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Gators Smother Razorbacks Running Game

Last updated Saturday, December 2, 2006 11:21 PM CST
in Razorback Central

By Ryan Malashock
The Morning News

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ATLANTA -- He ran his hand through his hair and sighed.

Florida had just suffocated the Hogs' running game, holding the Hogs to 132 yards rushing on 35 carries in the Georgia Dome.

And, faced with a question about a sluggish rushing attack, Arkansas coach Houston Nutt just couldn't find the explanation, couldn't single out the pitfall.

"It wasn't any one thing, one particular defense," Nutt said. "They crowded the line of scrimmage, but everybody has crowded us all year long.

"They just did a great job of really getting off blocks."

Arkansas had supplied plenty of offense by the end of its 38-28 defeat to Florida in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game. But the Razorbacks needed more against the Gators and their slow start stemmed from an unproductive ground attack.

Darren McFadden finished with 73 yards on 21 carries, his fourth-lowest output of the season. Felix Jones ended up with 57 yards on 13 carries, 31 of them coming on a fourth-quarter scamper with Florida lined up in a prevent defense.

Arkansas hadn't rushed for fewer yards since gaining 130 on 27 carries in a 50-14 loss to USC on Sept. 2. The Razorbacks' per-carry average of 3.8 against Florida marked their second-lowest of the season.

"We knew coming into the game that they were a good team," McFadden said. "They've got one of the toughest defenses in the country this year. We came out there and ran the ball. We just didn't get the big runs we wanted."

Not at all.

Other than Jones' late-game rush, Arkansas posted just three carries of 10 or more yards.

"To hold a Heisman Trophy candidate to 73 yards. That's not an accident," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "Our (defensive) guys did a great job of doing what we were telling them."

To make matters worse for Arkansas, McFadden was playing injured for the last 42 minutes of the game.

Early in the second quarter, Casey Dick slung a quick pass to McFadden, who had lined up as a wide receiver. He gained eight yards, but the Florida defender who brought him down landed awkwardly on McFadden's ankle. The minor, yet nagging injury limited McFadden.

Nutt wishes his sophomore standout could've done without the tweak.

"I wasn't going to use it as an excuse, but y'all know Darren McFadden wasn't the same from the (second) quarter on," Nutt said.



Reader Comments (20 comment(s))


The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.

ShutUpNutt wrote on Dec 2, 2006 11:45 PM:

" "I wasn't going to use it as an excuse, but y'all know Darren McFadden wasn't the same from the (second) quarter on." What the heck is that? Sounds to me like an excuse! Guess what, Nutt? Florida shut our running game down from the very first play. Darren's injury had little to do with this loss and, even so, the Gators endured tremendous injuries and were playing without their best running back I'm sick of excuses. It's time to be a man, Coach. Just once, I would like to see you take the blame. JUST ONCE. "

midniterise wrote on Dec 3, 2006 6:09 AM:

" Not many coaches retain their jobs for long if they just line up and take the blame for every loss. Florida beat us because they were better. Plane and simple! Mistakes were made because it was a big game on both sides of the ball. We just didn't have enough this year to win the SEC championship. And by the way if you check Houston Nutts comments over the years he as taken the blame for losses. "

BigHawg wrote on Dec 3, 2006 7:48 AM:

" Florida was not better. I am sick of all the fans saying that LSU, Florida, USC are better!!!! They are not better. We have a great team, but we give too many games away!!!!!! Hello, five turnovers against USC, 14 extra points to LSU and 14 plus to Florida. We make too many mistakes, e.g., special teams should have stayed in Fayetteville. When we will get it together and stop giving games away. Again, this was truly a great team that could have been playing in the BCS National Championship Game!!!! I am so disappointed, not that we lost, but in making adjustments, staying with the same old plays, not throwing on first down, not seeing more of Mitch and with the overall gameplan. This one hurts.........and will hurt for a long time. This was our momment. Go Hogs Go.......... "

Hog fan In Florida wrote on Dec 3, 2006 9:37 AM:

" The Gator are NOT a better team. Most of their wins this season were due to pure luck. I don't understand why Dick wasn't taken out when he started to struggle. Mustain should have played instead. D-Mac did all he could do...he isn't superman. Houston Nutt needs to get off his high horse and let Malzahn do his job. "

Ozarks wrote on Dec 3, 2006 9:42 AM:

" I agree. We beat ourselves. The announcers even commented on what a sloppy game it was. I am dispointed too. But, I have hope. We really need to balance the plays with passing. When that happens, we can do as we please. It seemed, everyone got to thy and though a pass but Mitch? I hope too see more passing (that are caught down feild) for the bowl game. "

WorriedHawg/AR wrote on Dec 3, 2006 10:07 AM:

" I am worried that we have a major issue with Peyton Hillis. This is a Parade All-American that has been mishandled from day one!!!!! We need players like Peyton to be in the game, at RB, LB, return man. Also, I am worried that we will lose Mitch because of the way Houston has handled this whole situation. What happened at SC? Why did Nutt just stop using Mitch? I am starting to agree with other fans that Houston does not have a clue? Why not keep Mitch involed in some way. Casey is not the answer and his performance has been average at best. Can we not let Mitch throw the ball deep at least one time per game to Williams? We still need major improvement and Houston and the coaches have their hands full!!! This coaching staff is very overrated!!!!! "

Loonatikjenn wrote on Dec 3, 2006 10:25 AM:

" I doubt if many games are won when the opponent scores 38 points.We played hard, no shame in that. But sadly LSU and Florida are both better. Perhaps we should spend more time on special teams. When is Shibest finally held accountable for our kicking game and sorry special teams play? "

Hogfan in Texas wrote on Dec 3, 2006 1:20 PM:

" Casey Dick has a slow release. Telegraphs where he is throwing the ball if he is able to get it off. g "

HogCowboy wrote on Dec 3, 2006 2:13 PM:

" TO PLAYERS/ COACHES: You've given us a very exciting season as fans. You put in all of the dedicated work and we just watched. When Arkansas joined the SEC in the early 1990s I thought our Hogs would be lucky to win 7 games a year, and that was true until Coach Nutt came in 1998. The great coaches have won more than their share against these much larger universities in the SEC. I'm looking forward to more enjoyment watching the Bowl Game, and then can't wait to see so many of our star players back next year to give us another exciting season. Thanks again players and coaches. We love you and support you all the way Hogboys. "

Razorjoe wrote on Dec 3, 2006 2:20 PM:

" I do hope Mitch can win his job back next season. Casey is average, Texas tough but average, we need that taller special QB in there to win the big ones! GO HAWGS GO. And please win your bowl game! I SEE Cotton vs Nebraska ! "

El Hog wrote on Dec 3, 2006 2:27 PM:

" Here is why we lost: 1. we didn't have an SEC calibre qb in the game - Florida did; 2. we made one more costly mistake than Florida made (pick your choice - the blocked kick or the fumble at the goal line on the punt return); 3. too one dimensional offense. Even if we had an SEC calibre qb, with Nutt's concept of a passing strategy, we might as well have what we have at qb; 4. special team's coach not adequate for SEC play. The bonehead play Fish made with the punt return fumble would not have happened if the special team's coach had drilled into his head at practice that you do not field the ball inside the 10 yard line - everybody but our coach seems to know that. "

Genius after the fact wrote on Dec 3, 2006 3:45 PM:

" El Hog, too late little boy..Telling us how we lost, but only after the game's over. You should have told us earlier in the week how we COULD WIN the game. Talking about a day late and a dollar short, you take the cake boy. You got to pick up the thinking pace, Little brother. "

El Hog wrote on Dec 3, 2006 5:22 PM:

" Genius after the fact, Thanks for recoginizing "genius" when you are in the presence of it. If I had had the opportunity to pass the word to Nutt before the game, I would certainly have been able to guarantee a victory over Florida, the SEC championship, and a spot playing Ohio State U. Geniuses can do that. So, thanks for recognizing it. "

SC Hawg wrote on Dec 3, 2006 5:33 PM:

" El Hog certainly does not understand football. He probably coaches "pop warner" football and equates that to SEC football. If you really believe our coaches don't "drill it into their head at practice" and blame the kicking game mistakes on the coaches, then you certainly don't respect college football coaches. Trust me, they earn their money. Think before you type, and maybe your brain will overrule your stupidity. "

okiehawg wrote on Dec 3, 2006 8:57 PM:

" It wasn't the running game, it was speical teams! When, oh when is James Shiebest going to be relieved of his Special Teams coach duties? Four plays decided this game: Missed field goal, blocked punt, successful fake punt run against them, punt returner trying to field the ball on the 3 yard line. That's the difference in the ballgame in a nutshell right there folks. "

Eddie wrote on Dec 3, 2006 8:58 PM:

" You pegged him, SC hog. He's smug about complaining. He thinks his job is to be a critic. He doesn't know who woefully small it makes his view of football opinions. He won't change probably, even if we beat Wisconsin which our Hogs are going to do after healing back up. "

HogFanInTn wrote on Dec 3, 2006 9:34 PM:

" First of all, let me comment on the special teams comment. If you weren't at the game, you have no idea what the atmosphere was like. I was there AND I watched it on tv...HUGE difference. You people are beating up on a 5'-6" sophomore that has been involved in MAYBE 25 plays since taking the field last year. Yes, it was a bonehead play, but it was a play that a guy with such little experience made in front of a crowd that was out of control. It was also at the Florida band/students end of the field. Lay off! We played a great game against a team that, lucky or not, got the best of us. Any Hog fan knows, Houston Nutt wins very few of the big games. Special teams were a problem. So was our running game. And our passing game continues to be miniscule. The quarterback decision has been wrong since we started Robert Johnson against USC, then started a true freshman, then pulled him, then didn't put him in. McFadden and Jones were playing below 100%, and Jacob Skinner, who has been Mr. Clutch punter had a horrible night. Remember, only a handfull of these guys have ever been in a game this big, and they were freshmen then. We have one game left against another tough defense. (continues next) "

HogFanInTn wrote on Dec 3, 2006 9:37 PM:

" (continued)Let's hope we learned something in the last two games and can make the right adjustments to win this game. Then...let's look forward to next year. The Hogs should contend again for the SEC West, then the SEC Title. Then let's look at the BCS. As for now...Go Gators! Beat Ohio State...and GO HOGS...BEAT WISCONSIN!!! See you in Orlando!!! "

Good comments.. wrote on Dec 3, 2006 10:27 PM:

" HogFanInTn, good comments and agree with your assessment. However, Nutt needs to get his act together, 20 running plays to start the SEC CG, what a sorry start and so unbalanced!! I am tired of the mistakes and the give aways, we average giving the other team 14 points per game. "

barlingfan wrote on Dec 5, 2006 12:23 PM:

" First of all NUTT is the worst coach in the history of the game.SO predictable,lets give the best offensive coach in Ark highschool history a chance.DOWN with NUTT in with GUSS!!!!! "


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