I was talked into attending; thoughts...

[FlabLoser]

Dixon was a man on a mission. He put hammer down. A 60+ yard breakaway around the left end, out running all the UPig DB's - are you kidding me? He made one-handed falling down grabs in the endzone. He delivered the mail.

The OL moved the line of scrimmage at times. They opened holes.

On what "looked" like an off day for our QB, he thew 58% for 219 yards, 2 TDs, and zero picks. The days of Henig throwing for 89 yards, 0 TDs, and 2 picks seems like 100 years ago.

The offense played like they had nothing to lose. Later Croom said in postgame that he had a hands-off approach to the offense this week.

The win was refreshing. A real shot in the arm. It shows our recruits that the program isn't a lost cause. But having exactly one good performance on the season shouldn't excuse our coaches. Its time.

 

[dawgatUSM]

I wholeheartedly agree. I realize Arky is a bad Defense, but with taht same AD all year we win 7 games. Now, if we could just figure out how to coach.

 

[FlabLoser]

Arkansas' defense could not be worse than LA Tech's. A bad SEC defense has to be better than a mediocre CUSA defense, right?

Where was this offense when we played LA Tech?

If we play with this much passion* & competence on offense all season long, we win 9 or 11 games in the regular season. Seriously - besides, Alabama we ought to have been able to beat anybody on our schedule. The SEC West is exceptionally weak and we didn't play any hard teams from the East. Even then there's a chance we upset Alabama and end up the most over-rated undefeated team in the nation. LOL

*Speaking of passion, I hypothesize the passion came from the players simply seeing Croom keep his bumbling hands off the offense.

 

[biguglyjoe]

He was the #2 tackler in the SEC prior to today's game.

<table style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-family: verdana; color: black; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: xx-small; text-align: right;"> <tbody> <tr style="background: navy none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: white; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-weight: bold;"> <th style="text-align: left;" colspan="2">TACKLES (All positions)</th> <th style="text-align: left;">Cl</th> <th>G</th> <th style="text-align: left;">Pos.</th> <th>Solo</th> <th>Ast.</th> <th>Total</th> <th>Avg/G</th> <th>Sacks</th> </tr> <tr> <td>1.</td> <td style="text-align: left;">Rennie Curran-UG</td> <td style="text-align: left;">SO</td> <td>11</td> <td style="text-align: left;">
</td> <td>54</td> <td>44</td> <td>98</td> <td>8.9</td> <td>3.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2.</td> <td style="text-align: left;">Dominic Douglas-MS</td> <td style="text-align: left;">SR</td> <td>10</td> <td style="text-align: left;">LB</td> <td>38</td> <td>46</td> <td>84</td> <td>8.4</td> <td>0.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3.</td> <td style="text-align: left;">Ellix Wilson-UT</td> <td style="text-align: left;">SR</td> <td>9</td> <td style="text-align: left;">LB</td> <td>43</td> <td>32</td> <td>75</td> <td>8.3</td> <td>1.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> <td style="text-align: left;">Micah Johnson-UK</td> <td style="text-align: left;">JR</td> <td>9</td> <td style="text-align: left;">LB</td> <td>49</td> <td>26</td> <td>75</td> <td>8.3</td> <td>1.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5.</td> <td style="text-align: left;">Patrick Benoist-VU</td> <td style="text-align: left;">JR</td> <td>10</td> <td style="text-align: left;">LB</td> <td>42</td> <td>41</td> <td>83</td> <td>8.3</td> <td>2.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td>6.</td> <td style="text-align: left;">Chris Marve-VU</td> <td style="text-align: left;">FR</td> <td>10</td> <td style="text-align: left;">LB</td> <td>43</td> <td>36</td> <td>79</td> <td>7.9</td> <td>2.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td>7.</td> <td style="text-align: left;">B. Spikes-UF</td> <td style="text-align: left;">JR</td> <td>9</td> <td style="text-align: left;">LB</td> <td>37</td> <td>33</td> <td>70</td> <td>7.8</td> <td>2.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td>8.</td> <td style="text-align: left;">Ryan Hamilton-VU</td> <td style="text-align: left;">JR</td> <td>10</td> <td style="text-align: left;">
</td> <td>38</td> <td>39</td> <td>77</td> <td>7.7</td> <td>1.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td>9.</td> <td style="text-align: left;">Braxton Kelley-UK</td> <td style="text-align: left;">SR</td> <td>11</td> <td style="text-align: left;">LB</td> <td>44</td> <td>38</td> <td>82</td> <td>7.5</td> <td>3.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10.</td> <td style="text-align: left;">Emanuel Cook-SC</td> <td style="text-align: left;">JR</td> <td>11</td> <td style="text-align: left;">SS</td> <td>61</td> <td>20</td> <td>81</td> <td>7.4</td> <td>0.0</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

 

[OEMDawg]

Dixon didn't run worth a crap in that La Tech game, but this offense WAS there against La Tech....until Carroll threw his 2nd int. Then Crooms got scared and went into his shell offense. That is why the "players don't execute" excuse carries such little weight. Crooms has these guys strung so tight that if they make one little mistake, he completely abandons it and goes into conservative mode. And that's the sad part about the whole Crooms situation. We have a head coach, coming off a bowl win, and he's still scared to take chances.

 

[dawgatUSM]

Not to mention... The deep pass was one of the most beautiful plays i've seen this year, and if any other receiver besides Smith is on that it's 6.

 

[Stormrider81]

hits like a bunch of girls. When Dixon is asked to take serious hits, break fundamental tackles, and carry the load against a competent defense he plays like crap. When he plays a crappy defense he typically has a good game. Dixon is the most overrated MSU players in recent memory.</p>

 

[dawgatUSM]

While I agree that he is overrated... You have to give him credit where credit is due...

He did no prancing like he usually does on runs up the middle, and he usually gained about 5-7 yards on those. On the 60+ yarder, I was expecting him to be caught by the CB and safety behind him, but he was actually running away from them. Finally, he made a one handed, jumping grab for a TD pass, that if he doesn't catch, it may be Intercepted.

 

[BlindDawg]

Dixon is the most overrated MSU players in recent memory.

Couldn't agree more with that statement. I'll give him credit for today. He played well, and his first TD catch was a great one. But I think he's the 3rd best back on our team. Ducre (if he could get out of Croom's doghouse) and Stallworth (if he got as many opportunities as Dixon) are both better runners. Ducre falling out of favor with Croom for no apparent reason other than producing is one of the most baffling things I've ever seen. Dixon should have been moved to fullback after his freshman year.

 

[FlabLoser]

But he's our weakest one between the eardrums.