Photo of the Alabama Game

Exercising the Demons!

Three demons were put out to dry...
1. Lack of defensive turnover. (Add scoop and score to it!)
2. Quality win at Razorback Stadium. (Loud fans especially on the defensive score.)
3. Houston Nutt gets relief from the hell raisers! (2-0 start to conference play)

Report Card Versus Alabama

Arkansas squeaked out a 24 to 23 victory over the Crimson Tide. Let's give honorary credit to the three missed field goals and EXTRA POINT from the Alabama place kicker. I hope he retains his scholarship!

A+
First defensive turnover! Results in a scoop and score scamper. A play like that almost breaks the will of an offensive unit and provides an energizing boost to the defense.

B
Punting special teams. No mistakes and great placement inside the 20 and one on the half yard line.

C
Kickoff and punt returns. Average at best. We need to find a spark or at least ignite the one Felix Jones had last season.

D+
Our defensive secondary was thrashed over and over again by a QB making his first road win. Did anyone notice in the 1st quarter that the Alabama guy was wide open for TD but it was over thrown?

F
QB play. Three interceptions. Enough said? They were very bad ... just heaved up without thought or consideration. Some picks are forced but these were just plain horrific. Mitch will learn and make adjustments. I just hope we don't get conservative based upon these mistakes.

Alabama vs Arkansas

In the preseason picks, I chose Arkansas 17 to 14 to win, but not sure that will play out on Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. I feel that Alabama is at least two scores better than us at this point. So, my prediction this week is Arkansas 24, Alabama 34 ... our defense is just too weak.

When the Hogs win...
We will be 3 and 1, exactly where most "normal" Hog fans expected to be in the beginning of the season. The not so normal Hog fans were the ones asking on talk radio -- "Would Houston run up the score on Southern Cal?"

If the Hogs lose...
It is going to be a very rocky road for the team for the rest of the season. Alabama is the litmus test for the rest of the season. The Nutt wolves will really be howling.

Keys to Victory...
Outscore Alabama! Sounds like duhhh, right? Our defense will put up very little resistance so we better be able to out score them. Keep Kenneth Darby in check!!

Keys to Defeat...
Flatness. It has been the mantra of all the games with Vandy seeing a very slight reprieve in sloppy performance (except for the D unit which looked horrific to me!).

Things to Cheer About...
Going 2-0 to start conference play. Insider note, watch Darren McFadden have an outstanding game. Razorback Stadium will be rocking and rolling ... national TV.

Report Card Versus Vanderbilt

Photo of the Game:
Southeastern Conference Doormat Trophy

(Thank goodness Vandy didn't hand it to us!)

A+

There were about 10,000 fans in Nashville calling the Hogs. It was a fun weekend there!

B
Mitch Mustain is 13 of 20 for 223 yards in the air and each week he is showing improvement.

C-
Kicking game improvements - a few kick-offs actually went into the end zone and there was a 44 yard field goal right on the money except negated by a penalty.

D
Offensive and defensive lines.

F
Defense. The bus driver noted that he could have driven the motor coach right through the holes in our defense. Give Vandy credit? They are and will be considered one of the the worst offensive units in our conference (a complete season will spell it out).

Arkansas vs Vanderbilt

I am going to stick with my pre-season prediction of 21 to 10 in favor of Arkansas. This is assuming that we are able to make our extra point attempts. I will be heading to Nashville in hopes of rallying the troops to bring home a road victory.

When the Hogs win...
redemption against the home loss to Vandy in 2005. Alabama will become the "key game" of the season.

If the Hogs lose...
Arkansas becomes the new door mat of the SEC. Miracles better happen for a winning season. Houston Nutt should dust off his resume and Frank will begin to make a few calls.

Keys to Victory...
Physical running game. Run right at their 9 men in the box. I think the same strategy for Utah State with better execution will lead to a solid victory.

Keys to Defeat...
Overlooking this game and thinking about Alabama. Even with the defeat last year in Fayetteville, Vandy is still regarded as the easiest team in the conference.

Things to Cheer About...
A win in a SEC road game. Starting conference play 1-0. Mitch Mustain improvement leads to a more open offense. I will be in Nashville ... that is the best thing to cheer about!!

Report Card Versus Utah State

Photo of the Game: Entire Team - "Flat as Pancakes"

A+
Darren McFadden with 184 yards on the ground. He is back.

B-
Defense gets a shut out but please consider the opponent. No turnovers yet.

C
Passing game glimpses give a little ray of hope for fans on the drive in the 3rd Quarter when he hit Damian Williams on a 50 yard post pattern and then Monk in the corner of the end zone. Mitch Mustain ... No turnovers.

D-
Reverting back to Houston Nutt's playbook. It is 4th and half a yard on their 39 and punt the ball ... Questionable! Oh, we were running the Nutt offense ... That explains it AND it works so well because we went 4-7 and then 5-6. Earth to Houston ... Wake up.

F-
The kicking game. One missed extra point and a close near miss extra point. The 37 yard attempt did not even hit the net behind the goal post ... Scary!! We still can not put the kick-off into the end zone. This team weakness will result in a couple of L's this year.

Utah State vs Arkansas

Should this game be called Cupcake State vs Arkansas instead? The Hogs will heal some wounds in route to a blowout of 52 to 3. Will Houston run up the score?

When the Hogs win...
People will walk out of the stadium with a false sense of pride. The team will be better tuned up and ready to go. Mitch Mustain will look like an NFL QB against these guys.

If the Hogs lose...
End of the Houston Nutt era.

Keys to Victory...
Physical and basic stuff should suffice. Matter of fact, our scout team should be able to put points on the board by just taking knees (well, maybe not that easily).

Keys to Defeat...
Let's not even go there. Unthinkable against this opponent.

Things to Cheer About...
Debut of Mustain. Running game will be stunning. Will we actually use the second half of the game to finely tune our game or will we just run the ball and accept mediocrity? The defense keeping the fan's attention by pitching a shut out.

Report Card Versus USC

Photo of the Game: Offensive Unit - "Sloppy Joe"

(This is not a knock on Robert Johnson!)

"A" honor roll goes to the punting team. Jacob Skinner has improved and kicked a couple of beauties on Saturday.

Above average "B" goes to the first half Hog defense. The bend but not break style of play was in effect but they just ran out of gas in the second half.

Just average "C" goes to the offensive production and quarterback play. Johnson and Mustain each put together an excellent drive apiece but that is about all.

Below average "D" goes to the kickoff team. Can we get someone who can kick it out of the end zone? Did you notice how USC was able to do it and made it an effective weapon in the game?

Failing "F" goes to the running game. Felix Jones had an uncharacteristic three fumbles (two lost). In addition, Peyton Hillis didn't touch the ball until the third quarter.