Saturday’s disappointing 21-19 loss to Liberty is a black eye for Sam Pittman’s tenure at Arkansas. There’s no different solution to spin it.

The Arkansas crew we watched on Saturday was not ready to play, and the one one that bears accountability for that’s the head coach. The whole lot we’ve discovered about Arkansas soccer up up to now within the season was thrown out.

The high-powered offense by no means made it away from bed on Saturday morning. The protection really performed nicely sufficient to win however obtained zero assist from the offense till it was too late. Particular groups even confirmed up in an enormous means with a blocked punt security however, once more, the offense wasn’t capable of do something with that chance.

Watching the crew come out with that kind of effort was regarding as a result of there was nonetheless loads to play for this season.

It was homecoming, they hadn’t performed in Razorback Stadium in 5 weeks, and so they had an opportunity to grow to be bowl eligible.

As a substitute of clinching bowl eligibility, Arkansas’ path to bowl season simply obtained exponentially harder. One phrase sums up Saturday’s loss and this season as a complete, up to now: disappointing.

What We Discovered

● MISSING: Arkansas Offense

Arkansas entered Saturday ranked sixth within the nation in dashing offense and thirteenth in complete offense. That prime-octane offensive assault led by KJ Jefferson that put up 52 and 41 factors in back-to-back video games was nowhere to be discovered for a lot of the sport. A few of that is because of Jefferson being damage, however that excuse can solely go up to now.

Your entire offense appeared impassive and torpid proper out of the gates. The Liberty protection punched the Hogs within the mouth for the primary few offensive possessions and as a substitute of waking up, they continued to take it for 3 extra quarters.

Saturday’s sport jogged my memory of a scene within the 1999 movie Varsity Blues a few fictional highschool soccer crew in Texas. Within the film, a bunch of the important thing gamers on the soccer crew keep up the whole evening earlier than an enormous sport partying. Evidently, the crew performed their worst sport of the season and misplaced 20-3.

That’s what it felt like watching the Arkansas offense for 3 quarters.

The Arkansas offensive line is likely one of the most skilled within the nation and has been strong all season. Nevertheless, they appeared like a shell of themselves on Saturday.

Liberty had 4 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. FOURTEEN.

They have been unable to create any type of push up entrance and let a less-talented protection dwell within the backfield for 3 quarters. At one level, Rocket Sanders had 9 carries for -16 yards.

All-around it was an abysmal effort offensively, however the offensive line play was most likely essentially the most disappointing.

● Quincey McAdoo Shines

My participant of the sport simply goes to freshman cornerback Quincey McAdoo.

He made two essential performs that single-handedly put the Hogs in place for an opportunity to tie the sport late within the fourth quarter.

The primary play he made got here within the third quarter with 5:37 left when Liberty was compelled to punt at their very own seven-yard line. McAdoo got here flying off the sting unblocked and blocked the Liberty punt out of the again of the endzone for a security. That lower Liberty’s lead right down to 21-5, making it a two-possession sport.

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The subsequent play McAdoo would make got here just a few possessions later when he was in at cornerback and jumped a route for an interception with 12:49 left within the sport. Arkansas would rating on the following drive, due to McAdoo’s unbelievable defensive play to set that drive up.

With out the freshman receiver-turned-cornerback making each of these performs, Arkansas doesn’t also have a probability to tie the sport on the finish. I actually hope we see extra of McAdoo going ahead.

● Particular Groups Proceed to be Particular!

One space that hasn’t gotten a ton of consideration this season is the particular groups play for the Hogs this 12 months.

Bryce Stephens’ punt return for a landing in opposition to Missouri State was within the highlight earlier this season, however the particular groups play has been actually strong all 12 months. Give particular groups coach Scott Fountain credit score once more for bringing the home on the proper time in opposition to Liberty, permitting for McAdoo to get the block for a security.

Cam Little has been computerized since his tough outing in opposition to Texas A&M and there hasn’t been any errors from that group all season. Particular groups are often introduced up when there’s a unfavorable gentle to shine, however I believed I might shine a optimistic gentle on that group this week.

They’ve been strong all season lengthy, and I actually hope we proceed to see them proceed to make performs in essential moments.

Up Subsequent

One of the simplest ways to do away with the damage from Saturday’s loss to Liberty can be upsetting the No. 7 ranked LSU Tigers and preserving “The Boot” in Fayetteville. LSU is recent off an enormous win over Alabama final Saturday, making them due for a letdown of kinds.

Kickoff is scheduled for one more early 11:00 a.m. (CT) and will likely be broadcast on ESPN.