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Making the Case for Bret Bielema
Posted on 1/22/14 at 10:30 am
Posted on 1/22/14 at 10:30 am
How many SEC coaches put their teams in the position to compete in 3 straight BCS Bowls? How many SEC coaches have lead teams to a share of 3 straight conference championships?
Let's examine what he has accomplished at Arkansas.
We all know that Petrino didn't emphasize defense and wasn't a stellar recruiter; furthermore, his infamous scandal lead to Arkansas' 2012 season.
Ask yourselves, did 2012 Arkansas have it better or harder than 2013 Arkansas?
The answer is that 2013 Arkansas had it harder.
The damage from the 2012 season is unquantifiable.
Arkansas is neither a traditional power nor a program located in a recruiting hotbed.
To make matters worse, Petrino's negligence on the defensive side of the ball and John L Smith's team's failure to make much, if any, progress there truly hurt the Razorbacks this season. A defense lacking in SEC talent had to face several highly experienced and talented offenses this season. Notwithstanding, Arkansas' SEC schedule was also tougher since they didn't get cupcakes like 2012 Kentucky and 2012 Auburn.
Bret Bieliema's Arkansas continued the recent trend of LSU's historically and talent-wise inferior rivals giving LSU fits.
On the one hand, there were some on-the-field results where no progress was visible, and perhaps Arkansas regressed from the 2012 season, e.g. 52-0. On the other hand, there are games like the Mississippi State game where Arkansas demonstrated a significant improvement from last season's results.
Let us also recall that Bret Bielema didn't have a good quarterback like Tyler Wilson or the receiving corps that Petrino employed in his high octane passing attack.
Arkansas in on a 12-game SEC losing streak, but we know that won't go on forever. Arkansas is due for an upset of an SEC East or West power, and it may come next season.
Don't write off Bret Bielema, next year's team, and tFlagship!
Let's examine what he has accomplished at Arkansas.
We all know that Petrino didn't emphasize defense and wasn't a stellar recruiter; furthermore, his infamous scandal lead to Arkansas' 2012 season.
Ask yourselves, did 2012 Arkansas have it better or harder than 2013 Arkansas?
The answer is that 2013 Arkansas had it harder.
The damage from the 2012 season is unquantifiable.
Arkansas is neither a traditional power nor a program located in a recruiting hotbed.
To make matters worse, Petrino's negligence on the defensive side of the ball and John L Smith's team's failure to make much, if any, progress there truly hurt the Razorbacks this season. A defense lacking in SEC talent had to face several highly experienced and talented offenses this season. Notwithstanding, Arkansas' SEC schedule was also tougher since they didn't get cupcakes like 2012 Kentucky and 2012 Auburn.
Bret Bieliema's Arkansas continued the recent trend of LSU's historically and talent-wise inferior rivals giving LSU fits.
On the one hand, there were some on-the-field results where no progress was visible, and perhaps Arkansas regressed from the 2012 season, e.g. 52-0. On the other hand, there are games like the Mississippi State game where Arkansas demonstrated a significant improvement from last season's results.
Let us also recall that Bret Bielema didn't have a good quarterback like Tyler Wilson or the receiving corps that Petrino employed in his high octane passing attack.
Arkansas in on a 12-game SEC losing streak, but we know that won't go on forever. Arkansas is due for an upset of an SEC East or West power, and it may come next season.
Don't write off Bret Bielema, next year's team, and tFlagship!
This post was edited on 1/22/14 at 10:32 am
14
Posted on 1/22/14 at 10:33 am to Gardevoir
This guy obviously understands football. Post more often.
Posted on 1/22/14 at 10:35 am to Gardevoir
quote:
How many SEC coaches put their teams in the position to compete in 3 straight BCS Bowls? How many SEC coaches have lead teams to a share of 3 straight conference championships?
Bret did not do this. Oh St and Penn St finished ahead of Wisky the third year but were under NCAA penalties. That is not Bret putting his team in a position to win the Big Ten.
Posted on 1/22/14 at 10:38 am to Gardevoir
I'm not reading all of that, but Arkansas is a decent QB away from being Ole Miss. They aren't going to pull an Auburn and win the SEC next year, but they likely won't lay down and be an easy win either.
Posted on 1/22/14 at 10:46 am to Gardevoir
quote:
On the one hand, there were some on-the-field results where no progress was visible, and perhaps Arkansas regressed from the 2012 season, e.g. 52-0. On the other hand, there are games like the Mississippi State game where Arkansas demonstrated a significant improvement from last season's results.
This was after Auburn faking injuries to edge out a win. They followed losing to State in OT with losing to LSU on a fluke FR QB pass.. They def ended the season on the incline.
They need a sound passing game. Bret has been boss in providing an established run game every weekend. Fluff that with a passer that would open up the D while keeping the Arky defense off the field and you have something..
This post was edited on 1/22/14 at 10:46 am
Posted on 1/22/14 at 10:54 am to Gardevoir
Arkansas should just run the ball 75% of the time next year.
Posted on 1/22/14 at 10:55 am to Gardevoir
Why do Auburn fans care?
Posted on 1/22/14 at 11:00 am to Gardevoir
Solid post
Posted on 1/22/14 at 11:04 am to Gardevoir
this is a solid agrument for Bielema... the guy is a good coach who was put in a very difficult sitution.
2015 is the make or break point for BB... if he's not showing significant improvement across the board after 3 years, it just wasn't a good fit... sometimes good coaches and good programs don't mesh.
2015 is the make or break point for BB... if he's not showing significant improvement across the board after 3 years, it just wasn't a good fit... sometimes good coaches and good programs don't mesh.
Posted on 1/22/14 at 11:16 am to Gardevoir
He's proven he can succeed through power running and bruising defense. This model will always be successful in football. If he can get his guys in there, Arkansas will be a consistently good team.
Posted on 1/22/14 at 11:29 am to Gardevoir
I think he's a good coach and good recruiter.
He's not great at either, but he definitely has a style and that style will consistently win games in the SEC once he has his players.
He likes giant OLs and a power run game behind them. This year he is recruiting the right people for that system and I think in 2 years he will be competitive with every single SEC team.
At the time I thought it was a good hire and I still do today.
Just give him time. That program was in shambles after Petrino and Smith.
He's not great at either, but he definitely has a style and that style will consistently win games in the SEC once he has his players.
He likes giant OLs and a power run game behind them. This year he is recruiting the right people for that system and I think in 2 years he will be competitive with every single SEC team.
At the time I thought it was a good hire and I still do today.
Just give him time. That program was in shambles after Petrino and Smith.
Posted on 1/22/14 at 11:42 am to Gardevoir
Hottest Wife in SEC. But Crazy Kristi probably looked nice in her prime. 
Posted on 1/22/14 at 11:43 am to Gardevoir
quote:
Bret Bieliema's Arkansas continued the recent trend of LSU's historically and talent-wise inferior rivals giving LSU fits.
[sees shiny hook and swims away]
Posted on 1/22/14 at 2:24 pm to Gardevoir
Look what I found embedded in all those weeds:
...a hook!
If "fits" is winning, I'll take that over what Bama's talent-wise inferior little brother did to them this past season.
quote:
the recent trend of LSU's historically and talent-wise inferior rivals giving LSU fits.
...a hook!
If "fits" is winning, I'll take that over what Bama's talent-wise inferior little brother did to them this past season.
Posted on 1/22/14 at 5:14 pm to Gardevoir
Tldr 
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