Stanley Umude (16 points, 5 assists) and JD Notae (22 points, 6 assists, 4 steals) after White’s 74-63 win.
Huddle Up Episode 8: Rally Time
Tye & JD on what happened Saturday, back in LR, Hudson Henry joins and more!
Hogs’ depth problem starting to show up in loss to Auburn
There never was much question about Arkansas’ starting lineup on either side of the ball.
We found out Saturday afternoon there were legitimate questions, though, about the guys behind them.
The defense that made big-time plays against Texas and Texas A&M hasn’t been able to stop anybody the last three weeks.
“We’re not making them now,” Sam Pittman said after a 38-23 loss on homecoming to Auburn. “Sometimes we are, but most of the time we’re not.”
As the Hogs are dealing with a lot of injuries right now that didn’t improve with the news that safety Jalen Catalon will miss the rest of the year after shoulder surgery Monday.
“We’ve got a beat up team, to be honest with you,” Pittman said. “Our team is beat up and this bye week can’t get here fast enough. We’ve got a physically beat up team.”
What he’s saying without saying it is the guys starting are out there first for a reason. They are better than the guys standing on the sidelines watching.
“They’re trying,” Pittman said.
Bear Bryant had the best story about that years ago. When he was at Kentucky he got flustered with some player he called Johnny, turned to the sidelines and told a backup to go in the game.
“Can you block that guy?” Bryant recalled asking the lad.
“Coach, I’ll try my best,” the player said.
“Get back on the bench, Johnny’s already trying his best,” Bryant said.
Pittman has referred to the depth chart and backups several times this season, always saying something about being first on the depth chart for a reason.
The main thing is having everybody ready to go against Mississippi State on Nov. 6. They have Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Little Rock this week, which should be a win. No slight intended, but the Hogs’ third team is better than anybody the Golden Lions will put on the field.
Against Georgia a couple of weeks and then Saturday the Hogs aren’t winning anything on the lines of scrimmage.
“If you didn’t think we physically just got whipped today, we did,” Pittman said. “On both sides of the ball.
“That doesn’t mean if they’re better than you that you can’t counter that with blitzes and some things of that nature and with play action and all that kind of stuff, but that’s what we tried and they were better than we were today.”
Now they have to pick up the pieces on defense without Catalon, who was one of the leaders on the defense. The Hogs knew all week he wasn’t going to play, but Pittman wasn’t telling anybody. Exactly why that was kept secret is a mystery.
“He had a little bit of a tear front and back that a lot of kids play with throughout the year,” Pittman said. “Then he broke his hand. You kind of have two injuries.
“Mentally, you could see his wasn’t playing his type of ball, tackling like he had earlier in the year and this, that and the other. I think it’s time for him to get that shoulder fixed.”
Now they’ve got to get the defense fixed, but the offense needs a little work, too.
There are problems there, too.
HOG REACTION: Arkansas falls to Auburn 38-23
Drew and Tommy take your calls, text and hog reactions from the homecoming lost to Auburn 38-23.
Catalon out for season and Hogs’ defense may be going with him
Most Arkansas fans were expecting a win against Auburn on Saturday.
And I use the word “most” because there will be some so-called experts that come out of the woodwork this week proclaiming they knew what was going to happen.
It’s doubtful many saw a 38-23 loss to the Tigers.
Especially when they couldn’t contain Auburn quarterback Box Nix, who came up with a career day against the Razorbacks, hitting 21-of-26 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns.
The Hogs’ defense never got a handle on him all day. He ran for first downs and a game-clinching 23-yarder in the fourth quarter.
We didn’t find out until the game was over safety Jalen Catalon was going to miss the rest of the season after having shoulder surgery Monday.
“Catalon is going to have his shoulder worked on Monday,” Pittman said. “He had a little bit of a tear front and back that a lot of kids play with throughout the year. Then he broke his hand.
“Mentally, you could see he wasn’t playing his type of ball, tackling like he had earlier in the year and this, that and the other.”
Nothing was slowing down Nix on Saturday.
Nix, who was replaced by a transfer in September, was 21-of-26 for 292 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver corps that couldn’t catch a cold previously didn’t drop many.
The Hogs were going to make Nix beat them, but they weren’t going to let him scramble. The wild antics he’s shown at times making big plays didn’t happen.
He didn’t have to.
The Hogs’ defense was torched by Ole Miss last week after we heard for a week they were working to fix a defense that suddenly fell apart after a 4-0 start to the season.
Now they are going to have to pick up the pieces without Catalon, one of the biggest leaders in the defense, certainly in the secondary.
“I think it’s time for him to get that shoulder fixed,” Pittman said after the game. “It was a decision that he came and talked to me and that’s what we came up with. I think it’s best for Cat that he gets fixed, and that’s what he is going to do on Monday.”
Hogs coach Sam Pittman: Thoughts after falling to Auburn on Saturday
Despite getting a second-half lead, Arkansas couldn’t hang on, giving up big plays and defensive busts against Tigers.
Montaric Brown, Bumper Pool: Recapping Razorbacks’ 38-23 loss to Auburn
Defensive back Montaric Brown (who had a big interception) and linebacker Bumper Pool on disappointing loss.
Myron Cunningham: Loss to Auburn on homecoming day ‘disappointing’
Arkansas offensive tackle Myron Cunningham said after the 38-23 loss to the Tigers they will just have regroup.
GAMEDAY LIVE: Hogs can’t stop Nix’s career day as Auburn pulls away
Arkansas couldn’t get a handle on Bo Nix all day and KJ Jefferson couldn’t find the magic from a week ago as the Tigers won going away, 38-23.
It is the third straight loss for the Razorbacks after starting the season 4-0
1Q 12:16: Auburn won the opening toss and has elected to receive on a cool, bright, sunny day at Razorback Stadium. Arkansas star safety Jalen Catalon was not in the starting lineup on the first defensive drive for Arkansas. It showed as Auburn went 75 yards for an opening-drive score on a 39-yard scoring strike from Bo Nix to Ja’Varrius Johnson and an early lead. Auburn 7, Hogs 0
1Q 7:37: Hogs have an answer but Treylon Burks’ big play backed up because he stepped out of bounds and then the offensive bogged down and Cam Little kicked a 44-yard field goal. Hogs 3, Auburn 7
Arkansas starting to put together drive at the end of the first quarter following a bad Tigers’ punt near midfield. The Hogs running the ball straight ahead on Auburn.
END FIRST … HOGS 3, AUBURN 7
2Q 9:59: Tank Bigsby plows up the middle as Arkansas’ high-powered offense is misfiring all over the place. The Tigers drive 65 yards in nine plays using 4:18. Hogs 3, Auburn 14
2Q :18: Hogs put together best drive of first half mixing runs and KJ Jefferson hitting key passes before he finally double-clutched a jump pass (you have to watch a replay) and hit Treylon Burks in the end zone for an 11-yard score. Hogs 10, Auburn 14
3Q 12:30: Arkansas takes the second-half kickoff and goes 75 yards in six plays with Jefferson throwing to Burks for the final 30 on a deep slant. The Hogs have their first lead of the game. Hogs 17, Auburn 14
3Q 7:19: Auburn grabs lead back playing field position, backing Hogs inside 10, then when Jefferson fumbled when tackled in the end zone by Derick Hall and Marcus Harris recovered for a touchdown. Auburn 21, Hogs 17
3Q 4:16: After Arkansas is stopped cold on a fourth-down conversion, Bo Nix hits Demetris Robertson who simply took off down the field for a 71-yard score. Auburn 28, Hogs 17
3Q End: Dominique Johnson runs up the middle for a 10-yard score to cap a quick (13-play, 75 yards) answer to the Tigers’ score, then a 2-point conversion pass to Burks was broken up by Auburn on a play that was close to pass interference. Auburn 28, Hogs 23
4Q 10:35: Taking advantage of a questionable pass interference call against the Hogs, Auburn goes 63 yards in 9 plays before a 29-yard field goal by Anders Carlson. Grant Morgan got Tigers quarterback Bo Nix on a scramble to save a touchdown, setting up a field goal. Auburn 31, Hogs 23
4Q 2:30 Nix catches Arkansas over-playing on a pass and scrambles 23 yards untouched for the clinching score. Auburn 38, Hogs 23
ANDY’S PICKS: Can Hogs figure out how to get back to winning?
Two weeks ago, Arkansas fans were cocky after a 4-0 start to the season.
The truth was they had a couple of rent-a-wins and caught Texas and Texas A&M while they were still trying to figure out what they were going to do this season.
Georgia shut down the Razorbacks’ offense that roared back the next week but the defense couldn’t stop Ole Miss in the second half.
Add all that up and you end up with more questions than answers through the first half of the season and a 2-2 record over ranked teams.
Now Auburn comes to town.
Some fans are expecting a fairly easy time. The fact is this quite possibly could end up in another shootout if neither team shows a particular interest in stopping the other from running the ball.
The Tigers can run it and have a stable of running backs as deep as the Hogs. Their quarterback has been making wild big plays his entire time on The Plains and this year has been no different at all.
KJ Jefferson and the Hogs’ offense put up some big numbers last week, but the defense gave up virtually the same thing. That’s the biggest problem.
Arkansas’ lack of depth on that side of the ball is starting to show. In today’s world of college football you have to have about 45 players where the drop-off rotating fresh players is minimal and the Hogs just aren’t there yet.
Auburn has played in front of a rowdy crowd in an electric prime time atmosphere at Penn State earlier this year. They actually came close to pulling out a win in that. Razorback Stadium won’t be that crazy with an 11 a.m. start, despite Sam Pittman rallying the troops all week.
Arkansas broke a decade-long problem with the Aggies earlier this year but now they get the Tigers in a position where few people are giving them much of a chance.
It’s the first time the Hogs have been favored in an SEC game in a ridiculously long stretch of games.
Arkansas is favored by 4.5, which sounds about right.
Hogs 31, Auburn 27
No idea what Pete Morgan is doing this week and one can only assume he’s been partying so hard with a slim lead he forgot what the deadline is to get his picks in.
Maybe the craziness of this season will subside a little this week, but Auburn messed up my big weekend last week and there likely won’t be much ground made up this week.
Florida (-12) at LSU: The Tigers are playing terrible this year and there are questions about Ed Orgeron’s longevity. The worst problem is he’s starting to look like a one-hit wonder at LSU but could be getting paid enough that nobody really cares. The way this season has gone it could go either way. Florida 35, LSU 17
Texas A&M (11) at Missouri: The Aggies will probably have somewhat of a hangover after upsetting Alabama last week and, for some strange reason, I keep thinking the Tigers could pull off an upset in this crazy season. Stranger things have happened, but don’t be surprised if it’s closer than anyone thinks. Texas A&M 38, Missouri 35
Kentucky at Georgia (-21.5): In a battle of unbeatens and CBS’ latest favorite, the Bulldogs are playing like the best team in the country and yet again give them a laugher. Remember, the Wildcats think they are contenders, but it’s not basketball yet. Come back to reality. Georgia 38, Kentucky 10
Vanderbilt at South Carolina (-18.5): Sooner or later the Commodores are going to actually play somebody in the league close, but not this week. At least we’ve seen absolutely nothing to think they know the ball is blown up with air and not stuffed. South Carolina 34, Vanderbilt 14
Alabama (-17) at Mississippi State: You can bet practices in Tuscaloosa this week have been intense. Nobody wants to lose, but Nick Saban learned a long time ago one loss doesn’t derail the season. Mike Leach and the Bulldogs just happen to be the next team up, bless their hearts. Alabama 41, Mississippi State 14
Ole Miss (-2.5) at Tennessee: Ready for a Saturday night Shootout? Last week’s over-under with Arkansas was 66 and they passed that in the third quarter and never looked back. Look for something similar this week. Ole Miss 48, Tennessee 41
PETE’S PICKS: A stroll down memories of big games with Auburn
What makes football so special? Is it the feeling we get when our team is victorious? The escape it brings from our normal days of worry and stress? Or perhaps the magic lies within the memories which are often created?
One might strongly and accurately suggest the answer is found in all three.
Today I want to talk about simply the last possible answer listed within the aforementioned inquiries. If you are over the age of 14 you surely have memories of more sacred times watching the Arkansas Razorbacks play the Auburn Tigers on crisp fall Saturdays.
Reminisce if you will thoughts about Auburn vs Arkansas game weeks from years past. Any recollection of lying in bed on Friday night knowing you were going to see Tigers QB phenom Jason Campbell in person on The Hill the next day?
What about water-cooler banter at work leading to a debate upon which of Auburn’s plethora of idols and nicknames is their official mascot?
Or maybe reading this evokes the full awareness and pending anxiety of knowing within hours you would be the victim of a Pig Trail traffic jam.
Most of the history is recent with Arkansas joining the SEC in 1992. Since that time the two SEC west foes have had many classic battles. Following are some of my favorites in no particular order. [Actually, that’s a lie, I will list them chronologically.]
The 1995 home victory where the Hogs, led by Barry Lunney, Jr, got up early (27 – 0) only to barely upset No. 11 Auburn 30 – 28 in what would have been an amazing comeback by the Tigers had their kicker not missed a 52-yard field goal as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Fayetteville was again the place to be in 2001. Arkansas had a newly expanded stadium, a freshman quarterback fans knew only as “Matt Jones from Northside” (unless you are from Van Buren, but I digress), and the No. 17 Tigers in town looking for an easy ‘W’ to add to their 6-1 record.
They didn’t find it.
What they did discover was an amped-up group of Razorbacks with an ecstatic crowd testing the new I-beams in the south endzone section
. What I believe no one in attendance nor watching at home will ever forget from that is an 88-yard interception from Hogs linebacker Jermaine Petty which started on the 12-yard-line, saw some shifty moves we did not know one of our favorites possessed, and ended 21-seconds later on the west sideline as a “never say die” Auburn defender knocked Petty’s legs out from underneath him as he fell into the endzone for six.
I excitedly watched Petty come straight at me as he ran towards paydirt, all the while my thought processes were, “Good for Petty! … This is the longest play I have ever seen.”
Even passing through the fairly new Bobby Hopper Tunnel was electrifying that evening as the Hog faithful filled it with echoes of honked horns, screams of victory, and even countless chants of “Woo, Pig Sooie!”
In 2006, the impressive backfield of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones ran all over the plains and No. 2 Auburn’s defense while Mitch Mustain had a decent day by going 7-of-10 for 87-yards with one touchdown to Marcus Monk, leading to a 27–10 upset of the Tigers.
I distinctly remember being in a golf tournament with a radio strapped to the cart that day, playing alongside three of the finest men and Razorback fans you will ever meet.
Several hours after the game, pulling onto the turn for my block found me face-to-face with numerous watch party barbecues still at their peak and only further aroused by the sight of Razorback flags and magnets donning the exterior of a new Nissan XTerra (and its horn) carrying a first place trophy and blasting Hank Williams, Jr’s “Hog Wild”.
Yes, I was an even bigger dork then, and I am almost positive their shouts of enthusiasm had nothing to do with the golf award but clarity on the reasoning was never obtained.
Speaking of overtime, Arkansas used four of them in a 54 -46 victory over Gus Malzahn and his touted Tigers in 2015.
This contest holds a special place in my heart, but I am not 100% certain as to why. Honestly, I feel it was simply the look on Gus’s face when he walked to midfield for the post-game handshake.
You know, beating Malzahn is like watching your ex-brother-in-law marry a witch from Crawford County. You feel bad for him because he was once family, but you sadistically enjoy the pending turmoil.
Good times. Good times.
Final Thoughts:
Word is Sam Pittman, KJ Jefferson, Grant Morgan, and everyone else within the team still have their spirits and confidence high.
Let’s welcome the Auburn War Eagles … no, Plainsmen … no, wait, Tigers coach Bryan Harsin back to the Natural State.
Some may forget he got his head coaching start at Arkansas State in 2013 leading the Red Wolves to a share of the Sun Belt Conference Championship.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Who did Harsin succeed when he took the reins in Jonesboro? Winner gets bragging rights and a free membership to the John L Smith Quote of the Month Club.
Some are worried about the rushing defense of the Razorbacks. Arkansas Defensive Coordinator Barry Odom will find it much easier to scheme against a less complex Auburn offense.
How long has Bo Nix been playing for Auburn? It seems like twelve years. In his defense, It is probably simply his high number of dumb remarks to the press (including his crediting Chad Morris for the turnaround of Arkansas Football) which make his tenure seem so lengthy.
Auburn’s defense will not be able to contain our rushing attack for four quarters. Two perhaps, but definitely not four.
I am anxious to see what play Kendall Briles will call to begin our first offensive drive. I do not have any specific reason outside of I was not a huge fan of the last call in Oxford, and I know our offensive coordinator has good stuff.
If you have not noticed what former Arkansas coaches Jeff Traylor and Barry Lunney, Jr. are doing at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) you had better start. They currently sit at 6-0 and host the same Rice team with whom we opened 2021.
It’s fair to say my curiosity is piqued and I wish the Roadrunners the best.
Speaking of Auburn history, remember when their middle linebacker Anthony Swain faked an injury in the endzone to stop the Arkansas momentum?
Ole Miss had a moment like that this past Saturday as well.
Some have argued the latter was not a fake injury/cramp by their defensive lineman, but watching the replay, his teammate looked away from the signs on the sideline and back at him just in time to see the fine acting job. Coincidence? No way!
TRIVIA ANSWER: Harsin succeeded Gus Malzahn at Arkansas State in 2013. He has now done the same at Auburn, so apparently he likes sloppy… You know what? I am better than that; however, if by some wild chance he replaces Gus at UCF, I will lower my standards.
Arkansas is the more battle-tested team. They have heart and talent. I see no issues with them bouncing back and defeating Auburn in Donald W. Reynolds.
Arkansas gets back into the win column in a game which will not be as close as the final score.
Arkansas, 34 – 17.
Be certain to listen to the game Saturday at 11:00 A.M. via HitThatLine.com and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs, and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
SEC Picks for Week 7
I think Andy is mad at me (Editor’s Note: No, he just forgot about you).
He has not messaged me all week (again), he did not send me a congratulatory present for winning a regional Mahjong tournament, and he still refuses to follow me on ‘Twitter.’ (Andy has no idea he even HAS a Twitter account)
It’s just a football picks’ cup, Hodges. (Andy is yawning) It’s not like I stole your favorite white suit, old buddy. I know how much you fancy yourself a Don Johnson in that thing.
Auburn at (17) Arkansas: My mind is hopeful for memories to share with my Daughters. Hogs by 17.
(20) Florida at LSU: Oh, how the mighty have fallen. How bad has it gotten in Baton Rouge? My good friend Will Vaughn is a staunch LSU supporter, and he secretly has hopes the Tigers will safely fall victim to COVID protocol simply to avoid any more embarrassing losses. I say that in jest of course … or do I? LSU is not requiring proof of vaccination this weekend. My guess: due to the way things are going, keeping six-feet apart in Death Valley will not be nearly as difficult as it was even two years ago . Gators by 14.
(21) Texas A&M at Missouri: We said the Aggies would try to make a statement last week, but I did not think Alabama would shut up and listen. They may have stuttered throughout the entire game, yet A&M got the last word. Now the Aggies are riding a tide of emotion. A&M by 17.
(11) Kentucky at (1) Georgia – GAME OF THE WEEK: 6 and 0 meets 6 and “Oh my gosh, they’re by far the best team in college football”. I am glad for the uprising of Wildcat football, and, despite the haughtiness of some of their basketball fans, it is enjoyable to see them ranked right outside the Top Ten. Despite their recent success they face the No. 1 team in the country this week, but it’s in Athens, and remember, a very good Arkansas team went down to Georgia looking for a game to steal… Dogs by 24.
Vanderbilt at South Carolina: South Carolina finds a way to win at home, but, with all due respect to the Commodores, so could the Cedarville Pirates if they were hosting Vanderbilt. Cocks by 27.
(5) Alabama at Mississippi State: My favorite part of Alabama losing? Thinking about how mad Nick Saban gets and how miserable the next week’s practices must be on the players. Mississippi State has had a week to prepare, and while I think the Bulldogs could have kept it close under normal circumstances, the Tide losing to Texas A&M has to have been a wake-up call. The Bulldogs feel the brunt end of frustration’s hammer. Bama by 35.
(13) Ole Miss at Tennessee: Who really cares? Ole Miss is the better team, and all I can think is Lane Kiffin always looks like a six-year-old boy who was just woken early from a nap. Tennessee will hang around for three quarters though. Rebels by 8.
Check back soon for all the highlights from Saturday’s game.
We need to make memories again this Saturday. Let’s give us something to talk about ten years down the road, Hogs.
Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS
Go HOGS!!!
