Jim Harris, 2 former Hog defensive players, discuss the Miss State breakdown

[SportsLife]

Rick David still puts the defensive problems on poor Petrino recruiting. All an interesting analysis from Jim and them.

[MC_Hog]

Honestly it time to quit blaming Petrino.

[JaketheSnake]

Honestly it time to quit blaming Petrino.

Petrino's recruiting and could potentially haunt us for several more years be of gaping holes in depth across the board that has caused the need for players to play immediately.  Granted, we can't keep blaming him for losses.  It's on CBB.

[Choctaw Hog]

Honestly it time to quit blaming Petrino.

Honestly, you should take it up with those who said it. 

[elksnort]

Really great stuff.
Enjoy listening to both those former Razorbacks' take.

Wish the audio could tune out the background.

[Hogsfan1981]

Honestly, you should take it up with those who said it. 

Woman

[Inhogswetrust]

Honestly it time to quit blaming Petrino.

Honestly former REAL players would know more about that subject than you...............

[goshog]

Just take a look at the 2012 (would be seniors/redshirt juniors) lb's we signed.

Otha Peters- Gone
AJ Turner- Gone
Vin Ascolese- Never made it

If we're going to be a decent defense next year I really think Hackett needs to make a huge jump. He seems to have the size and speed u look for in a linebacker.

[Bowfishinghogfan]

We had a pretty good D last year, just because this years isn't so good how is that Petrinos fault. Are we still blaming Bush for numb nuts failures in the White House too.

[HognitiveDissonance]

Exactly.
If it's all on a coach who isn't here, then he gets all the credit for last year's Top 10 defense.

Can't have it both ways.

[Pig In The City]

We had a pretty good D last year, just because this years isn't so good how is that Petrinos fault. Are we still blaming Bush for numb nuts failures in the White House too.

No I'm still blaming Bush for his numb nut failures.

[carolinahogger]

I couldn't listen too it, too much background noise.

[hogcard1964]

Honestly it time to quit blaming Petrino.

Yep

Obama/Bush syndrome.

[Pig In The City]

Recruiting, recruiting and more recruiting. We need to get where we have enough players in the pipeline that we don't have a drop off in defense. Takes time. I think BB will get us there.

[BadHog]

Love listening to former players give their input. They've been in the trenches.

I also will be thankful for the day that Petrino's name is not mentioned when discussing the current players/team/circumstances. It's been almost 4 freaking years!

[Boarcephus]

Nate Allen has a good article in the paper this morning regarding our pass defense.

[Lake City Hog]

SEVERAL MORE YEARS??

This absolutely has to stop! Last year our starting defense was over half Petrino players. This year we still have several Petrino players in the 2 deep, 3 years after he left. Peters left because BB wanted to convert him to fullback. If he had stayed he wouldn't have helped the LB situation anyway!

BB said it himself--he neglected LB recruiting his first 2 years and is now paying the price.

[Tusks]

Nate Allen has a good article in the paper this morning regarding our pass defense.

That would be the first time in the history of sport journalism.

[DiamondHogFan]

SEVERAL MORE YEARS??

This absolutely has to stop! Last year our starting defense was over half Petrino players. This year we still have several Petrino players in the 2 deep, 3 years after he left. Peters left because BB wanted to convert him to fullback. If he had stayed he wouldn't have helped the LB situation anyway!

BB said it himself--he neglected LB recruiting his first 2 years and is now paying the price.

Along with several times last year saying he wished he would have redshirted Spaight.  He saw this coming...just too late to do anything about it for this year.

[hogsanity]

Love listening to former players give their input. They've been in the trenches.

I also will be thankful for the day that Petrino's name is not mentioned when discussing the current players/team/circumstances. It's been almost 4 freaking years!

It been almost 10 yet people still bring up HDN, so it's going to be a while.

[hogsanity]

Along with several times last year saying he wished he would have redshirted Spaight.  He saw this coming...just too late to do anything about it for this year.

I am sure he would have liked to have put a red shirt on the entire 2013 class. He knew 2013 was a lost season, but he HAD to play a lot of FR just to put a team on the field that did not give up 60 a game. Can you imagine if they had been able to red shirt Spaight, Ellis, Skipper, Kirkland, AC, HH, and the rest of that class? But had they done that who would have played the OL, or LB?

[Deep Shoat]

SEVERAL MORE YEARS??

This absolutely has to stop! Last year our starting defense was over half Petrino players. This year we still have several Petrino players in the 2 deep, 3 years after he left. Peters left because BB wanted to convert him to fullback. If he had stayed he wouldn't have helped the LB situation anyway!

BB said it himself--he neglected LB recruiting his first 2 years and is now paying the price.

You do realize starters are only PART of the equation? 

Why are you Bobby buddies unable to see the issues he left us with, particularly, defensive depth?  The only position he left with depth on the D side of the ball is DE.  Period. 

[Redhogs]

Honestly it time to quit blaming Petrino.

Did not see anyone giving CBP any credit for last year's great defense...just blame a year further removed from his tenure....defies common sense...is CBP derangement syndrome ever gonna end, apparently not...EVERYTHING from here forward is on Beliema, to say different is disingenuous to say the least.

[atekido]

Did not see anyone giving CBP any credit for last year's great defense...just blame a year further removed from his tenure....defies common sense...is CBP derangement syndrome ever gonna end, apparently not...EVERYTHING from here forward is on Beliema, to say different is disingenuous to say the least.

How many defensive players from 2008-2011 that were DIRECTLY recruited by Petrino or his staff are in the NFL now playing or will be?  Heck the only big time name is Flowers and Petrino did not do anything to make him good. He was a basically average player out of High school.  It wasn't till 2 years with Coach B that he solidified himself as a great player.   If you do not understand how a lack in recruiting from 2008-2011 can cause issues with development from 2012 and to even 2015 your a lost cause.  Great players pass on knowledge and experience to younger players and when they are the JR and SR guys they wind up doing the same to younger players.  None of that was happening with Petrino on the Defense.  To say the Petrino era is still not affecting the team is ignorant to say the least.

[code red]

Honestly it time to quit blaming Petrino.

No doubt funny how CBP had no problem winning with em.

[Youngsta71701]

Honestly it time to quit blaming Petrino.

Yep, that excuse card is getting old.

[Science Fiction Greg]

Hilarious.  BP had no trouble winning with whom?  The point is there AREN'T ANY.  They were here when he was here, sure.  He won then.  He didn't recruit anything for NOW.  You see, players he recruited at the end of his tenure would be in their prime years right now (think Brandon Allen, here).  Saying "he didn't have trouble winning with them" is stupid.  Brandon Allen never played for him.  Yet, that's the class we are needing NOW.

It's like some of you guys don't even actually try to think about the issue.  You just lash out with the first silly thought you have, even if it makes no sense in the context of the actual discussion.

Question: how could the lack of players from that class be anyone BUT Petrino's fault?  When there is a giant hole in the team, yes, you can try to make up for it with later classes, but they will be younger, less developed, less experienced, and taking spots away from other positions.  It's a problem.

[code red]

Ok, why not fix the problem and go get some jucos.

band aid

[Dionysos25]

I couldn't listen too it, too much background noise.

This.. What the crap.. is this podcast recorded at a Denny's

[Danny J]

Yep, that excuse card is getting old.

I have to agree....what about next year? We return most of our defense across the board...one and two deep. So if they are not any better is that still CBP's fault? Hopefully we won't have to worry about it.

[Lake City Hog]

So every team starts 22 RS seniors? Come on people get real. Petrino played so many freshmen his 1st  two years that we would not have many redshirts left. MOST of his players left last year. Plus BB showed several of Petrino's recruits the door in year 1.

Guess what-- In BB;s 4th and 5th years he is going to be just as bad a shape becasue he didn't redshirt very many players either. Plus, BB has recruited a lot of Juco kids and had a few misses as well.

This has nothing to do with being a "Petrino buddy" or being anti-BB. Every time a new coach comes in some current players always leave, the new coach plays a lot of his recruits and things just don't work out like fans think it should. The easy answer? Blame it on the coach that left.

[JaketheSnake]

CBP's recruiting caused long term issues and forced CBB to play players for several years that were not ready to play and needed a redshirt.  Some of you need to look a little more logically at that.  He doesn't get credit box he didn't develop last years defense.  Use some common sense.

[Soooie21]

I agree with this...it will take 4 years of catching up to see the results...

[code red]

So every team starts 22 RS seniors? Come on people get real. Petrino played so many freshmen his 1st  two years that we would not have many redshirts left. MOST of his players left last year. Plus BB showed several of Petrino's recruits the door in year 1.

Guess what-- In BB;s 4th and 5th years he is going to be just as bad a shape becasue he didn't redshirt very many players either. Plus, BB has recruited a lot of Juco kids and had a few misses as well.

This has nothing to do with being a "Petrino buddy" or being anti-BB. Every time a new coach comes in some current players always leave, the new coach plays a lot of his recruits and things just don't work out like fans think it should. The easy answer? Blame it on the coach that left.

I agree coach signed on.  NFL folks left.  Now it's on CBP?  Those were his kids.  Not so much now.  I'd venture to say defensive recruiting has regressed.  IMHO

[PorkSoda]

CBP's recruiting caused long term issues and forced CBB to play players for several years that were not ready to play and needed a redshirt.  Some of you need to look a little more logically at that.  He doesn't get credit box he didn't develop last years defense.  Use some common sense.

[Soooie21]

Now if you hold a team to 40 points you did good..

[Steef]

That would be the first time in the history of sport journalism.

You owe me a keyboard.

[IronHog]

Honestly it time to quit blaming Petrino.

Exactly.


He didn't get stuffed on 3rd and 2 up 11.

[HogInFlorida]

Yeah it's time to stop blaming Petrino. BB hasn't done well enough recruiting LBs. let's take a look at the ones he's brought in.

Spaight - the one success story. Great Hog. Will love him till I die. Sad we only got 1 good year from him.

Ramsey, Tavarres - Both promising. Both kicked off the team.

Hackett, Eugene - Both had tons of hype. Both have done nothing.

Ellis - Starter out of necessity. Contributed at times. Liability in pass coverage and struggles to make solo tackles on anybody. Good at blitzing the QB and stopping inside runs.

Harris - Was hyped up all offseason. Hasn't seen the field significantly at all.

Williams - Couldn't really find a home in the LB corps. Got shuffled around with Ellis. Was a starter out of necessity until he got hurt.

Greenlaw - Fantastic LB. Easily our best by far, which  doesn't speak well for the rest of them since he's a true freshman.


So there you have it. The only 2 truly VERY GOOD linebackers that BB has recruited are Spaight and Greenlaw. Some could say Ellis, but he's such a liability covering receivers and RBs out of the backfield that I don't think he'd start for most of the better defenses in the SEC. He is good when blitzing though. But all in all, there have been too many misses with Bielema since he's gotten here in regards to LB recruiting. That needs to improve yesterday.

[Wayne Watson]

Simon, since you can't, or won't, do what you said you'd do, please don't post here again.

Jim can post his articles here without you pimping your site.

Thanks.

[Porked Tongue]

Agreed. 

[Oklahawg]

Yeah it's time to stop blaming Petrino. BB hasn't done well enough recruiting LBs. let's take a look at the ones he's brought in.

Spaight - the one success story. Great Hog. Will love him till I die. Sad we only got 1 good year from him.

Ramsey, Tavarres - Both promising. Both kicked off the team.

Hackett, Eugene - Both had tons of hype. Both have done nothing.

Ellis - Starter out of necessity. Contributed at times. Liability in pass coverage and struggles to make solo tackles on anybody. Good at blitzing the QB and stopping inside runs.

Harris - Was hyped up all offseason. Hasn't seen the field significantly at all.

Williams - Couldn't really find a home in the LB corps. Got shuffled around with Ellis. Was a starter out of necessity until he got hurt.

Greenlaw - Fantastic LB. Easily our best by far, which  doesn't speak well for the rest of them since he's a true freshman.


So there you have it. The only 2 truly VERY GOOD linebackers that BB has recruited are Spaight and Greenlaw. Some could say Ellis, but he's such a liability covering receivers and RBs out of the backfield that I don't think he'd start for most of the better defenses in the SEC. He is good when blitzing though. But all in all, there have been too many misses with Bielema since he's gotten here in regards to LB recruiting. That needs to improve yesterday.

In fairness,

Ellis is far "better than average". His weakness is he has to cover too many RBs and slot WRs. He can't leave the field for a 6th DB...ever.

Hackett and Eugene have both had injuries and are in year 2. Hard to say the book is written on them just yet.

Missing is Jackson (playing a lot as a true frosh at FB) and Graham (came in big enough to be a DE...curious if they can keep him at LB). Jackson could help now at LB but you'd be stepping backwards at both FB and LB to move him now.

LB situation isn't dire, it is shallow. Those are different. The shallowness of both LB and DB lead to being gassed by passing teams. Which leads to poor tackling. Both of which contribute to "bend but don't break" schemes.

Wayne and Porked Tongue...good call.