In the A&M game, we saw the benefits of the opposite approach in the second half. Petrino simplified the pass protection calls for the offense and got a lot more productivity out of a simpler scheme. Credit the coaching staff for making the adjustment, but I certainly wonder if they were overwhelming the green Arkansas offensive line with too much complexity to begin with. Perhaps they eventually need to learn the more elaborate protections no matter what, so it makes sense to teach them and run them even if there are struggles. Nobody said being a head coach is easy.
If those protections had any downsides, the A&M coaching staff certainly didn't exploit them. Other reports show that the defense similarly changed to a different, simpler front that they ran in the first year or two of Petrino's tenure. That adjustment also paid big dividends.
Beyond that, I'd have to say that Broderick Green's return from the ACL injury was shockingly quick and it was good to see him in the game. The record setting performances by Tyler Wilson and Jarius Wright have drawn national attention. Going forward this team still has a lot of potential but something like 10 starters including multiple team captains have suffered meaningful injuries and that can be hard to overcome in the long run. It is certainly a good thing to beat A&M, but in the exuberance of that comeback it's easy to forget that the Hogs were absolutely torched in the first half, giving up 35 points in ugly fashion. It's also worth noting that they put up 20 first half points, a good output against a ranked team.
Auburn is next, and since I will be at that game in person I certainly hope for a win. Should be a shootout either way.
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