Greetings from Arkansas State

[dolewhipit18]

Looking forward to the game down your way this week. Haven't played Miami in a very long time, and we're relishing the opportunity to get a chance to prove ourselves against an ACC opponent. Its pretty rare that we play ACC Teams, played Va Tech in 2011, but that's about it overall.

Here are the basics about our program that you'll probably here ad nauseam from your coaching staff over the next week.

We are the three time defending Sun Belt Conference Champions and have won 29 games since the start of the 2011 season. During that time we also have won back to back Go Daddy Bowls over Kent State and Ball State of the MAC. The Kent State game represented our first every win as a program over a top 25 team, which was a big step, even if it was Kent State, its not our fault they were ranked.

Nationally we're most known for our constant coaching upheaval. Blake Anderson represents our 5th coach in the last 5 seasons (Not counting interims during bowl games) During that time, Steve Roberts (Fired), Hugh Freeze (Ole Miss), Gus Malzahn (Auburn), and Bryan Harsin (Boise State) have come here...barely had time to unpack, and left after conference championship seasons. To be truthful, most of us would have a hard time explaining what its like to face coaching speculation every single season, other than to tell you we have a lot of experience with coaching searches. As a product of the upheavel, we have actually made more money in coach buyouts than we have spent in salary during that time, as every coach ends us writing a check close to 2 million dollars for the right to win a conference title.

Team wise: We return very little offensively, but still have a decent bit of talent. We returned not a single starter on the offensive line from last season, have brought in a new QB, and are replacing all but one WR and RB. Our QB is Fredi Knighten, who was a Malzahn recruit meant to be in the mold of Nick Marshall. He's very athletic, and is more likely to beat you with his legs than his arm. We don't trust him to throw down field yet, but he's got enough talent to to beat teams on intermediate passing routes if they attempt to crowd the run. He's a game manager on the pass, and while his passing numbers will never be as crazy as his rushing, he wont turn the ball over very often. JD McKissic is our top receiver talent. He's a former Freshman All America who owns basically ever receiving record in our book, despite still being only a junior. He's helped out by All Conference RB Michael Gordon (Who may be out for our game next week) and All Conference TE Darion Griswald. Those 4 players make the offense go. Our system is very Malzahn based. Coaches want to use tempo to beat teams, talking openly this year at challenging Oregon as the fastest offense in the country. Results have been mixed so far, Tennessee crowd gave us issues.

Defensively: We return every single starter at LB, CB, and Safety. Its a very senior laden group in which often we have all conference players backing up all conference players. The defense is extremely fast, and will hunt for the ball. They are not big, and are not tall. The biggest weakness is against a tall receiving unit. Tennessee had a stud 6-5 receiver who ate our lunch this week. Qushawn Lee, Xavier Woodson, Rocky Hayes, Frankie Jackson, and Artez Brown lead our back 7. Our Weakness is up front: We had a string of injuries and graduations and a player who was murdered during a home invasion this offseason. Its left us starting only one Senior on the Line, and a bunch of Freshman and Sophomores. Again, its a smallish line, but don't let that fool you, we've shut down the running game of both of our previous opponents. Tennesee's Stud RB had 23 carries for only 80 yards this week. We're going to run a lot of blitz packages and will try and often isolate our DB's on your receivers and force your QB to make a perfect throw. If he does, you win, if not...look out. We've had no trouble getting to the QB against either opponent so far, but you guys are a different animal

Special Teams: This unit has killed us so far this year. We've muffed two punts to this point that have led to critical opposing TD's. Our Star punt returner was actually benched after his 2nd muff against Tennessee and replaced with a True Freshman. We also missed an extra point in Knoxville. That being said, our Kicker/Punter has a big leg, and if his accuracy is up to snuff, can dump a 50 yard punt one possession and kick a 50 yard field goal the next series. Our backup QB also does some punting, which leads to a series of fakes we have in the playbook.

Intangibles. Blake Anderson and Walt Bell are the men in charge of this team. They have brought in what is our top recruiting class in years to this point, and have really won over the players. That being said, we have only one win in history over a power conference opponent. We've played a lot of teams close, but have struggled to get over the jump. Some of that is dumb luck, we played Auburn and Missouri last year and everyone knows how they did. But we also get nervous in these type games, and can put ourselves in a hole with penalties and other mental mistakes.

Just an FYI: This is not a guarantee game. You guys are due to return a trip to Jonesboro in 2017.

Again looking forward to playing you guys, here is to an injury free encounter. I'll try to answer as many questions that I can if you have any.

So your QB can run and is good at intermediate passing routes?

We're screwed.

 

[bomb]

Canes by 20.

 

[terdferguson]

Not Bashing OP, but do you guys really think the Canes are going to lose to Arky State? C'mon think with your head not your heart. It might be closer than expected but I'm expecting the same type of game as Tenn just played. Canes win 37-17

Sadly, inadvertent bashing happens all the time on message boards.

And we expect to win every game we play...from Alabama to the University of Oskosh. Moral victories fly out the door when you win 28 games in 3 years. Our OC Walt Bell is a perfectionist. As he's told us, he wont be satisfied till we're running 100 plays per game and scoring touchdowns every possession. Until then, we have things to work on.

That's refreshing. Our coach is a perfectionist too. He won't be satisfied until he has ground our program into a pile of fine dust. Until then, he has things to work on.....but not much really.

 

[The Real Kirk Lazarus]

**** off arky state

 

[Notsince1985]

**** off arky state

 

[CaptJackSparrow]

I hope Blake James interviews their HC on Friday night to save AD some cash for their january coaching search.

 

[reef1515]

Wir sind alle Arkansas State

 

[chiefsfan]

I need to know more about my new team. Chiefsfan, when Miami goes 3 wide, which one of your defensive lineman is most likely to cover the slot receiver?

Frankie Jackson is a former RB who plays a hybrid LB/CB slot. He's usually responsible for covering the 3rd or 4th WR in a set. If you guys huddle, we'll likely just bring a 3rd DB in though to handle those looks. Remember, our backup at DB was 2nd team all conference last year.

As long as he doesn't get ejected for spearing right?

BTW...What was the deal with your center in the MSt. game? Every time I looked up it seems like he was coming off the field.

Well that. Rest assured, if it happens again, the Sun Belt will figure out a way to give him a long suspension, especially now that Lafayette lost yesterday. They cant deprive the much favored Cajuns a league title.

As for Grieve? Anderson called it an "Equipment malfunction"

 

[Cane Dynasty]

I need to know more about my new team. Chiefsfan, when Miami goes 3 wide, which one of your defensive lineman is most likely to cover the slot receiver?

Frankie Jackson is a former RB who plays a hybrid LB/CB slot. He's usually responsible for covering the 3rd or 4th WR in a set. If you guys huddle, we'll likely just bring a 3rd DB in though to handle those looks. Remember, our backup at DB was 2nd team all conference last year.

As long as he doesn't get ejected for spearing right?

BTW...What was the deal with your center in the MSt. game? Every time I looked up it seems like he was coming off the field.

Well that. Rest assured, if it happens again, the Sun Belt will figure out a way to give him a long suspension, especially now that Lafayette lost yesterday. They cant deprive the much favored Cajuns a league title.

As for Grieve? Anderson called it an "Equipment malfunction"

In all fairness I've watched you guys play two games this year. (Mont. St. and Tenn) If your offense can sustain a couple of those fast break drives early you have a legit shot at winning.

I like what your coach does on offense. Your QB is poised. Veteran D plays even man fronts and really gets after it from what I saw. That All Conf. LB puts the lumber down.

I think your defense is going to give us fits. If your O can consistently keep our D on the field with that fast pace you will have some 4th quarter action at the win.

If we get up early a couple scores and can pound your D it might get bad for you.

Might be a special teams mistake/big play by either team that decides the game.

Everyone thinks we are going to run through you guys. You guys are far better coached than we are. Your OC is a million times better than ours. You have a legit shot especially if you can catch a couple breaks.

 

[Awsi Dooger]

Your QB will have all the intermediate passes he wants all game long.

Not necessarily. Arkansas State uses plenty of empty looks with 4 and 5 wide. That plays smack into the hands of a more talented team. The defense will become increasingly comfortable attacking the formation and disrupting the backfield. They'll get their share of burst plays but I'd be far more concerned if they used more standard formations on passing plays, ones that didn't allow us to rotate forward and attack.

Those empty looks with a less than terrific quarterback are an idiotic choice, not unlike the flatfooted flanker screens against a top defense. The best quarterbacks thrive under empty formations because they make the perfect diagnosis and accurate pass almost immediately. When you've got a mediocrity back there it invites the defense to overload, ignore and terrorize. Not every play but more than enough.

Arkansas State may try to use Malzahn schemes but they aren't sturdy enough inside to mirror Malzahn's preferred heavy dose of inside runs. We'll probably be burned a few times to the outside, as Tennessee was.

Kaaya can't afford to be lazy and lob stupid passes into coverage. Arkansas State has enough athletes back there to make us pay, as the OP indicated. I was very impressed with some of their defenders last week.

 

[Rdcane]

 

[chiefsfan]

Your QB will have all the intermediate passes he wants all game long.

Not necessarily. Arkansas State uses plenty of empty looks with 4 and 5 wide. That plays smack into the hands of a more talented team. The defense will become increasingly comfortable attacking the formation and disrupting the backfield. They'll get their share of burst plays but I'd be far more concerned if they used more standard formations on passing plays, ones that didn't allow us to rotate forward and attack.

Those empty looks with a less than terrific quarterback are an idiotic choice, not unlike the flatfooted flanker screens against a top defense. The best quarterbacks thrive under empty formations because they make the perfect diagnosis and accurate pass almost immediately. When you've got a mediocrity back there it invites the defense to overload, ignore and terrorize. Not every play but more than enough.

Arkansas State may try to use Malzahn schemes but they aren't sturdy enough inside to mirror Malzahn's preferred heavy dose of inside runs. We'll probably be burned a few times to the outside, as Tennessee was.

Kaaya can't afford to be lazy and lob stupid passes into coverage. Arkansas State has enough athletes back there to make us pay, as the OP indicated. I was very impressed with some of their defenders last week.

Thing about our 4 and 5 wide sets, is those sets often lead to running plays. We've got so many freshman at receiver and RB that a no back set like that often means we've got a TE, a RB, and 2-3 WR in the formation. Those are usually not certain pass plays.

The traditional set has its merits, but we'd be eaten alive if we put Knighten under center. I'd wager he's taken 5-10 snaps under center since his Sophomore year of High School. Most of them QB sneaks.

 

[imlive365]

Your QB will have all the intermediate passes he wants all game long. Quick slants and 5yard outs and ins will be available like they have been for the last 3 years. Our DC doesn't make adjustments and leaves the middle open all the time. Instead of having our corners who are athletic freaks play man he has them play 5 yards off the receiver leaving quick slants for 6 yards open every play. He thinks he's still at temple and has to use a bend but don't break defense

i think it's bend and break if you lose by 20 or more points. imho

You are 100% correct

 

[arkstfan]

Just some background.

2002-10 we had a head coach who "seemed" to be getting us going the right way but he had a nasty habit of dropping four of the final six. 2008 we beat TAMU and yep last four of the last six, two of them with two score leads going into the 4th. He was forced to hire a new OC for 2010, and we ended up with Hugh Freeze.

When the coach who had said we couldn't recruit the talent needed to consistently win in the Sun Belt was let go, our AD wanted to hire outside the family but the fans and media put so much pressure on to hire Freeze that he was forced to do so.

We had a nice combination of things happen. The governor is a huge AState fan, he informed our board who would be the next system president (president of a smaller in-state school and a guy who grew up in Jonesboro) and we got a dandy. President tells of being summoned to see the governor during legislative session when he was first on the job. First thing the governor says is "Did you hear about DE who committed today?"

We go 10-2 and Freeze leaves for Ole Miss (we had four on staff for our bowl and soon as we ran out of scripted plays we nose-dived against NIU.

Freeze was talking to his buddy Gus who was unhappy at Auburn. He convinces Gus to take the job. To let you know the respect our then AD carried, Freeze didn't give him the AD's number, he gave him the governor's personal cell number.

Gus goes 9-3 and wins the second league title and leaves for Auburn but not before getting the AD pushed out. We hired a former AState player who had been at FAU as an assistant AD and was at Kansas at the time. Interim head coach gets the bowl win.

Current AD hires Bryan Harsin. Our boy Harsin scraps the Freeze/Malzahn system and wants to spread the field vertically. After a 3-4 start he gives up play calling and a leftover Malzahn assistant takes over and we finish 5-1 counting the bowl. Thankfully Boise hires Harsin and we get a do-over and a check for $1.75 million.

Then we hire Anderson (who was born in Jonesboro) and his style is closer to Freeze than Malzahn though they are all similar.

Our new AD has $30 something million in facility upgrades underway. Indoor practice facility is under construction. Press box renovation with luxury boxes and premium seating will break ground later this year and if all goes on track, we will break ground in the spring for a new operations center (offices, meeting rooms, locker rooms, weight room etc). But he only hired two of the four recent coaches.

I've been following us since 1971 and this is the first time since around 1975 that all three pieces are lined up. President, AD, and (hopefully) coach being committed to success and making good decisions and showing vision. Coincidence or not, all were either born here or played here.

I liken it to our school logos. Over the years we've paid consultants from NYC and LA to do logos and what we use now were all generated in-house. Something to be said for having a sense of place in these things.

Our AD is a hoot. Get him in front of a mic and you never know what may happen. Last year Harsin and crew got boo'd off the field at halftime. AD took the microphone on the sidelines and started out normal, thanking people for coming, said score isn't what we want but the team needs you and then veered off into near pep rally speech mode. Team comes out and the fans are going beserk despite being down by ten. We kickoff and a few plays later get a scoop and score, next drive we block a punt for a TD and have the lead without the offense taking the field and the place is a total madhouse. Out of 129 FBS AD's, easily 120 would have made things worse, but fans respect Terry because he's one of us.

Coach Anderson's slogan is building a monster. Dr. Welch's response is "You build it and I'll feed it." The message has been made clear, the better you do, the more resources I'll throw into the program.

As Chiefsfan says, we don't go into games accepting we will lose.

-We've won three straight Sun Belt titles yet the national media says Louisiana Lafayette is the best program in the conference.
-We've NEVER been tabbed as pre-season favorite to win the Sun Belt despite three in a row
-The national experts tell us Louisiana Lafayette is the most attractive team in the league because of their larger media market yet when the TV ratings come out, in Sun Belt vs Sun Belt games, the games with AState are usually the most-watched.
-We have to listen to Hog fans jabber about how we've got to "earn" a game against them while they schedule teams we regularly beat.
-We had St. Louis and KC offering $1.5 million and $2 million to move our Mizzou game next year and the folks who run the stadium in Little Rock approached us with "a great offer" they'd let us play there if we'd pay them a discounted rate of $35,000.

So not getting respect from any corner is nothing new and quite frankly if someone gave our program respect we'd be too stunned to know what to do.

As for Saturday. I expect yall to be bigger and faster than Tennessee. I expect we will have a harder time moving the ball. But we also know Miami is the most turnover prone team we've faced this year and you aren't getting touchbacks on kickoffs and have been giving up some big pieces of real estate on kickoff returns. Two things that a team needs to pull an upset are to be on the plus side of turnovers and to get a big special teams play or two. Despite the disadvantages we have, knowing there is statistically a better than normal chance that we might catch the turnover or special teams break we need gives us something to shoot for.

 

[weownfsu]

Just some background.

2002-10 we had a head coach who "seemed" to be getting us going the right way but he had a nasty habit of dropping four of the final six. 2008 we beat TAMU and yep last four of the last six, two of them with two score leads going into the 4th. He was forced to hire a new OC for 2010, and we ended up with Hugh Freeze.

When the coach who had said we couldn't recruit the talent needed to consistently win in the Sun Belt was let go, our AD wanted to hire outside the family but the fans and media put so much pressure on to hire Freeze that he was forced to do so.

We had a nice combination of things happen. The governor is a huge AState fan, he informed our board who would be the next system president (president of a smaller in-state school and a guy who grew up in Jonesboro) and we got a dandy. President tells of being summoned to see the governor during legislative session when he was first on the job. First thing the governor says is "Did you hear about DE who committed today?"

We go 10-2 and Freeze leaves for Ole Miss (we had four on staff for our bowl and soon as we ran out of scripted plays we nose-dived against NIU.

Freeze was talking to his buddy Gus who was unhappy at Auburn. He convinces Gus to take the job. To let you know the respect our then AD carried, Freeze didn't give him the AD's number, he gave him the governor's personal cell number.

Gus goes 9-3 and wins the second league title and leaves for Auburn but not before getting the AD pushed out. We hired a former AState player who had been at FAU as an assistant AD and was at Kansas at the time. Interim head coach gets the bowl win.

Current AD hires Bryan Harsin. Our boy Harsin scraps the Freeze/Malzahn system and wants to spread the field vertically. After a 3-4 start he gives up play calling and a leftover Malzahn assistant takes over and we finish 5-1 counting the bowl. Thankfully Boise hires Harsin and we get a do-over and a check for $1.75 million.

Then we hire Anderson (who was born in Jonesboro) and his style is closer to Freeze than Malzahn though they are all similar.

Our new AD has $30 something million in facility upgrades underway. Indoor practice facility is under construction. Press box renovation with luxury boxes and premium seating will break ground later this year and if all goes on track, we will break ground in the spring for a new operations center (offices, meeting rooms, locker rooms, weight room etc). But he only hired two of the four recent coaches.

I've been following us since 1971 and this is the first time since around 1975 that all three pieces are lined up. President, AD, and (hopefully) coach being committed to success and making good decisions and showing vision. Coincidence or not, all were either born here or played here.

I liken it to our school logos. Over the years we've paid consultants from NYC and LA to do logos and what we use now were all generated in-house. Something to be said for having a sense of place in these things.

Our AD is a hoot. Get him in front of a mic and you never know what may happen. Last year Harsin and crew got boo'd off the field at halftime. AD took the microphone on the sidelines and started out normal, thanking people for coming, said score isn't what we want but the team needs you and then veered off into near pep rally speech mode. Team comes out and the fans are going beserk despite being down by ten. We kickoff and a few plays later get a scoop and score, next drive we block a punt for a TD and have the lead without the offense taking the field and the place is a total madhouse. Out of 129 FBS AD's, easily 120 would have made things worse, but fans respect Terry because he's one of us.

Coach Anderson's slogan is building a monster. Dr. Welch's response is "You build it and I'll feed it." The message has been made clear, the better you do, the more resources I'll throw into the program.

As Chiefsfan says, we don't go into games accepting we will lose.

-We've won three straight Sun Belt titles yet the national media says Louisiana Lafayette is the best program in the conference.
-We've NEVER been tabbed as pre-season favorite to win the Sun Belt despite three in a row
-The national experts tell us Louisiana Lafayette is the most attractive team in the league because of their larger media market yet when the TV ratings come out, in Sun Belt vs Sun Belt games, the games with AState are usually the most-watched.
-We have to listen to Hog fans jabber about how we've got to "earn" a game against them while they schedule teams we regularly beat.
-We had St. Louis and KC offering $1.5 million and $2 million to move our Mizzou game next year and the folks who run the stadium in Little Rock approached us with "a great offer" they'd let us play there if we'd pay them a discounted rate of $35,000.

So not getting respect from any corner is nothing new and quite frankly if someone gave our program respect we'd be too stunned to know what to do.

As for Saturday. I expect yall to be bigger and faster than Tennessee. I expect we will have a harder time moving the ball. But we also know Miami is the most turnover prone team we've faced this year and you aren't getting touchbacks on kickoffs and have been giving up some big pieces of real estate on kickoff returns. Two things that a team needs to pull an upset are to be on the plus side of turnovers and to get a big special teams play or two. Despite the disadvantages we have, knowing there is statistically a better than normal chance that we might catch the turnover or special teams break we need gives us something to shoot for.

I admittedly only skimmed that, but all I can say is that you will be shocked at how bad Miami is.

 

[tokengator]

If your special teams has hard time covering it might be long day for you. They have a dynamic return guy.

That said I really enjoyed your post. I appreciate your enthusiasm and just the whole vibe both you guys have given off. I knew nothing about your program but have garnered some respect for you guys and what you are trying to do.

 

[tokengator]

I also had to snicker at the arky state 30 million upgrade comment. Didn't bomb create a condescending thread touting shalala because of 30 million in uprades?

 

[Boarcane]

I need to know more about my new team. Chiefsfan, when Miami goes 3 wide, which one of your defensive lineman is most likely to cover the slot receiver?

Frankie Jackson is a former RB who plays a hybrid LB/CB slot. He's usually responsible for covering the 3rd or 4th WR in a set. If you guys huddle, we'll likely just bring a 3rd DB in though to handle those looks. Remember, our backup at DB was 2nd team all conference last year.

As long as he doesn't get ejected for spearing right?

BTW...What was the deal with your center in the MSt. game? Every time I looked up it seems like he was coming off the field.

Well that. Rest assured, if it happens again, the Sun Belt will figure out a way to give him a long suspension, especially now that Lafayette lost yesterday. They cant deprive the much favored Cajuns a league title.

As for Grieve? Anderson called it an "Equipment malfunction"

In all fairness I've watched you guys play two games this year. (Mont. St. and Tenn) If your offense can sustain a couple of those fast break drives early you have a legit shot at winning.

I like what your coach does on offense. Your QB is poised. Veteran D plays even man fronts and really gets after it from what I saw. That All Conf. LB puts the lumber down.

I think your defense is going to give us fits. If your O can consistently keep our D on the field with that fast pace you will have some 4th quarter action at the win.

If we get up early a couple scores and can pound your D it might get bad for you.

Might be a special teams mistake/big play by either team that decides the game.

Everyone thinks we are going to run through you guys. You guys are far better coached than we are. Your OC is a million times better than ours. You have a legit shot especially if you can catch a couple breaks.

 

[Gatorhater]

Off topic but can the OP address why actual Arky fans are legitimately insane? Like not just the typical mass delusion you see in the $EC but legit "lock them up for their own safety" batsh!t crazy.

We don't refer to that school by name as a general policy. They are the Pigs or the School out West, or the School that shall not be named to us.

As for what the deal is? Back in the 1950's TSOW began pushing the idea that they were the "State's team" As such, their is a wide fan based belief that every person from Arkansas must by law cheer for the pigs. The School actively tries to destroy other in state schools. (They actually helped write the legislation in the 70's that created what was then D1-AA, and then made sure they railroaded enough laws through legislature to ensure we had to play in that division. (We moved up in 92 received no state funding, and have basically been on our own.) When you come up with such wonderful policies, you attract a wide variety of the usual weirdo's to your fan base. Id wager at least 30 percent of their fan base has never been to college. Another percentage has likely never graduated.

They have long had an inferiority complex that is unmatched at the football level. They hold on to one semi recognized national championship from the 1960's (Shared with Bama) as if it is proof of their future success. They consider the greatest game in program history, the one that many books were written about, to be a LOSS to Texas in 1969.

they have a general lack of understanding of the college football world around them. Auburn is considered beneath them, and Gus Malzahn is the root of all evil after he had one year as OC at Arkansas, was never allowed to call plays, and ran to Tulsa as fast as he could at the end of the year. (Program fell apart two years later) Bobby Petrino apparently had always dreamed of coaching Arkansas, and is a legend. Many consider their AD an idiot for firing him after the motorcycle incident. John L Smith was destined to lead them to a bowl till he lost to SBC Member La Monroe (Who Arkansas State subsequently blew out a few weeks later) Brett Bielema is going to bring them back to greatness. Completely ignore the fact that they have absolutely no talent outside of a couple positions, and have no shot in the SEC West in its current state.

I will say this...their school alums are great fans who understand more than they let on. Its just the T-Shirt fans who can go to Wal-Mart and buy a shirt for 8 bucks and claim they are a true one and only fan that lend to the craziness. That's the group that's likely to vandalize the QB's car after a game changing INT, and sing song's dedicated to the team on youtube.

When you encourage even the most hillbilly of Arkansas hillbilly's to become a diehard fan, and cater to his every whim even more than you do some donors, you get get what you deserve.

So they are like our felons? I mean gators? Look you seem like a nice guy and you seem to always need a new coach, so when you go back home could you take a couple of our with you. Just put them out in the sun for a couple hours a day and they will be fine. We are not sure what they do with their time but are told they work very hard--clearly it is not at coaching. Listen, don't be shy about it, take all you want.

If you don't have room on the bus for the extra coaches, do you think you can get to the game a little early and give us some hits as to how you get a coach to quit. We seem to be completely inept at that and we really, really, need to know how.

 

[The Franchise]

Why do you guys keep talking about Malzahn? Isn't coach Anderson a Larry Fedora disciple?

I'm a wolf in canes clothing!