Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Web Comments
Selected comments this week from the message boards at WholeHogSports.com.
What’s a reasonable expectation of progress for the Razorback football team?
Hogmodo: What coach (that you can get to come to Arkansas now) can go from the outhouse to that penthouse in one full recruiting cycle? Chad Morris hasn’t fixed it yet, but he is the best shot, recruiting wise, we are going to get. Deshaun Watson loves Morris and he is just the quarterback for Houston (in the NFL). Who else are we going to get to recruit THAT level of talent? You may not like his game management or press conference style or all of his assistants, but let the man recruit a couple of more classes… Just don’t panic people!
generalhog: The flip side of your post is concerns with recruiting at the moment and he’s had inexcusable loses like to San Jose State, so I understand the frustration by the fans. I agree with you, though, that time is needed and that we as a fan base are just frustrated of years of inadequacy … Morris just happens to be the coach taking the brunt of the frustration.
Jacksonreid: Never expected to be elite over night. Never expected to be 0-12 in the SEC at this point or lose to lowly San Jose, either. Other than recruiting … what has been show on the field to give the fan base hope?
DudleyDawson: I don’t think anyone expects them to jump to elite status any time soon. But I think it is very fair to want a better product on the field than what they are seeing right now.
harleyhawgidson: Nobody I’ve read on this board was looking for “instant success.” Asking to win all four of our exceedingly easy out-of-conference games and just one SEC game in his second season isn’t “instant success.”
MattJones: I don’t think anyone expected Arkansas to beat Auburn, but I don’t think it was unreasonable to expect a more competitive game, especially at home. The lack of competitiveness against good teams and the struggling with bad teams has been a concern this year.
jhawg: I did expect us to jump to decent in two years. Elite status … probably never again like we were in the 60’s when we won a National Championship and finished the year in top 10 seven times. Those days are long gone, but … we can be really good again with the right coach, I believe.
hog2009: Elite? No. Able to win an SEC game in a year and a half? Yes. Beat North Texas? Yes. Beat San Jose State? Yes.
love my ho gs forever: Wins? No. But I expect competitiveness. Arkansas has had teams with less talent than this one. But they played with toughness and pride. I don’t mind losing. But I do mind the lack of effort, toughness, and basic fundamentals. Lack of talent? Not CCM’s fault. Lack of toughness, effort, and fundamentals? … That’s on him.
Thoughts on recruiting and quarterback play …
bayouhog: I like the Texas recruiting potential that Chad Morris brings but in my opinion if we don’t start showing some type of improvement, then it becomes a bad situation where the ability to recruit is greatly diminished. … Bottom line, we all believe that the offensive line is the crux of the problems but is that the only reason. I seriously think Morris needs to take a hard look at his coordinators as the “learning the playbook” excuse is about to crash.
bushhog: He can recruit and that’s been a major deficiency for most of last 25 years. Our problem is little talent in trenches in a trench league. Where I’m disappointed is his management of the game, which is not elite level or above average. Feels like we have a potentially great recruiter and sub par game coach and motivator. Not sure how to circle that square.
hogbacker: The playbook excuse crashed when Ben Hicks showed up and couldn’t become the No. 1 quarterback. If he doesn’t get a SEC win I think we will find out if he’s willing to make some changes.
poochpunt: I think hogbacker hit the nail on the head. QB play has doomed us.
armyhog: The QB position has been more damaging this season than the OL! Cole Kelley or Ty Storey both had problems but I think they could have at least matched what we have now. I’m hoping Nick Starkel can get it going because he’s our best option for next season. Maybe it gets better next season. This season is down the tubes!
dfwtexhog: Unpredictable QB play has been the big issue this season. Great teams like Georgia and Auburn have stumbled this season when their QBs struggled. How good would LSU be without Burrow? Thought that we had turned the corner after the second half of the Colorado State game and again after the A&M game.
Score predictions for Saturday’s game at Alabama …
sweet child of swine: Alabama, a whole lot. Arkansas, little to nothing.
bobghawg: I agree. Alabama, 40-7. hogbacker: I started to say it would be hard to predict a score when we don’t know which one of our QB’s will be starting and then I realized it probably doesn’t matter. Not trying to be bashing any of our players we just have not developed and matured enough as football skills go to play against some of the best players in college. I give our guys credit for not quitting when it would be the easiest thing to do right now. ‘Bama 42, Hogs 10.
razorwill: Our chances go up from 0% to 1% with Tua out. Remember Kentucky schooled John Chavis with a wideout playing QB. That being said, ‘Bama’s defense is good but not dominant. Question is, can we score when we get in red zone? We moved the ball on them last year. ‘Bama 52, Hogs 20. longtimehog: Arkansas 56, Alabama 3. Saban meets Morris at the end of the third quarter and begs him to stop. The fans leave in droves at halftime and Saban is fired at the end of the game. world series of pork er:
Someone’s been hitting the white lighting. clarencetrice: Arkansas 10, Alabama 59. The Tide defense will likely score a couple of TDs. jacksonreid: Alabama 49,
Arkansas 13. lilhawg: A score with a familiar ring: 52-0.
SWHog: ‘Bama 49, Hogs 10. Reed: I’m going with longtimehog! But I will say (Saban) gets fired in the middle of the fourth quarter. generalhog: My magic 8 ball says, “Arkansas 31, Alabama 30.” Win on a last second field goal by Limpert from 38 yards away. Yeah, I said it! jacksonreid: You need a new eight ball. generalhog: My DeLorean time machine confirms my 8 ball is correct.
jrjdent: ‘Bama 62, Hogs 6. razormac: Club dub is boarded up… Tide 52, Hogs 17.
bakedhog19741: ‘Bama — Shockingly low. AR — Shockingly less. bballhawg: Saban shows mercy because he is just that kind of guy. ‘Bama 41, Hogs 17.