Some random thoughts after the Razorbacks blowout win at home over Tennessee.
The Good
- In what was the most amazing return we have ever witnessed, Joe Adams’ 60-yard punt return was one for the ages. Admit it…it’s the first time you’ve ever seen a player take his video game to the field. And it had to be spectacular to beat out Jarius Wright’s amazing ‘fight through pass interference to make a hot potato catch‘ play and earn the #1 spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays.
- No better way to send out 17 seniors than a 42-point blowout win. Adams and Wright are now first and second in career receptions. Senior safety Tramain Thomas snagged his 11th career interception and moved into a tie for sixth place all-time. And it was great to see senior running backs Brodrick Green (54 total yards, TD) and DeAnthony Curtis (59 yards, TD) finish their Fayetteville careers with a bang.
- After an ill-advised fourth down attempt by Tennessee failed, we loved seeing Bobby Petrino go for the jugular on the very next play. Tyler Wilson’s 40-yard bomb to Joe Adams made the score 35-7 and left only the final margin in question.
- Honorable Mention: Very good to have Tenarius Wright back out there returning from injury. …. The sellout crowd on Saturday — and really the Fayetteville crowds for all the conference games — have really been fantastic this season. And the in-game atmosphere (students, band, music, passing out pom-poms, etc.) has improved each game, as well. Kudos all around. Now finish up strong this week, Little Rock.
The Bad
- Even in the blowout loss, the Volunteers surpassed their SEC season high in total offense by almost 100 yards. Looking every bit like a “bend but don’t break” defense, the Hogs held Tennessee to just one touchdown while allowing three plays of 45 yards or longer. And while we listed Thomas’ interception under “The Good,” it happened at the end of a very long 14 play, 72-yard drive by the Vols that took nearly seven minutes off the clock right before halftime.
- Tyler Wilson’s overthrow miss of a wide open Joe Adams on what would have been a 71-yard second quarter TD technically qualifies as “bad.” Wilson may have, as Garrick McGee says, a “gift” to make good throws while on the run. Still…accurately throwing the ball 30 yards down the field without setting your feet is tough. But hey…no problem…Dennis Johnson scampered the 71 yards on the next play so all is forgiven.
- Honorable Mention: Javontee Herndon’s block in the back penalty on what was going to be an easy touchdown run by Ronnie Wingo Jr.. …. Both defenses dropping easy interceptions that would’ve likely gone for touchdowns (Alonzo Highsmith for the Hogs and Eric Gordon for the Vols).
The Ugly
- While the in-game atmosphere has been improving, Razorback Stadium could really use some food vendors right outside the stadium doing some typical game day street food. There are a lot of people milling around that aren’t tailgating — like me (HogBlogger) looking for tickets — that are hungry. And everyone can’t fit into the food court inside the stadium. (Plus…the prices are crazy stupid.)
- Overturning the ruling on the field of a fumble by Da’Rick Rogers of Tennessee in the first quarter was just wrong. In the grand scheme of things, of course, it didn’t change the outcome of the game. But once again, we’re not sure why there’s instant replay if they’re going to overturn a call without clear visual evidence that it was the wrong call. And hey…SEC refs…look at this photo and tell us again exactly how the call on the field should’ve been overturned?
Of course, we can’t possibly mention everything that was “Good, Bad and Ugly.” What did we leave out?
Walking on Sunshine and HogBlogger also contributed to this post.
