LA TECH Game Thread - Sam’s Do or Die not really

[animal]

I've long said that I'm pretty ok with Pittman coming back for next season if it means we have some continuity with the OC and DC. Caveat to that being we needed to make a bowl game as the low bar for performance. I think it's a possibility Williams gets a better DC role somewhere and we won't match it. I'm not in love with the guy but we've had worse DCs.

I don't think people are going to flood money into NIL to support Pittman and his staff though. Arkansas has always been about selling the sizzle and there's no sizzle with this staff or team. What little juice Petrino brought upon his rehiring has pretty much faded. Other than Russell is there really even a player to get excited about? And we really only got to see a few flashes of him.

There's certainly been talk and efforts toward getting a lot of these guys to come back...ok cool but at some point you need to show that your "development" is paying off because I think we're on pace to have an experienced OL back next season but it's an experienced OL that is only good compared to last season...in reality they suck balls. They MUST improve greatly or they need to find some dudes. I feel like we need a better center at the very least and look at moving Nichols to guard. To me that keeps looking like one of the weak links whenever Blackstock isn't in the game.

Defense line is a bunch of slugs. We need pass rushers badly and need to develop of couple of the guys already on the team.

[The Whyte Boar]

Except for our receivers and tight ends, do any of our players look like they developed over the year and are better now?  Do we as a team do things better in game 11 than we did in game two or three?  I don't see it.  Does anyone else?

[DirkPiggler]

Here's an immediate concern I have with Pittman.  He's having surgery the week after the Missouri game.  Which means he will be out of pocket for one of the critical portal periods for starters.  And suppose one of our coordinators (likely Williams) gets interest from another school?   Getting the team ready for and coaching in the bowl game is a relatively minor problem - Petrino could handle that easily and even if he doesn't, BFD.  But I'd like our head coach to be available to recruit the portal, help finish off the high school class, and potentially handle any staff changes.

[Barton Fink]

I'm all for upgrading those positions since we are keeping Pittman. 

I don't think this is anywhere near the same Petrino we had thirteen years ago either.  But since we are keeping Pittman I would prefer to keep the staff intact for continuity's sake. That applies to both sides of the ball. 

Let's turn this around a bit.  Suppose retaining Pittman is preventing some from adding massively to our NIL fund.  If that is the case would you support moving on and trying the next guy who might have more funds available for talent acquisition?

I would aupport it but it's a stupid mentality. Childish one would say.

How is Petrino not the same? I never understood that. Coaches don't forget how to coach. They're in the most competitive job market on the planet where failure gets you fired.

I don't think coaches change. I just think it's a difficult job and comes with varied success. That success is mostly dependent on the players you put on the field.

[Barton Fink]

I too am worried about his health. Ideally, I'd like to see him step down due to health. I wonder if Petrino could acquire an interim HC title?

[DirkPiggler]

I would aupport it but it's a stupid mentality. Childish one would say.

How is Petrino not the same? I never understood that. Coaches don't forget how to coach. They're in the most competitive job market on the planet where failure gets you fired.

I don't think coaches change. I just think it's a difficult job and comes with varied success. That success is mostly dependent on the players you put on the field.

It's definitely childish but it's reality.

People get tired of what they perceive as a stagnant program.   

A lot of what made BP an elite head coach, and why others couldn't replicate his success, was his intensity.  It's hard to maintain that once you're older and more comfortable.  Not impossible, but difficult once you've met most of your goals and proven yourself. 

[Barton Fink]

Except for our receivers and tight ends, do any of our players look like they developed over the year and are better now?  Do we as a team do things better in game 11 than we did in game two or three?  I don't see it.  Does anyone else?

Our OL is less ass. We have a new QB so you rule that out. I think you see more development on the defensive side.

With the portal, I think player development will provide minimal impact to all schools. Kids aren't player, they're gonna transfer.

[Barton Fink]

It's definitely childish but it's reality.

People get tired of what they perceive as a stagnant program.   

100% agree.

I don't bwlieve fans really understand the landscape has changed. Yesteryear's a coaching change was the only way to improve your program. Now, there is a better option but fans don't think that way.

[DirkPiggler]

100% agree.

I don't bwlieve fans really understand the landscape has changed. Yesteryear's a coaching change was the only way to improve your program. Now, there is a better option but fans don't think that way.

I wonder how much Sam is out courting the people who could move the needle in NIL.  The Tysons, Fletchers, Waltons, and HTLs of the world.  Kiffin met with their key boosters a little over a year ago and told them point blank to give to NIL rather than facilities upgrades.  Sam has a better personality for dealing with people than Lane, so I would think he could make a difference if he's actively soliciting. 

[Thin Red Swine]

I wonder how much Sam is out courting the people who could move the needle in NIL.  The Tysons, Fletchers, Waltons, and HTLs of the world.  Kiffin met with their key boosters a little over a year ago and told them point blank to give to NIL rather than facilities upgrades.  Sam has a better personality for dealing with people than Lane, so I would think he could make a difference if he's actively soliciting. 

That's just it. Sam should be KILLING it with more people  with money. He's clearly not working at it enough because he has the personality. 

[DirkPiggler]

That's just it. Sam should be KILLING it with more people  with money. He's clearly not working at it enough because he has the personality. 

Yeah.  I don't know of anyone who's met Sam and doesn't like him.  It should be a pretty easy sell, as long as he can give them a plan for how he intends to use their money.

[Barton Fink]

He hinted a couple weeks ago that they would be in a better situation in NIL next year. Who knows how true thst is.

[The Whyte Boar]

I wonder how much Sam is out courting the people who could move the needle in NIL.  The Tysons, Fletchers, Waltons, and HTLs of the world.  Kiffin met with their key boosters a little over a year ago and told them point blank to give to NIL rather than facilities upgrades.  Sam has a better personality for dealing with people than Lane, so I would think he could make a difference if he's actively soliciting. 

He is too low energy for that. 

[Thin Red Swine]

He hinted a couple weeks ago that they would be in a better situation in NIL next year. Who knows how true thst is.

Which smells of a politician saying he has a plan without revealing even a bit of detail to make it believable. I'm sure he's not at liberty to say too much but there is a way to get the point across in generalities. 

[jdcatty]

He hinted a couple weeks ago that they would be in a better situation in NIL next year. Who knows how true thst is.

Isn't that because of the revenue sharing deal?

[Barton Fink]

Not sure.

[bigpig]

I think the biggest problem with Pittman is that he's dimwitted and lazy.

He isn't demanding enough in practices and he isn't quick to react/respond in high pressure gametime situations.


He mostly just limps around, looking generally apathetic.


We're a ship without a captain.

[bigpig]

re NIL/recruiting

players want to be paid, but they also want to be stars. Even if we had Tyson-level money, we could only, at best, draw even with other big programs, who additionally can offer what we can't: Higher expectations and standards of excellence.

We're hanging banners for winning six games.

We can't compete with teams who won six games three or four weeks ago, or even against perennial underachievers like Ole Miss/Texas A&M, who carry an aura of demanding more and more from their program.

[Barton Fink]

I think the biggest problem with Pittman is that he's dimwitted and lazy.

He isn't demanding enough in practices and he isn't quick to react/respond in high pressure gametime situations.


He mostly just limps around, looking generally apathetic.


We're a ship without a captain.

Maybe, but most of you're coaching atvthis point in the season is coming from your OC/DC. No way Williams is lazy in practice and I don't see Petrino being lazy either.

[vegashog]

according to biddy (i know) there's not just revenue sharing money coming, that nil is going to get a boost. that's supposedly is what pittman is talking about.

the focus will be on linemen on both sides of the ball instead of skill players.