Who has the most potential for improvement through this year and for next year?

[jbuzbee]

Olajabutu is already the best defensive player on the team and one of the most underrated players in the SEC (probably because our defense has been so bad over the last two years) therefore I didn't include him in this poll. I just want to know who everybody thinks will be better by the end of this year and throughout their career at Arkansas; i.e. who has the highest ceiling for improvement? I'm only focusing on defense so we won't include the talented, young guys on offense that we all already know about (Jones, McFadden, Hillis, Monk). I'm torn between Kevin Thornton and Freddie Fairchild. Fairchild has had the most opportunities this year and has been hot and cold (very hot against Bama with some excellent plays and very cold against USC in his first ever start). Thornton was awesome in high school at the two time champions, Central. He plays a position we really need help at but I think he hasn't been given an opportunity this year because of the difficulty of the position and the requirement of having experience at the Safety position. He is definitely a hitter....which we desperately need. Vaughn and Richardson don't hit....they are too much finesse and no help with the run, but Thornton is a hitter. He's more like Bua, Kennedy, and Hamlin than the other two are. Lets hear some opinions.

[ScreamingTiger]

you left one option out:
(x) who cares?...they will suck again next year!

[jbuzbee]

Good one.......

For someone who doesn't care, you sure do visit the Arkansas thread a lot. And why do you want two dudes on your tighty-whities? Little light in the loafers? I mean I guess I could see how a guy that "swings that way" would like HDN on their garbage but you don't have to show them to me.

[ScreamingTiger]

F.B. = Frank Broyles

"Inside" joke....over your head

Do you even recognize your head coach?

oh, nevermind.

[Spurrierismyhomeboy]

2X the Burn by Screamin Tiger!!!!! :D

[jbuzbee]

Like I said....good one. It really bolsters your opinion to have SIMH have your back.....

[Spurrierismyhomeboy]

You know it!!!!! ;)

[GeorgiaPride]

I love Arkansas..

[GeorgiaPride]

Good one.......

For someone who doesn't care, you sure do visit the Arkansas thread a lot.

I am sure that most people just click to read new post. I doubt ScreamingTiger is looking for a Arkcansuck thread to abuse.

I still love you guys.... Until George-Uh beats you!

[jbuzbee]

Thanks for the double post......need I repeat.....Good one.

[GeorgiaPride]

Wow that was worth negative rep. If it makes you feel better.

[jbuzbee]

If you are just on here to try to talk some smack start it up in another thread. I'm actually trying to get some people to discuss some football and not why ScreamingTiger (or eagle or whatever) likes to have men on his panties or why SIMH likes to encourage this.

[jbuzbee]

It was....I'm trying to get some football talk. Are you? Didn't think so. If I could, I'd give you another. :)

[GeorgiaPride]

I am defending a member of this board. You were attempting to bash. But I did vote for Weston.

[jbuzbee]

Actually he began the bashing and I just responded to him...to SIMH....and then to you.

[GeorgiaPride]

jbuzbee - When did I bash you? My first issue with a member here at SECTalk, atleast the peace lasted for a few months.

[jbuzbee]

I believe it started right about.....

I am sure that most people just click to read new post. I doubt ScreamingTiger is looking for a Arkcansuck thread to abuse.

I still love you guys.... Until George-Uh beats you!

[jbuzbee]

Do you not consider that a semi-insulting comment?

[GeorgiaPride]

no not really, but obviously it turned your world upside down so I am very sorry.

[GeorgiaPride]

Is it insulting because I defended ST or because I said Arkcansucks?

[jbuzbee]

Arkansuck??? Really? Would you like a definition of "insult"?

[GeorgiaPride]

But wait. I made fun of Georgia's name as well.

George-Uh I also use Jawja
Look left I call AU the war turkeys -- so no I def dont think I bashed anyone.

[GeorgiaPride]

You do understand that we are allowed to joke with the other teams. And also don't we all LOVE the SEC over anyone else. i will be damned if I wasnt pulling for Arkansas when you played USC.

[jbuzbee]

But wait. I made fun of Georgia's name as well.

George-Uh I also use Jawja
Look left I call AU the war turkeys -- so no I def dont think I bashed anyone.

None of those appear quite as rude as Arkansucks.....and you know that. Look I don't really care but SPIMH and Screaming got on this thread and immediately started bashing without offering anything on the topic and then you decided to defend them and get a few shots in yourself....I just want some people on this thread willing to talk about the topic and ya'll obviously aren't so.....

[GeorgiaPride]

So now I really didnt do anything other than defend ST, who yes is a WAR TURKEY. I can now go to sleep knowing you were just ticked off at other people and then gave me negative rep for a JOKE!!

Goodnight.
Roll Tide Baby!!!

[jbuzbee]

Whatever helps you sleep.

[supergenius]

Ever wonder who invented that little plastic thing that goes over the end of your shoe lace? RTR

[Jay_Lupo]

Damn, this spat got out of hand. But the Auburn guy did start it all.

Anyway, I think the answer to you question Buz. is easy. It's Freddie Fairchild. He was a big-time recruit (he was the ADG's defensive POY; would've been POY had it not been for McFadden), he's got a great body for a linebacker and he's already showing that he's a playmaker. He's literally been thrown into the fire and done very well considering he's 18. His best game was against USC and he'll never see another offense like that the rest of his career. I can see him emerging as an All-SEC LB maybe as soon as next year.

I think Marcus Harrison has the potential to be a great defensive tackle very soon. Fred Bledsoe, Tyrell Graham, Antwan Robinson and Kevin Thorton are all guys that will be making an impact on defense too.

But I think Fairchild's got the most potential.

[ScreamingTiger]

ooo he's just so sensitive :p

Try not to take it personally jbuzbee. Auburn plays your team next so I was just gettin in a few fun spirited early jabs. SG bashes Auburn in this forum daily you just got to learn to roll with it. puff-a-smoke....next :cool:

[Jay_Lupo]

Good post screaming tiger, now that we know it's all in fun, I'm sure Buz will take it a little lighter. He's a lawyer btw, so he loves to argue about anything, especially when someone antagonizes him a little bit. Trust me, I know from many personal experiences.

I can't wait for the Auburn game. This is a GIGANTIC game for us. We still hold the slightest hope for 6 wins b/c lets face it, USC, Miss. and MSU have looked no better, and in many cases worse, than we have. We need one upset and to win every game we're supposed to the rest of the way. No offense, but I think our best shot at an upset is against the Tigers in Fayetteville. Plus, you guys have beaten us two consecutive times now, and we definitley don't want to give you that hat trick :) I can't wait, I love the ARkansas games against the Bama teams every year. Love it. Too bad Frank won't let it be on TV. Screws me just like it screws you. I have to work Sat., so I won't be in attendance. Sucks. Frank's an old bastard, but I still love him :)

[jbuzbee]

There was no offense taken, by the way, but I'll be darned if I'm gonna let somebody take some passing shots and then tell me it wasn't a shot at all.

If you look at the alltime record between Auburn and the Hogs, no team has ever won three in a row. And if you subscribe to the idea that things go in patterns then this would be a win for the hogs as Auburn won the last two. There are also usually one close game and one blowout everytime. Two years ago Auburn won in Fayetteville 10-3 and then at home last year 38-20. The two games before that Arkansas won 42-17 and then 38-17 (I guess you could argue that 21 pts is a "blowout"). We'll see.

[Jay_Lupo]

Good research Buz. That's very true. The Auburn-Arkansas series does tend to go in patterns. In a column I wrote before the season about the Hogs, I predicted 6-5 w/ an upset win over Auburn and and upset loss at Ole Miss. Well, we've had our upset loss already (Vandy), but right now (before the ULM game mind you) I feel pretty good about Auburn. Not saying I'm positive we'll win, but you can pretty much bank on it going down to the 4Q. Our defense, while I know they've looked like a bunch of mentally retarded, discombobulated idiots at times, is getting better. They're young, but if you've watched them a few times, you'd be hard-pressed to not find some talented guys out there. Plus, the return of Pierre Brown this week, the best defender on the team before the season started, will bolster our LBs. Hell, with him, Butu, Fairchild and Moore back there, we actually have pretty good linebackers.

Bama's WRs played about as good as a one-armed blind man against us, but barring that one let-down on their last TD, the D looked damn good and they did something that we haven't done in two years: They knocked the sh*t out of the QB.

If our D plays good against Auburn, I think we've got a legit chance to win. But I know their D-line, and basically D as a whole, are damn good. But I also know that they're not as good as Bama or USC's. Actually, I'd give the Barn the nod on d-line over Bama, but anyways. I'm excited about this one, and damnit I'm with the Auburn fans, I wish it was on TV. However, if we lose to ULM in the Rock this weekend, you will not be hearing from me, as I will have eaten crow and committed suicide. But I'm ready for Auburn

[WooHawg]

I voted for Fairchild, hands down imo.

[jbuzbee]

After watching the game on Saturday maybe I should add Zach Snider to the list.....Elston Forte played some good D as well. Does Thornton still have a red shirt? Weston Daccus had a huge hit!! It sounded like a train wreck. Randy Kelly had a big hit too....its a shame he misses more than he makes.