After a Sunday to calm down and refocus...

[msudogsrule01]

<div>(stream of consciousness on)</div><div>
</div>I sat back and realized that Arkansas and Georgia were the only games we lost this year where we were never really in them going into the second half. And even the Georgia game, we catch a ball in the first half and who knows what happens.<div>
</div><div>We have lost six games to Top 25 teams. And is half of those, we were in the game to start the fourth and with a slightly better o-line, I think we win two of them. We should go out there Saturday, knowing what has to happen, and we should take care of business.</div><div>
</div><div>Mullen will go out and get some o-linemen this offseason. He isn't stupid, although he is still learning how to be a head coach. We don't have the luxury of having a guy who has seen everything and made those decisions yet. But really look at it, and you will see we aren't as far off as it seems. His first real recruiting class are mostly redshirt freshmen. Call me in two years if they aren't contributing as juniors.</div>

 

[EAVdog]

This season has not gone like I had hoped. I'm sure everyone here agrees. We've lost a couple we really should/could have won (Auburn and So. Carolina). The Zone Read Option offense is all about rushing first to set up the passing game. The first two seasons under Dan Mullen we ran the ball very well. We also had essentially the same line up at O-Line. We lost a ton of talent with Sherrod and Brignone graduating and Tobias Smith going down in the LSU game. Tobias going down threw the Line into complete disarray. Add in the injuries to Carmon through the season and we're suddenly relying on backups and reshirt Freshmen. Last year we average 215 yards a game on the ground, this year we're sitting at 161 per game. That's a huge drop off. Relf being banged up also hurts our rushing numbers.If you can't run the ball play calling becomes about trying to overcome your deficiencies and not relying on your strengths. That's a tough spot to beat in anything you do.

A lot of people are grumbling aboutrecruiting. Recruiting definitely needs to get better and it appears to be moving in the right direction.Even if some of the agencies don't give us the love we've got some talent already commited. Desper comes to mind,I've heard many say he's the best O Linemen in the State this year.But even if we had signed eight 5 star O-Linemen in the last two classesthey'd still be getting their first taste of SEC football this year. Experience is paramount on the O-Line. Which is why JUCO prospects are essential this year, they better get after a couple or three. Case in point is Auburn, their recruiting has been phenomenal since Chizik has been there I think they've been in the top 5 every year almost, at least top 10.But youth gets you killed in this league. We've played near identical schedules and most likely they'll end up 7-5 and we'll be 6-6. Had we won at Auburn like we should have we'd be 7-5 and they'd be 6-6. (a new rule change this yearkept Ballard's TD from counting, talk about bad luck)

I knowwhat I'm about to typeis going to be sunshine pumping, tell me to go to Gene's Page if it makes you feel better. But with all our injuries on the O-Line and having to replace 4 guys who went to the NFL, all while playing in the SEC West, getting back to a Bowl Game is a success. Is it good enough, no. Is it where I thought we'd be before the season, no. Do I want more and expect more from our team with Mullen at the healm, absolutely. Do I think Mullen wants more as well, absolutely. Yes we'll most likely, barring a travesty, end up 5th again the SEC West. Yes Mullenhas not beaten anyone but Nutt. Look at the BCS standings, look at Auburn who won the BCS last year. We're in a roughneighborhoodright now. We can get over thehump, but it's going to be hell trying.

The good news is that some of the backups and reshirt Freshmen have gotten some good experience on the O-Line. And at times they've played well. We still have the bulk of talent from Mullen's first class at WR and we've got a full stable of RB's. Nick Griffin is going to be a stud as long as he can stay healthy. Mullen has to lock down a few of these big fish still on the board though. There is a lot riding on this Off-Season. A whole lot.</p>

 

[patdog]

I noticed that Clausell played a lot at Arkansas. Did Carmon get hurt again?

 

[dawgstudent]

don't know why Clausell came in.

 

[MedDawg]

Their DE ran straight towards our QB unblocked. Thing is, we had a left tackle (Carmon?) AND a fullback (Hemphill) lined up right in front of their DE, and BOTH Carmon and Hemphill moved to their right towards the middle of the line (and ended up blocking no one as our left guard was doing just fine by himself) instead of blocking the DE. We had it setup for a double team on their DE and both of our guys missed their assignments.

 

[coach66]

of big fast receivers at this point. Arkansas blew our doors off on defense but frankly I think they do that to almost any team right now as they are playing their best ball. I look for them to hang 28 on LSU and for that game to go down to the wire. Arkansas is the most dangerous team in the NCAA right now.

 

[dawgatUSM]

That was a first for this year.

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

We tried a cute little pull play with Hemphill when all he had to do was stay where he was and block. Unfortunately this is happening in other phases of the offensive gameplan as well.

 

[El Gringo Loco]

The OL has been the biggest disappointment of the year and the reason for 6-6. Mullen whiffed on recruiting a quality LT last season(and Saturday we played against the one he got outrecruited on). And losing Tobias was just devastating.The R Fr center we have had to play since Tobias went down at RG...he just got abused at times on Saturday.

Recruiting. Mullen MUST get some quality OL juco's and he must do what ever it takes to compete against our SEC foes in recruiting..<heck i wished we'd have ponied up the $180K and hid it well like Auburn did for Cam Newton last year>. And no more recruiting meltdowns like the January nightmare last year. If Mullen cant recruit...we cant win against the SEC big boys. As much as i hate to say it, we were just outclassed by superior talent at Arkansas saturday...I just hate giving compliments to a fan base that is wearing a hog hat just above their snouts....

 

[Foronce]

who are you talking about?

 

[Hector.sixpack]

and did just as good...whatever that means.

 

[dgsmith15]

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