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More than one choice this week for Nutt Saturday, Nov 12, 2005 By Harry King LITTLE ROCK - One way or another, Darren McFadden was going to get the ball on fourth-and-1 from the South Carolina 17. Playing in his first game since high school, quarterback Casey Dick was not an option. In a similar situation today at Ole Miss, Houston Nutt would consider putting the neophyte on the spot, maybe even ask him to throw a quick slant like he might have done with Clint Stoerner at quarterback. Much like a football team is supposed to improve dramatically from the first game to the second, Dick will be better against the Rebels than he was against the Gamecocks, Nutt said. Trailing South Carolina 14-10, Arkansas called time with 3:40 to play to discuss the all-McFadden alternatives. Nutt and his four offensive assistants were on the field, along with more than a dozen players. Nutt considered faking the ball to fullback Peyton Hillis and pitching it to McFadden, but he was concerned that the South Carolina players responsible for containment would be aggressive up the field and that McFadden would lose 5 yards. "If we hand it off, get a hat on a hat, that was the debate," Nutt said. It was that thinking that swung the argument in favor of McFadden off the right side for minus one. Nutt said he could see Dick improve in practice this week - "better rhythm, better everything." He missed a couple of reads against the Gamecocks, but that isn't surprising for a true freshman in his first game. Knowing that Dick is willing and able to throw downfield has put a little bounce in the step of the receivers, Nutt said. Such enthusiasm throughout the team is a major concern since Nutt no longer has the bowl-game carrot to dangle in front of his players. Even last year, Nutt's first losing season, Arkansas was in the bowl picture until being embarrassed by LSU in Little Rock in the season finale. At 2-6, the Razorbacks are in "uncharted waters," Nutt said. Mississippi coach Ed Orgeron can keep pitching the possibility of a bowl although the Rebels (3-5) would have to sweep Arkansas, LSU and Mississippi State. With a bye last week, the Rebels' first-year coach gave the seniors Thursday off and had the underclassmen beat up on each other prodded by the threat that it's time to determine who needs to be replaced. At quarterback, the Rebels have come full circle to Ethan Flatt and word is that he has spent the week throwing deep. Arkansas has given up some big pass plays, including a 42-yarder on the final play of the third quarter last week when cornerback Matterral Richardson messed up the coverage. If Flatt comes out chunking, he might go after Richardson, who sat out the fourth quarter last week but will be making his first start at cornerback. Flatt started the final nine games of 2004, but did not play this year until he replaced Michael Spurlock in the fourth quarter of the Auburn game on Oct. 29. Ole Miss made 209 yards against the Tigers and Flatt contributed 81 yards on 11-of-17. In last year's 35-3 loss in Fayetteville, Flatt was 11-of-21 for 126 yards. The Rebels have been so inept running the ball that throw-throw-throw makes sense. Ole Miss had a season-high 163 yards rushing against Kentucky and McFadden has bettered that each of the past two games. Four times this year, the Rebels have failed to top 70 yards rushing. If Flatt takes a bunch of shots downfield, it becomes a matter of numbers. As long as he doesn't hit more than one or maybe two, Arkansas should be OK. On offense, Dick will be asked to do more than he did last week, but the Razorbacks will still need production from McFadden and Felix Jones to break into the win column in the Southeastern Conference. ----- Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media Group's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is h king@arkansasnews.com. |
