Spit out a little of my coffee yesterday when reading predictions from AP national college football writer Ralph Russo, who picked Arkansas to reach the BCS title game in 2012.
Winning is certainly about Jimmys and Joes, and this team does have an impressive collection of talent. But the most impressive part of that program the last few years -- the part that made the Razorbacks a feared team -- was the guy at the controls.
Put me in the camp that believes Arky will be diminished without the disgraced Hell's Angel. Gary Danielson had it right with his take in this article:
People are really downgrading the importance of Bobby Petrino at Arkansas.
"These great programs don't run on autopilot like a 747. An upper-tier SEC football team is like a fighter jet -- you have to have somebody who can make adjustments during a game. When Arkansas lost Bobby Petrino, they lost their fighter pilot, who was really good at making adjustments on the fly.
"Yes, [QB] Tyler Wilson is a very good player, but my sense is that it is going to be good for opponents to play them later rather than earlier. As the season goes along it is going to be tougher to hold that thing together."
Whenever there's a coaching change, you're always going to hear worship of new ideas and dismissing of old ones. That's definitely the case in this article, in which an Arkansas defensive player goes a little too heavy on the John L. Smith Kool-Aid.
Ross Rasner noticed a startling change early in preseason camp.
The Arkansas safety was accustomed to serving as a defense in name only during the skeleton scrimmage portion of practice, a time when the offense had its way under former coach Bobby Petrino.
Then one night during an early August practice, Rasner's instincts took over and he knocked the ball away from a receiver. Afterward, he paused and waited for criticism he said he had become used to in his three seasons under Petrino.
All he heard were cheers.
Times have changed around Arkansas under new coach John L. Smith and defensive coordinator Paul Haynes. The most telling difference is in practices, where defensive players are now encouraged to hold their own with the Razorbacks' high-powered offense. Last weekend, the defense stopped the offense on five straight possessions at one point.
"The defensive guys aren't afraid to make plays out there, where in the past you might lay off a receiver and not break up a pass because ..." Rasner said, trailing off. "We were an offensive-minded team, there's no doubt about that, but with coach Smith coming in ... he's a defensive coach, so there's a definite change already."
This AP poll voter has Clemson in his Top 10.
Then again, the past six years he had non-SEC teams at No. 1.
He's one of the few pundits who think Clemson will repeat as ACC champs.
Andy Staples ventures to Tallahassee and seems to buy into the popular notion that the Seminoles might really be back.
Athlon asks anonymous coaches to size up ACC competition. Here's a take on Clemson:
“Everyone is going to start with the Orange Bowl blowout. How in the world do you give up 70 points — in a football game? I think (Dabo) Swinney actually can use that game as a positive this year. Obviously it will be a major source of motivation, and he’ll certainly have to spin it the right way or the Tigers could regress this season.
Don’t feel too bad for Swinney: He’s gonna be just fine, especially with what he has back on offense. By no means is quarterback Tajh Boyd an unknown, but I really think he’s still vastly underrated. A terrific dual-threat that continues to get better and better and better.
Wide receiver Sammy Watkins was a beast last year. It’s scary to think how much better he can get. With Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson’s got two of the nation’s top receiving threats. And don’t forget about running back Andre Ellington. The Tigers have some serious talent on the offensive side of the ball.
The defense had some issues last year, surrendering a ton of points late in the regular season. New coordinator Brent Venables needs to have an immediate impact.
The sad thing for Clemson is last year’s 8–0 start seems like it was five years ago. Has a conference championship ever felt so dissatisfying?"
In The Charlotte Observer, perhaps more disclosure by universities would help promote accountability and prevent scandals such as the one we're seeing in Chapel Hill.
Observer columnist Tom Sorensen weighs in on the ugliness.
Nice game for Dwayne Allen last night. Very impressed with his versatility and knowledge of the offense.
This ESPN writer gushes about Allen in a column from last week.
Said Andrew Luck: "He's done a great job. He's really adapting, he's got great short-area burst, great short-area quickness and he's a lot of fun to play around."
Rookie receiver T.Y. Hilton could certainly understand it if the Colts rarely pull Allen from the offensive huddle.
“For his size and the things he’s doing?” Hilton said. “It’s incredible. I haven’t seen anyone like him. Running over people, he can block, and his route running is phenomenal.”
The early comfort level shouldn’t be a surprise.
“They are not asking me to do anything different than I’ve already done in college,” Allen said of his tape from Clemson. “I moved around a lot and showed a lot of versatility in college, especially this past year. So they’re just utilizing my talents.”
“Can I block? Yes. And I pride myself in my blocking. But I also think I am a hell of a receiver. And I pride myself on my route running and catching the ball.”
LW
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