Ask Mike: Overlooking UAB, Taylen’s Jitters & Does This Team Have Bulletin Board Issues?

Q. Our first question is from mousetown who asks: Why do Sam Pittman’s teams play so much better on the road that at home? The defense put on a show in front of Oklahoma State’s fans. They looked sluggish and clueless against a UAB team that scored 6 points against La Monroe the week before. That’s crazy. Explain it.

A. I’ll give you their explanation. Sam Pittman said because they were beat up from the Oklahoma State game five defensive starters had to practice in green jerseys and because of that the practices didn’t go that well. He also noted that defensive coordinator Travis Williams was in and out of practice the week before because his wife gave birth to a daughter. Landon Jackson acknowledged that Williams’ absence affect the defense but he said, That was on us. We needed to show more discipline. He has a right to miss some time to be with is wife and we should have has his back and we didn’t.

On the offensive side of the ball Ja’Quinden Jackson, who had a great day running the ball, said that Taylen Green was anxious when the game started. Jackson said he kept telling Green, breathe and play football.

The bottom line, Green and the defense adjusted and played better in the second half but the game will still to close for comfort.

I think it’s pretty clear that Arkansas’ players overlooked UAB after the way the Blazers got dominated by Louisiana-Monroe. However this UAB team, with a lot of the same players including their QB, scored 21 on Georgia last year so Arkansas defenders should have been more aware of that and more respectful of who they were playing. But this sort of thing is not uncommon. Georgia did the same thing against Kentucky and almost got beat. It’s just that Arkansas fans aren’t in a mood to be forgiving right now. They expected more from this team and until Arkansas starts winning some SEC games those fans are going to be less tolerant.

Q. We have two questions about Taylen Green in Saturday’s game. Hogtallica says: I’m a big Taylen Green fan but there are times when he will try to get a big play downfield rather than dumping the ball off for a short play that keeps the chains moving. What say you?

And BloodRedHog asks: Are you seeing improvement with Taylen’s ability to make the correct read and throw the ball accurately? Scrambling out of the pocket on pass plays usually won’t work against SEC opponents.

A. This is not an easy subject to sort out. On the one hand yes, you would like your new quarterback to run plays correctly and stop improvising so much. Former Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner, who hosts sports talk show in Houston, has been saying for two weeks that Green needs to be benched until he shows more discipline.

I get his point but I also remember another Arkansas quarterback with freakish skills. His name is Matt Jones and Houston Nutt was always trying to get him kid to run the plays and stop improvising. The problem with that was simple. Matt was so good at making up his own stuff that his plays worked often better than the play that was called. I get the need for Taylen Green to continue to working on running the offense as the plays dictate. But if I’m Bobby Petrino I don’t want to take away Green’s ability to create his own play when when things go wrong. He did it several times on Saturday and it worked. Will it not work in SEC games?
Sometimes maybe but as we saw against Oklahoma State, Green can improvise against a quality defense and make it work.

Q. ChitownHawg recalls: Last show you said there were two groups of fans-negative and optimists. What about the fans who have concerns? We don’t want Sam fired, yet we do see the problems he has created. The negative on Hogville that want Sam fired is the smallest group. So why spend two weeks talking about the smallest group?

A. First of all I wasn’t really referring to Hogville but mainly X and Facebook. Also I broke the fan base into two groups for a reason. The largest group contains fans with all kinds of opinions on what’s wrong and how to fix it. To me these people are rational.

The smallest group is also the one that makes the most noise on social media. Their opinions don’t vary much. Pretty much every argument begins and ends with the same talking point. It’s Sam Pittman’s fault. Fire Pittman and start over or nothing will change.

Last week I was pretty sure that those people were wrong and that Pittman would be back. I’m less sure of that now. The biggest issue I see right now is the way his football teams have played at home in 2022, 2023 and in the home opener this season. When did all of this start? I think it was the loss to Liberty in 2022. That 2021 win over Texas is the kind of stuff that gets the fans behind you. But when you can’t seem to get your guys playing with fire and playing smart at home, you will lose those fans. There’s still time to show Arkansas fans that this is not last year’s team but Saturday, in the first home game of the season, they looked a lot like last year’s team.

Q. Snoop Hog says: We also didn’t have two key secondary players but yes, they definitely regressed this week.

A. I don’t consider that an excuse. It’s reality and it was a factor in the game. But the bottom line is, this team has to overcome injuries. All teams have them. Arkansas has enough depth in the secondary that the absence of Jaylon Braxton and Hudson Clark should not have caused big issues.

Q. KYHog says: How about Number 1 Georgia having the hang on against Kentucky? We’re not the only team that overlooked a team based on the terrible game they had the week before.

A. Yes, the same thing that happened to Arkansas, happened to Georgia. But here’s the bottom line: This team is carrying the mistakes and failures of this football program on its back going all he way back to that ill fated John L. Smith season. Each team should be judged on what it does and doesn’t do, not what happened the year before or farther back than that. But it doesn’t work that way. It may not be fair but it’s reality. This team has to start winning SEC games starting this week.

Q. TimTeNO says: At the end of the day a win is a win and gets us one step closer to a bowl game. The power of positivity works! Wouldn’t you agree?

A. If only it were that simple but it’s not. I don’t have an issue with fans being positive no matter what. Every football program needs super loyal fans but criticism, especially when it’s justified, helps.

Q. Pigsfeat says: Don’t know about you but I was impressed with the coaching of Trent Dilfer! He had his team ready and believing. If he had more talent….

A. To me Dilfer has been a mixed bag. UAB has had some big wins over the past two seasons but they’ve laid a lot of eggs like to two weeks ago against Louisiana-Monroe. Last year they beat South Florida 56-37 but turned around and lost to Texas San Antonio 41-20.

Q. John says: Players shouldn’t do midweek pressers.

A. I disagree. Players should be better prepared for midweek pressers. It should not be hard for the coaches to explain that they don’t want bulletin board material coming out of press conferences. Watch what you say. It’s part of becoming an adult.

Q. Marty Byrde’s proxy wants to know: What’s the story with Jarius Wright and Joe Adams being turned away from the football facility? There has to be more to this story. In what context did this happen?

A. That story was based on a social media post by one of the wives. That post has since been taken down. The athletic department has remained silent on the matter. It sounds like there was some miscommunication involved.

Q. WVHogfan asks: Which SEC teams do you think will make the 12 team playoff?

A. Right now Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss, Tennessee ,Missouri and Oklahoma are still unbeaten and mentioned as possible playoff teams. Based on what I’ve seen so far, I envision a maximum of four and maybe five in the field of 12. If that holds I’d go with Georgia, Tennessee, Texas & Ole Miss. I’d include Alabama if five SEC teams get in.

Q. T.L. Slaten wants to know: Why do I keep hearing that Barry Odom will be the next head coach at Arkansas? Why is he the guy?

A. It’s speculation. Some think Odom would keep Petrino because he hired Petrino before Petrino went to A&M. Other believe that Odom would love the chance to come back as the head coach and especially if his UNLV team continues to win games he might be one of the few successful head coaches who would take this job.

Q. Hotdogger asks: Why do we have to have co-players of the week? Can’t we just pick one?

A. The SEC decides that and I think it’s pretty obvious that the conference is trying to promote as many players around the league as possible. If two players each had a special performance they don’t want to appear to favor one team over another.

Q: The_Bionic_Pig says: Hypothetical fun question. Which former Razorback defensive coordinator in their youth could evolve and be effective against today’s OC’s……

Fred Goldsmith

Monte Kiffin

Keith Burns

Dave Womack

Reggie Herring

A. Kiffin was head and shoulders above Goldsmith, much better than Herring and Burns and better than Womack. So he would have the most success if he were coaching in today’s game.

Q. sgiles asks: Did you have a chance to watch the Central Florida-TCU game and if you did how did K. J Jefferson look to you?

A. I thought he played well. He looked more like he looked at Arkansas in 2021. He led UCF back from a big deficit to a win over the Frogs. It was a big win for Malzahn.

Q. The Hawk Hawkins says: I see where your good buddy Dink-O-Witz is the leading candidate to replace Billy Napier at Florida. Would he leave Mizzou for the swamp? They’ll throw some big time bucks at him.

A. I don’t think he’s the leading candidate but if I were him I would avoid the Florida job. He’s better off where he is. If his Missouri teams continue to win he can get a better job than Florida if he decides to leave Missouri.

Q. Armon Abbe says: I’m losing interest in this football team. Until basketball begins here’s a question for you. I take it that you are a 60’s high school guy. So what is you favorite Beatles tune? If you don’t like the Beatles I’m dumping this show.

A. I’ll leave Mr. Abbe with my own question. My favorite Beatles song was maybe the last one written by Lennon & McCartney and one of he last that all four Beatles recorded together. Another performer was also involved. So what’s the song?