Bama vs Arkansas

[Dossenator]

Finally a flag on a late hit....bama hits Wilson late on every pass play (several helmet to helmet hits) and that was the first flag. This bama team is very good but dirty as they get.

[Dossenator]

AR will not lose another game. They will score 30+ on everyone else. Bama's offense only scored 17 points today: allowing special teams and defense to score 21 killed AR. I am tired of the dirty play by Bama every year and only one flag. Playing physical is fine but cheap shot, late hits, face masks, etc is uncalled for. I counted 4 face masks against Bama today (not one of them drew a flag). They were the better team and will not lose again. Part of me wishes AR played Boise's schedule so they could go undefeated every year and receive all the accolades that comes with that. Just frustrating. Hard to play minus your two starting RB's, your two starting DB's, knicked up WR's, and banged up starting corner. I hope AR cam get healthy before Texas A&M next week.

[Dossenator]

AR will not lose another game. They will score 30+ on everyone else. Bama's offense only scored 17 points today: allowing special teams and defense to score 21 killed AR. I am tired of the dirty play by Bama every year and only one flag. Playing physical is fine but cheap shot, late hits, face masks, etc is uncalled for. I counted 4 face masks against Bama today (not one of them drew a flag). They were the better team and will not lose again. Part of me wishes AR played Boise's schedule so they could go undefeated every year and receive all the accolades that comes with that. Just frustrating. Hard to play minus your two starting RB's, your two starting DB's, knicked up WR's, and banged up starting corner. I hope AR cam get healthy before Texas A&M next week.

[Eric]

I wasn't surprised at the outcome of the game. Arkansas' defense isn't completely sound in my opinion. I know they only allowed 17 points, but Alabama's offense is pretty average. This would be the reason I don't see Arkansas beating LSU. Statistically they look better than they are, helped out by those games against Missouri State and New Mexico. A&M, Auburn, and Tennessee will be shootouts.

I still like their chances at making a BCS game if they go 10-2. I do think those will be shootouts, but Arkansas' offense is plenty good enough to win all of those games.

[Dossenator]

I wasn't surprised at the outcome of the game. Arkansas' defense isn't completely sound in my opinion. I know they only allowed 17 points, but Alabama's offense is pretty average. This would be the reason I don't see Arkansas beating LSU. Statistically they look better than they are, helped out by those games against Missouri State and New Mexico. A&M, Auburn, and Tennessee will be shootouts.

I still like their chances at making a BCS game if they go 10-2. I do think those will be shootouts, but Arkansas' offense is plenty good enough to win all of those games.

Everyone says that every year about LSU. However, Arkansas puts up points pretty easily against LSU (winning 3 of the last 4 years). Arkansas scored 31 on LSU in 2010, 30 points in 2009, 31 points in 2008, and 50 points in 2007. That is what gets me. LSU is right with Bama by seasons end (in defensive stats, rank, etc) yet Arkansas puts up 30+ points on LSU every year and averages just 13 points against Bama. Maybe it has something to do with Bama always at the beginning of the season and LSU the last game of the year.

Arkansas defense was minus their best player, and their second best player went down the first series of the game (two stud defensive ends). That hurt. It didn't help that Bama's oline was holding on almost every play. They never get flagged for holding...NEVER!!!!!!! Ark's defense played well enough to win the game. You just can't give up 14 points on special teams, and a pick six to the defense. Arkansas could not get a rushing game going....and they failed to try to go deep. So Bama's defense could pin their ears back and come all out at Wilson (they gave them that crossing pattern all game long but were ready to nail the WR's as soon as they caught the ball). I think Ark's defense will surprise you. For some reason Bama has been Petrino's thorn in his side for 4 years now. He can scheme and beat anyone else but Bama has his number.

The only way Bama loses a game this year is if they decide to not get up for an opponent and play sloppy (turning the ball over, etc). Basically they have to beat themselves. They experimented with their cupcakes to start the season but today was the team you will see the rest of the year.

[WoVeU]

IMO, I don't think any team can lose 2 DEs and beat a team that is ranked within 20 to maybe even 30 or 35 spots. It is the thinnest position in my opinion along with Strong Safety. QB is always noted, but that is because people much more readily notice their mistakes and there isn't anyone behind them to assist in diminishing the mistakes. It doesn't help at all when you get the worst case, injured very early in a game.

That being said, the one thing I tell all fans, when you play a whole lot of pass attack, especially throwing to the edges, and the "soft middle"...you are going to give up interceptions. Plan on 1 against average teams (probably more like 4 out of 5 games) and 1.5 to 2 against really good teams, depending on how they are schemed and your average yards per catch. I think, and fully believe the coaches think, it is worth it. But some "hard-butt" coaches do not coaches this correctly. They love to preach that you absolutely can not have TOs...but I think this leads to the real momentum problem in a game. The players get more deflated than they otherwise should.

But here is what blows my mind. Special Teams, if you are going to be pass happy, you have to good special teams play. If you pass a lot and your offense is covering 68 yards you are going to have a lot of pass plays. When you cover 85 yards you are going to have a whole lot of pass plays, 25% more yardage will probably lead to 20% more passes. They'll run more than they would for the normal mix the first 20 yards, but then due to leveraging that run action, they will make up for much of that from their 35 to the opponents 40.

[Vileborg]

Alright I'm pretty sold on Alabama. Their offense moved the ball, their defense did a good job on Arkansas, and their special teams sealed the deal.