My Thoughts - Vanderbilt

There's too many problems to mention. Last week, I felt like I had a good handle on the things that were good and bad. This week I don't even know where to start.

My biggest issue with the head coach's decision making has hardly been discussed in the media or message boards. With 4:25 left in the third quarter and holding a four point lead, Arkansas faces a fourth down and 2 from the Vanderbilt 23 yard line. No problem, right? It's not fourth and inches and being up seven points is better than being up four. What? Calling a timeout? Why? Can't make up your mind again, Houston? You're going for it? Is that Tommy Tuberville down there? Let's see...you just got a momentum changing interception...your kicker nailed a 37 yarder earlier in the game...and now it's just three yards further. Instead we run a poorly executed option and lose yardage...turnover on downs. And since Vanderbilt wouldn't have had to go for two later on, those three points eliminated by the coach are the difference between losing the game...and your job...and going into overtime with at least a chance to keep the faithful from revolting.

We blitzed way too much in this game. I'm not down on Coach Herring yet like some people. But when your head continues to get bloodied after banging it against the wall over and over, you need to try something else. It was obvious at the beginning of the fourth quarter that we were having little if any major effect on Jay Cutler's effectiveness with the blitz. In fact, a few of the times when we didn't "send the house," the defensive line actually got a decent pass rush. Either way, when you're ahead by 11 points to begin the fourth quarter, shouldn't you adjust your defensive strategy to be a little less risky? In short, I'll be hoping to see better in-game adjustments as Coach Herring learns more about the...uh...strengths of his squad.

I've always said that statistics are for losers. And 11 total yards on 8 plays of offense in the fourth quarter are statistics for losers. On the most crucial series of the game, we were three plays and out with Robert Johnson giving Vandy an assist by running out of bounds. The gift of those extra 30 seconds would later be used to beat his team.

Execution on special teams looks to be completely sporadic all year. All of the sudden, Michael Coe can't catch a punt after looking good last week. After two muffs (that were fortunately recovered by the Hogs), Coe was (correctly) fired and replaced by Felix Jones. Makes you wonder, though, why Peyton Hillis wasn't replaced last week after losing two fumbles. Hmmm...preferential treatment...there's no history of that with HDN, is there?

I had my first opportunity to sit in outdoor club seats last night. I invited some friends up and while we enjoyed the atmosphere, I'll be glad to feel a little more "into the game" from my regular seats in section 102 for the rest of the season. And hopefully I will shake off this crappy loss and the annoying cold I've had lately by the next home game. Unfortunately, right now it looks like Houston Nutt and the rest of the Hogs may continue to be sick all season long. Ugh. Bring on the Trojans!