An SEC coach says this about our QB...

[Choctaw Hog]

Casey is not a very good QB, that part he has right.  He is only slightly better than RoJo.  Mitch had much more upside and with the right development could have eventually been a Heisman candidate. 

So I disagree that he won't be missed. 

MM could have been great with the proper development, so it is probably better he quit at Arkansas and went somewhere else.  You just don't like CD because he was a dual threat that dueled with RoJo for playing time.

With a real head coach Mitch would have been at the same stage that Mathew Stafford is now.

HDN knew his job on the line and you expect him to risk it to develope MM.  Hell no...  If my job were on the line I would be feeding Dmac the ball every way I could.  That is called survival.  He should have developed the passing game vs the cupcakes but he just needed a qb to not make too many mistakes vs the big boys and make the passes when thay needed to.

And why was Nutt's job on the line after 9 years?

[hawgdog2005]

Because he is an idiot

[Choctaw Hog]

Here's one I've got for you shavin, and I want someone to give me a logical explanation for it. If they can.

We have the most conservative scared of passing HC in the modern era of college football. At the end of the LSU game we attempted four long passes down the field in a row. This seems totally out of character for Nutt, yet totally within the realm of possibility for his young OC that was trying to make a name for himself. But when those 4 passes failed everyone wants to blame the conservative running coach for calling them instead of running DMac. I feel quite confident in saying that if one of them would have went for a TD those same people would have been on here trumpeting Gus as a freaking genius for passing when LSU was clearly expecting us to run. Explain to me how that is at all logical?

"At the end of the LSU game we attempted four long passes down the field in a row. This seems totally out of character for Nutt"

Yellville, wasn't Nutt calling the plays when Matt Jones threw the "Miracle on Markham Street" pass?  You know, the LONG pass Matt threw into double coverage to win the game.  I also believe there several more deep "prayers passes" during that drive as well.  Obviously, this torpeados your whole argument that Nutt doesn't try to throw deep.  He does when he panics and that is often. 

[razorbass]

Beopig...you are right....MM did not win those 8 games....nor did CD the ones he won...the team did....and more specifically...the running backs and the oline...not to mention the defense..it was a team effort. One player can not win a game.

One player can if he throws 10 Int in a game or fumbles the ball every time he gets it.  It was not Fish's fault we lost.  Many things were going wrong at that time.

but to hear the excuse makers, one player can lose the game.(see Fish comments).

Wasn't there a blocked punt that led to a touchdown too?

[hogfanwp]

I just would like to know which coach said that?  I may have missed it I just ran through all the post real quick did anyone ever say which coach said that?  It really doesn't sound like something a head football coach in the SEC would say. About another teams player???

[Sao Ming]

Casey will be fine.

[Hog Fan from Camden]

I cannot for the life of me understand why some 'Arkansas' fans chose to bash Casey Dick.  Both QB didn't play well last year, and most agree it was mostly because we didn't pactice or spend the needed time on the passing game.  As much as I want HDN gone and will miss Damian, Mitch and Gus; I refuse to bash Casey.  I hope he does well just to shut up some of you so called fans!

[V]

A smart rival SEC coach would say that Casey is going to be an All American.

[V]

As I said in an earlier thread any qb we play this year will be at a disadvantage if we run a similar offense to last year or the year before and so on.  Its tough for a qb to be asked to throw with success after handoff after handoff or coming from the sidelines after successive Wildcat plays.  Its tough to fault Casey, Mitch, Robert or any other qb who has been in a system that doesn't allow a qb to have any rhythm and has shown little confidence in them not to mention the lack of practice time devoted to the passing game especially at the end of last season.

CD has a lot of pressure on him. And I hope for his sake that David Lee finally in his third stint proves what has been suggested about him since his Ole Miss John Fourcade days: that he can teach and develop a passing qb and that we will use that ability to make DMac and FJ even better.



the running game can't be better than last year. I have a feeling that CD will have a big year, but if you hand the ball off 40 times a game, direct snap 8 times and throw 15 passes, that will work this year with all the weapons on the field.

[kennedy]

tmac813...+1 to you...

Very good points and you brought up something that I should have mentioned. CD was named to the All freshmen SEc team his freshman year. Mitch was not named to the same team. Yes...HDN did put Mitch up for this. The coaches could not vote on their own players.

[YellvilleHog]

I have to chime in on this post, because I think a few posters are doing CD a disservice, simply because he is not M-16.  IMHO there was not much difference in either QBs performance, although CD played against much tougher defenses(LSU, Florida, Wisc).  I don't have the exact stats, but I think all three of those defenses were in the top ten categories in the Nation?  Every one keeps bringing up this particular coach, but don't the coaches vote on specific players of the year?  Someone please tell me how CD went from being on the all SEC Freshman team to just an average, not ready for the SEC QB?

Who were the other SEC Fr qb's two seasons ago?  If he earned it for playing in 4 games then the competition couldn't have been strong.  Maybe that is a small reason(our offense being the main reason) he looks avg and not ready for the SEC despite the honor.

You have some good reasons to be upset with Nutt, but bashing Dick is not the way to go; no matter what reasoning you think was behind it, he earned is award, let him have that for God's sakes.

[LJHOG]

I just hope whoever said is a coach of a team we play this year.  If it is a real quote it's great bulletin board material.

[YellvilleHog]

I have to chime in on this post, because I think a few posters are doing CD a disservice, simply because he is not M-16.  IMHO there was not much difference in either QBs performance, although CD played against much tougher defenses(LSU, Florida, Wisc).  I don't have the exact stats, but I think all three of those defenses were in the top ten categories in the Nation?  Every one keeps bringing up this particular coach, but don't the coaches vote on specific players of the year?  Someone please tell me how CD went from being on the all SEC Freshman team to just an average, not ready for the SEC QB?

Who were the other SEC Fr qb's two seasons ago?  If he earned it for playing in 4 games then the competition couldn't have been strong.  Maybe that is a small reason(our offense being the main reason) he looks avg and not ready for the SEC despite the honor.

You have some good reasons to be upset with Nutt, but bashing Dick is not the way to go; no matter what reasoning you think was behind it, he earned is award, let him have that for God's sakes.

I didn't mean to bash as I don't hold him accountable for much of our passing woes. I was simply suggesting a reason he was honored with being an All SEC Fr.

I equate saying he didn't deserve the award to bashing. I prefer to think they awarded him all SEC Fr because they knew that he saved our season from even further emberassment and did about as well as a Fr QB is going to be able to do under Nutt.

[YellvilleHog]

I have to chime in on this post, because I think a few posters are doing CD a disservice, simply because he is not M-16.  IMHO there was not much difference in either QBs performance, although CD played against much tougher defenses(LSU, Florida, Wisc).  I don't have the exact stats, but I think all three of those defenses were in the top ten categories in the Nation?  Every one keeps bringing up this particular coach, but don't the coaches vote on specific players of the year?  Someone please tell me how CD went from being on the all SEC Freshman team to just an average, not ready for the SEC QB?

Who were the other SEC Fr qb's two seasons ago?  If he earned it for playing in 4 games then the competition couldn't have been strong.  Maybe that is a small reason(our offense being the main reason) he looks avg and not ready for the SEC despite the honor.

You have some good reasons to be upset with Nutt, but bashing Dick is not the way to go; no matter what reasoning you think was behind it, he earned is award, let him have that for God's sakes.

I didn't mean to bash as I don't hold him accountable for much of our passing woes. I was simply suggesting a reason he was honored with being an All SEC Fr.

I equate saying he didn't deserve the award to bashing. I prefer to think they awarded him all SEC Fr because they knew that he saved our season from even further emberassment and did about as well as a Fr QB is going to be able to do under Nutt.

I didn't realize I said he didn't deserve it.  Just trying to add food for thought for a couple of posters that suggested what the honor means as far as his ability.

And I can agree with your line of reasoning on this.  Nice way to put it.

You're right, you didn't come out and say he didn't deserve it, but you did suggest he earned it b/c there was not viable option. I thought Casey played real well in those 4 games actually.

While were on the subject of QB. Let me add this. I think neither QB had a chance last season. I don't think Mitch could have done enough to please even a small portion of the fans with the expectations that were in place for him when he came to campus; and certainly Casey had no chance to gain approval when nearly every fan in the place wanted Mitch in every game no matter how well Casey was or wasn't performing. I just think they were both under some incredible stress last season, and that couple with umm shall we say questionable coaching led to sub par seasons for both.

[Hogs-n-Roses]

Here's an angle not thought of, If Casey had been allowed to play a lot more  after the USC game maybe he would have been prepared to play better in those last three games. Maybe if a redshirt hadn't been squandered again in the first game then we would not even be having this discussion. Casey was being played the next week late in the game as well as others(games)along the way. Or the verser/visa works well also. If ole quick trigger had left Mitch in for the last 3-4 games maybe he'd gotten much improved or atleast better than the showing we got. Where national announcers were punking out our passing game. Why would they be doing that? Cause it was embarrassing to watch and neither Casey nor Mitch get the blame for that. The Head Coach does Brotha!

[YellvilleHog]

Here's an angle not thought of, If Casey had been allowed to play a lot more  after the USC game maybe he would have been prepared to play better in those last three games. Maybe if a redshirt hadn't been squandered again in the first game then we would not even be having this discussion. Casey was being played the next week late in the game as well as others(games)along the way. Or the verser/visa works well also. If ole quick trigger had left Mitch in for the last 3-4 games maybe he'd gotten much improved or atleast better than the showing we got. Where national announcers were punking out our passing game. Why would they be doing that? Cause it was embarrassing to watch and neither Casey nor Mitch get the blame for that. The Head Coach does Brotha!

But that's pretty much a trademark of HDN, don't stick with a starting QB. I think he watched too many games of UF playing back when Spurrier was there and thought "hey if it worked for him......" The problem is he failed to remember that Spurrier actually ran a passing offense and made sure both guys got plenty of practice doing so before rotating them in and out in games.

[YellvilleHog]

Here's how I feel about the redshirting of "superstars". Why bother? If mitch was that good, he was going to leave after his jr year anyway, so basically you got two choices. RS and get two years of playing out of him, or play him as a true freshman and get three years out of him. Of course that's assuming he leaves after his jr for the nfl. Anyone here that would have like to have seen DMac RS?

[slopinhogs]

if they had done what they were supposed to when Mitch and Gus were here; Mitch would have shined like a diamond in the rough. they didsn't and they are gone . so now we can live without them i hope.

casey went through the spring and will go through the fall and that may be a ghood thing for him.plus our recievers are a yeasr older and a little stronger. the O line will be the key to the whole shooting match. come on coach Markuson do your thing. :razorback: :razorback: :razorback:

GO HOGS :razorback:

[Hogs-n-Roses]

Here's an angle not thought of, If Casey had been allowed to play a lot more  after the USC game maybe he would have been prepared to play better in those last three games. Maybe if a redshirt hadn't been squandered again in the first game then we would not even be having this discussion. Casey was being played the next week late in the game as well as others(games)along the way. Or the verser/visa works well also. If ole quick trigger had left Mitch in for the last 3-4 games maybe he'd gotten much improved or atleast better than the showing we got. Where national announcers were punking out our passing game. Why would they be doing that? Cause it was embarrassing to watch and neither Casey nor Mitch get the blame for that. The Head Coach does Brotha!

HnR- CD's back was hurt.  Remember Herring called blitzes when Gus had requested he not so they could get some work done in Spring practice.  Then our fabulous training staff couldn't help Casey's back through the summer.  His parents had to take him to a specialist to get answers.  So CD wasn't really available therefore there was no choice but to play Mitch and use up the RS.

Then why did he play him at all in the Utah State and Ole Miss games(Casey). Looks to me like he should have let ROJO endure the USC debacle then come on with Casey.All that taking to a private Dr. was in early summer as the injury was in previous spring practice.

[YellvilleHog]

if they had done what they were supposed to when Mitch and Gus were here; Mitch would have shined like a diamond in the rough. they didsn't and they are gone . so now we can live without them i hope.

casey went through the spring and will go through the fall and that may be a ghood thing for him.plus our recievers are a yeasr older and a little stronger. the O line will be the key to the whole shooting match. come on coach Markuson do your thing. :razorback: :razorback: :razorback:

GO HOGS :razorback:

That has to be the first time I've ever heard anyone refer to Mitch as a possible diamond in the rough.

[Wash Hogwallop]

Pick the games that Mitch played in and the stats.  I don't care, but one thing Mitch got, the W.  Casey didn't. 

This is what a lot of the pro-Nutt crowd doesn't want to admit.  QBing is not JUST about stats, it's about running the entire game.  It's about WINNING. 

I understand, Casey did exactly what he was told, threw the ball to the person Nutt told him to, that is why Nutt liked him and wanted to make Mitch look bad.  For ex., no way Casey makes that throw to Ben to win the Alabama game.  Not only can he not make it, he would not have even attempted it, because I promise you that was not who the play was called for.

Mitch is a born leader and an excellent field general, as well as having the raw skills.  Casey's a good kid.

Wait a minute, so now you're saying that Mitch went out there in OT and called his own play? STFU with that bullcrap. Gus called that play, sure Ben may not have been the primary receiver, but Mitch didn't audible into that, and funny that you mention the one really nice pass Mitch threw and you leave out the multitude of INT's he threw. I say it again, Mitch was over rated coming out of high school, he struggled just as badly as Casey last season, to say differently is a crock.

Mitch wanted to redshirt.  He wanted time to develop.  He was pressed into service and as a true freshman he struggled, as we expected, but the team won.

Casey was hurt.  He had practically no spring to prepare physically.  It seemed he was never really healthy to me.  If he was, he was not prepared for the top SEC teams that he was told to face. 

Going into the South Carolina game the choices were Mitch whose numbers were honestly not improving, Casey who had but little experience/success the prior year and no spring or 2006 experience, or RoJo who stepped into the receiver spot. 

What is you call?

Mine is go with the struggling winner.  Nutt went with so called "experience".  However, the experience about the same number of games as the struggling Mitch had to that point but was nearly a year in the past.  It should be pointed out it was not a glorious showing of quarterback skills before the injury either but Casey was learning and a raw talent too before the injury. 

Some will say six of one, half a dozen of the other.  My beef is the "QUICK TRIGGER" excuse.  It is absolute bull and the last straw for me.

Casey could not throw a pass accurately at the end of the season.  He knew the routes but he could not make the connection.  Again, see reasons above.  I am not taking anything away from him.  However, Mitch never really saw the ball after South Carolina.  He handed off a couple here and there and was told to throw to "X" and only "X".  Nothing to seriously consider  himself of being "the quarterback."

There was no "QUICK TRIGGER" when Casey was struggling mightily.  With the game on the line Nutt continued with a QB who was like 3 for 15 up top that point in the game.  No sir.  There was more to it than a struggling QB in my opinion. 

We cannot summize what either would have done against lesser or greater opponents.

Lastly, I hope Casey lights the world on fire this year.  Nothing above was anything malicious about him.  I mean, the man was hurt and played the best of the SEC scheduled.  Hats off.  How he does will not affect my opinion of Houston Nutt as a Coach.

Nutt is the one who called for the change.  It is my opinion that is the call that bit him in the butt for a chance at the National Championship.  He could not foresee the arguement being made after USC thumped us and was ahead of us late in the year . . . but the magic loss by USC gave us a chance we may not again see in the near future. 

Good luck to the team.  I will just not invest myself in Nutt's coaching ability again, ever.

[Hogs-n-Roses]

Pick the games that Mitch played in and the stats.  I don't care, but one thing Mitch got, the W.  Casey didn't. 

This is what a lot of the pro-Nutt crowd doesn't want to admit.  QBing is not JUST about stats, it's about running the entire game.  It's about WINNING. 

I understand, Casey did exactly what he was told, threw the ball to the person Nutt told him to, that is why Nutt liked him and wanted to make Mitch look bad.  For ex., no way Casey makes that throw to Ben to win the Alabama game.  Not only can he not make it, he would not have even attempted it, because I promise you that was not who the play was called for.

Mitch is a born leader and an excellent field general, as well as having the raw skills.  Casey's a good kid.

Wait a minute, so now you're saying that Mitch went out there in OT and called his own play? STFU with that bullcrap. Gus called that play, sure Ben may not have been the primary receiver, but Mitch didn't audible into that, and funny that you mention the one really nice pass Mitch threw and you leave out the multitude of INT's he threw. I say it again, Mitch was over rated coming out of high school, he struggled just as badly as Casey last season, to say differently is a crock.

Mitch wanted to redshirt.  He wanted time to develop.  He was pressed into service and as a true freshman he struggled, as we expected, but the team won.

Casey was hurt.  He had practically no spring to prepare physically.  It seemed he was never really healthy to me.  If he was, he was not prepared for the top SEC teams that he was told to face. 

Going into the South Carolina game the choices were Mitch whose numbers were honestly not improving, Casey who had but little experience/success the prior year and no spring or 2006 experience, or RoJo who stepped into the receiver spot. 

What is you call?

Mine is go with the struggling winner.  Nutt went with so called "experience".  However, the experience about the same number of games as the struggling Mitch had to that point but was nearly a year in the past.  It should be pointed out it was not a glorious showing of quarterback skills before the injury either but Casey was learning and a raw talent too before the injury. 

Some will say six of one, half a dozen of the other.  My beef is the "QUICK TRIGGER" excuse.  It is absolute bull and the last straw for me.

Casey could not throw a pass accurately at the end of the season.  He knew the routes but he could not make the connection.  Again, see reasons above.  I am not taking anything away from him.  However, Mitch never really saw the ball after South Carolina.  He handed off a couple here and there and was told to throw to "X" and only "X".  Nothing to seriously consider  himself of being "the quarterback."

There was no "QUICK TRIGGER" when Casey was struggling mightily.  With the game on the line Nutt continued with a QB who was like 3 for 15 up top that point in the game.  No sir.  There was more to it than a struggling QB in my opinion. 

We cannot summize what either would have done against lesser or greater opponents.

Lastly, I hope Casey lights the world on fire this year.  Nothing above was anything malicious about him.  I mean, the man was hurt and played the best of the SEC scheduled.  Hats off.  How he does will not affect my opinion of Houston Nutt as a Coach.

Nutt is the one who called for the change.  It is my opinion that is the call that bit him in the butt for a chance at the National Championship.  He could not foresee the arguement being made after USC thumped us and was ahead of us late in the year . . . but the magic loss by USC gave us a chance we may not again see in the near future. 

Good luck to the team.  I will just not invest myself in Nutt's coaching ability again, ever.

He came out with "quick trigger" to trump "dork" which had come out that week.

[imhogwild2]

is it the same people who said we cant run the Gus malzahn offense in the sec?

[Hong Kong Sooey]

Pick the games that Mitch played in and the stats.  I don't care, but one thing Mitch got, the W.  Casey didn't. 

This is what a lot of the pro-Nutt crowd doesn't want to admit.  QBing is not JUST about stats, it's about running the entire game.  It's about WINNING. 

I understand, Casey did exactly what he was told, threw the ball to the person Nutt told him to, that is why Nutt liked him and wanted to make Mitch look bad.  For ex., no way Casey makes that throw to Ben to win the Alabama game.  Not only can he not make it, he would not have even attempted it, because I promise you that was not who the play was called for.

Mitch is a born leader and an excellent field general, as well as having the raw skills.  Casey's a good kid.

Wait a minute, so now you're saying that Mitch went out there in OT and called his own play? STFU with that bullcrap. Gus called that play, sure Ben may not have been the primary receiver, but Mitch didn't audible into that, and funny that you mention the one really nice pass Mitch threw and you leave out the multitude of INT's he threw. I say it again, Mitch was over rated coming out of high school, he struggled just as badly as Casey last season, to say differently is a crock.

Mitch wanted to redshirt.  He wanted time to develop.  He was pressed into service and as a true freshman he struggled, as we expected, but the team won.

Casey was hurt.  He had practically no spring to prepare physically.  It seemed he was never really healthy to me.  If he was, he was not prepared for the top SEC teams that he was told to face. 

Going into the South Carolina game the choices were Mitch whose numbers were honestly not improving, Casey who had but little experience/success the prior year and no spring or 2006 experience, or RoJo who stepped into the receiver spot. 

What is you call?

Mine is go with the struggling winner.  Nutt went with so called "experience".  However, the experience about the same number of games as the struggling Mitch had to that point but was nearly a year in the past.  It should be pointed out it was not a glorious showing of quarterback skills before the injury either but Casey was learning and a raw talent too before the injury. 

Some will say six of one, half a dozen of the other.  My beef is the "QUICK TRIGGER" excuse.  It is absolute bull and the last straw for me.

Casey could not throw a pass accurately at the end of the season.  He knew the routes but he could not make the connection.  Again, see reasons above.  I am not taking anything away from him.  However, Mitch never really saw the ball after South Carolina.  He handed off a couple here and there and was told to throw to "X" and only "X".  Nothing to seriously consider  himself of being "the quarterback."

There was no "QUICK TRIGGER" when Casey was struggling mightily.  With the game on the line Nutt continued with a QB who was like 3 for 15 up top that point in the game.  No sir.  There was more to it than a struggling QB in my opinion. 

We cannot summize what either would have done against lesser or greater opponents.

Lastly, I hope Casey lights the world on fire this year.  Nothing above was anything malicious about him.  I mean, the man was hurt and played the best of the SEC scheduled.  Hats off.  How he does will not affect my opinion of Houston Nutt as a Coach.

Nutt is the one who called for the change.  It is my opinion that is the call that bit him in the butt for a chance at the National Championship.  He could not foresee the arguement being made after USC thumped us and was ahead of us late in the year . . . but the magic loss by USC gave us a chance we may not again see in the near future. 

Good luck to the team.  I will just not invest myself in Nutt's coaching ability again, ever.

Excellent post.

One thing you missed here though.

I told the board immediately after the SEMo game that Mitch would be benched at the first reasonable opportunity.  Houston knew he had saved his job, and was ready to take the offense back over.  In order to do that, he had to bench Mustain. 

Look back at the events immediately after SEMO, and you will see how right I was.  My actual statement was that Mitch would be ripped to shreds by the radio shills and BAC plants on the boards.  Both began Monday morning after that game.  Mitch played very well against Ole Miss the next week, and against ULM Casey looked pretty bad too (no one could catch that game, 7 dropped passes killed any hope of a passing game).  The first drive against SC was the first opportunity to bench him, and we never saw him again.

This wasn't just a coach deciding to go with "experience".  This was a coach with malice on his mind.  We now know that the "Dork" comment was a big catalyst, but at the time it seemed he just didn't wan't to allow Gus any freedom with the O (I'm sure this came into play also). 

And before you ask, I got this straight from one of Dale's friends.  I PM'd several Mods and Admins on thsi board with the info days before I posted it.  Some of them could easily verify my story.