🏈 Random thoughts, and I'll continue through the week, about our game with Arkansas...let's go folks!

[TerryP]

I've always watched third down conversions. It was one of the biggest keys in my saying we'd win handily two years ago.

This season, UArk is right at 50% in third down conversions. Now, compared to two years ago they had Georgia on the schedule that season and even with it being a scoring game they were right at 35% on third downs.

It's my belief it's something to watch at the half, not before. If we can keep them to around 6-7 first downs—in third down situations— in the first half this is a blowout.

 

[LBS]

I've always watched third down conversions. It was one of the biggest keys in my saying we'd win handily two years ago.

This season, UArk is right at 50% in third down conversions. Now, compared to two years ago they had Georgia on the schedule that season and even with it being a scoring game they were right at 35% on third downs.

It's my belief it's something to watch at the half, not before. If we can keep them to around 6-7 first downs—in third down situations— in the first half this is a blowout.

Along the same vein, to me First Downs are key. Second and Long will tend to encourage them to play to their strength - passing. If the Hogs need to pass, this helps greatly and I think that we can cope well enough in that situation. Its having to cover both pass and run that gives them the best odds against our Defense.

 

[Razorback Reverend]

you will easily contain our running game... if we actually had one... FWIW!

 

[Big_Fan]

Terry, one dimensional against Bama = blowout.

This game will be similar to the game I nailed the score on in 2008. We might not have the explosives early, but we will methodically pick them apart. They don't pressure opposing QB's long and their secondary can't cover well. We will dink and dunk them for a half and their defense will wear down. We will have some explosives later in the game.

Arkansas will score on a blown coverage at some point, and a couple of field goals.

I don't see this game as being that competitive. The Bama secondary is just too good and the razorpigs don't realize that their offense isn't as good as they think. The lack of a running game will kill them because of what it allows us to do schematically.

 

[Joe]

I see this game being close unless we develop a pass rush this week. Our pass rush is not up to par, in my opinion, and it is a concern going into this game. I think Bama wins but it will be close.

 

[LBS]

I see this game being close unless we develop a pass rush this week. Our pass rush is not up to par, in my opinion, and it is a concern going into this game. I think Bama wins but it will be close.

One thing is for certain, our Defense will have had a lot of practice by bed time on Saturday.

 

[Big_Fan]

I see this game being close unless we develop a pass rush this week. Our pass rush is not up to par, in my opinion, and it is a concern going into this game. I think Bama wins but it will be close.

One thing that occurred to me watching the first 3 games...our pass rush is underrated and raw numbers don't tell the whole story. If you are rushing 4 down linemen + a backer, safety, or corner, you tend to leave the QB with fewer options to get away. There is a higher likelihood for sacks to happen, because there is nowhere to run. With 3 DL rushing, you still get pressure, but he can move. That doesn't mean that he isn't disrupted. Timing is still thrown off and the more likely passes to be completed are "by the seat of the pants" type plays. With our secondary, patterns are blown, receivers hear footsteps, and the QB has fewer places to go with the ball. We might not get the raw sack numbers, but that doesn't mean we aren't getting a pass rush. It also tends to force more errant throws and increase int's.

 

[TerryP]

Terry, one dimensional against Bama = blowout.

This game will be similar to the game I nailed the score on in 2008. We might not have the explosives early, but we will methodically pick them apart. They don't pressure opposing QB's long and their secondary can't cover well. We will dink and dunk them for a half and their defense will wear down. We will have some explosives later in the game.

That's one of the reasons I mentioned not paying attn. to third down conversions until the half. They'll play head to head with us for at least a quarter, if not longer. It certainly seems like a game that'll have 21-24 points scored in the first half—both teams combined—and then see one team score about that much in the second half. It's Monday, but I'm still of the opinion this is a "take Bama and the points" game.

Arkansas will score on a blown coverage at some point, and a couple of field goals.

I don't see this game as being that competitive. The Bama secondary is just too good and the razorpigs don't realize that their offense isn't as good as they think. The lack of a running game will kill them because of what it allows us to do schematically.

Not a lot has been said about it and it probably deserves a thread of its own. The shutout, even if it was NTx, can only be described as an accomplishment. With our defense, we are going to get burned in every game we play. We did a few times in last weekends game but kept them off the board. The goal line stand—remember, that was seven attempts that they had at the goal line—which was done with our reserves shows just how good this defense is.

I bring that up for a reason. We can't say Derek Thompson and Tyler Wilson are two QB's from the same mold. But, we can compare them in this light.

Even with the lack of sacks, how many times did we hit Thompson last week? Thompson completed right at 50% of his passes and was on his back after each attempt. Wilson sees the same thing this weekend.

 

[TerryP]

Terry, one dimensional against Bama = blowout.

This game will be similar to the game I nailed the score on in 2008. We might not have the explosives early, but we will methodically pick them apart. They don't pressure opposing QB's long and their secondary can't cover well. We will dink and dunk them for a half and their defense will wear down. We will have some explosives later in the game.

That's one of the reasons I mentioned not paying attn. to third down conversions until the half. They'll play head to head with us for at least a quarter, if not longer. It certainly seems like a game that'll have 21-24 points scored in the first half—both teams combined—and then see one team score about that much in the second half. It's Monday, but I'm still of the opinion this is a "take Bama and the points" game.

Arkansas will score on a blown coverage at some point, and a couple of field goals.

I don't see this game as being that competitive. The Bama secondary is just too good and the razorpigs don't realize that their offense isn't as good as they think. The lack of a running game will kill them because of what it allows us to do schematically.

Not a lot has been said about it and it probably deserves a thread of its own. The shutout, even if it was NTx, can only be described as an accomplishment. With our defense, we are going to get burned in every game we play. We did a few times in last weekends game but kept them off the board. The goal line stand—remember, that was seven attempts that they had at the goal line—which was done with our reserves shows just how good this defense is.

I bring that up for a reason. We can't say Derek Thompson and Tyler Wilson are two QB's from the same mold. But, we can compare them in this light.

Even with the lack of sacks, how many times did we hit Thompson last week? Thompson completed right at 50% of his passes and was on his back after each attempt. Wilson sees the same thing this weekend.

 

[RollTideinGA]

I see this game being close unless we develop a pass rush this week. Our pass rush is not up to par, in my opinion, and it is a concern going into this game. I think Bama wins but it will be close.

Has anyone stopped to consider that Saban/ Smart haven't showed a lot of hands yet? Has anyone compared early stats in previous years to how the defense performs against early weaker teams and then the SEC schedule?

Also, sacks are not the only measure of disrupting the QB. While exciting you also have to look at pressures and knockdowns.