No Stunner in Starkville
By: Adam Alter
Updated: November 18, 2012
"Am I stunned?" Arkansas head coach John L. Smith asked after Saturday's 45-14 loss to Mississippi State. "No. Are you?"
Nope. And there's no reason to be.
Arkansas traced its usual missteps in Starkville. Turnovers, penalties, big plays allowed. All signs of an undisciplined football team.
"Kind of how we've self destructed all year," offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. "Can't do those things. Felt like we has a good plan and just killed ourselves once again."
"One thing hits and it kind of deflates all the air in the tires," quarterback Tyler Wilson described. "That's what we've got to eliminate from happening. We've got to play almost a flawless game in all areas."
The Razorbacks actually got off to a promising start against Miss. State. They collected 140 yards on their first two drives and led 14-7. After that though, the Hogs crossed midfield only once while the Bulldogs ripped off 38 straight points.
"We wore down defensively and they were able to run the ball on us and they were able to throw the ball on us," John L. said.
"We've still got to make some plays," defensive coordinator Paul Haynes explained. We gave up a couple plays in there that shouldn't have happened. It's tough. You didn't want to finish that thing like that."
"First two drives, we did go right down the field," Petrino said. "The third drive, we got stopped on third and one. You've got to convert third downs."
Arkansas converted only half of its third downs while giving the ball away five more times. Now at 29 for the season, only four teams in the country have turned it over more.
"It's killed us," Wilson said. "You can't do that and win."
"I wish I had the answer for it," center Travis Swanson said. "I really did because then you could solve it."
"We just didn't finish the game," defensive end Chris Smith said. "After the turnovers, we kind of got down, but we've got to keep on playing hard and just move on to the next one."
Nope. And there's no reason to be.
Arkansas traced its usual missteps in Starkville. Turnovers, penalties, big plays allowed. All signs of an undisciplined football team.
"Kind of how we've self destructed all year," offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. "Can't do those things. Felt like we has a good plan and just killed ourselves once again."
"One thing hits and it kind of deflates all the air in the tires," quarterback Tyler Wilson described. "That's what we've got to eliminate from happening. We've got to play almost a flawless game in all areas."
The Razorbacks actually got off to a promising start against Miss. State. They collected 140 yards on their first two drives and led 14-7. After that though, the Hogs crossed midfield only once while the Bulldogs ripped off 38 straight points.
"We wore down defensively and they were able to run the ball on us and they were able to throw the ball on us," John L. said.
"We've still got to make some plays," defensive coordinator Paul Haynes explained. We gave up a couple plays in there that shouldn't have happened. It's tough. You didn't want to finish that thing like that."
"First two drives, we did go right down the field," Petrino said. "The third drive, we got stopped on third and one. You've got to convert third downs."
Arkansas converted only half of its third downs while giving the ball away five more times. Now at 29 for the season, only four teams in the country have turned it over more.
"It's killed us," Wilson said. "You can't do that and win."
"I wish I had the answer for it," center Travis Swanson said. "I really did because then you could solve it."
"We just didn't finish the game," defensive end Chris Smith said. "After the turnovers, we kind of got down, but we've got to keep on playing hard and just move on to the next one."
