Interesting Fact

[gopig]

Hullo all, new here.

Interesting fact: Arkansas had a football team before Matt Jones.

Interesting Speculation: We'll probably go ahead and field a team without him. :)

Seems like most people think losing Jones will make 2005 mediocre for Arkansas. I wanted to point out that we'll be better this year, even losing him. Remember, last year was supposed to be bad... we had no one returning! Look for us to be improved at almost all positions in 2005. If our new defensive coordinator is as good as he's supposed to be, we'll be very competitive.

[Neo]

Hullo all, new here.

Interesting fact: Arkansas had a football team before Matt Jones.

Interesting Speculation: We'll probably go ahead and field a team without him. :)

Seems like most people think losing Jones will make 2005 mediocre for Arkansas. I wanted to point out that we'll be better this year, even losing him. Remember, last year was supposed to be bad... we had no one returning! Look for us to be improved at almost all positions in 2005. If our new defensive coordinator is as good as he's supposed to be, we'll be very competitive.

Even though I'm not a Razorback fan, I think that I can give an honest and fair view of the program.

Now you said the loss of Matt Jones will not hurt the program? Well, I strongly disagree with that statement. Matt Jones was a major player in your offense. Without Jones, Arkansas didn't have an offense. You don't just "replace" players like Jones. Players like Jones come around maybe once every ten (10) years. His rushing, passing and sheer size made him a respectable enemy in the SEC.

I expect Arkansas to finish 5-6 at best this year. :)


Just my 0.02

[Neo]

BTW: Welcome to the site! If you ever need anything, feel free to PM me. :)

[gopig]

Even though I'm not a Razorback fan, I think that I can give an honest and fair view of the program.

Now you said the loss of Matt Jones will not hurt the program? Well, I strongly disagree with that statement. Matt Jones was a major player in your offense. Without Jones, Arkansas didn't have an offense. You don't just "replace" players like Jones. Players like Jones come around maybe once every ten (10) years. His rushing, passing and sheer size made him a respectable enemy in the SEC.

I expect Arkansas to finish 5-6 at best this year. :)


Just my 0.02

Thanks for the welcome.

I do disagree with you though. Don't get me wrong, Matt Jones is fantastic. If I could keep him around, I definately would. What I'm saying, however, is that Arkansas will be better next year despite losing Jones. Losing Jones hurts, but we more than make up for it. Last year was a major rebuilding year, we were in shambles. This year we return players who now have experience, and we've changed our defense (it was our defense that stunk last year, it will be much improved.)

Our offense was built entirely around Jones last year. It is not the case that we are going to be running the same offense, simply minus Jones. We will do things differently... our new quarterbacks are not the same type of scramblers. Look for Arkansas to win 7/8 games. My .02 cents.

[nooneLT]

you're not just missing matt jones the player, you're also missing matt jones the leader. and you can never tell how an unexperienced QB will do against the SEC.

[troxel3]

Arkansas will struggle BIG TIME next year. Losing your star QB, along with 12 other starting players? Come on man, think about it.

[troxel3]

My bad. They are losing 5 other starters. I was thinking about Ole Miss. Apologies.

[OrangeCrush]

The Razorbacks will have a winning record next year. I'm not sure how they will do it, but it is time for Houston Nutt to be back in the SECG race. Mark it down that you heard it here first. Arkansas will have a winning record next year. ;)

[GRASSHOPPER]

Hullo all, new here.

Interesting fact: Arkansas had a football team before Matt Jones.

Interesting Speculation: We'll probably go ahead and field a team without him. :)

Seems like most people think losing Jones will make 2005 mediocre for Arkansas. I wanted to point out that we'll be better this year, even losing him. Remember, last year was supposed to be bad... we had no one returning! Look for us to be improved at almost all positions in 2005. If our new defensive coordinator is as good as he's supposed to be, we'll be very competitive.HEY, WELCOME TO THE SITE BUT LET ME ALSO DISAGREE W/ YOU. ARKANSAS LOSING JONIE IS LIKE THE FALCONS LOSING VICK!

[Neo]

HEY, WELCOME TO THE SITE BUT LET ME ALSO DISAGREE W/ YOU. ARKANSAS LOSING JONIE IS LIKE THE FALCONS LOSING VICK!

I second that motion. :D

[cocky4ever]

I second that motion. :D
With they type of running backs Ark. usually has there is no need to put a mobile qb back there. That is like putting Syvelle Newton as SC's qb when we have Summers, Boyd, and Turman. Jones was not a good passer at all, and will even probably play WR if he goes pro. All Ark. needs is someone who is a decent passer to relieve some of the pressure on their backs. I think they will surprise a lot of people next year and have even said in a different thread I think they could win the West. Look at how many starters they lost before this season and still managed a somewhat decent season considering. I wouldnt count them out at this point.

[GeauxTo]

If Arkansas is going to be better WITHOUT Jones, that's scary! The Hogs have some good talent, all right, but their most precious asset is Houston Nutt! He's one good coach!
;)

[carolinavol]

Losing Jones is a heck of a loss of Ark. to overcome, and it will be difficult to fill his shoes with an inexperienced QB. That is the exact same thing that was being said this time last year about C. Clausen and UT, our season turned out ok.

[gopig]

Losing Jones is a heck of a loss of Ark. to overcome, and it will be difficult to fill his shoes with an inexperienced QB. That is the exact same thing that was being said this time last year about C. Clausen and UT, our season turned out ok.
Exactly, it can be done.

The biggest difference this year will be the defense. With Herring we'll go back to being aggressive, no more of that bend but don't break stuff that just got our defense tired and gave us lots of opportunities to miss tackles.

[1000x]

Arkansas did not have many seniors last year, so they will have many of their starters returning. However, they need to find a new QB. I'm not sure, but I think the next one in line is a sophomore. They also lost their RB DeCori Birmingham and star defensive lineman Jeb Huckeba. Not only do they have to replace Jones, but those two brought a lot to the team as well.

With a schedule with the past two national champions and another team that went undefeated in 2004, it's tough to imagine a winning season for Arkansas. Two games are sure wins and five are sure losses. It'll be difficult to win the rest. However, Coach Nutt has had a history of overachieving at Arkansas, so it might not be too wise of me to count them out. But it still doesn't look good.

[Neo]

Thanks for the welcome.

I do disagree with you though. Don't get me wrong, Matt Jones is fantastic. If I could keep him around, I definately would. What I'm saying, however, is that Arkansas will be better next year despite losing Jones. Losing Jones hurts, but we more than make up for it. Last year was a major rebuilding year, we were in shambles. This year we return players who now have experience, and we've changed our defense (it was our defense that stunk last year, it will be much improved.)

Our offense was built entirely around Jones last year. It is not the case that we are going to be running the same offense, simply minus Jones. We will do things differently... our new quarterbacks are not the same type of scramblers. Look for Arkansas to win 7/8 games. My .02 cents.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Arkansas, but it's hard for me to see USC fans as being the most optimistic when you see stuff like this. :D

[gopig]

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Arkansas, but it's hard for me to see USC fans as being the most optimistic when you see stuff like this. :D
lol :)

Really though, we'll be fine. We had one bad year, and now everyone seems to think we're a losing program or something. This year was supposed to be bad. We all knew it was gonna be bad.

But we have the same coach we've had, who has been proven very succesful. Our talent level has actually been rising (good recruiting last year and looks like a decent one this year.) We just hired away the defensive coordinator who had the best defense in the nation last year (statistically.) We only lose 5 people. But everyone thinks we'll suck because we sucked in a year we were supposed to suck.

[gopig]

And awesome image btw, pennywise rules.

[Neo]

And awesome image btw, pennywise rules.

Thanks! :D

[Neo]

Pennywise is the BOMB!

[gopig]

Beep Beep Richie