Questions abound in Razorback Nation as Arkansas fans collectively wonder how the Hogs were embarrassed by Houston Nutt and the Ole Miss Rebels 30-17 in Oxford Saturday.  They include:

1. How did Arkansas, led by a coach who always seems to be thinking a step ahead get embarrassed by a coach who often seems to have a head injury?

My Take: It’s pretty simple, really (sorta like HDN).  In football,the team that controls the line of scrimmage wins most of the time.  An Ole Miss offensive line that had one-time Heisman candidate Jevan Snead on the run for the first month of the season kept him unblemished Saturday.  That was particularly disappointing given the Hog DL’s recent surge, which had many (myself included) thinking that group was becoming a team strength.

The OM offensive line’s dominance was even more apparent in the run game, as it opened the way for a career day for jitterbug Dexter McCluster, who gained far too many of his yards prior to initial contact.

On the other side of the ball, the Rebels’ defense figured to wreak havoc most of the day, and it did.  However, Arkansas felt like it could protect quarterback Ryan Mallett long enough to make some big, game-changing plays–and it did.  The problem for the UA was that its receivers dropped a ton of passes, and other times, particularly on fairly easy, drive-building first-down throws, Mallett was off target.

2. Why was an Arkansas defense that seemed to have turned the corner in recent weeks torched repeatedly by Ole Miss’ primary playmaker, Dexter McCluster?

My Take: I really have no idea. Anyone who had been paying attention knew that McCluster would get plenty of opportunities.  Post-game comments from some of Arkansas’ defenders suggest they weren’t quite ready for the agility and athleticism McCluster brought to the table. I find that particularly puzzling considering they have faced him before and, a week earlier, they successfully chased Florida’s 4×100 relay team of running backs all over the field.

3. How can Arkansas’ wide receivers look like world beaters some weeks and then repeatedly drop game-changing catches other weeks?

My Take: It is a mentality.  The best wide receivers think they can beat anyone, anywhere, anytime. These guys, at least thus far in their careers, often shrivel up on the road. I thought after shaking off a bad case of the drops against Florida  and making a potential game-winning play in The Swamp. Razorback sophomore  Greg Childs was ready to make the leap and become an All-SEC type receiver.  He isn’t quite there, yet.

Jarius Wright had the biggest drop of the day, though, on a wide open pass down the sideline that would have gone for a touchdown, and made the score 14-6 pending a PAT.  Instead, he dropped the pass that hit him in the numbers, and Ole Miss went on to build a 17-0 lead that it would never relinquish.

This group is clearly missing Joe Adams, who suffered a mild stroke a few weeks ago and has had his fair share of drops prior to the injury.  Adams is dynamic after the catch, and does a lot of damage on intermediate crossing routes.  Arkansas has missed him, but will have to adjust as his return to any meaningful role this season is an iffy proposition.

4. Is Ryan Mallett a liability, as some in the lunatic fringe are now grumbling?

My Take: In a word, “No”.  Sure, he is somewhat erratic, not the quickest guy around, and he is often guilty of trying a bit too hard to make a play.  On the other hand, he is supremely talented and has a lot of growing as a player to do. He has only started 8 games (against some stiff competition, including Florida, Alabama,Penn St. Notre Dame & Georgia).  Those who are calling for backup Tyler Wilson to take Mallett’s job are missing the point–it doesn’t matter if the QB is Mallett, Wilson or Peyton Manning–if he is running for his life instead of going through his progression, he is not going to be very effective.

5. Was Arkansas flat after an emotional near-miss at #1 ranked Florida? 

My Take:  The Hogs sure looked flat, and frankly, rugged schedule be damned, it’s inexcusable.  I understand that the Ole Miss game will never be as important to the Razorback players and coaches as it is to the Arkansas fans or Houston Nutt, but there should have been plenty of urgency from the Razorbacks on Saturday.  They were coming off a near-miss at #1 Florida, and had many people thinking they were a program on the rise under the renowned Petrino.

A win in Oxford would have flipped the UA schedule and given the Hogs a decent shot at 8 wins and a Cotton Bowl appearance (no small feat in Year 2 of a rebuild with a schedule that features 4 road games against teams in many preseason Top 10s).  Instead, Arkansas was outplayed and outhustled from the start in every facet of the game, and was embarrassed by its former coach, who spent about 20 minutes on the field after the game celebrating the win.

Meanwhile , Razorback Nation licked its wounds, and continues to do so,and is pondering Shrevport (site of the Independence Bowl) for the holidays, if we’re lucky.