ticked off afterwards.

Not so much because of WHAT he said, but HOW he said it.

Then, as he left the stadium after recording his weekly television show, Morris strode from the new North End Zone to the parking lot outside the Fred Smith Center like a man trying to get somewhere in a hurry.

All of that is why we weren’t surprised Monday to hear that in the Sunday meeting with the team, Morris went off on the entire team. According to what we were told, there were no punches pulled and the words used left little doubt as to what Morris was feeling.

Good. Great. That’s the best news I’ve heard in a trainwreck of a season that flew off course in the fourth quarter against Colorado State and wandered in the wilderness against a North Texas team Arkansas should have beaten by four touchdowns.

No, this Razorback team isn’t devoid of talent. There appeared to be the appearance of going through the motions by some folks on the field and Cole Kelley simply melted down in a game situation.

Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock, desperate to get some stability at quarterback, even gave Kelley a vote of confidence and put him back on the field in the third quarter.

And Kelley responded with another interception. For a team looking for consistency at maybe the most critical position on the team, Kelley provided that … he was consistently throwing the ball to the other guys.

Blame who you want. Morris and Craddock on Monday tried to deflect some of the blame from Kelley, but there was something there because for the first time since spring practice started, Morris stepped up and named a starting quarterback early in the week, giving Ty Storey the nod with no equivocation.

Kelley is a big, tall kid with a strong arm. It’s amazing how many of those I’ve seen over the years that absolutely blew you away in practice. Then get in a game and lose their mind.

The classic sign of that is the quarterback pointing to everyone on the field but himself after every interception. Kelley looked like one of those guys near the terminal at an airport waving in the airplanes the way he was waving his hands coming off the field.

At halftime I remarked to somebody in the pressbox they should have Kelley untie his shoes and tie them back so he can say he did at least one thing right in the game.

It was surprising he started the second half. It wasn’t surprising when Connor Noland replaced him in the third quarter.

Now Storey gets his chance.

For the first time in his career in Fayetteville, Ty is given the same backing that other quarterbacks got under the previous coaching staff.

Morris and Craddock didn’t mention anybody else. Apparently they are going with Storey against Auburn, sink or swim. Some think if he can just dog paddle and stay alive that will be progress.

Don’t misunderstand the simplification of the offense. That doesn’t mean Storey’s just going to turn and hand the ball off to the running back three times, then send in the punter and let the adventure begin with THAT aspect of the Hogs’ game.

The reads won’t be as complex for either Storey or the receivers.

In practice Wednesday, Storey was much sharper in most of the passing drills I saw, connecting with receivers consistently more than other quarterbacks. He has looked more relaxed with his body language this week.

What does that mean for Saturday?

I have no idea. It could be incredibly ugly with a final score. After getting beaten at home by LSU last week, the Tigers will be looking for redemption.

But, let’s face it, it can’t be any worse that what we’ve seen the last two years from Auburn. The Hogs have lost 56-3 and 52-20 each of the last two games … that’s 108-23 over the last couple of seasons.

We’ll see how Morris’ stern talk Sunday night plays out with this team Saturday.

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