Missouri Controls Their Own Destiny Now

[Guest]

The Mizzou defensive stats are pretty impressive, after glancing over them.

The defensive lineman make a lot of plays for sure, what do the LB's & safeties look like?

I don't know what the over/under is going to be. I would take the under on this deal.

There could always be bonus points scored by special teams or turnovers, but that's the only way it goes over. Unless the Arkansas defense that played against Georgia shows up. That's my only real fear.

Matty Mauk completion percentage isn't great & he's thrown 11 Interceptions, so that's surprising to me.

I get that Mizzou plays the underdog role to their advantage, & this isn't to be overlooked.

My guess, its a really tight game that is decided by turnovers & penalties.

[Quillback]

2 more days to go, I think I'll be fishing Friday so I'll have to record it and remember to keep the radio off on the way home.

[hoglaw]

I hope BA is out the rest of the year and AA is in. Little brother is a much better QB and has legs along with a good arm I am not sure why Bret didn't let him loose last night. I was hoping to see the AA for F-ville last night but was very surprised to see a game manager he has grown up and people better take notice of him.

[hoglaw]

????

In what respects is Austin a better qb than brandon? I'm not talking about potential or what may be, but Austin doesn't have a single advantage over his brother right now that I'm aware of (maybe he's slightly faster.

[Feathers and Fins]

He does not show the fear or bad judgements his brother does. Brandon often looks like the proverbial deer in the headlights and how many times have we watched him make bad throws and running LMAO he aint no runner. Austin is much less fearful to run and his passing is much better. Also something I noticed is when he is on the field the O-line seams different, like more determination is in their blood. Brandon I have no faith in, people on a team might say they do but saying and in the heart is two things and I see the heart when Austin is out on the field.

[Guest]

You don't have to worry or debate about little brother anymore.

@BretBielema: Was good to have our #HOGS back healthy and to watch @BrandonAllen_10 run around and throw today. Tough kids who love to play #HogBall

[hoglaw]

Bad judgments? Last year he threw for 1738 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. This year...so far...he's thrown for 1992, 16 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. He's actually an extremely efficient quarterback. I'm not sure where you're getting the footspeed thing from. He runs a 4.8 per some quick googling. He escapes pressure really well and has great instincts for taking off. He's scored with his feet at least once or twice this year.

I'll give you that Brandon is by no means a world beater. He doesn't seem to have the ability to take the game on the back of his shoulders and go win. That would be nice. But that's not really his job in this system. And Austin doesn't have that either. If you see the line playing better when he's in, it's not because they respond to him. It's because we're already two quarterbacks deep into the depth chart and the next one burns a red shirt. They darn well better protect him.

Austin is severely lacking in arm strength. Hopefully it will get there. Austin's snaps have been limited and of course he's young, but he seems confident because he's not getting more than one read into his progression. It's either there or it isn't. He stares down his receiver the whole way, and that's ok. He's not developed enough to do much more. Brandon is finally getting through his progressions, though I've watched him completely miss some open routes with tunnel vision. But they're routes that I don't think Austin has the arm to even throw to yet. Aside from inexperience, Austin's biggest limitation in my opinion is a lack of arm strength and accuracy.

But the most telling thing is this. When the lines for this week opened, we were at -1.5 or 2 in most places. But they took them all off the board with concern that Brandon wouldn't play. Folks were likely loading up on Missouri as a home underdog with Arkansas's starting QB questionable. If BA doesn't play, Mizzou would wind up being favored and the smart money was already in. But it's off the boards at most places now. We'll see what happens when it's confirmed that he's playing.

I guess I just don't get the BA bashing. Lots of folks seemed to be doing it at the beginning of the season, but it's quieted down now. Meanwhile he's quietly becoming one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the SEC West. Maybe Austin will be a world beater in three years, but the smart money is on BA this year and next - no doubt about it. He's just a better quarterback than his brother is in every category that matters.

[Quillback]

I'm OK with BA if the Hogs are leading or close, but if they get behind and are in a situation where they have to score some points through the air that's where my confidence in him drops significantly.

But I'd rather see BA than AA starting this game for sure.

[hoglaw]

I'm with you there Quill, but I'm not sure that even Mallett could engineer big come backs with this group of receivers. The one thing that I keep wondering is why on earth are our tight ends not getting the ball on 75% of the pass reps? Keon Hatcher is a very good receiver, but certainly not great. He's a good route runner but he can't compete for a ball. Hunter Henry on the other hand? That guy can absolutely manhandle anyone. He is darn near uncover-able, particularly when you consider he's normally covered by a linebacker or a safety. If we had a real percision passer who could utilize Henry's body position, we'd be destroying folks. He may be the best tight end in the country. And Derby isn't too far of a drop-off.

I think this is what Arkansas has planned for the forseeable future. Without anyone knowing about it, we're becoming tight end university. We'll line up with three of them in some formations. We'll throw to them in the flats, and on delays and wheels, but very rarely do we throw the tight end seam pass straight up the gut against a linebacker or safety. I think a lot of that must have to do with the fact that our quarterback is only 6-1 or so, and his line averages like 6-6. Skipper would be a tower to try and throw over.

What I'd give for Mallett's height, accuracy and arm strength with those tight ends. Only problem is we don't pass block that well, and we need someone like BA who can help take some of the pressure off the O-line with some quickness and escapability.

I can live with BA at quarterback. He's totally servicable and the best of the bunch by a long shot. I wish our O-line was a little more mature (they're almost all underclassmen) and I wish we had a better go-to receiver. The coaching staff recruited receivers hard, so we've got some good ones coming in. The line will just continue to get better. Next year we'll probably have the best O-line in the NCAA. The year after that, we may have the best line ever in the NCAA.

[Feathers and Fins]

Hog our opinions are certainly different on QB's that's fine. But come one I love my Razorbacks but there is some pretty dam good O-lines coming up. I would certainly put us next year in the top 15 and the year after top 5 and pray to Tusk that we can get good recruiting, No doubt with our style Running Backs will want to come, Tight Ends certainly but I am concerned for us in the Receiving Corp, Brets style is well known for heavy run and that's what he will attract.

Our Defense is scary lately but its still lacking a couple high quality safeties. And this has got to be the worse year in the league for kickers I think everyone will be recruiting them more than QB's even.

Be a interesting next few years.