Sunday, September 9, 2012

What Happened In Little Rock?

Courtesy of the Associated Press
34-31. That's probably going to be stuck in my head for a while.

I have to commend ULM for their game plan against Arkansas. It was perfect. Quick hitting passes and misdirection runs kept the Arkansas defense off balance all game. It also didn't hurt that tackling Kolton Browning was like catching a greased pig. Arkansas had three sacks. It could have easily been ten.

Browning had a career night. He was 42 of 67 for 412 yards and 3 TDs. Yes, that's 67 attempts. He also led the Warhawks with 69 yards on 16 carries, including the game winning TD in overtime.

But this game can be boiled down to one thing: Tyler Wilson getting hurt. (Note: It seems to be confirmed that Wilson hurt his collarbone and is out for 3-4 weeks. Yay...)**

Before Wilson didn't come out of the locker room for the 2nd half, Arkansas had the game pretty much in hand. Yes, Browning was still doing his thing, but Arkansas was capable of moving the ball down the field effectively, racking up 288 yards and 3 TDs in only 11:07 of game time. Even though the defense was having an extremely difficult time with Browning (ULM had 257 yards at the half), the team could pretty much count on the offense to be able to score if not keep the time of possession.

Once Wilson went down and Brandon Allen stepped in, this game changed dramatically. Arkansas only held the ball for 9:34 of the 2nd half, almost a third of that (2:59) on the sole scoring possession to start the 3rd quarter. Allen ended up going 6 of 20 with a TD and an INT, but that INT came in a stretch to the end the game where he went 0-13.With Arkansas completely abandoned the running game, gaining only 96 yards on 26 carries, all the pressure was put on Allen's shoulders, and he wasn't ready for it. Because Arkansas couldn't move the ball, the defense had to stay out there longer without getting anymore of a lead.

All of that being said, Arkansas fans can't excuse this loss on the account of Wilson getting hurt, even if it would've changed the game. Paul Petrino shouldn't have abandoned the running game, one featuring a three-headed monster in Davis, Johnson, and Wingo. Paul Haynes should have found a way to contain Browning and stop ULM's dinking  and dunking down the field. John L Smith could have shown a little fire on the sidelines.

It was a collective effort in futility on the part of Arkansas players and coaches, along with the perfect game planning on the part of ULM and a career game from Browning, that pushed the Warhawks over the top in Little Rock on Saturday night.

On a side note, thoughts and prayers go out to Tevin Mitchell and his family. I didn't see him move any body parts after the medics carted him off the field. I truly hope he is okay.

Next week is Alabama without Wilson. I might start drinking heavily.

** Update: According to Josh Bertaccini from ESPN 92.1 The Ticket in Fayetteville, UA officials are denying Wilson has broken his collarbone at this time. Will keep updated.

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