From the Bench - Replacement on Offensive Line Critical For Razorbacks

[Robert Shields]

Replacement on Offensive Line Critical for Razorback Players and Coach

Robert Shields

The loss of Razorback offensive line coach Sam Pittman is probably very significant in the near future for the University of Arkansas football program and Bret Bielema. The Razorbacks need a few more offensive linemen for this recruiting class, and it's hard to know the recruiting impact that the loss of the coach might have.

But what we do know is that an adverse impact could have lasting consequences as the program still looks to lay a more solid foundation going forward.

If Pittman has been looking to get out of Fayetteville, we could speculate that his heart was not in it and recruiting might actually improve at the position. The more likely scenario is the Razorbacks are going to have to fill a big void and hit the recruiting trail all the more to find guys to replace Sebastian Tretola, Mitch Smothers, and maybe Denver Kirkland.

To say that the offensive line did a great job this season is an understatement. The vast majority of the time, Brandon Allen had the luxury of not having to run for his life on every play. As a result, Allen remained healthy because the offensive line and Alex Collins kept defensive linemen from crushing him. The line executed its blocking on most plays to an effective level, and the credit beside the guys that had to actually block also goes to Pittman.

The line play got better as the year went on and everyone settled into their role. The offensive achievement was noticeable, and the explosion of the offense in the second half of the season against more talented SEC teams was due in large part to the offensive line. Then at the end of the year, the offensive line just flat punched out a Missouri defense that had been stingy all year. 

The offensive line was featured on the front of the Razorback media guide, and Pittman played a role to elevate those offensive line guys to the level of being a household name for Razorback fans and earning that right to be on the cover. Over the past two years, the offensive line to a great extent has been the rock stars of the team. Almost without fail, the offensive line was talked about at great length by the announcers during every Razorback game on television.

In the past, Razorback fans might have been able to name one or maybe two standout offensive linemen for the Razorbacks. With the arrival of Bielema and Pittman, the entire offensive unit across the line is known.

Assistant coaches come and go, and that is the way it is in major college football. Leaving one school for another is the best way to get a raise. Salary increases while you are at a school typically tend to be meager, but when another school wants you the raise is usually significant.

My gut tells me this emphasis on line play will not change without Pittman. Bielema believes the game is won in the trenches not on the periphery with speed, and he will certainly try to find the best offensive- line coach that he can get.

-

Heisman Trophy Proves Worthless Again

The Heisman Trophy is truly one of the most worthless awards in all of sports.

In the last two decades, the Heisman voters have given this award to several bad actors and had to strip the trophy from at least one recipient. After snubbing Peyton Manning, it was dubbed as the Heistman, which is how they should refer to it on ESPN.

It was criminal when they gave it to Tim Tebow over Darren McFadden, who ended up in the SEC record books only behind the great Herschel Walker. McFadden accomplished this in only three years while having to split carries with Felix Jones.

This year the Heisman decided to ignore a quarterback who set the NCAA all-time touchdown mark and led Navy to one of its best years in recent memory.  The trophy is supposed to go to the best player in college football, which means for this award only a running back and mostly as of late a quarterback can win. Fittingly, there is already an award for best running back and an award for best quarterback.

This is not to take away from what Derrick Henry did this year. Further, he swept up the awards and not just the Heisman. But he played in a much more dynamic offense than did Leonard Fournette of LSU. It would be interesting to know what Fournette would have looked like if he played at Alabama.



Send your awards to fromthebench@yahoo.com

[The_Iceman]

[RazorbackToTheFuture]

[BearsBisonsBoars]

[RollHogTide]

This is not to take away from what Derrick Henry did this year. Further, he swept up the awards and not just the Heisman. But he played in a much more dynamic offense than did Leonard Fournette of LSU. It would be interesting to know what Fournette would have looked like if he played at Alabama.

They would have split carries and each of them would have had around 1,000-yds.

[Monk-N-Dunk]

I do agree that the Heisman is becoming a joke. It should be awarded for best overall player, regardless of team (specifically team ranking) or player position. 
                                                                                                       

[EMTOINKER82]

Tried to read

[BPsTheMan]

Shields - "If Pittman has been looking to get out of Fayetteville, we could speculate that his heart was not in it..."





Shields - passive aggressive wimp whiner

[DeltaBoy]

I agree Robert the fact the Navy QB was not even invited to NY is a shame. I have not worried about the Heisman since DMAC got shafted back in 06-07.

[HOGS82]

I will personally pay out of pocket for you to:

A. Enroll in Comp. 1 & 2 at the University of Arkansas

or

B. Stop writing altogether

[jackflash]

I hated to see Pittman go. He can be replaced, I think we will get a great offensive line coach

[NaturalStateReb]

Well, I think we can rule out Mike Markuson.

[Inhogswetrust]

I do agree that the Heisman is becoming a joke. It should be awarded for best overall player, regardless of team (specifically team ranking) or player position. 
                                                                                                       

The problem with saying "the best overall" is anyone can come up with a million different ways and criteria for what IS the best in their opinion.

I DO believe they should give out two. One for offense and one for defense. It is obvious that defensive players get shafted a lot of years.

[NaturalStateReb]

The whole enterprise is getting a bit silly, since it's often a numbers game.  If you're in a position that isn't getting a very significant number of touches, you're practically ineligible. 

[Hawgar The Horrible]

I appreciate a good synopsis after awakening from my comas.

[BorderPatrol]

The rookies are stepping it up in this thread.

Good job, guys.

bp

[Robert Shields]

The whole enterprise is getting a bit silly, since it's often a numbers game.  If you're in a position that isn't getting a very significant number of touches, you're practically ineligible. 

It's impossible for a defensive player to win it in this day and age, which means the award is really for the best offensive player.  Sometimes, the best player overall though in the nation is a defensive player, but he won't win the Heisman.

[DeltaBoy]

It's impossible for a defensive player to win it in this day and age, which means the award is really for the best offensive player.  Sometimes, the best player overall though in the nation is a defensive player, but he won't win the Heisman.

I agree it set up for either the QB or RB and few others  Desmin Howard was the nearest thing to a WR/PT to ever win it in the past 30 years.

[GoHogs1091]

I do agree that the Heisman is becoming a joke. It should be awarded for best overall player, regardless of team (specifically team ranking) or player position. 
                                                                                                       

I heard a Radio Host state on ESPN Radio on Saturday that he felt Clemson's Watson's season was a better season than Tim Tebow's.

So now what you have is a player (Tebow) who won the Heisman but another player (Watson) who had a better season and did not win the Heisman.

[Inhogswetrust]

It's impossible for a defensive player to win it in this day and age, which means the award is really for the best offensive player.  Sometimes, the best player overall though in the nation is a defensive player, but he won't win the Heisman.

Thus my point about needing one for offense and one for defense.

[RazorbackToTheFuture]

I will personally pay out of pocket for you to:

A. Enroll in Comp. 1 & 2 at the University of Arkansas

Lmao, I would throw in $20 for this!!!

[reddogjcss]

Coach B has UPGRADED with each new hire and will do the same with the new OL coach.
Coaches know u come here do a great job and 3-4 years can coach anywhere u want to.

[greenEGnHAWGS]

What?! OL coach is important for a run first offense...? Brilliant.

[greenEGnHAWGS]

In other news: Christmas will fall on Dec. 25th this year. Water is good for you. And China has a lot of people...Now, back to you Robert... 

[zane]

[swineology]

Moar great insight from RS

[Overtheroadtruckdriver]

Well done again, Robert. 

[Pigsfeat]

I have not watched a Heisman presentation since McFadden finished second to a very average qb in Troy Smith "because Smith was an upperclassman and McFadden was an underclassman". Then to finish second again the next year to a Freshman! It is all BS and is determined by ESPN's propaganda machine! Navy's Reynolds had a great career and deserved a trip to New York!

[MrKnowItAll]

Well done again, Robert. 

Good read OTR. I really appreciate your insight.

[SooiecidetillNuttgone]

McCaffrey broke a record that had stood since Barry Sanders days.

DH, who had a great season, could easily have his record broken next year by Fournette, who could have the same SEC rushing record broken the following year by  different RB.

Point being, while DH's season was fantastic, McCaffrey's was dang near unique.  I just don't know how you don't reward that with the Heisman.

[Doug]

[josh_sec33]

[/thread]

[scruf]

Robert Shields' posts are actually really enjoyable if you read them with the same voice as the little boy in this 13 second video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akc-BWN_-9I

[Mr. Porkleone]

I love the hilarious gifs these shields threads bring. Keep me coming

[PonderinHog]

I long for the harilious gifs theses shields threads bring. Keep me coming

TMI...

[BorderPatrol]

I long for the harilious gifs theses shields threads bring. Keep me coming

Um....

bp

[PonderinHog]

Um....

bp

Some people are easily "excited."

[HotlantaHog]

Agree with Shields that the best way for an assistant to maximize his earnings is to move from one team to another. That is also true of employees across the spectrum of jobs. Raises in the same position or same company tend to be miserly -- the best way to maximize earnings is to make a bigger career jump.

Also agree that Derrick Henry was not the best choice for the Heisman. If you give a single player the ball 45 times a game, he is going to rack up a lot of yards.

[Biggus Piggus]

I have not watched a Heisman presentation since McFadden finished second to a very average qb in Troy Smith "because Smith was an upperclassman and McFadden was an underclassman". Then to finish second again the next year to a Freshman! It is all BS and is determined by ESPN's propaganda machine! Navy's Reynolds had a great career and deserved a trip to New York!

McFadden did not get "robbed," because 1) Tebow was a sophomore not a freshman, and 2) Tebow produced 55 freaking touchdowns that season, 32 passing and 23 rushing.

Tebow produced at least four TDs in all but three games that season (Auburn, LSU, Georgia). He had a combined 8 pass + rush TDs in his worst games.

McFadden produced four TDs (no more) in two games -- Florida International, and the multi-OT game against LSU. He went 17-43 with no scores in a home loss to Auburn that got the ball rolling toward the departure of Houston Nutt. He had 19-61 against FIU, and 28-88 at home against Mississippi State in mid-November.

McFadden scored 16 rushing touchdowns in 2007 compared with Tebow's 23. McFadden added one TD from a pass reception, and four throwing from the wildcat.

McFadden was falling out of Heisman contention (after four consecutive subpar performances in the middle of the season) until his 321-yard game against South Carolina, whose run D was a joke.

In 12 regular-season games, McFadden had 304 carries for 1,725 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, 21 catches for 164 yards and 1 TD, and 6-11 passes for 123 yards and 4 TDs. Good numbers, but McFadden wasn't as consistent or as productive as Tebow was that season.

[carolinahogger]

Line play is important in the SEC?  And we need to add new, quality O linemen every year??

Stop the presses!!!!!!!

[Ramboar]

Robert gives me IBS...

[Whiskeyhog]

I haven't been on here for a couple of days.  Saw the title to this thread and automatically thought,  no stuff, really. 

[Whiskeyhog]

I haven't been on here for a couple of days.  Saw the title to this thread and automatically thought,  no stuff, really.

By the way stuff is not what i wrote.

[DeltaBoy]

I trust CBB to get the right man for the job.

[thefisher]

How it feels after seeing a RS piece of ... writing.

[Pigsfeat]

McFadden did not get "robbed," because 1) Tebow was a sophomore not a freshman, and 2) Tebow produced 55 freaking touchdowns that season, 32 passing and 23 rushing.

Tebow produced at least four TDs in all but three games that season (Auburn, LSU, Georgia). He had a combined 8 pass + rush TDs in his worst games.

McFadden produced four TDs (no more) in two games -- Florida International, and the multi-OT game against LSU. He went 17-43 with no scores in a home loss to Auburn that got the ball rolling toward the departure of Houston Nutt. He had 19-61 against FIU, and 28-88 at home against Mississippi State in mid-November.

McFadden scored 16 rushing touchdowns in 2007 compared with Tebow's 23. McFadden added one TD from a pass reception, and four throwing from the wildcat.

McFadden was falling out of Heisman contention (after four consecutive subpar performances in the middle of the season) until his 321-yard game against South Carolina, whose run D was a joke.

In 12 regular-season games, McFadden had 304 carries for 1,725 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, 21 catches for 164 yards and 1 TD, and 6-11 passes for 123 yards and 4 TDs. Good numbers, but McFadden wasn't as consistent or as productive as Tebow was that season.

Yep, Tebow was a Sophomore. I still don't think Tebow was the BEST player in college football. Different systems produce different numbers. I didn't think Andre Ware was the best player in college football the year he won either! You chose Tebow and I would have chosen McFadden.

[wupigsuey]

Like linemen, lineman coaches can become rock stars here. I don't suspect finding a suitable replacement will be a problem.

[Soooie21]

I do agree that the Heisman is becoming a joke. It should be awarded for best overall player, regardless of team (specifically team ranking) or player position. 
                                                                                                       

Back in the day, it was more or a career award.....

[ChiTown27]

I agree it set up for either the QB or RB and few others  Desmin Howard was the nearest thing to a WR/PT to ever win it in the past 30 years.

Charles Woodson?

[RebelliousHog]

Ole Robert deserves an award for this post.