Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

11/1/2011 at 3:23pm

Each week during the football season, the ArkansasSports360.com’s staff of Chris Bahn and Jim Harris conduct a no-holds-barred “pressbox roundtable” with selected experts/guest columnists for AS360.com, including former Razorback All-America defensive end Bruce James.

This week, we look at how Arkansas has played so inconsistently and yet managed to get to 7-1 and No. 7 nationally (in the BCS), Marquel Wade's flagrant personal foul and the reaction to it and Arkansas' hopes against South Carolina. We also look at the huge Saturday night matchup between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama, and the coverage Arkansas received via ESPN's "Depth Chart: Year of the Quarterback."

Join in the conversation in the comments section below.

Jim Harris: Despite the slow starts throughout every October game and a defense ranked near the bottom of the conference, Arkansas is 7-1 and No. 7 in the BCS standings. How are the Razorbacks doing it? Is this team worthy of its ranking?

Bruce James: They’re doing it by playing just well enough to win a football game and be lucky doing it. I can’t say they are earning a victory when the other team’s field goal kicker misses a tying field goal at the end. All I can say is you can’t take the No. 7 ranking away from them, but you’ve got to say they’re not playing like a Top 10 football team and not playing up to the level of their ability.

Chris Bahn: Bottom line is, they’re winning. It sure feels like these close games will catch up with Arkansas eventually, but look at Auburn in 2010. That team won a national title with eight games decided by eight or fewer points. I’m not saying this Razorback team is on par with that team, but this just illustrates a win is a win.

Harris: Yeah, too bad Arkansas has that bad performance at Tuscaloosa on their record already. Too bad the Hogs couldn't have gotten that 'Bama game at the end of the season and maybe had a miraculous comeback the way Cam Newton and Auburn did last year against the Tide. The past two games have gone exactly as I expected, so it doesn't surprise me where Arkansas is. Everybody out there can look mediocre on a given Saturday or two. I'm just shocked that Arkansas' defense has fallen off the way it has and that the seniors are the ones struggling, for the most part.

Mark Carter, AS360.com predictions guru: Don't think we're playing like the No. 7 team right now at all, but under the current construct of the BCS system, we're as deserving as anyone. How does OU jump to 6 two weeks after losing at home to an unranked team that went on to get routed by an unranked team at home? And most of the computers have Okie State No. 1. Is there a human on the planet that believes Pistol Pete is better than LSU or Bama (or OU for that matter)? The BCS is just such a mess. Honestly, we're not as good as most of us thought we'd be, especially on defense. The OL hasn't gelled as quickly as we thought it could, and the run game has suffered without Knile Davis. But we are resilient, and of course, over the last two weeks, lucky. Sometimes it's better to be resilient and lucky than worthy.

Mickey Ryan, sports radio talk-show host, "The Game" in Jonesboro: If you WIN the games, you are always worthy of the spoils, period. There have been lots of teams that have won "everywhere but on the scoreboard." I'll take the scoreboard victories over statistical and moral victories any day. Having Tyler Wilson doesn't hurt either. He's the SEC MVP.

Brent Birch, CEO of Flex360 and former Razorback baseball pitcher: To be 7-1 at this point, the fans, players and coaches have to admit the Hogs are doing it with a little bit of smoke and mirrors. Jekyll and Hyde halves are just how it’s going to be it appears. I would rather be the 7-1 team versus the quick-start team (you see where that has gotten A&M this season). Doesn't really matter how you get there as a win is a win is a win. A 7-1 checkpoint against that schedule is where anybody with a clue would have had them pegged in the preseason. So what if not dominating? Who wants their team peaking in October anyway? Hard not to believe the Hogs' best football is front of them. A trio of home games is just what the doctored ordered. Life on the road is tough, especially with the emotions of the Ole Miss match up and an improving, motivated Vanderbilt team. Opponents get jacked up to play a Top 10 team. Both games kicked off before morning cartoons are over as well. All legit factors but they still found a way to win. There are lots of good football teams this season with just enough weaknesses to drop a game.

TJ Carpenter, sports talk radio host, TheHogSportsRadio.com: It's better to be lucky than good. As Al Davis would say, "Just win baby!" Arkansas is doing what good teams do, it finds ways to win. Didn't Auburn have several games like this last season, and went on to win the national title?

Justin Acri: program director of 103.7 The Buzz: I think so because I look around and realize that most of the teams outside the top few have some shortcomings. LSU and Alabama are probably in a defacto national semi this weekend. Whoever they play is the national title is going to get throttled. Unless Arkansas finds a way to start faster, clean up defensive alignment issues, fix tackling issues and get back to being explosive on offense, I can't see them finishing better than 10-2 ... which is awesome. That is a lot to work on huh?

Jim Harris: Was the coast-to-coast outcry over Marquel Wade's personal foul penalty Saturday over the top or justified?

Bahn: Even within the fan base the reaction has been WAY over the top. This is actually my column topic for today. Wade’s desire to make a big play and please his coaches overshadowed his sense. It was the reaction to being ejected that was my biggest concern and I suspect he’ll pay internally for that.

I'm seeing a lot of reaction that makes me think some people chose Vanderbilt-Arkansas as their first football game ever to watch. That's the only explanation to the national reaction. People had never watched football prior to Saturday.

Bruce: It was justified. It's probably the most embarrassing incident for Arkansas football team that I can remember in that it’s on national TV and a football player represents not only the school he plays for but the state that school is in. The outcry was justified and it’s a shame the young man handled the mistake he made the way he handled it.

Carter: Over the top. It was a supremely stupid play, but my impression when it happened and after hearing his apology is that Wade didn't know the guy didn’t have the ball.

Harris: If Wade doesn't lower his head to lower the boom, maybe he could have seen that Justin Krause didn't have the ball.

TJ: Over the top. But he deserved to be ejected. A suspension should be based on intent, and he didn't intend to injure or harm anyone.

Carter: I don't think the guy made a clear fair-catch signal and Wade thought he was gonna bust him up as he caught the ball. But he was completely unaware of where the ball was. His reaction afterwards, by all accounts, was not good. But Wade, I believe, was reacting to what he thought was a good play and believably wasn't aware at first the guy was hurt. I don't think he was celebrating because he knew he took out a defenseless player without the ball. That said, I wish Coach Petrino and all coaches would ban that kind of reaction. Act like you expect to make great plays. But in Wade's case, make sure you actually made a great play first. Bottom line, fortunately the Vandy player is OK.

Mickey: Radio and TV networks and websites need content. They are now on 24/7/365. I'm not surprised by the outcry. If he'd just walked off the field, and certainly not celebrated, there would have been much less made of it. Bad judgment on the play, way worse judgment after.

Harris: The positives to be ranked and winning in an 11:21 a.m. game is that ESPN shows your highlights all day long. The negative is when one of the game's highlights is a lowlight like this. I saw the hit at least 25 times Saturday evening. I didn't see the reaction that TV showed, his escort to the dressing room.

Acri: Over the top. Outside of those two teams and their fans I can't see how that got ANY attention at all.

Birch: No doubt Wade's play was a cheap shot. Throw in the celebration afterwards and the on-camera escort from the playing field against his will and it made quite a scene. Don't really feel the hammer job by the national media was warranted, but maybe they are making an example out of Wade. All that showboating after putting a whack on somebody is stale, clean play or not. Nothing wrong with playing with energy and excitement, but act like you have made a tackle before. Do a couple of high-fives and hustle off. I do think he should be suspended this game. No place for all that.

Jim Harris: Will you be able to keep a complete focus on the Arkansas-South Carolina game on Saturday night, or will your attention drift toward Alabama-LSU (running about an hour behind the Hogs' start)? How do you see the Alabama-LSU game shaping up?

Carter: Three letters, DVR. Unfortunately, no one will be able to get out of Razorback Stadium without knowing how that game is going. I see 'Bama winning a close one; my feel is that it's just a little better, plus it's at home.

Mickey: C'mon man! It's impossible not to scoreboard watch! Alabama runs it better than anyone and throws it a little better than LSU. If the Tide holds on to the ball, they win. The wildcard for The Tigers is turnover margin. They are plus 15 in takeaways this year.

Acri: I will watch both closely. I will be parked at a bar in Shreveport on my way back from UCA game at Northwestern State with one eyeball on each eating a hot meal with Sully. I can't wait!

TJ: LSU seems to get sadistic pleasure out of going on the road and beating people. They thrive off hostile environments this season. I don't think Bryant-Denny Stadium is a big advantage in this game. But Alabama plays tight. LSU plays full-tilt and they're impossible to read. I think the two QB system and the mad hatter get the win in the game of the century.

Birch: I plan to flip back and forth to check in on the 'Bama-LSU contest. How can you not? Epic battle but could be a really boring game unless you like defensive football. Have to give 'Bama the edge since its in Tuscaloosa but LSU has won some tough games outside of Baton Rouge already. I tend to think 'Bama is better on both sides of the football than LSU and don't even get me started on the Saban vs. Miles matchup.

Bruce: I'll probably be switching back and forth, according to how we’re playing against South Carolina. Anybody who says they love college football, this is a situation you don’t see very, very often. Maybe every 20 years will you see a 1 and 2 team, undefeated, in the same division of the same conference, and the winner could easily win the national championship. The thing is, nobody is going to be watching the Arkansas-South Carolina game except people from Arkansas and South Carolina. Rest of the nation will be watching the Alabama-LSU game. As a person who loves college football, two well-disciplined teams and great defenses, this is what you dream about ... LSU is a faster defense I my opinion. Their team speed might be better than Alabama. You can analyze this until your totally paralyzed, but one bounce will determine it. Just because everybody is picking Alabama, I thinking LSU will find a way to win this football game. LSU’s passing game and offense is maybe a little bit better than Alabama’s, a little more diverse. LSU won’t be intimidated with a road game at Alabama.

Harris: I can see LSU being able to force Alabama to the air, and of the two teams, 'Bama makes the most mistakes in the passing game and has fewer weapons. That's the only way I see LSU winning though. If Alabama can run, the Tide will win it. I like Alabama's discipline on defense compared with LSU's, which makes up for its mistakes with speed.

Bahn: My focus on Arkansas-South Carolina might depend on how interesting Arkansas-South Carolina turns out to be. Nah, I’m joking. My attention will be on the less heralded of the Top 10 matchups, but I guarantee I will be scoreboard watching at Razorback Stadium to see what happens with Alabama-LSU. I like Alabama if for no other reason than the game is in Bryant-Denny.

Jim Harris: How do you see the Arkansas-South Carolina game turning out?

Acri: I am very concerned since South Carolina is better all-around defensively than Vandy. I am also worried that they will be able to run the ball even with Marcus Lattimore out. That being said, Arkansas is home and I like them to win a narrow victory.

Mickey: Groundhog Day. Slow start, strong finish (seems like a safe bet). Gamecocks are stingy on "D"-ranking No. 6 in the nation. They also average over 200 rush yards per game and the loss of Lattimore affects that. The Hogs can win with 3rd down stops, a couple of big pass plays, and great special teams.

TJ: Arkansas wins, plays four full quarters, and brings the Gamecock love for Conner Shaw back down to earth.

Birch: The Hogs get back on track this weekend on both sides of the ball. They are due to play better, no question about it. Playing at home will help that a lot. So will not playing so early in the morning (A&M, Ole Miss, Vandy all early kick offs). Hard not to be motivated for a top 10 BCS matchup in your own backyard. Last time the Razorbacks played in Fayetteville, they destroyed a decent Auburn team. Just handle business, forget the media and Joe Public's cry for style points and play football. Willing to bet they look a lot better this Saturday.

Bruce: I’m anxious to see this game in a sense that, without question, you’ve got to really, really praise the South Carolina team for being where they are. Don’t tell me you don’t win on defense, South Carolina won the Georgia game by scoring on defense. They absolutely have no offense. I don’t think they can hold up to Arkansas. As poor as the Arkansas defense has been playing, the SC offense has been playing worse. We should not lose this football game, based on the fact that we should be able to score 3 times and win the football game.

Harris: Arkansas' offense can't score for South Carolina, like they did back against Troy, though. South Carolina can pick Wilson and take them to the house. That would be my biggest concern. Otherwise, I see Arkansas winning by 10.

Bahn: Typically I save my first prediction of the week for the Hog Wild Show on 103.7 the Buzz. I’ll be on with Trey Schaap and the fellas about 8:35. That shameless self-promotion aside, I will tell you that I think the Razorbacks are the least dysfunctional of the two teams. And as good as South Carolina can be on defense, I don’t think the Gamecocks offense is powerful enough to out-score Arkansas.

Carter: Two overrated top 10 teams? OK, yeah, maybe. But what a great undercard to Bama-LSU. The SEC walking with a swagger for sure. The latest regular-season Game of the Century involves two league teams. Oh, and by the way, we'll throw in another top 10 matchup of SEC teams as well. Gamecocks have a great defense, best we'll have seen outside of Tuscaloosa. But I have faith in our offense's ability to find chinks in their D, and I think their offense is just what the doctor ordered for our D (assuming it decides to show for the first half). Plus, being back at home will be huge. In years when we're winning, we seem to have their number. I think we'll see a much better performance from the Hogs this week.

Jim Harris: Who wins the worst-in-the-league game between Kentucky and Ole Miss?

Birch: The University of Mississippi is going to get this one, the Rebels are due to break the 11-game SEC losing streak. They are bad, but not that bad since inserting Randall Mackey as the QB. In typical Houston Nutt fashion, he goes with the wrong guy to start the season. Gross football in Lexington nonetheless.

Harris: I'm feeling the Rebels taking this one too, but I'm a little taken aback learning that Ole Miss has been outscored 70-0 in the third quarter in SEC games. Talk about making no halftime adjustments. Granted, against Arkansas things were going great so you keep trying to do what you were doing, but I can't believe they didn't have any adjustments to make against Auburn. I guess whatever they did was wrong the way the Tigers blew them out after the break.

Bruce: Ole Miss wins the football game based on the fact that Ole Miss has better overall talent than Kentucky. I don’t know the overall state of mind at Ole Miss with all going on around them, but talent on talent it will be a squeaker but I’d go with Ole Miss.

Bahn: Kentucky.

Carter: This could end up being an entertaining game. Ole Miss wins close.

Mickey: Both of these teams have SEC oh-fers going right now ... It's a shame somebody has to leave the field with a W. Kidding ... Who's the home team?! Kentucky?! Then I say Kentucky!

TJ: Kentucky. I just want to see the Houston Nutt 11 turn into the Houston Nutt 12.

Acri: Ole Miss, by like a lot. Kentucky in three words — puh, thet, ick.

Jim Harris: Let's assume the Alabama-LSU winner wins out. Who do you see now opposing them in the BCS championship game and how does that game turns out?

Bruce: I don’t know. Will it be Stanford? Does Oklahoma State beat Oklahoma? Neither one of those teams would beat Alabama or LSU. Stanford would be the best bet with the way they can score and playing decent defense. It would be a better matchup to watch. It could be Boise State.

Bahn: Weird season. Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe better. I liked Wisconsin. Shows what I know.

Carter: Could be, the assumed-undefeated 'Bama-LSU winner takes on the OU-Okie State winner for it all. Or maybe an undefeated Stanford. It'll be two of those 5, and one of them probably will be the SEC champ. OU gets such benefit of the doubt for a bad loss, unlike other programs (see Clemson, and losing at GT isn't really such a bad loss). Best-case scenario for us probably is to be the No. 2 SEC team again, and Sugar Bowl bound. I know it's still possible to create a scenario where we win out and get in the discussion, but I'm not gonna allow myself to do that right now. We should just be grateful for a 7 spot and move on for now...

Birch: OU likely has a chance to climb back in it with games against Texas A&M and OSU still on the schedule but no Big 12 Championship game this season. They woke up last weekend and embarrassed an over-hyped KSU. Hard to get on Oklahoma State's bandwagon. Awesome offense, suspect defense. The OU/OSU game is in Stillwater so that might level the playing field just a tad. Stanford schedule is favorable as their only remaining road game is against pitiful Oregon State. The #8 Oregon Ducks come to Palo Alto in a few weeks and disappointing Notre Dame the following week. The Oregon matchup should be outstanding. Long ways to go with some huge games looming for all involved.

Harris: I agree with you, I think OU runs the table the rest of the way. Stanford will have to win a Pac-12 title game at the end of the season. I can see Oklahoma working its way back into the mix. No way they're going to let an undefeated Boise State play in it.

Acri: I hope Oklahoma State. I think Stanford. I fear Boise State.

TJ: Whoever loses the Alabama-LSU game.

Mickey: My pre-season pick (at least one of them, anyway) was 'Bama and Okie State. I will keep riding with the Tide and Cowboys. Recent history says picking against the SEC would be foolish. Crimson Tide. And we get to see the "Nick Saban dumped with Gatorade face" again. Good times.

Jim Harris: What was your opinion of ESPN's "Depth Chart" show on Tyler Wilson and Arkansas?

Bruce: I don’t think anybody from Arkansas can say that ESPN ignores Arkansas or doesn't give them enough attention. If you can’t recruit with that amount of time shown on national TV, I don’t know what you can do. It was one of the greatest things promoting our program and university that I’ve ever seen.

TJ: I thought Arkansas looked amazing. I thought Tyler Wilson was a flawed protagonist, the best kind of protagonist. He is extremely likable. Overall, if you are a recruit considering Arkansas, especially at quarterback, this show made your decision for you.

Harris: I got a kick out of Garrick McGee telling Wilson in one segment to stop underthrowing the ball because their guys can all run fast to it and catch it, and the past two games Wilson has been underthrowing the ball a lot.

Bahn: It was great exposure for Wilson, Brandon Mitchell and offensive coordinator Garrick McGee. Bobby Petrino — no surprise — isn’t much for the spotlight and instead let his quarterbacks and his best asset on staff be the stars. McGee’s importance to this staff is way underrated on a lot of levels.

Mickey: An ESPN infomercial is always a great thing, period.

Acri: I didn't see much of it but, man, that is PRICELESS promotion for the program. I love the way they shot it and from meeting him in person and watching him work on the segment, consider me a HUGE fan of Garrick McGee.

Harris: Garrick McGee's stock should soar as a head coaching candidate after this. Why wouldn't Tulane, UAB or even better programs not be impressed by him and see him leading their programs? Petrino did McGee a big favor by limiting his time on it in favor of Garrick with the quarterbacks. Probably wasn't hard for Bobby to do that.

Birch: "Depth Chart" was outstanding. Watched it twice. Was cool hearing all that QB lingo and getting to know the coach's and QBs' personalities. Hard not to appreciate Coach Petrino staying out of the spotlight and letting Coach McGee and the QBs be the focus. Imagine how that show would have gone if a certain former head coach, now coaching at another SEC West school currently in last place, had his school featured. "I called that play ....". Sorry, I digress. An excellent showcase for the University of Arkansas. I bet Coach Anderson wishes he had Brandon Mitchell available this basketball season. Why was Kirk Herbstreit trying to be so monotone and understated? Didn't fit his typical on camera persona.

Carter: It was awesome. A 60-minute infomercial/recruiting tool/general brand builder. We're lucky we were one of the four schools selected (wonder if the ESPN contract with the SEC had anything to do with the fact that two of the four were from the SEC? Hmmm.....), and even more lucky that they followed us during an in-season game week.

What do YOU think? Does Arkansas serve its No. 7 ranking in the BCS? Did Marquel Wade go over-the-top after his penalty Saturday at Vandy? Will you be flipping back and forth between the Hog game and the LSU-Bama game? Does Houston Nutt finally get another SEC win this week after 11 straight losses? Did you like the attention Arkansas received in "Depth Chart" on ESPN? Add your thoughts in the COMMENTS section.

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The "Pressbox Roundtable" appears every Tuesday. Offers your comments in the section on the website, or email jharris@abpg.com. Hear Bruce James every Tuesday from 6:30-8:30 a.m. on KABZ-FM, 103.7 The Buzz. Jim Harris appears on the Buzz every Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Tagged: Justin Acri, Mark Carter, Chris Bahn, Brent Birch, Mickey Ryan, Bruce James, Kentucky Wildcats, Houston Nutt, Ole Miss Rebels, Garrick McGee, Brandon Mitchell, Tyler Wilson, Depth Chart, Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN, Marquel Wade, South Carolina Gamecocks, LSU Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Southeastern Conference, Bobby Petrino, TJ Carpenter, TJ Carpenter Show