Razorbacks ready for game week

By Jimmy Carter

Arkansas is almost finished with its third week of fall camp and the Razorbacks are itching to play the Sept. 4 season opener against Tennessee Tech.

The Hogs will hold a closed, game-like scrimmage Friday, but the Razorbacks are antsy for an actual contest.

“This is always the hardest week,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “School starts and you’re two weeks away from your game, but I liked the way we came out and attacked the week. We got a lot accomplished.”

Petrino said the scrimmage would feature live tackling, but with less repetitions and an increased focus on the kicking game.

“Tomorrow will be similar to last week’s scrimmage, but we’ll have more kicking,” Petrino said. We need to hit some more situations in the kicking game, like kickoff after safety and kickoff return after safety. We still have some things on our checklist we have to get covered.

“Other than that, we want the game atmosphere again with the players on the field playing, the coaches on the sideline and in the booth working. I think that will really help us when we get to the first game.”

The Razorbacks are ready to kick the season off, though, junior quarterback Ryan Mallett said.

“We attacked it hard and we’ve got to get better,” Mallett said. “Next week’s game week and we’ve got a big mock game tomorrow night. We’ve got to be focused. Tomorrow is just like a game and that’s how we’re going to treat it. I can’t wait.”

Several secondary players have made position changes fall practice. Senior Anthony Leon moved from his backup safety position to first-team linebacker. Senior Andru Stewart moved from cornerback to safety to bolster the Hogs’ depth.

The changes the Razorbacks made on defense have improved Arkansas’ secondary and linebacking corps, junior receiver Greg Childs said.

“I think Juice (Leon) is going to be a good linebacker,” Childs said. “I think that’s more of his fit. I think that the safeties are going to be real good.”

While Petrino said sophomore Dillon Breeding has improved his putting, the coaching staff hasn’t chosen the Razorbacks’ starting kicker yet. Senior incumbent Alex Tejada has competed with freshmen Eddie Camara and Zach Hocker.

“We spent a lot of time on the competition on field goals and extra points (this week),” Petrino said. “We spent a lot of time charting it and getting to know all three of them. Tommorrow night’s real important and kickoffs are added on to that.

“I have until game time to decide that. It might take that time, it might not. One thing I’ve tried to do in being a football coach is not make a decision until I have to.”

Junior receiver Joe Adams has “taken hold” of the punt return job, Petrino said.

Petrino said the coaching staff has lists of freshmen who will probably play, maybe play and probably redshirt.

“Once we get tomorrow over with, that’ll be the first thing we address on Sunday,” Petrino said.
“You always have a few guys where you say, ‘Hey, he’s probably going to back-up, but we want to hold his redshirt,’ like we did last year with Bailey.

“It’s a good group. There’s a couple guys like (defensive end) Chris Smith and (defensive tackle) Byran Jones who will play. They’ve got to go.”

Mallett on target

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett said his accuracy in fall camp has been improved. The Razorbacks chart completion percentage each practice.

“I think I’ve been a lot more accurate,” Mallett said. “My numbers really haven’t been up-and-down. They’ve been consistent and gone up each day. That’s what I’m working on – completion percentage.”

Mallett completed 56 percent of his passes while throwing for a school-record 3,624 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. He also struggled on the road, completing just 42 percent of his passes against Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, LSU and East Carolina.

“He’s doing a good job,” Petrino said. “That’s the first thing I look at when I go in the quarterbacks’ meeting room every day, the completions from the previous practice and what the percentage is.

“I think our offense understands it’s 11-man pass protection and our passing game is only as good as all 11 guys on the field. Everything has to work together.”

Johnson gets wisdom teeth removed

Junior running back Dennis Johnson missed practice Wednesday and Thursday after having his wisdom teeth pulled, Petrino said.

“He’s fine, everything’s good with him,” Petrino said. “He’s got to recover from that. He did have an infection in there. We’re hoping he’ll be back, full-speed and ready to go on Monday.”

The other running backs have picked up the slack with Johnson out, Childs said.

“We’ve got too many backs…and all of them can run the ball,” Childs said. “It just depends on who wants to be the main guy, have a breakout year or bring something new to the table.”

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