Gets worse for John L Smith...

[Dossenator]

I knew he was quirky coming into the season. He has been on the Arkansas staff the four previous seasons. However, I honestly think something is wrong with him. I think the stress is getting to him. His finances alone would be enough to cause health issues (in the whole 25 million dollars). Then his younger brother dies this past week. And the Razorbacks returned the core of it's 11-2 team (I believe 16 starters returned...not including Knile Davis and a couple of other players returning from injury), and still start the season 1-3 (only beating a Div 2 school so far).

Today John L spoke the Razorback Touchdown Club in Little Rock. It is beyond me why anyone would continue to allow this man to speak in public. The atmosphere was described as being so tense you could cut it with a butter knife. He was asked a question about the teams stuggles and he said "That's the state of the Alabama program right now". The room booed him, and he had no clue why they were booing (maybe a low murmer, but still audible displeasure). Later someone told him and he apologized. Yes, a simple mistake but the man makes the whole bigger and bigger every time he opens his mouth. He started making crazy claims that Bobby Petrino will be the head coach at Auburn next season (may happen but why talk about stuff like that 2 weeks before you play Auburn). He was asked about the execution of the coaches and he said "That would be a good idea" (you think). He said that the coaches need to simplify what they are doing and make sure the players can execute those plays. Then Tyler Wilson said today that Ark is too predictable on offense, and that it needed to change. John L is losing it...if he ever had it.

Here are a few of his fine coaching decisions during the Rutgers game:
1. Used all 3 first half time outs in the first 11 min of game. 1 was needed to keep from getting a penalty. The other two were bind blowing bad decisions. For the life of me could not figure out what he was doing. Reminded me of the Houston Nutt years (Nutt always burned his timeouts early).

2. Ark was having trouble running the ball in first quarter (they shouldn't be but that is another story). Ark is up 3-0, and it is 4th and 2 on the redzone. He chose to go for it, and Ark ran the same sorry running play that has not worked all year with Knile Davis who is clearly not 100% healthy yet. Stuffed for a loss and the score could have easily been 6-0 if he had kicked the fieldgoal.

3. Ark was down by 8 points at the beginning of the 4th quarter. Ark scores a TD and he goes for 2 instead of getting the extra point. With that much time left you take the point. Failed 2 point conversion, Rutgers scores and know Hogs are down by 9 and need two scores....not one. Oh...if you kick the field goal at the beginning you would not be in that situation.

4. Mid 4th quarter on Rutgers 3rd down play a Rutgers player is hurt. The refs stop the clock and trainers are attending to the hurt player. After at least a minute of the clock being stopped John L runs over to a ref and calls a freaking time out. And they let him. What kind of moron calls a time out when the clock is all ready stopped. Fans began to boo at that point.

5. Then 6 minutes left in game...Ark down by 9...Ark has the ball at mid field and it is 4th down. You need two scores and your defensive secondary is playing terribly...so what do you do. Most coaches would go for it on 4th down in that situation. No, John L punts and Rutgers runs the clock out because the defense could not stop them.

He was aggressive when he should not be and conservative when he should not be. You would think he had never coached a game before.

The team does lack focus, and I have no doubt that is a direct result of John L Smith being the coach. I still support the AD for firing Bobby Petrino. It has to be done. But Bobby would have this team at 3-1 at worst right now. Tyler Wilson said in an interview that he was fearful coming to the sidelines when Bobby was the coach and the offense failed to score on a drive. Not sure fear is the best way to motivate but Bobby's teams were prepared, focused, and played hard every snap. They knew what their assignments were and they executed. John L is the complete opposite. He is the players best friend, jokes around with them, and I am not sure the players truly respect him. They just like that he is not hard on them. I think there is a happy medium to be found, but you need pressure to succeed. If not, most of us become lazy.

I am going to miss a Razorback game for the first time in about 20 years. I am going out of town with my family for the weekend. My wife was shocked when I said sure I will go. The Aggies may beat Ark worse then Bama did. They want revenge for Ark beating them 3 straight, and it will be their first SEC game in College Station. They smell the blood, and I think this Ark team has little fight left in them. I will go to the games I have tickets for but will do things with my wife and daughter on the other weekends.

I will predict if Ark starts the season 1-5 that John L Smith will step down and say it is due to health reasons. That would give whoever is going to finish the season two weeks before Ark's next game, and at least the craziness he spews out will stop. Arkansas is all ready the butt of every joke, but John L has taking it to a whole new level. I can't watch any college sports program without the hosts openly laughing at Arkansas. I think I may start joining in. Things are so bad that they are becoming comical. And maybe someone on this staff can bring a little bit of discipline to the team...at the very least stop the bleeding. I fear that ship has sailed though.

Is it almost next season yet?

[Dossenator]

John L Smith today at Razorback TD Club in Little Rock: http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=b4MRgPET ... 4MRgPETMIk

[Swamp Daddy]

Well, after tonights game against Texas A&M or whatever, I guess you could say for John L. when it rains it not only pours; but, down come the frogs and maybe the cats and dogs too.

Swamp Daddy

[WoVeU]

I can't believe they haven't fired this guy yet?!?!!?

[Swamp Daddy]

Petrino ruled through fear (read some of the articles on his methods. John L. plays the good guy; and, this team has flat quit. They are no longer motivated; so, some of the blame lies with them.

Swamp Daddy

[Dossenator]

Arkansas returned 17 starters from a team that won 11 games last year. Just crazy! Hard to fathom. Jeff Long said a few days before the A&M game that John L Smith and crew would be the coaches until the end of the season. He was quite clear in his statement. So, we have a lame duck interim coaching staff, a team struggling to keep guys healthy, and a team with lots of guys that have just quit.

I mean Ark's defense ranks between 110-120 in every category out of 120 div 1 teams. They are pathetic. They have no drive, no desire, and apparently little to no coaching.

Ark faces a terrible Auburn team this next Sat....an Auburn team that will be without one of their top WR's and has a struggling QB. Auburn will destroy Arkansas and their QB will look like a Heisman candidate in the process.

Ark will go 1-11 this year....everyone tells me every week they will win a few games but I don't see a win on their schedule.

This will go down as the worst Arkansas team in the history of the school. This season almost makes me wish we had Jack Crowe, or Danny Ford back. It also makes the Houston Nutt years look like glory years.

The seasons of Frank Broyles, Lou Holtz, Ken Hatfield, and yes, Bobby Petrino seem like ancient history.

I can't believe I am saying this but I can't wait for this season to be over, and I have never wished that before.

[Vileborg]

It's hard to believe that much talent is playing this bad. There has to be no coaching behind the scenes at all. They are behind Hawaii in my predictor at 113 of 124

[Swamp Daddy]

Poor John L. is fast becoming the butt of the hog for jokes, check this sarcasm out:

http://network.yardbarker.com/college_f ... h/11853859

However, John L. has earned everyone.

And, check out the neat, new Petrino T-shirt. Best one yet.

Swamp Daddy

[Dossenator]

John L Smith pointed out in his press conference today that Auburn's offense is ranked 117 in nation...he referred to it as dysfunctional. Well, Ark's defense is ranked 116 in nation. Something has to give. I think Auburn's number will improve while Ark will plunged 4 more spots to bottom. Watch yet another QB have a Heisman performance against Ark.

[Eric]

If he really used the word "dysfunctional," he is the last person who ought to be using that word.

[donovan]

If he really used the word "dysfunctional," he is the last person who ought to be using that word.

I think there is light for John L.......getting out of denial is the first step to recovery.

[Yeofoot]

After the Monroe game, I put a Longhorn sign on the wall next to a Hog fan in my office...jokingly said I'd take it down when Arkansas has a winning record. Wow. It might be up there for a while.

Yes, I am thoroughly enjoying living in Arkansas this year...unfortunately, all my Hog buddies didn't talk any trash the last two years about Texas, so I have been pretty quiet.

[WoVeU]

After the Monroe game, I put a Longhorn sign on the wall next to a Hog fan in my office...jokingly said I'd take it down when Arkansas has a winning record. Wow. It might be up there for a while.

Yes, I am thoroughly enjoying living in Arkansas this year...unfortunately, all my Hog buddies didn't talk any trash the last two years about Texas, so I have been pretty quiet.

Sounds like me, I modulate my oral composting according to how much the mouths around me deserve return fertilizing!

[Dossenator]

John L's woes grow. New court documents filed today show his debt is no 40 million dollars....not 25 million. Shows he has had to cash out his retirement just to pay his monthly bills. Not sure how he can be focused on football when his world around him is crumbling. Losing his younger brother last week was not easy I am sure.

AD Jeff Long new about John L's financial woes before he brought him on board. Why would you do such a thing? There were all ready plenty of distractions without adding to it.

Just crazy.

I did not hear him say dysfunctional but a few people told me he said it. I have not watched that particular press conference. I would not put it past him though.

Ark started season ranked number 8 and are now ranked 96. Good news is they get number 60 something Auburn this week and follow that up with number 100 something Kentucky. Still might not be enough to get a win though.

[Yeofoot]

I read an article by Kirk Bohls (The Austin version of Wally Hall), that Wally Hall told him that Petrino was so offensive minded that he had 17 wide receivers on scholarship last year and defense was an afterthought. If that is true, Petrino still bears some of this blame.