I made a bet in last week’s Sunday Sermon that if Sam Pittman did not lead Arkansas football to eight wins this season, I would write two separate articles advocating for Pittman and the Razorbacks to move on from both of their coordinators. I want to start with Defensive Coordinator Barry Odom.
On paper, this feels like a common sense kind of move for Pittman. Sure it is fair to argue that the defense improved as the season progressed and dealt with a ton of injuries this season, but the fact remains that Odom’s defense was a statistically abysmal unit this season.
Odom’s Razorback defense ranked 124th in the FBS in total defense for the 2022 college football season. Vanderbilt was the lone SEC team that was worse in total defense than the Hogs this year. Furthermore, the scoring defense was only slightly better at 90th in the FBS.
Odom’s defense did not get it done for the Razorbacks this season.
That represents a tremendous dropoff from last year’s unit, which was nearly 100 yards per game better in total defense. Even keeping pace with the previous year’s squad would have probably resulted in at least two more wins for the Hogs this year.
From a continuity perspective, it also makes more sense to part with Odom than with Offensive Coordinator Kendal Briles. Odom will undoubtedly lose his top two tacklers in Bumper Pool and Drew Sanders. In addition, he will almost certainly lose Jalen Catalon. Myles Slusher has already announced he is entering the transfer portal.
With all the new blood needing to log significant minutes for the Hogs on defense, it feels like the right time to change the defensive leader.
Additionally, one of the major advantages of adding Odom to the staff was that Pittman lacked head coaching experience, so Odom was seen as a steadying hand on the coaching staff. At this point, though, Pittman has gained that experience.
There are also a wealth of up-and-coming defensive coordinators from smaller schools that could be ripe for poaching. In fact, five of the top 11 FBS teams in total defense this year are FBS schools.
Defensive Coordinators like South Alabama’s Corey Batoon (a 2021 Broyles Award Nominee and former Arkansas State and Ole Miss staffer), Boise State’s Spencer Danielson, and Marshall’s Lance Guidry would be Group of Five names to watch in a coaching search.
Odom has done a great job steadying the ship for Arkansas football, but it is time for Pittman and the Razorbacks to move on and stay competitive nationally and in the conference.