Bold Prediction Time: Arkansas goes 9-3 if...

[All Bleed Red]

Brandon Allen completes 60% of his passes and averages 210+ yds a game passing  .  After breaking down every other position I really feel that it'll come down to QB play.  I don't think this team is as far behind as most think.  Quarterback play absolutely sank us last year, yet we were still in plenty of games against the big guys of SEC (LSU, Auburn, & Tex am).  Our lines should be stout, and we all know we have big time RB's.  My glasses may be Rosy but write it down  .  The defense should be good enough to keep us competitive.  Bring on the season (and criticism), I'm excited!

[OLDHOG]

Well I certainly hope you are right. I'm ready to get it started.

[GuvHog]

Brandon Allen completes 60% of his passes and averages 210+ yds a game passing  .  After breaking down every other position I really feel that it'll come down to QB play.  I don't think this team is as far behind as most think.  Quarterback play absolutely sank us last year, yet we were still in plenty of games against the big guys of SEC (LSU, Auburn, & Tex am).  Our lines should be stout, and we all know we have big time RB's.  My glasses may be Rosy but write it down  .  The defense should be good enough to keep us competitive.  Bring on the season (and criticism), I'm excited!

That's a very bold prediction. My maximum prediction was 8-4 and that's if the injury bug doesn't bite the Hogs again.

[HF#1]

Only way we go 9-3 is if our back 7 on defense have improved dramatically.

[Rocket23]

7-5

[Bubba's Bruisers]

Only way we go 9-3 is if our back 7 on defense have improved dramatically.

DING
DING
DING

And I expect improvement, but nothing drastic.  We should be ecstatic with simply gaining bowl eligibility this season.  Would be a great result given the current condition of the program.  2015 should be much more promising.

[bao187]

hell freezes over

[Hoggish1]

Wrote it down. Done!

[oldbear]

If the Hogs go 9-3 this season, CBB should not only be named Coach of the Year in the conference and nation, but in every conference in the nation and all the awards should be renamed for him.  I would love for it to happen, but I just don't see it.  Now come game day each week, I will convince myself that we are going to win every single game and will be cheering until I am hoarse, but I will be a very satisfied fan if we get to a bowl game and ecstatic if we win it.

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

I'm starting to turn the corner just because getting negative all the time gets old.  When you bread it down objectively study it really hard this team was as close to 6-6 as they were to 3-9. 

Brandon made some mistakes and gets hurt, Bielema made some mistakes, had some bad luck and the chemistry with Ash just wasn't there.

With a healthy and wiser BA, and a smarter, more seasoned staff 6-6 should be very achievable. 

9-3 is a very bold prediction, just can't let bold predictions get in the way enjoying (as much as you can enjoy) a 6-6 season and some real progress.  After the last 2 years any bowl will be a great bowl.  I don't care if it's Shreveport, Birmingham, or wherever.

[ThatGUY]

That's the thing about training camp and August.
Everyone starts of 0-0, then as fans we get to see who put in the work during the offseason, who got better, and who is happy with staus quo.
Hoping the Hogs see adequate improvement this year, I always try to make it to 1 or 2 home games.

[troyer37]

I love your optimistic attitude i just don't see it though. I hope I am wrong. If we win six games i will be thrilled. I just don't have faith in our defense yet and our qb. Until they prove it I will continue to have no faith. Our corners and linebackers are going to have improve tremndously and BA is going to step up and have to make some passes. Every team is going to load the box on us and who could blame them. BA is going to have to give the running backs some space to run and if he can do that we have a chance at winning some big games if he can't i can see a repeat of last year.

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

If Alex Mortensen can step up and take the QB position.

Bazinga

[Al Boarland]

Sticking with 5 wins.

[Wildhog]

You can make a very reasonable argument that we should have won the Rutgers, MSU and LSU games.

He should have won at least five last year.  He needs to win six this year.  That's the benchmark for me.

[ldfergu]

I do agree the success of this team centers around the  play of Brandon Allen.  If he is much improved I think the rest of the team feeds off of it.

Will it equate to 9 wins?  Doubtful.  But I think we will be much better (7 wins) this year.

[ldfergu]

Even Coach has maintained that we do not have the players to be the team we want to be... So 9 seems unlikely.

[Hogwild]

You can make a very reasonable argument that we should have won the Rutgers, MSU and LSU games..

I would say could instead of should.  But I will be happy with any bowl game this year.

[Uncommon]

it's the year 2015 or 2016.

Ain't happenin' this year.  8-4 is likely our ceiling this year.

[Uncommon]

He needs to win six this year.  That's the benchmark for me.

Agree somewhat.  Not that he needs to win 6 (I think needs to win at least 4) but 6 wins or more is a good benchmark for how fast the program is improving.  If he goes 4-8 or 5-7, then the program is improving but not at a good rate.  If he goes 6-6, 7-5, or 8-4, then the program is improving at a very good rate.  If he goes 3-9 or worse, the program is not improving.

[Wildhog]

Agree somewhat.  Not that he needs to win 6 (I think needs to win at least 4) but 6 wins or more is a good benchmark for how fast the program is improving.  If he goes 4-8 or 5-7, then the program is improving but not at a good rate.  If he goes 6-6, 7-5, or 8-4, then the program is improving at a very good rate.  If he goes 3-9 or worse, the program is not improving.

Like I said, he should have won five last year.  Four wins would be EXTREMELY disappointing. 

[LRRandy]

Sticking with 5 wins.

5 shows improvement. I think that is the number. More than 5, well, coach B will be a little ahead of schedule in my mind.

[Wildhog]

It's unreal how low the bar is being set.  The psychological toll these last few years have taken on our fanbase is depressing.

[Uncommon]

Like I said, he should have won five last year.  Four wins would be EXTREMELY disappointing. 

Agree.  Not that 4 would be extremely disappointing but that it would indeed be somewhat disappointing.

[DZ]

just curious, how much will everyone's predictions change for the year if BA throws 2 picks in the first half against Auburn?  I really, really hope he has improved as much as we are being led to believe, because usually I'm getting really excited for football this time of year, but I'm going to take the wait and see approach before I believe any hype this year (again).

[Wildhog]

Agree.  Not that 4 would be extremely disappointing but that it would indeed be somewhat disappointing.

It would to me.  It shouldn't take two years to get back to John L Smith level. 

[GuvHog]

Like I said, he should have won five last year.  Four wins would be EXTREMELY disappointing. 

Another losing season would be extremely disappointing. Winning less than 6 games is unacceptable.

[Uncommon]

It's unreal how low the bar is being set.  The psychological toll these last few years have taken on our fanbase is depressing.

We've sent James Cameron to the depths of the ocean to find the bar and raise it.

[Wildhog]

We've sent James Cameron to the depths of the ocean to find the bar and raise it.

James Cameron doesn't do what James Cameron does for James Cameron. James Cameron does what James Cameron does because James Cameron is... James Cameron.

[Calling All Hogs]

I agree a losing season would be disappointing. Arkansas spends the resources to have a major college program.

[Wildhog]

I agree a losing season would be disappointing. Arkansas spends the resources to have a major college program.

Thank you.

[Phil D]

I am one of the more optimistic fans on the board, but I don't see 9 wins this year. Hope you are right but I just don't see it.we will get there though :razorback:

[Uncommon]

Just wanted to disclaim that I think we will go 6-6 this season.  Just so no one thinks I'm a Debbie Downer.

[TOM "tbw1"]

It's unreal how low the bar is being set.  The psychological toll these last few years have taken on our fanbase is depressing.

It would to me.  It shouldn't take two years to get back to John L Smith level. 

Another losing season would be extremely disappointing. Winning less than 6 games is unacceptable.

No one likes to lose football games.  It tears your heart out as a player and a coach.

Keep in mind:  [1] No Razorback team has ever played as tough a schedule as this year.  [2] For whatever reason, the last few recruiting classes before last year were not productive.  [3]  The SEC West is loaded.  No previous Arkansas coach has faced the division as it is the past two years. 

It is very possible that there be vast improvement all along the team and the win total be less than six.  The bright side of this is that Arkansas fans are not as dumb as they are portrayed and understand the situation.

However, understanding does not lessen the pain of losing.  The hope is that we have finally reached a point where we can recruit on a plane close to those in the SEC West as far as facilities go and the fact that this staff has more than one good recruiter. 

Guv and I will spring for the iced tea if we go bowling.

[Uncommon]

I think the Missouri game at the end of the year will be a bowl eligibility defining game for us.  I think we'll head into that game with a 5-6 record.

[Hogeration]

I do agree the success of this team centers around the  play of Brandon Allen.  If he is much improved I think the rest of the team feeds off of it.

Will it equate to 9 wins?  Doubtful.  But I think we will be much better (7 wins) this year.

I agree with this.  As much as we need the D to step up, it was clear during the USCe game that BA is what makes our team go.  We looked great at start.  Then BA threw INT and the entire team gave up.  Most embarrassing loss I've ever sat in the stands for.

[Wildhog]

No one likes to lose football games.  It tears your heart out as a player and a coach.

Keep in mind:  [1] No Razorback team has ever played as tough a schedule as this year.  [2] For whatever reason, the last few recruiting classes before last year were not productive.  [3]  The SEC West is loaded.  No previous Arkansas coach has faced the division as it is the past two years. 

It is very possible that there be vast improvement all along the team and the win total be less than six.  The bright side of this is that Arkansas fans are not as dumb as they are portrayed and understand the situation.

However, understanding does not lessen the pain of losing.  The hope is that we have finally reached a point where we can recruit on a plane close to those in the SEC West as far as facilities go and the fact that this staff has more than one good recruiter. 

Guv and I will spring for the iced tea if we go bowling.

While this is a very difficult schedule, it's really not much different than what we've had in the past.  We've consistently been at or near the top in SOS.  http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2013/arkansas-strength-of-schedule/
http://www.fbschedules.com/2013/07/phil-steele-2013-college-football-strength-of-schedule-rankings/

And the way you get productivity out of your recruiting classes is by developing them.  If they aren't getting it done, then we have to question how they're being developed.

I'm sorry.  I appreciate your non-condescending response, but I'm still very firmly of the belief that anything less than six wins would be disappointing.  I really do think it's a reasonable position.

[TOM "tbw1"]

While this is a very difficult schedule, it's really not much different than what we've had in the past.  We've consistently been at or near the top in SOS.  http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2013/arkansas-strength-of-schedule/
http://www.fbschedules.com/2013/07/phil-steele-2013-college-football-strength-of-schedule-rankings/

And the way you get productivity out of your recruiting classes is by developing them.  If they aren't getting it done, then we have to question how they're being developed.

I'm sorry.  I appreciate your non-condescending response, but I'm still very firmly of the belief that anything less than six wins would be disappointing.  I really do think it's a reasonable position.

In order to develop recruits they have to be here to be coached.  Our attrition rate has been horrendous.  With the 85 cap, there is little wiggle room.

Other teams have faced a difficult SOS but our depth is so precarious, we cannot stand any injury.

I hope you are right and we go bowling.  I will be disappointed if we do not but I also see a bright future for the program.  Anyone satisfied with a low bar is not a Razorback fan. 

[Steef]

7-5

[HF#1]

Another losing season would be extremely disappointing. Winning less than 6 games is unacceptable.

Making the leap from 3-9 to even 6-6 can prove to be difficult, especially in our league.  So using words like "unacceptable" is a little harsh.  If they are competitive and go 5-7, it's still improvement.

[Steef]

Making the leap from 3-9 to even 6-6 can prove to be difficult, especially in our league.  So using words like "unacceptable" is a little harsh.  If they are competitive and go 5-7, it's still improvement.

Here's my thinking on this thing...

We literally had TWO PLAYS last year that kept us from being 5-7....anyway. Two plays. Which means we were 'in it' with at least 2 SEC teams.

And our team last year had REAL issues. We had three true freshmen starting on the Oline, for crying out loud. And our QB had one arm in a sling for most of the season. His throwing arm.

I can't help but believe we WILL actually be better this year.

And as tough as our conference is...several of our opponents have issues of their own. At least four (off the top of my head) will be starting brand new QBs. It's entirely possible that most of our conference will NOT be better than they were last year.

I'm going with 7-5.

[Wildhog]

Making the leap from 3-9 to even 6-6 can prove to be difficult, especially in our league.  So using words like "unacceptable" is a little harsh.  If they are competitive and go 5-7, it's still improvement.

The problem I have with this is that we should have won more than three last year.  He always needed to win six by year two.  Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in several games last year doesn't change that.  There's just nothing anyone can say to convince me we shouldn't have beaten AT LEAST Rutgers and MSU last season.  That MSU game was some of the worst football/coaching I have ever seen.

[Steef]

The problem I have with this is that we should have won more than three last year.  He always needed to win six by year two.  Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in several games last year doesn't change that.  There's just nothing anyone can say to convince me we shouldn't have beaten AT LEAST Rutgers and MSU last season.  That MSU game was some of the worst football/coaching I have ever seen.

Yep.

It's like Bret just ran out on that field and STRIPPED that ball from Alex.

Crumby thing for Bret to do.

[Wildhog]

Yep.

It's like Bret just ran out on that field and STRIPPED that ball from Alex.

Crumby thing for Bret to do.

Were you there?  Because I was, and that was one of the worst displays of football that I've ever seen.  At one point, our entire section was screaming not to fake the punt, because it was so obvious.  We faked it anyway... again. 

[Steef]

Were you there?  Because I was, and that was one of the worst displays of football that I've ever seen.  At one point, our entire section was screaming not to fake the punt, because it was so obvious.  We faked it anyway... again.

So what you're telling me is...Bret (or someone on the staff) made a bad call.

Thank goodness no one ELSE makes bad calls! Like...oh...attempting a 1,000 yard field goal when your kicker has been missing them all night from the 20...and letting the other team run it back for a game winning touchdown.

THOSE...kinds of goober mistakes? Golly. Who was that again? Probably a terrible coach.



And we STILL would have won the MSU game, if Alex had held onto the ball.

Poo happens.

Anyway, 2014 will be improved.

[Wildhog]

So what you're telling me is...Bret (or someone on the staff) made a bad call.

Thank goodness no one ELSE makes bad calls! Like...oh...attempting a 1,000 yard field goal when your kicker has been missing them all night from the 20...and letting the other team run it back for a game winning touchdown.

THOSE...kinds of goober mistakes? Golly. Who was that again? Probably a terrible coach.



And we STILL would have won the MSU game, if Alex had held onto the ball.

Poo happens.

Anyway, 2014 will be improved.

So you agree with me.  Good.  We should have won more games last year.

He needs to get to six this year.

[ldfergu]

Keep in mind:  [1] No Razorback team has ever played as tough a schedule as this year. 

Just because that's what the national media says doesn't make it fact.  We've played plenty of tough schedules throughout the years and this one's no different.  The truth is that we get the two heaviest hitters (Bama and LSU) at home this year, both of which are breaking in new QB's.  Hell, the entire league is breaking in new QB's.

My prediction of 7 wins is attainable and that's what I'm shootin for.  I understand that may not happen but we have every opportunity to reach that goal.  Plus, we play a few more games at home than on the road this year. 

[Steef]

So you agree with me.  Good.  We should have won more games last year.

He needs to get to six this year.

Or what?

YOU...gonna fire him?

If he gets to six...does that mean you will suddenly be happy with him?

[Inhogswetrust]

hell freezes over

If it means his prediction comes true after what we've endured the last couple of years I'm fine with that!

[GolfnHog]

I understand the concerns w/ BA going into this season but allow me this: He threw pretty effectively the 1st 2 games, last year,  prior to the shoulder injury and yes, was very ineffective for the next 7 or so weeks.  That being said, I thought he started coming back into form the last couple of weeks in the season.

I'm no doctor but what I do know about injuries is this. Regardless how much progress you make physically, until your mind is clear of thinking of the injury you have a tendency to "guard" against pain, pressure and what you perceive as "not normal" and that impacts every dammed mechanic you have while trying to rehabilitate.

All this being said, I think that with time to heal, his efforts to improve his mechanics (on his own dime) and his ownership to be a more vocal leader gives the Razorbacks greater chances than they had last season.

I'm also hoping that Coach Jennings has the back 7 ready to be defenders instead of sprinters trying to catch a receiver. My prediction: 6-6 and a bowl invitation and w/ a bowl invitation tell me Hog Nation won't pack that city and stadium after the last 2 years!