Exactly a quarter through the 2022 season, I still don’t quite know what to make of this Arkansas football squad after last night’s loss to Texas A&M. The Hogs are 3-1 (1-1) heading into next week’s matchup against Alabama.
Like every Hog fan, I woke this morning feeling many emotions. There’s anger at some preventable things that cost the Hogs the game last night. There’s sadness at the images of Cam Little and Rickey Stromberg suffering on the bench as time wound down. But, there’s even a bit of hope somewhere down deep.
I’m Ron Burgundy after Baxter got punted off the bridge. Just when I think I’ve got my reactions in check (“Wait, wait…let me say something”), I wail again. Arkansas football has me in a glass case of emotion.
The only feeling I’m certainly not feeling is certainty itself. I have zero confidence in predicting what the rest of the season will look like for this Arkansas football team.
On the one hand, it is easy to see the weaknesses. The secondary has gone from a question mark to a legitimate issue that will be on every future scouting report. I fully expect Bryce Young, who has already thrown for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, to come to Fayetteville next week and shred us. We still have to face offensive-minded coaches like Hugh Freeze, Lane Kiffin, and Mike Leach. They will know how to draw up schemes to score against us.
I’m also concerned about the playcalling. Arkansas football was pounding the ball down the field with a chance to go up 21-0 early in the 2nd quarter, and Kendal Briles got cute with it, and the drive stalled.
But on the other hand, this game has some silver linings. For starters, that Texas A&M defense has been stingy and stout all year long. Before yesterday’s game, they only gave up 154.3 yards rushing per game through three contests. The Hogs put 244 on them.
On the other side of the ball, while it felt like the secondary never made plays when we needed them to, this was also an improvement. The team giving up 350-plus yards through the air only allowed 151 yesterday.
It’s easy to believe that the Hogs win this game if KJ Jefferson doesn’t fumble on the goal line. A fluke rattled moment. That’s essentially what this boils down to.
The Little kick is the perfect image for this game and maybe the season. I’ve never seen a kick hit the top of the upright before—yet another fluke.
But therein lies the problem in determining how good this Arkansas football team is right now. That adage “it’s better to be lucky than good” holds some truth, however cliche it might be.
Last night Arkansas football was unlucky. The jury is still out on if Sam Pittman’s squad is good.