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| Fri, Nov. 21, 2008 |  |
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QB move question is 'why now?' Wednesday, Nov 2, 2005 By Harry King FAYETTEVILLE - The "why now?" of Houston Nutt's decision to go with freshman Casey Dick at quarterback makes more sense if you back off and unemotionally consider the week-to-week circumstances. No matter what some people think, it was not clear to Nutt until the Auburn game on Oct. 15 that Robert Johnson had used up his chances to prove himself. He missed too many wide-open receivers against the Tigers, particularly when Arkansas had opportunities to open a substantial early lead. His mistakes included not throwing high enough for 6-6 Marcus Monk deep in the end zone and a fumble at the Auburn 11 with Arkansas trying to improve on a 3-0 lead. It was only 10-6 at the half, the sort of deficit that Auburn could and did overcome by simply running the ball in the final 30 minutes. The Tigers might have won anyway, but Arkansas would have preferred to put Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox under the gun. In the aftermath of the 34-17 loss to Auburn, Nutt made no secret about four-way competition at quarterback, but was closed-mouth about his choice. Late in the week, word was out that Johnson was still No. 1. Even after Auburn, the deck was stacked against Dick and the other quarterback candidates: -The following week, the Razorbacks played at Georgia, then the No. 4 team in the country. If the game had been in Fayetteville, Nutt might have been more inclined to put Dick into the game. -If the Razorbacks had been unable to run the ball against the Bulldogs, he probably would have subbed for Johnson. But, that afternoon Darren McFadden ran for 190 and Felix Jones contributed 62 yards. -On Arkansas' first six possessions of the second half, the Razorbacks scored three times and missed a field goal. One possession lasted the two seconds it took Peyton Hillis to fumble a punt and the other ended in a punt. The seventh and final possession began on the Arkansas 7 with 2:18 to play, not the ideal spot to welcome Dick to the Southeastern Conference. Johnson was 11-of-19 for 116 yards and threw an interception at the Arkansas 22 that led to a 14-0 Georgia lead. Monk was the only wide receiver with a catch and his was good for 7 yards in the final minute. Ironically, Georgia quarterbacks D.J. Shockley and Joe Tereshinski combined for the same 11-of-19, but their completions were worth 165 yards, including seven for 123 yards by three wide receivers. It's not so much that Johnson got the Razorbacks beat at Georgia; it's that he didn't make a play to help them win. Looking back, Johnson did OK during the first three games. It was not the quarterback who allowed Vanderbilt to outscore the Razorbacks 15-0 in the fourth quarter nor the qb who gave up 28 points to Auburn in the second half. He was bad against Alabama - 11-of-26 for 81 yards - but that is forgivable considering that the Crimson Tide's defense is second in the country against scoring and No. 6 against the pass. Nutt could have bailed on Johnson after Tuscaloosa and used an open week to prepare Dick or Alex Mortensen or Cole Barthel, but he chose to use Louisiana-Monroe to rebuild Johnson's confidence. And, that brings us back to Auburn. Now, he's decided to go with Dick, who ran the scout team most of the season and was earmarked for a redshirt year until recently. It helps Dick's cause that the opponent is South Carolina and that the game is in Fayetteville and not Southern California, Alabama, or Georgia on the road. Besides, cynics will say, Dick is only the interim quarterback. Those are the people who are charter members of the Mitch Mustain Fan Club. ----- Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media Group's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com. |
