From the Bench - Petrino makes the Grade

Annual Report Card: Petrino Makes the Grade
Robert ShieldsAnytime the Razorbacks lose a bowl game, the faithful will have some trepidation and second guessing. Regardless, it was a great season for the Hogs. Time now to let the grades roll as I have done for the past decade so that Athletic Director Jeff Long will have additional information to use when he meets with Bobby Petrino for his annual review.
Player Development: A
(Last year: B)
Several players improved over last year including Ryan Mallet. Even though very slow unless chasing after co-eds, Mallet improved his mobility. Knile Davis and Cobi Hamilton also improved at their positions. The defense as a whole improved. Why is this not an “A+”? The defensive line never improved throughout the season and a dominating defensive lineman never emerged.

Fundamentals: A-
(Last year: B)
This grade would be higher if you could throw out the special teams. Just like in 2009, the special teams haunted this team all season in the return game. The Hogs’ kickoff returns were hampered severely when Dennis Johnson went down for the season. The kickoff coverage was almost non-existent at times, but there was significant improvement on punts, punt coverage, and especially in field goals. The offensive line continued to get motion penalties all season at what seemed to be at the worst time possible in killing drives. The more I type the lower I think this grade should be, so I’ll stop on this one now.

Play Calling: B+
(Last year: B+)
This would have been an “A” but for a few areas. Petrino seemed to usually dial up the right play, but not always. This is the most difficult subject to get an “A” in. What is the one thing all fans complain about? Play calling. Is it the coach’s fault when the quarterback throws an interception, or the players fault because of his bad judgment? Ultimately, it ends up in this category because if the coach made a different call the interception probably does not happen. Also, the coach is the one being paid millions. The Hogs’ three losses all came at the end of the game against great teams when the quarterback threw interceptions. In all those occasions, the defensive coordinators guessed right. The good defensive coordinators know Petrino, for better or worse, is a pass-first coach when the game is on the line. It’s the reason Ohio State gambled and dropped its defensive line on the last interception of the season. You can argue that Mallett should not have thrown the ball. If you don’t want him throwing it, though, don’t call the play.
Image: A
(Last year: B)
The team went to its first ever BCS bowl game and its first Sugar Bowl in 30 years and were on national television virtually every conference game thanks to the SEC television contract. Off-the-field incidents were trivial, keeping the negative publicity off the local news.
Success: A-
(Last year: C+)
As mentioned earlier, it is always a good year for the Hogs when they win their bowl game. Still, this cannot be an “A” unless you at least finish in the top 10 even if you were close to winning your bowl game. I have not asked Petrino, but I doubt he would give himself anything above an “A-” in this category.
Management of the Athletic Director: A
(Last year: A)
In the days of Frank Broyles, this was a very important category. I am not sure that it means that much anymore and may be discontinued in the future. Petrino seems to have a good relationship with Jeff Long. In fact, he doesn’t seem like he takes orders from anybody, fans included. Petrino orders things and they get done. When he says he wants to tear up the beautiful grass in favor of lame artificial turf, the athletic director runs out to the field and tears up the grass. When Petrino says he wants new facilities, the athletic director puts together a campaign to raise seat donations and squeeze more money out of fan wallets. That’s good management of your athletic director.
Hiring Assistant Coaches: B+
(Last year: C)
The hires last season seemed to work well with the team and brought newer and fresher ideas to the coaching staff. He sticks by his defensive coordinator even as fans call for his head and is rewarded with a much-improved defense that seemed to materialize out of nowhere.


Leadership: A
(Last year: B)
Disciplinary actions that had to be taken seemed few and uneventful this season. Mallett did not get busted for drinking on Dickson or sexting anybody like Bret Favre. Players supposedly went to class. All in all, the players seemed to represent the university and state well throughout the season, so there’s not much to dock Petrino on here.

Overall grade: A-
(Last year: B-)
This is actually a 92.5 rounded up to an A based on the Catholic High School for Boys scale of grading when a 93 is needed for an A. Some may want this grade higher. No doubt when you make a BCS bowl you have done your job. But what if he makes another one next year and wins it? There is still room for improvement. He could also be a little more enthusiastic at times other than when cursing the referees.

Send your grades to fromthebench@yahoo.com

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