Sam Pittman Channels Inner Bielema with One Possession

"We're close" has returned again with narrow losses piling up for Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The current three game losing streak has been full of one-possession losses, leading to a statement most Arkansas fans are familiar with. “We’re close,” Sam Pittman told the media Monday afternoon. "I know to the outside world it doesn’t look like we’ve got a good football team, but we do … we just have to close out these close games.”

Recent history suggests it may not get any better for the Razorbacks, struggling in games decided by seven points or less. Under Pittman, the Hogs are 5-12 in those type of games. The crazy part of it all is they’ve lost six of their last seven one-possession games. Three of those have come in the past four weeks.

The lack of success in close games is eerily similar to Bret Bielema's time as coach of the Razorbacks. They were competitive and played a lot of close games. They just couldn't get over the hump and consistently win those such games.

"At this point, it's almost numbing to be so close and not be able to come out on top with one of these opportunities," Bielema said after a 17-10 loss to No. 1 Mississippi State in 2014. 

From 2013-2017, Arkansas played in 21 games that were decided by one possession under Bielema, only winning seven of those games. The Hogs held a lead with less than four minutes go in eight of those games. Closing in on SEC victories was something that cost the current Illinois coach his job. It's also drawing similarities between the tenures of Bielema and Pittman. Out of the 19 one-possession games under Pittman, the Hogs have only led or tied with four minutes left in regulation five times. 

Take out the context of the close losses and it just makes the outcomes seem bleak. Luckily, it seems that players are still focused on the task at hand. That's a tall order against the Crimson Tide, who manage to win all of the tight games. Close, but yet again no cigar.

HOGS FEED:

ANOTHER SHUFFLE IN THE RAZORBACKS' OFFENSIVE LINE HEADING INTO GAME AGAINST ALABAMA

RAZORBACKS' DAVE VAN HORN HAS PLEASANT PERSONNEL PROBLEM TO FIGURE OUT AFTER SCRIMMAGE

RANDOM THOUGHTS: ROBIN NEEDS BATMAN AROUND TO KEEP BEING A SUPER HERORAZORBACK DEFENSE KEEPS ARKANSAS IN GAME, BUT OLE MISS FINDS WAY TO HOLD ON

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