ESPN Source: Arkansas hires new DC

[rhames]

It's a message board.  If you don't want to read opinions, log off.  Then turn off the television, the radio, get divorced and move to the Yukon.

Beat me to it

[ricepig]

How many yards did we throw for that game?

Not enough, we lost....

[Chief Mac]

We have top flight recruiters.  We need a good schemer, game planner and teacher to develop a system, develop our lower ranked than our comp's recruits over multiple seasons and do a good job planning for our opponents. 

horse stuff.  If Arkansas is going to succeed, it has to have a staff consisted mostly of great recruiters/good at their position.  Until we have a staff full of Pittmans, we will continue to suck hind tit in recruiting.

[Atlhogfan1]

We have one top flight recruiter.  Successful SEC coaching staffs are full of them.

Pittman and Shannon.  Thomas is a good recruiter as well. 

[sickboy]

Why are people so adamantly against this hire? He's done amazing at every college coaching stop he's been at.

Because they don't know who he is.

[BOAR_N2BWILD]

Here we go again. What the hell do any of you guys know about hiring assistant coaches? Number of posts on a website don't count.

+1000000000000

[Peter Porker]

Why are people so adamantly against this hire? He's done amazing at every college coaching stop he's been at.

Because members of Hogville know more than our coaches do.

[IBleedRazorbackRed]

we need top flight recruiters.  Smith's credentials do not paint that picture

I would say with coordinators it's coaching first, recruiting second.
With position coaches it's recruiting first, coaching second

[sickboy]

Pittman and Shannon.  Thomas is a good recruiter as well. 

Taver Johnson is a solid recruiter as well.

[WashUhog6]

Ash wasn't a very good recruiter.  Partridge was, though.

Not saying he was, but doesn't he have Florida recruiting ties?

[Atlhogfan1]

horse stuff.  If Arkansas is going to succeed, it has to have a staff consisted mostly of great recruiters/good at their position.  Until we have a staff full of Pittmans, we will continue to suck hind tit in recruiting.

It won't make much difference if you are going by rankings especially defensively.  Need good evaluators and teachers defensively. 

[Oklahawg]

Shannon wants a HC position. CBB did not want to have him leaving as DC after a year so he gets the Asst HC gig and Smith the DC, where CBB wants a multi-year option.

Rutgers recruited FL and I would guess this helps FL and NJ recruiting.

I find the Butch Davis mention epically silly. I'm sure it makes some Arkansas loyalists happy.

Does Smith fit what CBB wants? Does he mesh with the existing defensive staff? Can he get young players to play fast and not be afraid or tentative? Can he hang out with Shannon and get some of those Miami/Dade County contacts?

We may well have had a legit shot at Bo Davis but we got upstaged, twice.

Count me as a Segrest fan. I think he is going to make it hard for a lot of pessimists to continuing posting on HV one of these days. Not soon enough, but eventually. The NFL experience for Smith will play well on the recruiting trail. I suspect Smith's scheme will largely be vetted by CBB, so we need to not freak out so much.

[Wildhog]

Pittman and Shannon.  Thomas is a good recruiter as well. 

Shannon is pretty good.  I almost put him there.  He does have outstanding ties down there.

Thomas has been mostly worthless.

[Peter Porker]

horse stuff.  If Arkansas is going to succeed, it has to have a staff consisted mostly of great recruiters/good at their position.  Until we have a staff full of Pittmans, we will continue to suck hind tit in recruiting.

And you know he's a bad recruiter how?

[Chief Mac]

if we expect to get better talent, we need more coaches on this list.  Our best one was ranked 40th

http://247sports.com/Season/2014-Football/CompositeCoachRankings

[Wildhog]

Rutgers recruited FL and I would guess this helps FL and NJ recruiting.

Smith recruited like one kid from florida, and it was a kicker.  He was almost exclusively in the Northeast.  Mostly NJ.

[Hawgzinbowlz]

I'll reserve judgement until he has a couple of years with us.  I've seen some "underwhelming" hires put a good product on the field before and it can happen again.  No one knows enough yet to knock this hire.

+1. If we show improvement and become bowl eligible, I'm good with this hire.
If we are not improved by year three and headed in the right direction it Bielema's job I'll want.
It's CBBs call .

" GO HOGS "

[Atlhogfan1]

Shannon wants a HC position. CBB did not want to have him leaving as DC after a year so he gets the Asst HC gig and Smith the DC, where CBB wants a multi-year option.

Rutgers recruited FL and I would guess this helps FL and NJ recruiting.

I find the Butch Davis mention epically silly. I'm sure it makes some Arkansas loyalists happy.

Does Smith fit what CBB wants? Does he mesh with the existing defensive staff? Can he get young players to play fast and not be afraid or tentative? Can he hang out with Shannon and get some of those Miami/Dade County contacts?

We may well have had a legit shot at Bo Davis but we got upstaged, twice.

Count me as a Segrest fan. I think he is going to make it hard for a lot of pessimists to continuing posting on HV one of these days. Not soon enough, but eventually. The NFL experience for Smith will play well on the recruiting trail. I suspect Smith's scheme will largely be vetted by CBB, so we need to not freak out so much.

Have to have multiyear DC's at our program if we hope to be able develop at least competent defenses. 

One improvement I hope to see soon is a defense who gets turnovers. 

[The real Hogules]

Because members of Hogville know more than our coaches do.

Where some coaches are concerned you don't have to be a rocket scientist to see the writing on the wall.
HDN springs to mind when discussing this particular topic.

[Scott7703]

Would love to be proven wrong but I expect to see much of the same defense we saw this past season with smith calling the shots.

[Chief Mac]

And you know he's a bad recruiter how?

didn't say he was a bad recruiter, I said his track record does not indicate that recruiting is his strength.  He might end up being that way, who knows but there are guys out there that are known as good DCs and recruiters that have connections to the southeast and Texas

[Atlhogfan1]

if we expect to get better talent, we need more coaches on this list.  Our best one was ranked 40th

http://247sports.com/Season/2014-Football/CompositeCoachRankings

You mean higher rankings.  We might have talent especially once the players develop.  We won't get higher rankings consistently unless the in state gets consistently better. 

[hogfan14]

"Rutgers ranks in the top 25 nationally in four major defensive statistical categories: scoring defense (fourth, 14.3 ppg), total defense (14th, 321.3 ypg), pass efficiency defense (25th, 115.35) and rushing defense (11th, 105.0 ypg). Rutgers also is tied for fourth nationally with 18 touchdowns allowed and tied for the fourth fewest rushing touchdowns allowed. 

Rutgers is holding opponents to the fourth-lowest single game rushing average since 1950, allowing only 105 rushing yards per game. Only two Rutgers teams (1976 and 1964) have held opponents to less than 100 yards per game since 1950. 

A season of firsts, too: Rutgers held Temple to 191 yards of total offense Oct. 20 at Lincoln Financial Field -- the first time in school history the Scarlet Knights have allowed less than 200 yards in a Big East road game. Then against Cincinnati, Rutgers allowed only three points -- the lowest point total it has allowed to a Big East opponent on the road."

[Oliver]

Oh boy!

[Scott7703]

Another question is why was this hire not made 3 weeks ago? Smith could have been hired during the dead period.

[Atlhogfan1]

Would love to be proven wrong but I expect to see much of the same defense we saw this past season with smith calling the shots.

Could be likely.  Personnel may not be much better.  This is a multi season rebuild especially on the defensive side no matter who we hired at DC.

[Chief Mac]

You mean higher rankings.  We might have talent especially once the players develop.  We won't get higher rankings consistently unless the in state gets consistently better. 

I don't believe that.  Sam Pitman doesn't believe that either.  Give me a staff full of guys like him.  Fills his position area with top flight recruits from across the nation.  There are more coaches out there like him and most SEC staffs have three or four of them

[Marshfieldhog]

Disappointing, we are going to have to out score teams.

[Steef]

Shannon wants a HC position. CBB did not want to have him leaving as DC after a year so he gets the Asst HC gig and Smith the DC, where CBB wants a multi-year option.

Rutgers recruited FL and I would guess this helps FL and NJ recruiting.

I find the Butch Davis mention epically silly. I'm sure it makes some Arkansas loyalists happy.

Does Smith fit what CBB wants? Does he mesh with the existing defensive staff? Can he get young players to play fast and not be afraid or tentative? Can he hang out with Shannon and get some of those Miami/Dade County contacts?

We may well have had a legit shot at Bo Davis but we got upstaged, twice.

Count me as a Segrest fan. I think he is going to make it hard for a lot of pessimists to continuing posting on HV one of these days. Not soon enough, but eventually. The NFL experience for Smith will play well on the recruiting trail. I suspect Smith's scheme will largely be vetted by CBB, so we need to not freak out so much.

[Oliver]

Another question is why was this hire not made 3 weeks ago? Smith could have been hired during the dead period.

Great great question

[Jek Tono Porkins]

Why don't we wait and see the product he puts on the field before we start bashing him?

Oh, and here's a little history lesson for you guys. Here's a list of the Arkansas defensive coordinators the past few years and where they are now:
-Chris Ash (co-DC at Ohio State)
-Paul Haynes (head coach at Kent State, will probably be fired in a few years)
-Willy Robinson (nowhere)
-Reggie Herring (Chicago Bears LB coach)
-Dave Wommack (Ole Miss co-DC)
-John Thompson (DC at Arkansas State)
-Keith Burns (who the hell knows)

Where does a big-time DC fit in there? Arkansas's DC is not a good job. It's especially not a good job coming off a 3-9 season and fielding one of the worst defenses in the SEC. Just the way it is.

[ricepig]

+1. If we show improvement and become bowl eligible, I'm good with this hire.
If we are not improved by year three and headed in the right direction it Bielema's job I'll want.
It's CBBs call .

" GO HOGS "

I agree, it's Bielema's neck on the line, he gets to hire who he wants and can.

[seasonhog]

Smith recruited like one kid from florida, and it was a kicker.  He was almost exclusively in the Northeast.  Mostly NJ.

I understand that we would like to be the Harvard of the south.

Maybe these decision points in that direction.

[Steef]

Disappointing, we are going to have to out score teams.

?

Pretty sure that's true...regardless.

[Hawgzinbowlz]

... so we need to not freak out so much.

You were making sense before this. LOL

" GO HOGS "

[Chief Mac]

this hire could have been made weeks ago

[goodguytex]

I as a fan am disappointed in this hire if it is Smith. But I'm a dumb fan who doesn't know much that's going on and who is best for the job so I will bite my tongue and expect improvement. If it doesn't happen changes will need to be made.

[Atlhogfan1]

Disappointing, we are going to have to out score teams.

When was the last time we didn't?  SWC?  1970's?  Maybe even pre integration?

[Atlhogfan1]

this hire could have been made weeks ago

It may have been. Why do you care when it was announced?

[IBleedRazorbackRed]

Disappointing, we are going to have to out score teams.

That is the goal of the game

[Hawgzinbowlz]

?

Pretty sure that's true...regardless.

LOL  Great thread on a gray day .

" GO HOGS "

[rusvegashog]

No sarcasm serious question. I always read people on here talking about certain coaches recruiting abilities or liabilities. How would you know how Taver, Shannon or Now Robb Smith is in a living room w a potential recruit and his family?

[ricepig]

Disappointing, we are going to have to out score teams.

Hell, we'll just be happy around here to score.......

[rhames]

this hire could have been made weeks ago

To me it's obvious why it wasn't. Don't let some of these people spin it. Smiths name popped up right after ash left


Smith was Bret's first choice but wanted to hold out for an nfl job that he didn't get


The guy at Memphis, Odem(IMO who we should have went with) was the backup plan

If true, I would have told smith peace and the offer was off the table


Not having a dc hurt us in recruiting.

[Peter Porker]

didn't say he was a bad recruiter, I said his track record does not indicate that recruiting is his strength.  He might end up being that way, who knows but there are guys out there that are known as good DCs and recruiters that have connections to the southeast and Texas

Maybe those guys aren't a good fit. If Bielema hires Smith then we should back him. Did Bielema suddenly forget what makes a great assistant coach?

[Peter Porker]

To me it's obvious why it wasn't. Don't let some of these people spin it. Smiths name popped up right after ash left


Smith was Bret's first choice but wanted to hold out for an nfl job


The guy at Memphis, Odem(IMO who we should have went with) was the backup plan

If true, I would have told smith peace and the offer was off the table


Not having a dc hurt us in recruiting.

Who did we lose because we didn't have a DC. Specific names and quotes please.

[ricepig]

Maybe those guys aren't a good fit. If Bielema hires Smith then we should back him. Did Bielema suddenly forget what makes a great assistant coach?

It's not a big name higher, the masses won't care if he's great, he doesn't have the name.

[Atlhogfan1]

To me it's obvious why it wasn't. Don't let some of these people spin it. Smiths name popped up right after ash left


Smith was Bret's first choice but wanted to hold out for an nfl job


The guy at Memphis, Odem(IMO who we should have went with) was the backup plan

If true, I would have told smith peace and the offer was off the table


Not having a dc hurt us in recruiting.

How did it hurt recruiting?  This reminds me of Nutt's defenders saying the NCAA investigation cost us recruits when it was only ever proven one may have been swayed - Montgomery. 

Who did we lose because of it?  Thomas to Stanford or the Miami kid to Miami? 

[hoggusamoungus]

Nothing on Wholehogsports.com, Arkansasrazorbacks.com, Katv.com, etc.  Who is the "source"?

[rhames]

Who did we lose because we didn't have a DC. Specific names and quotes please.

Do you really think it didn't hurt?


"Hey guys. Come play defense here. I can't tell you who your coordinator will be"



How about this. Not having a dc didn't help us in the recruiting.