What's the next milestone for CBB, and will we see it this season?

[HogMantheIntruder]

To be fair, CBB started by setting the Arkansas record for being the first coach to lose every conference game. But since then...

2014-15 First Milestone- FINALLY got our first SEC win in the CBB era, in dominant fashion, against the most hated SEC team in Arkansas.  Followed the next week by coaching the first unranked team to shut out two ranked opponents.

2014-15 Second Milestone- Made it to a bowl game, and and won, in dominant fashion, against the most hated team in Arkansas, anywhere, of all time. Period.  If Texas was playing Hell, Arkansas Walmarts would sell out of "Satan" jerseys.

2014-15 Third Milestone-  Won first SEC road game in CBB era, in one of the nation's toughest venues (first win in Knoxville since 1992).

2015-16 Fourth Milestone-  Finished with a winning conference record, in what is almost unanimously considered the toughest division in all of football. 

2015-16 Fifth Milestone-  CBB becomes the first Arkansas coach to win his first two bowl games as head coach.

2016-17 Sixth Milestone???-  Do we finally beat Bama for the first time in a decade?  Something else?

I think it's time.  I'm not calling it, but it would not surprise me, considering what he's done since he's been here, and often in dramatic fashion.  Bama, to me, represents "The Hump".  That has become such a huge thorn in our side, but I do believe that CBB has shown that he is the best anti-Saban we've ever had. 

I really think that even if we regress/stay the same, record-wise, the 2016-17 team will do something memorable.  Anyone else?[

[FBREW000]

"Something memorable" could mean many things...

I am thankful for the progression, but with the following.. I am not sure we will be better next season, I am looking for the real "next step" to be the following season.  Here Is why...

Breaking in a new Qback
Losing AC, J Will, HH, and having very little past production from the RB we have/coming in...
Linebackers ... Still very thin in talent and numbers...
New Oline coach, etc...
Recruiting seems ok, but not great as well...

There are so many questions.. Linebackers, Running Backs, Qback, O Line Depth, Kicking Game, and the D must improve.. probably will with the depth we are building there. 

I do believe we have the right coach, but we shall see.. WPS!

[Augustus]

"Something memorable" could mean many things...

I am thankful for the progression, but with the following.. I am not sure we will be better next season, I am looking for the real "next step" to be the following season.  Here Is why...

Breaking in a new Qback
Losing AC, J Will, HH, and having very little past production from the RB we have/coming in...
Linebackers ... Still very thin in talent and numbers...
New Oline coach, etc...
Recruiting seems ok, but not great as well...

There are so many questions.. Linebackers, Running Backs, Qback, O Line Depth, Kicking Game, and the D must improve.. probably will with the depth we are building there. 

I do believe we have the right coach, but we shall see.. WPS!

Don't forget about losing Tretola and Kirkland.

[Hoggish1]

He certainly did well in the film room last night.  I'm ready...

[Razorfox]

I'll say the 6th milestone is going to be back-to-back winning SEC seasons.  He/we will do it this way:

TX A&M - W (a milestone in itself, by the way)
Alabama - L
Ole Miss - L
Auburn - toss-up
Florida - W
LSU - W
MS State - W
Mizzou - W

[3kgthog]

It won't be Bama and it won't be his first New Year's bowl. Steven Avery has a better shot of becoming mayor of Manitowoc, WI.

BB might sneak by aTm for the first time only because they seem to be tearing more at the seams with every shot of whiskey Sumlin consumes.

[Razorfox]

It won't be Bama and it won't be his first New Year's bowl. Steven Avery has a better shot of becoming mayor of Manitowoc, WI.

BB might sneak by aTm for the first time only because they seem to be tearing more at the seams with every shot of whiskey Sumlin consumes.

I'm not convinced that we can't play our way into a New Year's bowl next year.  The defense will certainly improve and while we lose some great offensive players, I think we'll be able to find some very capable replacements. 

[Pork Ranger]

I'm not convinced that we can't play our way into a New Year's bowl next year.  The defense will certainly improve and while we lose some great offensive players, I think we'll be able to find some very capable replacements.

I think our ceiling in 9 regular season wins next year

[Bacons Rebellion]

Beating Florida as an SEC team would be a milestone.

I'm afraid next year is a year to be survived. We are just losing too many weapons on offense -- with no obvious replacements -- and while the defense will surely improve, there's going to be a ceiling on that. I can see us matching this year's 7-5 by avoiding a Toledo moment and pulling off an upset somewhere, but I don't see us beating Alabama (although I will have talked myself into it by October .

[HotlantaHog]

I didn't think the Hogs' losses on defense would be such an issue this past season. I was looking for another win or two this past year. So i think it is really hard to predict how player losses are going to affect a team from one year to the next.

Losing an extremely good QB who has several years of experience, your best single player with Hunter Henry, among others, suggests there will be some really big shoes to fill.

The schedule is favorable in that Alabama and LSU are at home. But it is not entirely clear the team will be strong enough to win even with a home field advantage.

[Hook 'em Hogs]

The next milestone I think will be to win 10 games.  I'm not predicting that next year, but that's got to be the next big one.  It would be good if, like Ole Miss, we could figure out how to beat Alabama. 

[Foshodo]

Beating Florida as an SEC team would be a milestone.

I'm afraid next year is a year to be survived. We are just losing too many weapons on offense -- with no obvious replacements -- and while the defense will surely improve, there's going to be a ceiling on that. I can see us matching this year's 7-5 by avoiding a Toledo moment and pulling off an upset somewhere, but I don't see us beating Alabama (although I will have talked myself into it by October .

Yup... Florida would be the milestone more logical than Alabama to me... I wasn't sure if we play them next season or not though.

[Razorfox]

I think our ceiling in 9 regular season wins next year

I'd probably agree with that, which would be good enough to play on NYD, potentially. 

[cj_sez]

It's not the milestones that are important, but the development of success consistently. Bielema allayed many of my doubts this season, including showing he actually win some close games. Yet, the biggest doubt remains and that is...when will he have a team fully prepared by opening day of the season? It's not to great to have a strong team by mid-October, when one is needed from the beginning of September. Half a season played well is simply not enough.

[hawginbigd1]

I think next year with the favorable schedule the ceiling is 10 wins and the basement is 7. If we could get SEC caliber play at MLB and Safety we would have one of the best defenses in the country. I am just not sure the talent to do that is on campus!

[ErieHog]

What the heck is dominate fashion?

Dominant, maybe.  Dominate?  C'mon man.

[Boarmonger]

There are lots of potential milestones next year.
1.  Maintain progress against the rest of the league
2.  Beat aTm
3.  Beat MSU
4.  Beat Florida
5.  Beat Bama
6.  10-12 wins

do the first and we have another decent year in a rebuilding year.  Any successive item we can knock off the list above increases the quality of our season.   

[greenEGnHAWGS]

"Something memorable" could mean many things...

I am thankful for the progression, but with the following.. I am not sure we will be better next season, I am looking for the real "next step" to be the following season.  Here Is why...

Breaking in a new Qback
Losing AC, J Will, HH, and having very little past production from the RB we have/coming in...
Linebackers ... Still very thin in talent and numbers...
New Oline coach, etc...
Recruiting seems ok, but not great as well...

There are so many questions.. Linebackers, Running Backs, Qback, O Line Depth, Kicking Game, and the D must improve.. probably will with the depth we are building there. 

I do believe we have the right coach, but we shall see.. WPS!

This. We are replacing so many playmakers next year that I find it hard to be too optimistic about taking another "big step".

Now,  we DO have one of the best WR/TE cores in the league. Paired with a strong (I didn't say deep) OL and potential RB studs in RW3 and Whaley mixed in with VERY talented but unproven QBs. This COULD be a fantastic year filed with milestones...

...but...the stars would have to align just right for this to be another step for milestones/uncharted accomplishments.

But I too believe that we have THE right coach for the UofA. And just like EVERY team, we need some breaks to go our way in order to be memorable.

[wildturkey8]

A lot of nervous nellies out today.  Bama loses a lot of talent (more than we),  next year is when we should see the results of the redshirt and player development program.  I expect a competitve game against Bama with a chance to win.  Time to put the Aggies in their place as well.

[Wildhog]

What the heck is dominate fashion?

Dominant, maybe.  Dominate?  C'mon man.

Thank you.  Like nails on a chalkboard. 

[Wildhog]

Just keep improving that record. Can't regress in 2016.

[Hogberry Snortcake]

Ceiling determined by injuries on the OL and new quarterback play.  I'm hoping our new quarterback comes along faster than theirs and we beat Bama at home next year. 

[wildturkey8]

Ceiling determined by injuries on the OL and new quarterback play.  I'm hoping our new quarterback comes along faster than theirs and we beat Bama at home next year. 

Biggest concern is OL, it could be a patchwork next year.  QB's have been in Enos' system for 2 springs, I think we will be all right there.  They have great receivers to throw to.

[Hogberry Snortcake]

Biggest concern is OL, it could be a patchwork next year.  QB's have been in Enos' system for 2 springs, I think we will be all right there.  They have great receivers to throw to.

I think the first group will be fine, but we've been really lucky injury-wise on the OL for a couple years (franticly knocks on wood). 

I wish I was as optimistic as you on QB.  I don't doubt we have guys with ability.  I just don't trust first year starters at QB. 

[wildturkey8]

I think the first group will be fine, but we've been really lucky injury-wise on the OL for a couple years (franticly knocks on wood). 

I wish I was as optimistic as you on QB.  I don't doubt we have guys with ability.  I just don't trust first year starters at QB. 

BA didn't need 5 years to learn to play qb, he was a victim of circumstances.  If CDE had been here 2 years earlier, he wouldn't have had all these difficulties.  Having said that, you don't know until they play.

[Hogberry Snortcake]

BA didn't need 5 years to learn to play qb, he was a victim of circumstances.  If CDE had been here 2 years earlier, he wouldn't have had all these difficulties.  Having said that, you don't know until they play.

Not strictly based on BA.  Just generally.  New quarterback usually come with inconsistency.  Even great ones.  That's all I'm saying.  He'll (whoever) will have a  great game or two, some good enough games, and a few just godawful ones. 

[GolfnHog]

I think we get 8 regular season wins and 1 in the bowl game. Something to think about and if I heard this comment correctly, "that the starting 5 OL for Clemson were first year starters". It stands to reason with some solid coaching anything is possible next year.

I think we have the caliber of kids that "want it, don't quit & will themselves exponentially to win" so I'll keep a positive flow about everything until it starts to play out differently.

[wildturkey8]

Not strictly based on BA.  Just generally.  New quarterback usually come with inconsistency.  Even great ones.  That's all I'm saying.  He'll (whoever) will have a  great game or two, some good enough games, and a few just godawful ones. 

Of course they are inconsistent but it is a team sport and sometimes the other units have to take up the slack. RWIII and Whaley could be the new qb's best friend.  One area that needs immediate improvement is special teams, that cannot be overlooked or overstated.

[KennyForAD]

SEC Championship.  This year.
Playoffs.  This year.
NCAA Champ...   maybe the next year

[HogMantheIntruder]

What the heck is dominate fashion?

Dominant, maybe.  Dominate?  C'mon man.

Look, it was late; I had been drinking, plus posting while you're driving is a real pain in the arse...

[Boarmonger]

I think the first group will be fine, but we've been really lucky injury-wise on the OL for a couple years (franticly knocks on wood). 

I wish I was as optimistic as you on QB.  I don't doubt we have guys with ability.  I just don't trust first year starters at QB.

This certainly isn't meant to speak to all first year starters but 6 out of the last 7 NC have had first yr starters at QB.

[BirmingHam]

To be fair, CBB started by setting the Arkansas record for being the first coach to lose every conference game. But since then...

2014-15 First Milestone- FINALLY got our first SEC win in the CBB era, in dominant fashion, against the most hated SEC team in Arkansas.  Followed the next week by coaching the first unranked team to shut out two ranked opponents.

2014-15 Second Milestone- Made it to a bowl game, and and won, in dominant fashion, against the most hated team in Arkansas, anywhere, of all time. Period.  If Texas was playing Hell, Arkansas Walmarts would sell out of "Satan" jerseys.

2014-15 Third Milestone-  Won first SEC road game in CBB era, in one of the nation's toughest venues (first win in Knoxville since 1992).

2015-16 Fourth Milestone-  Finished with a winning conference record, in what is almost unanimously considered the toughest division in all of football. 

2015-16 Fifth Milestone-  CBB becomes the first Arkansas coach to win his first two bowl games as head coach.

2016-17 Sixth Milestone???-  Do we finally beat Bama for the first time in a decade?  Something else?

I think it's time.  I'm not calling it, but it would not surprise me, considering what he's done since he's been here, and often in dramatic fashion.  Bama, to me, represents "The Hump".  That has become such a huge thorn in our side, but I do believe that CBB has shown that he is the best anti-Saban we've ever had. 

I really think that even if we regress/stay the same, record-wise, the 2016-17 team will do something memorable.  Anyone else?[

I guess I'll be that guy.  Third Milestone was in 2015-16.

I also believe that the next milestone is to beat Florida.  This may be our last chance for a while, and they are not as hard as Bama to beat.

[Vantage 8 dude]

I'll start with something basic: Let's start off on fire this next season and sweep our OOC schedule and begin the conference 1-0 by beating those clowns who wear funny bloomers down in College Station. That will certainly get us off to a much stronger start then what we've experienced thus far under CBB. Oh yeah, let's also build on that opening success by winning all the rest of our home games and MSU. While that may not get us to the SECC game  it sure the heck will be another definite step in the right direction. 

[HogMantheIntruder]

I guess I'll be that guy.  Third Milestone was in 2015-16.

I also believe that the next milestone is to beat Florida.  This may be our last chance for a while, and they are not as hard as Bama to beat.

I stand by my earlier excuse about mistakenly using "dominate", rather than "dominant.  To your (and others') point about the next milestone-  I think beating Florida for the first time since... ugh I hate to even say this... 1982 will be a great milestone for this team and CBB. 

I still think this could be the year we take down the Tide, though.  There's a ton of X factors that go into that, but (aside from OL), where we are losing the most talent (QB, RB, TE), are the same positions we're bringing in the most talent. 

Four 4* QB's with a great OC and QBC.  I think one of those guys is going to come in and light it up.  All four of these guys know that they're competing with some of the best talent (on paper at least) in the nation for the starting job, so I have to believe that whoever wins it is a real gamer.

As far as RB, I think RW comes back, plus the addition of Whaley, Hammonds, and possibly Porter ***fingers crossed should fill the void left by the great AC nicely. I really have no idea if KW will be back or not, but he sure would be a big help, especially with his experience and a bunch of young guys who could use his guidance AND his blocking.

At TE, we are losing one of the best football players to wear a Razorback uniform.  Mr. Automatic.  But we are returning one of the best TE's in the country in Sprinkle, and we have three of the top twelve TE recruits in the country coming off a RS, and they're going to be HUNGRY!  I can't wait to see what these guys can do. 

I know we still have important question marks, depth issues at key positions like OL (for some reason) and LB, which is why I think we have a shot at winning one or two big games against teams we haven't beaten in a long time, but I don't see us sniffing the CFP or competing for the West. 

You know what?  I'm calling it now-  We WILL beat Florida, which is the one and only SEC team we haven't beaten since joining the conference.  That's a milestone and another monkey off our backs.

Even though I think we've got a shot, I'm not calling Bama... yet. 

[DeltaBoy]

The Keys for me is go 4-0 in Sept and beat TAMU and BAMA this year.

[Hoggish1]

Don't forget about losing Tretola and Kirkland.

Just watch and marvel at how good the plug ins for those two are...

[Hoggish1]

I'll say the 6th milestone is going to be back-to-back winning SEC seasons.  He/we will do it this way:

TX A&M - W (a milestone in itself, by the way)
Alabama - L
Ole Miss - L
Auburn - toss-up
Florida - W
LSU - W
MS State - W
Mizzou - W

Going 6-2 in SEC.  Spank Olepiss at home.

[Torqued pork]

Beat Bama for God's sake.

[welchog]

16-17 Milestones:

-Beat TAMU
-Beat Bama
-Beat UF
-Beat MSU

Three of the four CBB has not done.  One the Hogs haven't done since I was in HS.

Meet these milestones and bigger ones will fall as well. 

[Tejano Jawg]

The FIRST thing I thought of was to beat Texas A&M. I'm sick of looking back on those previous 2 games—games we should have won—and thinking how those turds were happy and I wasn't.

Let's start there, then work on the rest.

[OldCoot]

There are lots of potential milestones next year.
1.  Maintain progress against the rest of the league
2.  Beat aTm
3.  Beat MSU
4.  Beat Florida
5.  Beat Bama
6.  10-12 wins

do the first and we have another decent year in a rebuilding year.  Any successive item we can knock off the list above increases the quality of our season.

I would be happy winning the first slate of games we have.  That would be a milestone.

[reddogjcss]

We beat BAMA in Fayetteville, Austin breaks most QB Razorback records, we have 2 RB over 1,000, we have 2 receivers over a 1,000, defense finishes year in top 5!

[reddogjcss]

One more Special Teams finishes in top 15 in Nation

[Murr]

I would be happy winning the first slate of games we have.  That would be a milestone.

I'd like to see beating TCU and aTm early in the schedule.  That'll tell whether this squad is rebuilding from all our lost talent or reloading because CBB has built the program up to where it needs to be to win titles.

[reddogjcss]

U right

[HotlantaHog]

I'd like to see beating TCU and aTm early in the schedule.  That'll tell whether this squad is rebuilding from all our lost talent or reloading because CBB has built the program up to where it needs to be to win titles.

Yeah I agree with this. I think these two games are the most important on the schedule. They are all important, but win these two and the Hogs are very likely setup for a great season. Lose these two and an Alabama win looks like a meaningless anomaly.

[rzrbackrob]

1. Beat Florida for first time as member of SEC (maybe the refs will not save Fla this time)
2. Win 4 straight bowl games (breaking last year's record of 3)

These seem the most likely goals to make.

Other possible first time achievements include:

Beat Bama under Saban

Go to a new year's 6 bowl (have been to New Year's Day bowls in past like Cotton, Sugar, Orange - made BCS game)

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Beating Joey Chestnut in the 4th of July hot dog eating contest.

[EastexHawg]

Not having an overall losing record as the Razorback head coach would be a good start.  He's 18-20 so far.  It will take another 8-5 record to get there and I would put the odds of that happening at less than 50%.

[jackflash]

for me the key will be what kind of defense can he put on the field?