Missouri Controls Their Own Destiny Now

[hoglaw]

I don't think the year is a disappointment at all. Very few in Arkansas put us at 6-6 this year, including me.

I don't think I'm hard of BA at all either. I like him. But I do agree with FF that he is just not that good. He might start for a couple other SEC schools, but not many. Certainly not top 5 in the SEC. No doubt about it.

My observation is that as limited as he is by natural talent, he has done a commendable job running the offense this year. He has taken care of the ball, and has come through in a lot of clutch situations. He's failed to rise to the occasion a number of times as well, but for what he is, I'll take him.

Where our opinions differ is I think he's the best option for the team. I think he's head and shoulders above Austin. I don't claim to be an expert, but I've attended all the home games and watched the rest of them. I go to the spring practice game every year. Maybe Austin could have given us a better year with his feet? I just feel pretty confident that he couldn't have done it with his arm.

But I don't disagree with you that he should have pulled himself. I can see a coach giving their team leader deference, but at some point, the coach has to pull the plug. And you're right, every time he got smoked he was looking to the sidelines and fighting to stay in the game. He should have been sat, whether he did it himself or whether the coach overruled him.

Ultimately the responsibility to pull a player rests with the coach. In the heat of the moment, it's easy to forget about pain and think "I can compensate for throwing high by just doing X...I can get it on the next play." I like that kind of toughness. But the bottom line is he didn't belong in the game, and he was obviously not healthy for most of the second half. It was just painfully obvious on the last drive.

[Feathers and Fins]

OTF, before the season I thought they would be a 3-9. after the first game I went to 6-6 I said it very early this year we could be a 6-6 school and would have two SEC upsets. I thought one would be to LSU and the other possibly to Ole Miss if Bad Bo showed up. Arkansas won both of them and weather definitely helped in that.

Yes I am hard on the Razorbacks, I want to see W's in SEC Play but I am also happy when they keep it tight. I could handle a loss if both teams played their hearts out and the better team won. But I have not seen that to be the case 4 QUARTERS is a game not 3 and die. Im sick of hearing "Moral Victory" and "They will win when they earn it" It gets very old very fast. This team is better than that. Our defense has really impressed me but you know they are frustrated by the Offense NOT finishing off opportunities they give them. Our Running backs have not been what many of us thought this year but the Tight ends really stepped up, but no wide receiver threat and certainly no qb threat.

This is what Arkansas needs to do to win IMO

1st get Brandons butt out of here!

2nd We are running back U and they need to start proving it

3rd We will probably be known as Tight End U and that is not only surprising but great to see.

4th We are the biggest O-line in all of football, start throwing that tonnage around and get our RB's big holes and pushes.

5th Recruit two Wide Receivers of the elite quality ( I would settle for 1 )

6th We have to have a dual threat QB Brandon aint even a scare let alone threat and in todays football you have to have a qb who can scramble.

That would make our offense very potent and dangerous, Combined with our D-line we could be a 10-2 11-1 team easily. We should have been 10-2 this year. I see the potential I see what Bret can do if people buy in to it but that O-line needs to do better. We must have 4 quarters, We must have a dual threat QB and people need to start yanking players who are not performing. Ya its all about education my butt.

Now Defense

We are losing two great players but I think we have others who will step up in to leadership so im not worried there but

1. Get us some fast and powerful safeties

That's it the Arkansas D-line is very good and will keep you in games and win games for us if the O-line can capitalize on the turnovers. I am very proud of the D-line.

[Quillback]

They certainly exceeded my expectations and provided some entertaining games even the ones they lost.

As far as BA - if they have someone who is clearly better, then I'd be fine with that next year, maybe it will be AA, but I haven't seen anything from AA that would lead me to believe he is any better.

And as far as BA in the Mizzou game, the coach has to be strong and has to pull the guy if he thinks it's necessary, I don't blame BA at all for wanting to play, heck if he left early and sat himself down, there'd be people complaining that he's a wuss and should have stayed in, especially if AA came in and stunk the place up.

[stlfisher]

They certainly exceeded my expectations and provided some entertaining games even the ones they lost.

As far as BA - if they have someone who is clearly better, then I'd be fine with that next year, maybe it will be AA, but I haven't seen anything from AA that would lead me to believe he is any better.

And as far as BA in the Mizzou game, the coach has to be strong and has to pull the guy if he thinks it's necessary, I don't blame BA at all for wanting to play, heck if he left early and sat himself down, there'd be people complaining that he's a wuss and should have stayed in, especially if AA came in and stunk the place up.

I could have sworn with a few minutes left in the game that BA mouthed to one of his lineman after a missed pass "I can't throw''. My wife even commented on it too. Anyway, your right though, unless your team wins, that is pretty much a lose/lose situation for a coach or player.

[Wayne SW/MO]

it's easy to blame a player, but hard to make it stick to the coach. They play with what they have.