SEC Injury Alert: Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett Leaves Game With Possible Head Injury

Uh-oh...that can't be good.

Ryan Mallett, the star quarterback of the Arkansas Razorbacks and the SEC (in the minds of many) has left the game with a head injury according to coach Bobby Petrino. His return, at this time, is questionable.

Speculation is that Mallett will not return but, if he doesn't, his backup, Tyler Wilson, would be an adequate—if not stellar—replacement.

The junior QB came into the game late in the second quarter and led the Hogs on a 66-yard touchdown scoring drive to trim the Tigers lead to three points—21-24 with less than 3:00 minutes to go til the half. That said, if the Hogs can't find an answer for Cam Newton, it won't matter who is playing quarterback.

Newton already has 230 yards of total offense for the Tigers—143 yards rushing—and has had no problems finding the passing lanes when he wants to. By stark contrast, the Razorbacks have 81 yards rushing—total—and are relying on the passing attack to move the chains.

While this is Arkansas' usual method of getting the job done, it's difficult to say how effective it will be for them the rest of the way—especially if Mallett is unable to return.

At the half, the score is 27-21 Auburn.

Here's the halftime interview with coach Bobby Petrino on both Ryan Mallett and what Arkansas will need to do to contain Cam Newton:



...think Bobby's a little miffed?

Georgia Bulldog Football: Mark Richt Needs More Than A.J. Green To Win Games

The Georgia Bulldogs, in case you didn't know it, are now 0-2 in SEC play after a heartbreaking loss to Arkansas today. The team fought hard, in the fourth quarter, but fell short as the Razorbacks walked out of Athens, GA sporting something they had not since 1993—a win.

It would be easy to make excuses for the team but, in the end, the truth would be simple: Ryan Mallett played like Ryan Mallett and the Georgia defense had no answer for him.

You see, all week long, the media and the journalists have tried their best to make Georgia Bulldog fans believe that without A.J., this team cannot win. However, in two weeks, the team has proven that it can indeed win—if they can ever get out of their own way.

Today, the run defense showed up in against the veteran running presence of the Arkansas Razorbacks. Aside from the one-yard touchdown run by Knile Davis in the first quarter, no other tailbacks made a significant contribution to the running game for the Hogs. As a unit, they carried 20 times for 59-yards (less than three yards per carry).

So, unlike last week, the run defense did a nice job of stopping the run and forcing the quarterback to make plays. Unfortunately for Georgia, they couldn't do two things well, on defense, at one time because Ryan Mallett had a field day with Georgia's secondary.

He was rarely pressured into a poor pass and every touchdown he threw, of which there were three, his man was left wide open. By the end of the day, the receivers had all-star numbers: Joe Adams snagged six balls for 130, Greg Childs caught three for 82, D.J. Williams...six for 61—see a poor trend here?

The secondary never seemed to show up today and that cost Georgia big time—none bigger than on Arkansas last possession of the game (a 36-yard, game winning touchdown). 

Truthfully, if you didn't know any better, you might have actually believed that Willie Martinez never
left the sidelines because it was deja vu all over again.

But, this article is not meant to be a recap. If you watched the game, you know what happened, and you can surmise from your own intelligence how it transpired—no need to do it for you here. That said, what is perplexing is how everyone seems to keep telling themselves that A.J. Green would have been the difference.

 While it cannot be denied that Green is a catalyst, a playmaker, and a genuinely wonderful weapon to behold, he cannot play defense. He cannot run block for the offensive line, he cannot pass rush for the linebackers, he cannot punt for Drew Butler, he cannot cover kickoffs for special teams, he cannot playcall for Mike Bobo, and he cannot cover wide receivers for the secondary.

As outstanding a football player as A.J. Green most certainly is, he is one guy and, as much as some outlets would like you to believe it, he is not the only piece this team needs to win on Saturday.

Furthermore, to say that A.J. is the only guy worthy of catching the ball on Saturday is disrespectful to Kris Durham. Durham has done a tremendous job in A.J.'s absence. No, he doesn't have the speed, the highlight reel grabs, or the NFL pedigree, but he does have 13 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown (through the same number of games last season, Green had 17 receptions, for 275 yards, and three touchdowns). Durham may not be Green, but he's done a phenomenal job filling in for him this season. 

Even more, a great point was made by Quinton McDawg over at the Georgia Sports Blog following the game on Saturday. He stated that the Alabama Crimson Tide have been without their Heisman winning playmaker for the last two weeks and they haven't missed a beat. His point, great teams can survive the storm—that's what great teams do.

Is this Georgia Bulldog team a great team?...No, it's a young one, with a redshirt freshman quarterback and a new defensive scheme—period.

This loss will lead to a lot of "hot seat" talk—be prepared. Some of the arguments for the inconsistencies of Richt's team this season will be valid, while others could likely be chalked up to the ridiculous rantings of a message board maniac. Neither argument will make a difference where this season is concerned—that's a fact. Richt is not going to be fired this season, but he could be under a lot more pressure if this 1-2 start turns into a 7-5 or 6-6 finish.

Curious to hear your thoughts after three weeks of play by this Georgia Bulldog team. Where do you stand on them now? I haven't given up on them but I certainly have begun to temper my expectations a bit more after today.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Arkansas Comes To Play...Will Georgia?

It's high noon as this article is being written and that means the Georgia Bulldogs are getting set to kickoff against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Sanford Stadium—it's gameday in Athens, GA!

That statement alone should be plenty to get any Georgia Bulldog excited but, in the malaise that has followed the news that A.J. Green, Branden Smith, and Shaun Chapas won't play today, people seem to be feeling a little less than confident about what the outcome will be.

Last night, the Twitter feed was bursting with commentary as both fans and frenemies boasted about the Georgia Bulldogs chances of remaining relevant without A.J. Green to catch the ball from his new quarterback. One individual even surmised that the Bulldogs would be 0-3 in the SEC by the time it was all said and done—a notion so ludicrous and short-sighted, in my opinion, that it became necessary for this author to launch into a rant all her own.

Yet, I digress.

No one can overstate the value of A.J. Green to this Georgia team. He's a playmaker, a man amongst boys, and a future pro ball player—without question. That said, he doesn't play defense. The Georgia Bulldogs played without passion or fire last week against a South Carolina team that seemed more motivated than ever to make it to the SEC Championship Game this season—no matter what A.J. might have done last week, he wouldn't have been on the field when the tackling was taking place.

How much of a difference could he have truly made?

Georgia cannot play like the timid bunch of schoolboys they played like on last Saturday. If they do, they will lose again today. There is no question about that. However, my expectation is that these Bulldogs will be ready to play and focused on winning—A.J. or not, they will be ready to get after those Hogs.

My faith is in the red and black—where's yours?

Time to play a little football.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 10 Things You Need To Know About The Arkansas Razorbacks

The show must go on.

Georgia Bulldog fans had a rough weekend in Columbia as the South Carolina Gamecocks, literally, ran to a 17-6 victory. The loss was both painful to watch and discouraging to sleep on, but the season must continue and Georgia, now unranked, will have a shot at redemption this Saturday.

The No. 12 ranked, Arkansas Razorbacks, pull into Athens to face the Bulldogs in the Hogs first SEC game of the year. Ryan Mallett, Greg Childs, and company, will look to continue their winning ways and, perhaps, gain a little more ground in the polls.

If you are familiar with this blog, you probably have noticed that the "10 Things You Need To Know..." series is a weekly one—begun at the start of the season. So long as things don't get too bad this year, it will continual to be a weekly staple.

Now that the housekeeping is out of the way, let's move on to Arkansas, shall we?

1. The offense still centers around Ryan Mallett's arm.

In two games so far, Mallett has 701-yards, 7 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.  Much like last season, Arkansas is not shy about airing the ball out to their talented corps of receivers. Mallett has a big arm and great size and he's pretty good at using both to his advantage. He won't beat you with his legs, but he has good field vision and above-average pocket-presence. If he's given time to scan the field, he can make any throw he chooses—he's that good.

2. Arkansas does have talent at running back. 

The running game hasn't been showcased as much as the passing game, but that doesn't mean there isn't one present. Petrino has a small arsenal of backs, all of whom are capable of making it happen between the tackles—if necessary.  Knile Davis, Broderick Green, Dennis Johnson, and Ronnie Wingo are all capable of contributing significant carries. 

3. They have one of the most talented receiving corps in the SEC. 

Greg Childs, Joe Adams, Jarius Wright, and D.J. Williams (TE) are capable of making any secondary nervous.

Childs has the size and physicality, Wright has the blazing speed, Adams has the finesse, and Williams has the sure-hands you want in a critical down situation. Each one of them has a skill-set to bring to the table and, together, they form a potent unit of talented hands for Mallett to play catch with on Saturdays.

4. The offensive line is solid. 

This unit returned four starters in 2010. Not only is Mallett a well-protected commodity, standing tall behind four veteran linemen, but the running game has a solid foundation for success once it does get going. Combined, the line of Arkansas boast more than 90 starts and plenty of consistency.

Led by senior offensive tackle, DeMarcus Love, the Razorbacks tout one of the best scoring offenses in the country. Love, along with Ray Dominguez, are entering their third season with Bobby Petrino at the helm and they know the playbook, they know the scheme, and they know how to protect their quarterback.

5. The defense has shown improvement. 

Last year, the Razorbacks were not very good defensively, particularly in the secondary. However, this season has looked promising. They are currently No. 1 in the SEC in both total defense and pass defense. So far this season, they have allowed a total of 10-points to be scored by their opponents.

Of course, that number could be deceiving based on the fact that the defense hasn't played a quality opponent yet, but the fact remains, this isn't the same pushover of a unit that was routinely beaten for big yards in the passing game last season.


6. They aren't protecting the ball well. 

For all the veteran talent the Razorbacks possess this year, their achilles heel thus far has been their inability to protect the ball. In two games, they've fumbled the ball seven times (losing three).

There is little indication as to why this is happening, but it is something that they have been actively trying to get a handle on over the last few weeks.

7. Time of Possession isn't a major factor in their offense. 

The Arkansas offense is still one that relies on rhythm and quick strikes down the field. They are not a grind it out kind of football team—yet. They are willing to sacrifice a long ground game for a short, effective, passing one, because that has worked for them thus far.

In two games, they have controlled the ball for a total of 59-minutes. That's roughly 29:30 minutes per game. By comparison, the average SEC opponent maintains possession for about  30:20. If that number seems minimal and unimportant, well, just ask a fan of college football how much damage can be done in 60 seconds.

8. They are solid on the defensive line.

DeQuinta Jones is, arguably, one of the best defensive tackles in the SEC. He splashed on the scene in 2009 and set the tone for a stellar freshman campaign—albeit one shortened by injury. He is a massive presence on the inside and a serious threat to the run game. Add to that, the stellar talents of Jake Bequette—an All-SEC player—and you have an Arkansas front that won't back down against anyone.

9. Special teams play is a mixed bag. 

Alex Tejada has shown some improvement in his consistency this season and has been strong on kickoffs—thus far. However, the Razorback punting game isn't where it needs to be if they want to win the battle of field position in the SEC. Currently, they rank dead last in the conference in net punting average (32.33 ypg). On the flip side, they are ranked 10th in the nation in kickoffs.

10. They are money in the redzone.

The Razorbacks don't waste any points once they get inside the 20. They are 10-of-10 on trips to the redzone—nine of those attempts were touchdowns. Petrino has plenty of ways to beat you if you give a little too much.