To start our season off this year we're matched up against the pre-season favorite to win the Sun Belt Championship and also Sun Belt player of the year in Terrance Broadway. Last year Broadway led his team to 9 victories while throwing for 2,842 yards with 9 interceptions while finishing 19th overall in the FBS in passing efficiency. He also rushed for over 700 yards and 9 touchdowns. After never winning a bowl game in program history ULL has went to and won a bowl game in each of the last two years.
1-0 is the motto. Time to prove it or we look like a bunch of ass clowns. Last year we started 1-0 but I had a terrible taste in my mouth. We didn't look like a team that could compete in the SEC and apparently we couldn't even compete in the Sun Belt.
This year is different. It has to be. It better be. Right?
Well we are going to find out real quick one way or another because this isn't just some rag tag team we're playing. Most years I wouldn't look twice at this game but we all know what happened last year and what's on the line for this game. After we lost last year, all hope went down the shitter. I've been pumped up about our new found hope but it won't mean anything unless we walk away with a win Saturday.
Keys to victory:
* Contain the zone read- it seems like Arkansas has fits with dual threat quarterbacks and that's exactly what we face Saturday. I hear we've had a good look in practice lately with Duwop, our freshman quarterback, running the scout team. Hopefully that's a good start but I doubt Duwop throws the ball as well as Broadway. Chris Smith and Trey Flowers are going to have to be disciplined and not try to do too much. Keep your contain and do your job and trust that Randy Shannon has our Linebackers finally ready to come up and knock someone backwards.
* Be more physical- ULL is returning 9 starters and most of there O Line. They feel like they are better than last year and there is no doubt they would've beaten us last year. Now we have to establish ourselves as an SEC team by pushing them around at the line of scrimmage. Football is played in the trenches and I'm excited to see what our lines look like. From what I'm hearing our D-Line should be our strongest position and our O-Line has gelled nicely over the preseason led by pre-season all SEC Center, Travis Swanson.
*Control the clock- This kind of goes along with being more physical but I believe ULL has been known to run a high paced offense. It's pretty important that we counter that by keeping our defense on the field and establishing a run game. It's no secret our goal this year is to be able to run the ball but if we can't get the run going against a Sun Belt team that allowed 4.8 yards a carry vs ECU in a bowl last year. ECU scored 34 points. I don't think we did that in any game last year.
*Set the tone on D- It's been a long time since I can remember our defense knocking people backwards. I guess our coaches were too busy hammering x's and o's and not on how to wrap up and drive your feet. It wouldn't surprise me if we never spent one second in practice last year in tackling. This year we have a team with something to prove. Our players have commented on how surprisingly physical camp was this year. In Bielema's press conference the other day he was surprised at how surprised everyone on the team was. Meaning we practiced like pussies. Now we're hitting people in practice and breaking arms and shit. I'm getting so fired up typing I gotta change the subject.
* Win pre snap- it seems like last year we were beat before the ball was even snapped. I literally don't think anyone knew what was going on or where they were suppose to be. This year in scrimmages and practice Coach B implemented taking the player out if they jump offsides, allowing the players backup to get in and take reps. I don't really think Petrino did anything in practice except throw the fade from the pass skeleton. Even then he tied the DBs hands behind there backs to give our QB 'confidence'. Well that's just stupid so maybe Coach B was able to get everyone's head out of their asses and made sure we practiced like winners should.
*Be special on special teams- nothing is more deflating than a kick return for a touchdown against us or a blocked/missed field goal. Hocker is going to do everything except pooch punt and that's just because his leg muscles are literally too strong to do that. It would be nice to win the battle of field position based off our kicking game. In order to upset some teams later in the season our special teams needs to be an exclamation point instead of a question mark. I believe Eric Hawkins will be returning kicks and he's suppose to be the fastest receiver on the team. Well I remember when Dmac and Felix took every kick to the house so I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed that Alex Collins isn't returning kicks. Seems like just yesterday Dennis Johnson was taking the opening kickoff to the season to the house.
Final Score prediction:
Arkansas 26 - ULL 16
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