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[Pig in the Pokey]

They are trading Storey for Hicks.

Hicks: (2017 under Morris) 3,569 yds passing, 33 TDs.

Storey: (2018 under Morris) 1584 passing yds, 11 TDs.

succinct

[Superhog1959]

I am glad we got him. I am a old baseball guy so I want to see Conner play BB. He will last longer and most likely have more success. I am hoping for the best. Hog fan forever.

[Pig in the Pokey]

Morris wouldn't have even discussed the QB issue with Hicks if he didn't think we needed his decision-making and arm ASAFP.

Makes one wonder about Noland, though.  Either way, we'll have someone who Morris trusts enough to fill a gap that just might dictate his career down the road.  Ready for spring ball, I am.

I see it like a QB coach-on-the-field who will be there in the Spring making sure he has it down still, then will be training the new WR corps as well as Noland and KJJ. And, in the meantime, maybe win 6+ games.

[HoggieStyle]

I never thought I would live to see the day that Razorback fans would rejoice believing that a coach and then a transfer QB, both from SMU would be our salvation.

Unreal.

[thebignasty]

Better than what we have around, not as good as what we were hoping we might go out and get.


If he can get us to .500 next year and recruiting stays strong, I won't have any complaints.

[avatar]

I never thought I would live to see the day that Razorback fans would rejoice believing that a coach and then a transfer QB, both from SMU would be our salvation.

Unreal.

You can thank bert for that

[PonderinHog]

I think this will benefit the new receivers coming on board. A lot.

And once they get a firm grasp of the system, I don't think it will matter so much who the quarterback is.  These are some big ole targets.

[hogsfan31]

Better than what we have around, not as good as what we were hoping we might go out and get.


If he can get us to .500 next year and recruiting stays strong, I won't have any complaints.

Yep I’m with you on that. Our reality is we have reached out to numerous grad transfers/transfer QBs and the majority we have reached out to are not interested in coming here and walking into an full rebuild. Most of them are trying to showcase their skills to get to the next level and for most of them Arkansas does not present that opportunity for them.

[King Kong]

34 interceptions....34

44% of those as a RS Freshman

[#hammerdown]

34 interceptions....34

Serious question.  What was the TD to Int ratio for both?  34 int is too many but context is important.

[The_Iceman]

44% of those as a RS Freshman

Context matters.

[LZH]

I see it like a QB coach-on-the-field who will be there in the Spring making sure he has it down still, then will be training the new WR corps as well as Noland and KJJ. And, in the meantime, maybe win 6+ games.

I just hope we're right.

[Pig in the Pokey]

So, you think Kliff Kingsbury (Arizona Cardinals HC) and Tom Herman (Texas HC) were trippin?

At the Elite 11, he started over Josh Rosen and finished 2nd, ahead of Stidham, Drew Lock, Kyler & Murray amongst other.

[jvanhorn]

I'm not against Hicks coming in, in fact I'm all for it. Morris needs to make a bowl game next year and Hicks gives him that chance. I was just commenting on Nolands ability as I see it. Like I said, I Thought he would have made good QB for the hogs.

I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs of this but if Noland is good enough to start for Van Horn, then he is a quality baseball player and the fact that Morris said is was ok to play baseball kind of makes me think he has more potential in baseball than football.  He might be a great back  up quarterback though and , god know, every team needs one.

[urkillnmesmalls]

I never thought I would live to see the day that Razorback fans would rejoice believing that a coach and then a transfer QB, both from SMU would be our salvation.

Unreal.

Yeah, just like Florida fans couldn't believe their salvation would come from first Duke, and then Utah for both of their NC winng coaches. 

Swinney...he was fired from Bama, sat out two years while working for a Real Estate firm.  Ultimately, he got back into coaching and was coaching the WR's at Clemson when he took over. 

WHERE coaches come from...doesn't matter.  It's if they can coach. 

[jkstock04]

I never thought I would live to see the day that Razorback fans would rejoice believing that a coach and then a transfer QB, both from SMU would be our salvation.

Unreal.

Rewind back 10ish years ago and I would wholeheartedly agree with this. But this is where we are now.

Arkansas just won 2 games in the 2018 season....easily the worst team in the entire SEC. And it wasn't a fluke. This team is THAT bad. I have no doubt Ben Hicks will be better than whatever Bielema recruited and coached.

[LZH]

Yeah, just like Florida fans couldn't believe their salvation would come from first Duke, and then Utah for both of their NC's. 

Swinney...he was fired from Bama, sat out two years while working for a Real Estate firm.  Ultimately, he got back into coaching and was coaching the WR's at Clemson when he took over. 

WHERE coaches come from...doesn't matter.  It's if they can coach. 

Good job.  If these guys didn't know squat about football, they'd be just like us........fans and complainers.

Being a good coach takes a helluva lot more than X & O.

[The Boar War]

I never thought I would live to see the day that Razorback fans would rejoice believing that a coach and then a transfer QB, both from SMU would be our salvation.

Unreal.

Being in the gutter for seven years will do that to a fan base.

[Justifiable Hogicide]

I never thought I would live to see the day that Razorback fans would rejoice believing that a coach and then a transfer QB, both from SMU would be our salvation.

Unreal.

Never thought I’d see Arkansas go 2-10.

[Boardon Hamsay]

Hogs will go 8-4 or better because of his knowledge of the system. Hicks will have the spring and summer to get with his receivers. It’s going to be a good folks.

Meat Loaf? I’ve been wondering what happened to you since this came out. Good to see you still around. Still might need to work on pumping the brakes a bit. No need to mess up anyone’s bidness with Meredith Baxter-Birney....

[Boardon Hamsay]

Better than what we have around, not as good as what we were hoping we might go out and get. Likely in part due to OL situation


If he can get us to .500 next year and recruiting stays strong, I won't have any complaints. Agreed

[hoglady]

Wonder if Noland has told the staff he's sticking with Baseball? Really thought he would have been a really good QB for the hogs. This is good news though and should raise expectations to 6 wins and a bowl game next year. I really want to beat Missouri next year. Hopefully that will be one of our SEC wins next year.

I don't know - but we need a QB who will be devoted to football only this spring.
Don't see how in the world Noland can make all the spring practices and devote the time needed to football while adjusting to pitching in the SEC and helping the baseball team.

[AirWarren]

Yeah, just like Florida fans couldn't believe their salvation would come from first Duke, and then Utah for both of their NC's. 

Swinney...he was fired from Bama, sat out two years while working for a Real Estate firm.  Ultimately, he got back into coaching and was coaching the WR's at Clemson when he took over. 

WHERE coaches come from...doesn't matter.  It's if they can coach.

Truth.

[thebignasty]

No doubt.

And being 2-10, in the best division in the best conference, with virtually no proven players, let alone playmakers or stars.



But, if you are an Arkansas fan, hope beyond reason kind of has to be your thing, and we were hoping we'd land a guy who felt like a program changer.  I don't think this kid feels like that kind of guy. 

Won't care if we can be respectable on the field.

[hoglady]

I never thought I would live to see the day that Razorback fans would rejoice believing that a coach and then a transfer QB, both from SMU would be our salvation.

Unreal.

You never know how a transfer will work out - look at what Gardner Minshew did for Washington St.
A QB from a 2-10 East Carolina team.
Sometimes things just click - hopefully things will click for Hicks here at Arkansas.

[wachhog]

I never thought I would live to see the day that Razorback fans would rejoice believing that a coach and then a transfer QB, both from SMU would be our salvation.

Unreal.

That’s what happens when a fan base believes a dinasaur from Wisconsin can best what at the time was one of the best offensive minds in college football.

[HognitiveDissonance]

I never thought I would live to see the day that Razorback fans would rejoice believing that a coach and then a transfer QB, both from SMU would be our salvation.

Unreal.

We're all old enough to remember when beating SMU was cause for celebration.
They had our number for a while during another period of Arkansas football ineptitude.

[RedyorNot]

Good get and will make both the Oline and WR rooms better cause he can tell them where they need to be real time, not just in X's and O's theory

[PonderinHog]

That’s what happens when a fan base believes a dinasaur from Wisconsin can best what at the time was one of the best offensive minds in college football.

Yeah, Bobby was just a little too offensive to the wrong folks.

[alohawg]

I never thought I would live to see the day that Razorback fans would rejoice believing that a coach and then a transfer QB, both from SMU would be our salvation.

Unreal.

Or get smoked at home to N. Texas with said coach. 
I think about family and friends that have passed and what they would think were they around to see it   

[greasy_corner]

White Deshaun

[hogblitz]

You never know how a transfer will work out - look at what Gardner Minshew did for Washington St.
A QB from a 2-10 East Carolina team.
Sometimes things just click - hopefully things will click for Hicks here at Arkansas.

Gardner went to a team that has experienced coaching whom know how to develop quarterbacks.  Our QB got worse as the year went on. 

[Hog are ya]

Wonder if Noland has told the staff he's sticking with Baseball? Really thought he would have been a really good QB for the hogs. This is good news though and should raise expectations to 6 wins and a bowl game next year. I really want to beat Missouri next year. Hopefully that will be one of our SEC wins next year.

Whether or not Noland has told staff he is sticking to baseball has ZERO to do with bringing in a Grad Transfer!

[Al Boarland]

They are trading Storey for Hicks.

Hicks: (2017 under Morris) 3,569 yds passing, 33 TDs.

Storey: (2018 under Morris) 1584 passing yds, 11 TDs.

Context matters.

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

Hicks will be an improvement .

[/thread]

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

Chad Morris showed up at Baum Stadium today and went into a meeting with DVH. This was just before Hicks' announcement. Make of that what you will. It might have been routine. It might have been Morris telling DVH that he can have Noland all spring. It might have been Morris asking if he can have Noland's total attention once spring ball starts.

It might have been Morris asking DVH to call Catalone 1 more time too...

[Bacons Rebellion]

So far, this team doesn't have a CM-era foundation. 2018 wasn't a foundation for anything.

Hicks, with his system knowledge, hopefully allows CM to set a foundation in 2019 and the younger talent can figure out the system and grow into it with a quarterback that understands and can run it.

I thought we would likely go 4-8 with Storey this fall, but with Hicks, I pretty much think we'll go 4-8. But I think there's a chance the rest of the offense will gel better and we'll be set up better for the future.

[Al Boarland]

So far, this team doesn't have a CM-era foundation. 2018 wasn't a foundation for anything.

Hicks, with his system knowledge, hopefully allows CM to set a foundation in 2019 and the younger talent can figure out the system and grow into it with a quarterback that understands and can run it.

I thought we would likely go 4-8 with Storey this fall, but with Hicks, I pretty much think we'll go 4-8. But I think there's a chance the rest of the offense will gel better and we'll be set up better for the future.

I agree.  My view of the situation goes as follows.

Morris isn't confident enough in what he had on the roster to show improvement next season.  KJ is raw and going to take time to develop.  He knows he can get Hicks, but he has a limited ceiling.  So, he tries to bring in KB using his previous relationship to seal the deal.  KB says thanks, but no thanks and Morris tries other options with Hicks as a contingency plan.  Here we are now with Hicks who is familiar with the offense, but will be facing much better talent with an O-line that still has lots to prove.

4 wins is probably about right.  I believe making a bowl is imperative to be able to recruit a top 20 class next cycle and make no mistake the next 2 classes will determine CM's fate no matter how much time we give him.

[hawganatic]

Gardner went to a team that has experienced coaching whom know how to develop quarterbacks.  Our QB got worse as the year went on.

So you really think Hicks would have come here to play for Morris again if he didn't think he'd develop more?  He knows the coaching staff and knows what they are, and made the decision to play for him again.

Too many of you get caught up in a small subset of time, and think that projects to the whole.

[TrueBlue]

No doubt.

And being 2-10, in the best division in the best conference, with virtually no proven players, let alone playmakers or stars.



But, if you are an Arkansas fan, hope beyond reason kind of has to be your thing, and we were hoping we'd land a guy who felt like a program changer.  I don't think this kid feels like that kind of guy. 

Won't care if we can be respectable on the field.

“Hope is a dangerous thing. It will drive a man insane, it has no place here.”

(From one of the best movies ever.)

[Superhog1959]

Coach Morris now has someone that knows his offense well. If we get better on the Oline and keep this kid off his back, we might get better fast. Improve enough to give Morris time to recruit more good classes. It feels good, I think we move forward.

[tysonr7]

Starts at 10:46 mark

https://soundcloud.com/hitthatline/1-15-2019a

[Superhog1959]

Thanks for the post. Good news, we needed.

[mj4president]

Starts at 10:46 mark

https://soundcloud.com/hitthatline/1-15-2019a

Sounds to me like he's ready to mix it up and be one of the boys.

[HogPharmer]

Sure. But a bowl is probably in play.

Hicks is definitely good enough to sweep our non-conference and so that means we have to pick up 2 conference wins which is an outside possibility, given our schedule.

How many of us thought that exact same thing coming into last season though?

[Superhog1959]

I found it interesting when they discussed some of the other QBs that we might have got. They said they would take talent over experience and familiarity. I would agree with that most always, but for a 1 year thing. I think Hicks knowing Morris and his system might out weigh some talent edge. Under the circumstances, I think we did good.   

[BossHawg_Outlaw]

So, you think Kliff Kingsbury (Arizona Cardinals HC) and Tom Herman (Texas HC) were trippin?

At the Elite 11, he started over Josh Rosen and finished 2nd, ahead of Stidham, Drew Lock, Kyler & Murray amongst other.

I like that we got him but stop comparing what they did at a competition that was like 4 years ago.   

[elksnort]

Having Hicks come in and be the starting QB just makes sense considering the circumstances.

So Ben Hicks 2019 = Casey Dick 2008?

[Hog75]

I never thought I would live to see the day that Razorback fans would rejoice believing that a coach and then a transfer QB, both from SMU would be our salvation.

Unreal.

Or.......2019 is the 37th anniversary of the pass interference call against Arkansas' #37 Nathan Jones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pL2iwLfybw

[Hawgphat]

If this next football season produces a repeat record of 2-10, then I will consider the Hicks acquisition to have been nonsensical.

If - on the other hand - our fortunes measurably improve in terms of offensive production stats - in addition to an increase in wins generation, - - - then this debate on the merits of the Hicks acquisition will be effectively rendered moot.