My homer rationalization for why we can beat Arkansas.....

[Pat Pat]

Look at what we've done against drop back passers this year. We killed the Memphis guys, we played Murray (who's pretty damn good) well, we beat up on Houston's guy and Hartline at Kentucky. We effed Brantley's world up too. Can't really remember what UAB brought at us, but we just didn't show up to play that night. LSU and Alabama don't count because they just have better talent, everywhere. If I remember correctly, Jefferson beat us with his legs too. Auburn has Newton, cased closed. His running ability on 3rd downs beat us. Alcorn's guy gave us trouble. #8 for Florida gave us trouble.

Also, our offense is good enough to grind it out vs. their defense. We are at home.

But acknowledging that Mallett is a oncea decade type talent, and they are playing their best ball right now, we'll have to get some breaks.

 

[LTblows]

1.) Mallet's a pocket-passer, albeit a damn good one.
2.) It's at DWS.
3.) Our offense can make it to where their offense hardly ever gets to the field. And they're 8th in rushing defense. This will be similar to the "How to Beat Florida Handbook"

 

[Pat Pat]

namely a fumble or two and some missed FGs.Mallett getting shaken up (not bad, just enough to knock him out of this game for a while) wouldn't hurt my feelings. </p>

 

[MaroonedNdaRock]

I think we can win because....

1. All three of our losses have been against physical teams with better talent. Arkansas is not a physical football team. They do havea talent advantage atthe WR and QBpositions though. So, we will need a turnoveror two, some sacks, and hope they arecalled forholding a time or two. Along the line of scrimmage, I think it is push. Maybe our OL has and advantage over their DL. "But they played Bama well and we did not?" Arkansas had been pointing to the Bama game all year. They were jacked sky high and wanted that game badly. Bama got Arkansas' absolute best shot and stillwon at their place.

2. We will be able to run the ball, playing keep away with their offense. "They shut down Lattimore and USC?" Lattimore was hurt and Spurrier did what Spurrier always does when he falls behind. He panicked and threw the ball all over the park.Lattimore had 11 carries that game. That plays right into Petrinos hands. He wants to lengthen the game and trade possessions with you. Mullen and company will not do that. "They ran all over USCs defense?" UK put up alot of points on USC too.

3. The defense will rise to the level of competition. We have seen it all year. 17n Alcorn moved the ball some. UAB moved the ball some. But we went into the swamp and held UF enough to win...same for the UGA and UK games. The defense held Newton and AU close enough to win if we make just one play here or there. They are basically the same offensive team we played last year. Defensively, I think we are better than last year and we are at home.

4. It is senior day. We will be focused. On the other hand,they have already chalked this game up as a win. Petrino is saying all the right things to the media in regards to the State game. But everyone west of the Mississippi River is talking about beating LSU and playing in sunny Florida New Years Day.

 

[miss daisy]

State's players just didn't look focused for the Alabama game, and I can't say that I blame them, given the circumstances they were under over the past weeks. My understanding is Nick Bell's mom came and spoke to the team right before the game as well. My sense (and I do have a Ph.D. in cognitive psych and about 20 publications in this area so this isn't just complete ********) was that the players were not playing with any "flow" during that Alabama game, and to play at that elite level you must be in a state of complete focus in order to react at the speeds necessary. Go back and look at some of the defensive plays, and some of our guys were literally standing still while the play unfolded, and then kind of "switch on" a few hundred milliseconds later. I can duplicate exactly that kind of reaction in my own research by overtaxing a person's central executive system - the "attention stuff" that we use to make quick decisions. It's the same situation when people are talking on the phone and driving around - the road is right in front of them, burning a hole in their retina, but they ain't seeing it.

Given the overwhelming emotional loss those boys were experiencing, and having that loss "refreshed" in their minds with the visit from Nick's mom, I am convinced that a lot of the time they were out there thinking about their brother and ruminating on just what the hell life is supposed to mean instead of being focused on football. Not a criticism of those fellas or Nick's momma or the coach at all. Put yourself in one of our DB's shoes, and think about this being the first game where every time you look at that line of scrimmage for the start of a play you see there's a spot on it that isn't going to be filled the same way ever again. That's gonna make it hard to concentrate on football, and any ideas about "win it for Nick" or that kind of stuff in my mind is pretty cheap - winning a football game isn't going to bring your friend back, and probably about the last damn thing on your mind under those circumstances.

So, I expect we will see a much more focused team this week, in fact I would predict there are some boys on that defense that are looking forward to escaping for a few hours into this Arkansas game at maximum !%%!!+ intensity. Mallet gonna get broken.

 

[Hutchinson11]

only way we win this game is if it continues to rain and the field is sopping wet to were they cant run receivers and throw the ball. they will be left with only grind it out hard nose football the only way we play

 

[LTblows]

but yeah, that'll help.

 

[DawgWild]

most of the game we won this year were because we won the turnover ratio. i know that's pretty much an obvious but we can't give Arkansas the ball in an easy position to score and our defense and special teams need to force a few turnovers. It would be nice if Pernell would have the game of his career and absolutely demolish Mallet.

 

[MSUDawg25]

States credentials. Posits a theory. Provides credible resources to back up said theory.

Then again, football isn't always a science.

 

[Todd4State]

that Ellis Johnson, as good as he was, would have at least one WTF? game of the year where his defense would look horrible.

 

[skydawg1]

I found this sentence to be very moving...<div>
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">

Put yourself in one of our DB's shoes, and think about this being the first game where every time you look at that line of scrimmage for the start of a play you see there's a spot on it that isn't going to be filled the same way ever again.

</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">
</span></div>

 

[Hogwyld58]

I expect State to bring it on Saturday evening, being senior night and coming off a loss to the Gumps.

Reasons why I think we'll pull this one out in a close ball game.

#1 Mallett vs State's DB's
#2 Our newly found balanced offense
#3 State's inability to throw the ball deep
#4 Our 4 game winning streak

I hope it's a safe game for all the players involved....

Please dear God Beat OM in the Egg Bowl!!!

WPS!

 

[bendog]

(Good post, though.)