College football

Arkansas Must Fire Offensive Coordinator Jim Chaney
Arkansas Razorbacks Football

(Photo Credit: Whole Hogs Sports)

Although Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney had some positive play-calling moments against Texas A&M, he’s not the appropriate fit for the power running game Bret Bielema is establishing at Arkansas.  During the first half of the Auburn loss, Jim Chaney also had some positive play-calling moments. Unfortunately, in losses to both Auburn and Texas A&M, Chaney has demonstrated he cannot stay committed to the power running game.  He seems to be more interested in moving the Arkansas offensive into more of a passing team.  While no one is expecting him to never call a pass play, it’s vital for Chaney to understand when to employ the passing game.  Arkansas isn’t built to be a passing offense with the current players the team has and with the players it has recruited.  Bret Bielema has intentionally recruited players for a physical power running game.  For Chaney to continue to neglect the running game, especially at crucial points in games, is an affront to Bielema’s leadership.

Yes, Brandon Allen has demonstrated he can provide Arkansas with a much needed passing game, but Chaney shouldn’t get carried away with the passing game as he has.  His play-calling has been quite questionable in games against Auburn, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M.  In the Auburn game, his failure to make a commitment to the running game resulted in Auburn defeating Arkansas in the second half.  On the last play in overtime against Texas A&M, the Texas A&M defense dared him to throw the ball by loading the box with 8 to 9 men, and he foolishly ran the ball and Alex Collins was stuffed at the line of scrimmage.

Bielema simply needs to transition to an offensive coordinator who will give Arkansas the best chance to win, and this offensive coordinator must be someone who is comfortable making a significant commitment to the power running game.  Although it defies conventional wisdom to transition to a new offensive coordinator at this point in the season, it wouldn’t be a difficult job to find a offensive coordinator who could quickly adjust to the key principles of the current offensive schemes Arkansas employs.  Bielema could even get more active in the offensive play-calling until the new coordinator makes the full adjustment to what he desires for him to do.

Arkansas has proven that it can compete with any of the elite teams in the nation, but it’s unfair for the players to continue to suffer from the poor play-calling of Jim Chaney.  The Razorbacks have a credible chance to finish well in the SEC and make it to a bowl game this year.  Right now, however, Jim Chaney is the enemy within who can prevent the team from having the kind of year its capable of experiencing; he’s already proven it.

If Chaney does not ameliorate his play-calling against Alabama this Saturday, then Bielema shouldn’t give him another chance to hinder the progress of the team.  With Arkansas squaring off against Alabama in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where it’s always a mighty tough place to play, one can only hope Chaney will not harm the team’s legitimate chance to defeat the Crimson Tide.

Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Arkansas

Why Arkansas Lost to Auburn in the Second Half in Week One
Arkansas Razorback Football 2014

(Photo Credit: Bleacher Report)

Although several of the Arkansas coaches, including offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, got stuck in the elevator during the entire halftime period and didn’t have a chance to meet with the players, it was the failure of Jim Chaney to stay committed to the running game that resulted in Arkansas losing in the second half of the game.  Chaney had to send text messages with his instructions for players to the coaches who were present with them during halftime.  As a coach, I understand how important it is to be physically present with your team during halftime, considering you have a chance to make key adjustments.  Chaney foolishly decided to abandon the power running game, featuring Arkansas’ huge offensive line, and a power running game that Auburn couldn’t handle in the first half, for a greater focus on passing.  While Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen had a good game, the strength of the team lies in its great stable of running backs, led by Jonathan Williams, Alex Collins and Korliss Marshall.

Arkansas has one of the biggest and most athletic offensive lines in the nation.  For Jim Chaney to fail to remain committed to the running game in the second half defies all logic.  Yes, Arkansas did run the ball in the second half, but passing the ball so much in the second half resulted in Arkansas not being able to wear down the Auburn defense as it did in the first half.  When Jim Chaney decides to neglect the power running game, which made Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema one of the winningest active coaches and such a success at Wisconsin, Bielema must step in and refocus Chaney on the running game.

Without question, Arkansas is a much improved team than last year, and the team is going to surprise some teams this year.  Arkansas’ coaches, however, must stay true to who the team is, a power running football team; a team designed to play physical on both sides of the ball.  The NCAA has determined that Arkansas has the toughest schedule in the country.  It will, therefore, be essential for the Arkansas coaching staff to make wise decisions throughout this season.  Arkansas has some really great coaches, including Bret Bielema and Randy Shannon, and those coaches will need to evince their great coaching prowess this season to maximize the team’s success and make it to a bowl game.

Dr. Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Related Articles

Open Letter to John L. Smith, Paul Petrino, and Paul Haynes

John L. Smith

Dear John L. Smith, Paul Petrino, and Paul Haynes:

The purpose of this letter is to express my outrage at you for blaming the players for the 4 – 8 losing season last year.  Paul Petrino, if you’re looking to blame someone, start with your brother first and then blame your horrible coaching.  John L. Smith, you’re a joke!  Paul Haynes, you could not come up with a defensive scheme to stop anyone we faced, even in the four games we won.  It was your poor defensive coaching that caused the Razorbacks to have a losing season.

Paul Petrino, Athletic Director Jeff Long was justified in only giving John L. Smith a 10 month contract: look what happened—a 4 – 8 season.  You guys were not good enough coaches to come up with a winning strategy to defeat Louisiana-Monroe. I repeat, Louisiana-Monroe.  Are you serious?

Each one of you should look in the mirror and place all of the blame for the 4 -8 season at Arkansas on the person in the mirror.  Those guys played tremendously hard and even believed in you guys, but you now want to be disrespectful to them now by placing all of the blame on them, the players—that’s simply disgusting.

You should be glad that you were granted an opportunity to coach at a program of the caliber of the University of Arkansas.  In all honesty, you never were worthy of coaching at Arkansas in the first place.  I want you to know that your current players will never trust you because they see how nasty you are treating your former players at Arkansas.  A coach should never place the blame on his players for having a losing season.  It is ridiculous for you to say that players who are seriously injured were faking their injuries.  I know those guys.  They would never fake an injury.  I have seen some of those players who were really too injured to step on the field get on the field without regard for doing further damage to their bodies.

Arkansas Razorback fans look forward to years of success with one of the best top-to-bottom coaching staffs in the nation.  We’re led by one of the best coaches in the nation, Bret Bielema.

John L. Smith, you need to worry about your bankruptcy issues.  You were fired and are now coaching at one of the smallest football programs in the nation, which means you’re a reject.  Paul Petrino, you need to focus on helping your brother to end his whorish ways.  You will never be a successful coach.  Paul Haynes, it’s only a matter of time before Kent State University discovers you are a loser.  Learn how to coach defense!

I’m a proud Arkansas Razorback!  Razorback fans are proud of our players!

Sincerely,

Antonio Maurice Daniels

Related Articles

Open Letter to Bret Bielema Concerning Kevin Richardson

Dear Coach Bret Bielema:

The purpose of this letter is express my strong recommendation of Kevin Richardson, WR/QB, DB/S, and PR/KR of Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Arkansas, to be a part of the 2013 Arkansas Razorbacks football recruiting class. With my experience working in the athletic departments at the University of Arkansas and University of Wisconsin-Madison, and my experience as a football coach, I contend I’m a suitable judge of the type of talent you have acquired in the past and the type of talent the University of Arkansas has selected in the past and needs. I invite you to look at the highlights of Kevin Richardson here: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/602351/highlights/2023389 .

Kevin Richardson would set the Razorbacks apart from all SEC teams: the Razorbacks would have the only player in the conference who can play quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back/safety, and kick and punt returner. For a long time, Arkansas has longed for a player with the skill of Kevin Richardson: a player who can who can play at a high level on offense, defense and special teams. Imagine how frustrating it will be for defenses when they will not be able to decipher what the offense is doing when Richardson is on the field.

When thinking about getting the most value for the allotted scholarships, Kevin Richardson can contribute for you in every aspect of the game: offense, defense and special teams. That’s like getting two or three players on one scholarship.

As a football coach, almost nothing pleases me more than hearing other coaches having limitless great things to say about an athlete. Kevin’s coaches never run out of great things to say about him. He’s a gifted and versatile football player. He plays the game the right way. You will never have to worry about Kevin not meeting his academic responsibilities. He has an ACT score that’s nationally competitive with all student-athletes in the 2013 recruiting class. Kevin is a leader on and off the field. He’s the right player to help the Razorbacks’ defense to develop into a national championship level defense.

I very much appreciate your time and consideration and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Antonio Maurice Daniels
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Related Articles

Kevin Richardson: Outstanding Available 2013 College Football Recruit

Kevin Richardson

Kevin Richardson, graduating senior quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back/safety and kick and punt returner at Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Arkansas, is one of the most talented high school football players available in the 2013 college football recruiting class.  You can see his highlight videos here: Kevin Richardson’s Highlights.  Kevin Richardson is 6’0 and 160 pounds.  Richardson epitomizes versatility.  As aforementioned, he played on both sides of the ball: quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back/safety and proved to be an explosive kick and punt returner.  For college football programs looking to add value to their programs, Richardson would be indisputable asset.

Richard Davenport, an Arkansas sports reporter, revealed that Kevin Richardson ran a faster time than Altee Tenpenny, running back who has verbally committed to Alabama, at the FCA Combine: Richardson ran a 4.44 and Tenpenny ran a 4.47 (source).  Richardson has great speed and a knack for separating from defenders, whether it’s in his role as wide receiver, punt returner, or kick returner.

Richardson has good grades and an ACT score that is nationally competitive with all other college football recruits.  His coaches are tremendously impressed with him as a student-athlete.  Jacksonville High School Head football coach Russell says that Richardson is “coachable,” “a leader,” “a good kid,” and “a real steal for anyone who gets him.”

Kevin Richardson is working on adding more weight and muscle.  Any program he signs with will, of course, help him to gain the necessary weight and muscle he needs.  He has a boundless athletic upside.  His coaches see him as becoming the next Jarius Wright, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver and former Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver.

College football teams in the state of Arkansas would be served well by recruiting him.  Richardson will inevitably be signed by a quality football program.  He has the potential to make a significant impact on the field in his first year.  Richardson is a player who will not be a “work-in-progress” or “development project” type player—he’s ready to play right now.  His ability to play at a high level on both sides of the ball and on special teams would benefit any team at any level.

College football fans are in for a treat, as they are about to witness an unquestionably gifted player who has the potential to be “the next big thing.”  He’s a head football coach’s dream: a player who can perform well at all aspects of the game: offense, defense, and special teams.

Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Same Referees Screw the Arkansas Razorbacks Again

The Arkansas Razorback defense had a horrible day on yesterday. It was certainly not a good day for the Special Teams of the Razorbacks too. Ryan Mallett had to leave the game in the second quarter with a concussion. With all of those aforementioned things that happened, one would think that the Hogs never had a chance to win, but that could not be further from the truth. The Hogs could have won the game, but they faced a force that was greater than the Auburn Tigers—the referees! The same referees that screwed the Razorbacks out of a win against the Florida Gators last year screwed Arkansas on yesterday against Auburn.

Without a doubt, Arkansas did not play as well as the team can play, but they were not prepared to play against referees who intentionally did everything that they could to make sure that the Razorbacks were not victorious against the Auburn Tigers. The Razorbacks still almost defeated Auburn even with the referees cheating on Arkansas. In the end, the cheating referee cost the Razorbacks the game.

I would just like to take this moment and congratulate Tyler Wilson on a great job of coming in for Ryan Mallett. The Arkansas defense needs to rise up again for the remainder of the season. Okay, this game is over—you have many more games to go. Go and win the rest of them!

Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Arkansas Razorbacks Will Win the 2010-2011 NCAA Football National Championship

The Arkansas Razorbacks will begin play this Saturday, September 4, 2010. The reason why I believe the Arkansas Razorbacks will win the NCAA football national championship is this is the best overall football team in the nation. Ryan Mallett, the starting quarterback for the Razorbacks and a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, gives the Razorbacks a chance to win every game. Although the Hogs’ defense needs to improve from last year (and I know that it has), the defense will do enough to help the team to win each game. When a team is as fortunate as Arkansas to have such an explosive offense, the defense simply needs to do just enough to help the team to win each game.

Arkansas plays all of its most challenging games at home: Alabama, Ole Miss, and LSU. The emotions and expectations in Fayetteville, Arkansas are tremendously high, and the team really does believe the national championship will come back to the mountains of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Now, I hope that this stupid BCS system does not keep an undefeated Arkansas team out of the national championship game because of a desire rooted in pure politics to put Boise State University in the national championship game against a team like Ohio State University or Texas.

I am tremendously excited about the start of the college football season on Saturday. It comes at a much needed time for me, a time when I could use a break from the problems and boredom of Madison, Wisconsin. In Madison, Wisconsin, people are thinking that the Wisconsin Badgers have a chance to win the national championship, considering they have a high ranking coming into the start of the season. I am glad to let Badger fans know that their team will suffer defeats against Ohio State University and Iowa, which will keep the team out of the national championship game. I do expect the Badgers to lose more than just two games during the regular season.

Ryan Mallett will not only help the Arkansas Razorbacks to win the national championship, but also will win the Heisman Trophy. He has all of the tools to be a great quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). As a proud Razorback, I look forward to the national championship coming home to the mountains of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Arkansas is truly a tradition like none other. Woo Pig Sooie!

Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison