Bits and pieces: Eagles!

Some random things from a Saturday spent watching college football.

Numbers lie: Ryan Mallett might be the worst QB in the SEC. Here's why: Mallett's numbers are deceiving. Going into the Ole Miss game he had 17 completions of 30 yards or longer. Good, right? Well, here's where numbers hurt. The long completions accounted for roughly half of Mallett's passing yards for the season and always looking for the long bomb means that Arkansas is forced into long second and third downs if first down is an incomplete pass. It means the other team's defense knows what is coming and can scheme accordingly. It takes the running game out of the offense, unless it is a draw. It takes the tight end out of the offense. Mallett's passing is like a running back that has 14 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown. Good, right? Okay, but one carry is for 88 yards and most of the carries are no-gains or one-yard. The numbers look good on paper, but when you put them in context, they suddenly take a turn for the worse.

Just wondering: A top-ranked SEC team struggles in conference and observers note that it reflects the strength of the conference. A team from any other conference struggles and observers note that it means that the top-ranked team isn't as good as everybody thinks. That strike anyone else as a bit odd? I don't want to go off on one my patented rants on the strength of the Pac-10, but I'm sorely tempted. I just don't think it is fair to dismiss a conference because it isn't the SEC. I think the SEC is a strong league, but it is an apples-to-oranges comparison to look at a conference that requires every team play each other versus a conference where the top-ranked team would only play one ranked opponent in the regular season and skip half of the other division.

Celebrate good times, c'mon: Terrance Cody rips off his helmet, and it looks like the clock is still ticking. No call. Florida runs back an interception, reviewed and ruled a touchdown. Replay clearly shows he lost possession at the 2-yard line. Great teams get lucky on occasion, umm, okay, but c'mon. Wonder why a team that isn't undefeated doesn't get those "breaks?"

He said what?: Did Herby really say on ESPN that "Arkansas shot its wad against Florida." That is some kind of awesome if true.

I forget: I had one more thing to add, but I don't remember it now. Oh, wait, here's a question for the stat heads: Has Arkansas ever had a perfect Saturday? Meaning have all the Arkansas football playing colleges won on the same Saturday. It would have to be non-conference games since the old AIC and the current Gulf South have Arkansas teams playing each other. I suspect a perfect Saturday has happened, but I'm curious on the when.