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Arkansas Offens-ive

Last updated Saturday, October 13, 2007 11:39 PM CDT
in Razorback Central

By Alex Abrams
THE MORNING NEWS

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FAYETTEVILLE -- Oh boy.

This was not what Arkansas offensive coordinator David Lee had hoped for. And this certainly wasn't what an already beleaguered fan base wanted to see from the Razorbacks' offense.

Running back Darren McFadden's chances of winning the Heisman Trophy suffered a severe blow Saturday night in front of a national TV audience and 72,463 fans in Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

At the same time, Arkansas' offense gained a season-low 193 yards and didn't come alive until the very end of a 9-7 loss to No. 22 Auburn.

It proved to not be enough.

A little more than a minute after Arkansas scored its only touchdown of the night, Auburn kicker Wes Byrum booted a 20-yard field goal with 21 seconds to pull out the victory.

"We had one drive, a very important drive. I thought that would be enough to win the game as well as our defense was playing," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "But we didn't get it done at the end."

There could be plenty of fallout from Saturday's loss, which dropped the Razorbacks (3-3) into an 0-3 hole in the Southeastern Conference.

Arkansas' chances of returning to Atlanta to play in the SEC Championship Game likely came to an end with its worst offensive performance of the season.

The Razorbacks gained only 67 yards rushing, 271 yards below their season average. Coincidentally, McFadden gained just 43 yards on a night when he became Arkansas' all-time leading rusher.

With McFadden struggling to find holes and fellow running back Felix Jones getting only six carries for 42 yards, Arkansas earned just seven first downs and punted nine times.

"It's frustrating. Sometimes things don't go your way," said Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick, who completed 12-of-26 passes for 111 yards with one touchdown and an interception.

"You've got to put some more points on the board for your defense. We've got to regroup and get some things all right."

More importantly, though, Saturday's close loss won't sit well with those Razorbacks' fans who have openly called for Nutt's job.

Before kickoff, a plane flew a banner around the stadium reading, "Players & Fans Deserve Better -- Fire Nutt."

"The biggest thing I have to do is make sure that (my players) don't listen to outside forces and keep my family very close -- this Razorback family very close," Nutt said. "I know it will be more difficult this time, but we can handle it. We can do it."

Arkansas came within only a few minutes of being shut out for the first time in Fayetteville since Oct. 8, 1966. But then the offense -- which had looked dormant for much of the night -- finally awoke trailing 6-0 with 4 minutes and 19 seconds remaining.

Lee got creative with his playcalling, allowing McFadden to throw a long pass to wide receiver London Crawford that resulted in a pass interference penalty.

On the next play, wide receiver Robert Johnson threw a 15-yard pass to fullback Peyton Hillis.

The Razorbacks took their first lead of the night when Dick tossed a perfectly placed pass to former walk-on sophomore Lucas Miller in the corner of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown strike with 1:36 left.

"It's a read play and Casey made a great throw. It was a great ball, and all I had to do was fall in the end zone," Miller said.

"I felt pretty good about and our defense played great all game. We thought we won it, but they won that last drive."

Arkansas needed six plays to gain 71 yards on its only scoring driving. Before that drive, though, the Razorbacks had amassed just 122 yards of offense.

Following the touchdown, the Tigers (5-2, 3-1 SEC) got the football with 1:36 left and one last chance to win the game.

They proceeded to drive 50 yards in 1:15, setting up Byrum to boot the game-winning field goal. The kick spoiled a mostly impressive showing from Arkansas' defense.

"I'm really proud of our players and the way they fought. I apologize to Arkansas fans," Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring. "We didn't get it done in the end."

Arkansas' offense looked one-dimensional in the first quarter, running the football eight times and allowing Dick to attempt just one pass.

The result: The Razorbacks gained only one first down and 10 yards of total offense (five yards rushing, five yards passing).

Still, Arkansas got inside Auburn's territory on its first four possessions, thanks to a few breaks on special teams. But the offense came away with no points on the four drives.

The closest the Razorbacks came to scoring was when they got to the Auburn 24 to set up kicker Alex Tejada for a 41-yard field goal attempt. The usually reliable freshman hooked it wide right, though.

It was one of those kind of nights.



Reader Comments (39 comment(s))


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12247 wrote on Oct 14, 2007 12:01 AM:

" At least Herring's defense is getting better. Well, I can sure see now why Houston really felt the need to bring in the pro ball coach to help teach our youngsters the great game of football. I can also see why such a great coach would need to be at least co-OC. As usual, Houston was certainly right on. As we all can see, the result of Houston's bright moves is now paying off. Nebraska, do you still, just maybe still want him? Houston, call Nebraska. Shoot, trade for the Nebraska coach even up. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 1:23 AM:

" I thought we might finish the season at 7-5, and yes the defense did step up, despite three personal fouls penalties, two in one drive. Poor D-Mac had under 50 yards rushing. Without an offense however, the defense is only biding time until the opposing team makes a break. We'll be fortunate to finish at 6-6. "

TheDecider wrote on Oct 14, 2007 1:31 AM:

" I don't know if any broad assumptions can be made from this game.Give Auburn credit,they did a great job of shutting down a powerful running game. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 1:35 AM:

" I've been proclaiming a 7-5 season before September arrived. that mark is only two defeats away from at least being accurate. Three more losses, and I'm thinking South Carolina, Tennessee, and LSU and it is a 6-6 season. More of a probability rather than a just an educated guess. "

12247 wrote on Oct 14, 2007 7:05 AM:

" Auburn, which isn't a real good team, locked us down on offense due to a poor offensive scheme and their defense knowing exactly what we would do. Our only drive came on deception plays, plays Auburn didn't expect us to try. The long pass, the throw back pass by Johnson and the run off the right side by Jones were plays unlikely to be tryed by these coaches. D-mac had not found yardage up the middle so why would we try Jones. Point is a little deception in the offense put points on the board. D-mac looks either hurt, wore out or so depressed is doesn't care any more. He looked so ordinary. His legs appear to be gone, have for 2 or 3 weeks now. Casey could not start for most better high schools. Why don't we try someone, anyone at QB. Poor Casey doesn't get much help from the receivers but it is impossible to catch the ball when it is thrown behind you, at your feet, etc. While our D looked much better, the mistakes were pitiful. Auburn was so drawn up on offense that even our huge mistakes on D still didn't cost us much. What have the stat guys been saying, Nutt is even at 500 ball in the SEC. Well, now he is under 500. Adminstration, when will you do your job and fire this coach? "

12247 wrote on Oct 14, 2007 7:07 AM:

" Honestly, this could be a 4-8 season. I thought 7-5 starting out, then 6-6, but where are we going to get 3 more wins? "

tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Oct 14, 2007 7:58 AM:

" i wonder if we can get gus back onec huston is gone hmmmm "

tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Oct 14, 2007 8:04 AM:

" tulsa offense amassed 578 yrds hmmmm think about it "

12247 wrote on Oct 14, 2007 8:25 AM:

" Poor David Lee. Not what he had hoped for indeed. He hoped and prayed that Nutt would call a better game and win. He hoped Nutt's offense that he is getting blamed for would produce. Actually he gets paid pretty good to be Nutt's whipping boy. "

adc83159 wrote on Oct 14, 2007 8:27 AM:

" Dallas Cowboys without David Lee are 3-0 in conference play. Arkansas with David Lee is 0-3 in conference play. Maybe we should have hired David Lee Roth instead. "

Robb wrote on Oct 14, 2007 9:02 AM:

" It would have been kind of nice to have had some Malzahn innovative play calling. And... maybe a change of QB to add some spark. But, Nutt's ego and jealousy ended those possibilities. After we scored our ONLY TD, I predicted the game would end 9-7. What a shame that these players' futures are being ruined because we have a politician for a coach instead of a pro like Sabin or Tuberville. There's just no excitement this year and Nutt's getting desperate telling his players not to listen to the complaints. Just go away. "

Westcoast Hawg wrote on Oct 14, 2007 9:34 AM:

" FIRE HOUSTON DALE NUTT AND THE WHOLE COACHING STAFF AS I POST SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2007, 7:34 AM WESTCOAST TIME! "

Hoggish1 wrote on Oct 14, 2007 10:07 AM:

" A predictable game. Some wide open rinkles at end that woke up our talent, which to that point was wasted on trying to "hit that line" (rah, rah, eah). A score resulted. An errant decision with about 1:43 left to pooch kick that went out of bounds, or a decision to intentionally kick out of bounds backfired because TT made us kick over. A second decision from the 30 to pooch kick AGAIN! that gave Auburn the ball near mid field. In a long time of watching great coaches work stategy, react to other HC's stategy and work clock, timeouts, etc. Houston Nutt is the worst I've ever seen, by a huge margin. "

Texas HOGWILD wrote on Oct 14, 2007 10:15 AM:

" I am absolutely broken hearted for DMAC. The lack of offensive blocking for him yesterday and another LOSS may have cost him the much deserved Heismann. Please, please, please get rid of Nutt. If DMAC doesn't win because Nutt can get his team to win - then be gone with him. DMAC needs to be looking to the pros now - don't get hurt and get drafted by the Cowboys. I am just brokenhearted for his Heismann chance this year. :( "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 10:53 AM:

" Casey had some accurate passes that were dropped, BUT when the receiver is five to 10 yards away the passes need to have some touch. The three passes I refer to were thrown like Roger Clemens (hard and fast). To Dick's credit the touchdown pass looked real good. I wondered during the third quarter why D-Mac wasn't throwing. Auburn waited for him to run and you would think somebody had to be open after D-Mac took the ball, whether from snap or pitch or handoff or etc ... "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 11:00 AM:

" I'm very much in favor of HDN being let go. However, this season is already a lost cause for anything good - no Shreveport or Las Vegas for the holidays isn't good. As much as I wanted D-Mac to win the Heisman, that's not looking good either. Hart, from Michigan, is the nations leading rusher right now. A sub 50 yard performance on national television doesn't help the poor guys chances either, especially now that the season is half over. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 11:15 AM:

" "Statement analysis: "The biggest thing I have to do is make sure that (my players) don't listen to outside forces and keep my family very close ..." (HDN thoughts) yeah, yeah that's it, my kids, wife, and other family members shouldn't have to shop at Wal-Mart. We've got used to Nordstroms and Dillards. More analysis: "-- this Razorback family very close," Nutt said." (HDN thoughts) uh, I mean the team, yeah, yeah, that's it, the Razorback team is what I meant. More analysis: "I know it will be more difficult this time, but we can handle it. We can do it." (My thoughts) do what? Six games remain, five of which are SEC and the other cupcake Florida International. We play Ole Miss at Oxford (flip a coin); then top ten South Carolina; then at Tennessee; a possible victory against Miss State; and then finish at LSU. I count at least three losses here, four losses and Hogs stay home for December for sure. So what is HDN referring too about doing it? Oh, wait a minute - finish at .500 - that'll do it alright. "

razorrod wrote on Oct 14, 2007 11:19 AM:

" yes Casey had some recievers drop some passes. luckily he also had defenders drop 3 that should have been easy picks. Game could have been much worse. I do believe Nutt wants to win, but his ego has put him in a huge bind. It's also his ego that is costing players currently on the roster. They deserve better. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 12:35 PM:

" All we can do now is wait till seasons' end. Come January there will be a coaching change for the Razorbacks football team, and that change will be at the top. "

Piglet in TX wrote on Oct 14, 2007 1:07 PM:

" Rather than complain about the coaching staff...has anyone but me noticed Casey Dick can't hit the broad side of a barn?!? Hello...12 of 26 passes is less than half!! How do you expect to gain any ground when you can't hit your target? "

tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Oct 14, 2007 1:33 PM:

" there was a coment made that the players would boycott if nutt was fired i say let them sit their non competitve bahookies on the curb then there was no enegery on the bench last night at all they looked like they were at a lawn social or something and another thing why do they need to go to a hotel on friday nights .... seems like a bigggg waste of money dont it they do have rooms on campus "

baum hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 2:01 PM:

" Another game lost late in the 4th Quarter. All the drama surrounding the football program has to impactthe players and not in a good way. They look like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders and are playing afraid to lose. All the booing and absurd behavior of some segments of the fanbase is doing long-term damage to the program. Every head coach here eventually gets run off, but our fans the last couple of years have crossed a line. Even the guys at ESPN said as much on national television. How many quality coaches, those with multiple job opportunities, would pick Arkansas over a school with similar benefits given the circumstances? "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 2:26 PM:

" Here's a few good questions Piglet - why is Casey Dick a starting quarterback in the SEC, at Arkansas? UA is 5-6 with Dick as starter. HDN benched Mustain after one interception on the opening drive against South Carolina, last season (UA was 8-0 with Mustain). How many interceptions has Dick thrown since that game? Starting QB is a coaching decision, therefore ALL the complaining rests on HDN. Aside from my feelings for D-Mac's (now) dwindling chances of winning the Heisman, I say let the team boycott. The seasons' already lost anyway and and with the exception of maybe two or three players who's worth a darn? The drama began with HDN and his poor coaching decisions, last season. You want to know what impacts players in a negative way - losing three out of six games - that's a negative impact. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 2:34 PM:

" I know I've already made my point, but get off it will ya! Saying that UA's losses are the fault of the fans is fallacious reasoning. The fans don't coach the team, orchestrate practices, choose players, or call plays. The coach(es) do that. Fans also don't boo win a team is winning and fans cheer win the team is winning. Disheartened players can ONLY blame themselves for lack of performance (since they "love" HDN so much). "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 2:38 PM:

" Oh and let me stop the Strawman Fallacy before it begins - so I mispelled when (as win). Guess I was doing one of those Freudian things (hoping/wanting.wishing Hogs were winning). "

pulled_pork wrote on Oct 14, 2007 2:55 PM:

" Who's ready for basketball season? The season is ruined. Maybe we can fix everything with a new offensive coordinator, since that was our problem last year, it must be the problem this year. hahaha. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 3:05 PM:

" And as far as AubTigersRule or Wardamneagle are concerned - so what, your little school is now 5-5 against Arkansas for the past 10 seasons. That's not saying much considering our poor coaching. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 3:06 PM:

" The first couple of seasons for a new coach are considered "rebuilding". So not sure how much solice we'll find in BBall this season either. "

pulled_pork wrote on Oct 14, 2007 3:26 PM:

" For basketball, we have everyone back and a firey coach who will make this team tougher, mentally and we already know physically by all the conditioning he's had them do. Sweet 16 here we come!!! "

baum hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 4:58 PM:

" The loses are not solely or primarily the fault of the fans, but their actions certainly are not helpful for the program either now or in the future when it comes time to "rebuild" this soap opera of a mess. I just hope we can land a quality coach and recruits when that time comes. "

southern hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 5:19 PM:

" Let me teach a new word today: Offense. It's what most schools use to score points so that they can win. Quarterbacks who can throw, receivers who can run and catch(sorry, Chris Baker, our receivers are supposed to be BLOCKERS....imagine that)and OC's who can create and surprise usually make up some part of the formula for scoring. No wonder TT stated he had no fear of going for it on fourth down deep in his territory. "We knew we could stop them," he said. How can you stop DM and FJ? Just play the box`and make us pass. Your three or four in the back against our two receivers. I feel sorry for our kids. What a shame.... I certainly hope we clean house on the offensive side of the ball and certainly head coach. Reggie is getting our defense better and better. He'll get it done. "

baum hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 5:36 PM:

" Speaking of tired specious arguments, bringing up the "Mustain was 8-0 as a starter", as if he was the difference maker. Throw out the wins over Utah State, SEMO, and Louisiana-Monroe, the South Carolina game in which he was starter in name only, and the Alabama and Vanderbilt games which could have easily been loses very similar to this year's SEC defeats especially if Alabama's kicker had a better day. That leaves Auburn in which Mustain had a whopping 87 yards, over half coming on one fortunate play made by Marcus Monk, a true difference maker we've sorely missed in the three close losses this year, and a defense that allowed just 10 points. I'm not knocking Mustain either, it was too soon to expect him to be a difference maker, unfortunately he decided he didn't want to be a Razorback and never really seemed like he wanted to be here in the first place. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 6:29 PM:

" A: Losses are NEVER Fault of the fans - ask Kentucky two years ago. Geeez, I had to read Southern Hogs' blog with a SERIOUS British accent just to understand it - btw, Herring is gone with Nutt (THANK GOD). As far as Mustain - a win is a win. Forget the South Carolina game, so he's 7-0 and he did WALLOP Auburn at Auburn. Consider Dick's record, formerly an entire football season - the Dick is 5-6 - no bowl for him (or us). Monk wanted to paly - but didn't - good for him. It is now irrelevant if Monk plays because the BEST UA can do is Vegas or Shreveport - neither means anything. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 6:37 PM:

" Can't have an "A" without a "B". B: Next year under another head coach (5-6 or 8-4) I'll be one happy man. "

baum hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 7:25 PM:

" The defenses' perception of Mustain? Probably that he was a raw true freshman who threw for less than 100 yards vs. both Alabama and Auburn and 157 yards, of which 70 came on a pass to McFadden, vs. Ole Miss. Once again, this isn't a bash on Mustain but his contribution to the team is being vastly overstated. I'm also not blind to Nutt's shortcomings. I'm as tired as anyone of the conservative playcalling and wasted timeouts. But fans need to realize the impact of their actions. Once again, I ask how many quality coaches, those with multiple job opportunities, would pick Arkansas over a school with similar benefits given the circumstances? Do you honestly think fans have no impact on the current players? How about recruits, especially from out of state? Also, the "fan" antics started long before the losing. We won the SEC West last year, no easy feat, yet the mob started long before the season had ended. Also, not that I care either way for him or care to rehash this argument, but Dick was the QB in wins over South Carolina, Tennessee (not "gimmies") and Miss State and don't see what Mustain could have possibly done better vs. two great teams in LSU (lost 7-3 at Auburn and at Florida) and national champ Florida. Classy with the "quarter-black" comment, CO-Hog. "

piglet in TX wrote on Oct 14, 2007 8:56 PM:

" New game plan for next week: keep McFadden but otherwise randomly pull some drunken frat boys out of the stands, slap a jersey on them and hand them a ball. $100 says McFadden would be more likely to pick up his Heisman at that point. "

piglet in TX wrote on Oct 14, 2007 9:07 PM:

" BTW, I wasn't necessarily trying to imply Mustain would have been a better QB, because I don't know as a freshman he got enough quality playing time to prove himself, especially being that he didn't return this year. I'm not sure his heart was in it, but Fayetteville was a convenience being up the road from Springdale. However, surely to God we could do better than Casey Dick. No matter what plays the coaches call, he still can't seem to him the mark most of the time. "

southern hog wrote on Oct 14, 2007 9:26 PM:

" In my best BRITISH accent, I just read that HDN says we're going to open it all up starting this week at Ole Miss. I'm fired up now. We may run to the right as well as the left...... "

cool hog wrote on Oct 20, 2007 7:51 AM:

" I want the Hogs to win but sorry I don't think they can do it..I think Old Miss will win by 10 points.. good luck hogs.. and fire HDN :) "


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