re: Derek Dooley new OC

quote:

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Yeah, Bielema was going to bring Wisconsin's run it down your throat offense to the SEC. How did that work out?

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This, thank God almighty, will likely be the last time I have to reply to that line of thought.

He didn't bring the run it down your throat offense to the SEC because he was all about pro-style mixing the pass with the running game. Of all people a Texas fan actually pointed out that "Arkansas only runs the ball right at you if they think you are complete pussies." Which is what we did against them actually. That had to be a bitter pill to swallow for that guy.

What did him in were two things.

The offense could be extremely potent but he did a lousy job of bringing in O-line talent and a pro style system needs good linemen. When we had good linemen while he was here Arkansas put up huge numbers. During Brandon Allen's senior season when we good linemen and a QB that finally settled down we put up numbers that were better then Petrino had managed here.

The second is that while we had one year with a top ten defense... the year after that the SEC figured it out. His insistence on giving big cushions to WRs and love of leaving the middle of the field with only one defender (usually a slow MLB) became bread and butter plays for people going against us. Get past the line on a running play and there was no one ahead of you. A ten yard cushion on third and 4 means the WR jogs forward a few steps, turns, catches the ball, and has a first down.

No. A pro style system can absolutely work in the SEC, even if your name isn't Alabama or Georgia. You are going to need linemen to pull it off though. Get a few good blockers and you can put a hurting on folks.