Casey Dick Deserves An Exit
Last updated Wednesday, November 26, 2008 2:55 PM CST in Columns
By Harry King
THE MORNING NEWS
LITTLE ROCK -- Halfway through a round of golf, the locals had a pretty good handle on the interloper from out West and decided to negotiate a little something to spice up the back nine.
The visitor was agreeable to most anything until one of the players suggested that the low man on the back nine would get to call Arkansas' first play against Western Illinois in the season opener. Paraphrasing now, "Whatever you want to do is fine, but I can tell you who is going to call the first play," said Bobby Petrino.
That glimpse of the Arkansas football coach is an acknowledgment that Petrino is going to do it his way, and rightfully so, but is also a prelude to the suggestion that Petrino orchestrate a graceful exit for senior quarterback Casey Dick.
Throughout his ups and downs in Fayetteville, never was heard a discouraging word from the young man, and early this week, columnist Robbie Neiswanger of The Morning News made a well-documented argument that Dick deserved to start Friday against LSU. Second the motion, despite knowing the decision-maker has decided in favor of Nathan Dick.
Last week, Casey watched from the sideline at Starkville as younger brother took every snap. The redshirt freshman threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns, but the defense was so porous that the Razorbacks lost 31-28. With that loss, the only bottom line to be resolved is 4-8 or 5-7.
Outside of that, there are some personnel possibilities to ponder and they begin at quarterback. Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett is perceived to be No. 1 for the 2009 season and there has been some talk that Nathan Dick will not return. Starting against Mississippi State and succeeding against LSU would put Dick in front of Tyler Wilson going into spring practice and might affect his long-range plans.
"That's definitely how he's got to see it, is that he's going to have a couple of games -- SEC games -- under his belt," said quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee. "So I think it's going to benefit him a lot."
All season, Petrino has been waiting for a running back to prove that he can be trusted to relieve Michael Smith. Now that Smith is apparently out of the LSU game with a hamstring injury, Petrino must pick one. The choices are Dennis Johnson, De'Anthony Curtis, and Brandon Barnett, two freshmen and a junior who will still be behind Smith next fall.
Smith is gutsy and good, producing 59 yards in the first half last week despite a first-quarter injury. After the half, he was limited to four carries and a single yard.
Johnson was tentative on at least one of his three plays at Starkville. Curtis had one carry and Barnett none. Barnett's peak was seven carries for 45 yards vs. South Carolina. Curtis made 36 yards on six carries in the opener and 16 on a season-high nine attempts in Lexington, where his fumble opened the door for a Kentucky comeback.
Victories by the New York Jets and the Oklahoma Sooners over previously unbeaten teams are the most recent examples of the importance of a running game and Arkansas-LSU could swing on who does the best in that area. Smith's absence and the Razorbacks' poor tackling the past two games point to an LSU victory.
Personally, picking a winner is a can't lose proposition. If Arkansas wins, the season-long prognostication is on the button. If LSU wins, then Friday's pick is accurate.
Whichever way it goes, hopefully Casey Dick will get an opportunity to bow out as a player instead of as a spectator.
About this columnist
The dean of Arkansas sports writers, Harry King updates his column five days per week with the latest on the Razorbacks. A 35-year veteran of The Associated Press, King joined the Arkansas News Bureau in May of 2002. He's covered the Razorbacks since the Arkansas-Texas game dubbed the Big Shootout in 1969.
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