Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

8/7/2010 at 2:48pm

FAYETTEVILLE — Ramon Broadway’s mind was racing when he got word that he needed to head to Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino's office for a visit. From the time Broadway got the text to the moment he finally got in to see the Arkansas coach, there was, well, a touch of panic.

“I couldn’t think of anything I’d done wrong, so I wasn’t real sure why he wanted to see me,” Broadway said, laughing Saturday when recalling a moment that had his stomach in knots months earlier.

Broadway’s fear quickly gave way to pride when he found out the reason for the post-spring practice meeting. Petrino was offering Broadway one of six team captain positions for the 2010 season.

“There’s no way I can explain how thankful I am for the opportunity," Broadway said. "It’s something we take very seriously, being an extension of Coach Petrino. It's our job to set the tone.”

Players voted after spring practice on who would represent them this summer and into the season and Broadway made the cut as one of three defensive captains. Other captains include defensive end Jake Bequette and linebacker Jerry Franklin. Offensive captains are quarterback Ryan Mallett, tight end D.J. Williams and offensive lineman DeMarcus Love.

Those six players were counted on to provide an example to other players during the summer months. They were the players responsible for getting the team together for “voluntary” workouts and keeping teammates accountable in the weight room.

Petrino has been pleased with the team’s picks. He thinks their leadership has set the tone for a season in which the Razorbacks have high expectations.

“I’ve always felt like leadership from within the football team determines whether you have a chance to have a special team or not,” Petrino said. “Certainly, it makes the coaches’ job a lot easier. I think what it’s done for me is, I trust the players. I trust the leaders that we have on our team. ... They feel much more a part of it and have taken more ownership of the team. That gives us the chance to be a special football team.”

KEEP IT MOVING
Pacing has been a very important part of Petrino practcies at Arkansas. Keeping the tempo fast is something Petrino learned working for other coaches, including his father and John L. Smith, who is now an assistant for Petrino.

"Coach on the run, do your talking the meeting room," Petrino said of his style. "We don't want any sermons on the practice field. ... We want reps, reps, reps."

Keeping things moving allows Petrino to work conditioning into part of practice. Instead of running players after practice, he does it as part of their drills and in moving them from station to station during workouts.

OPTION FOOTBALL (PANTS)
Nike has outfitted the Razorbacks with several different pants options for its jerseys. The apparel company did its best to stick with tradition and offer up shoes and uniforms that will play well with recruits.

Petrino likes the uniforms for another reason entirely.

“I’m excited about the material because it’s the best material I’ve ever seen,” Petrino said. “It’s lighter. It won’t hold water. Won’t sag. Won’t get heavier as the game goes on. It’s really unique. I think that’s the best part of it.”

Arkansas entered into an agreement with Nike July 1.

SECRET BALLOT
Arkansas is ranked No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches’ poll.

Petrino votes in the poll. Where did he vote his own team?

Petrino isn’t telling.

“Now, when I go in and vote for president or whatever, we get to close the curtain and we vote in private, right? You don’t come out and say who you voted for,” Petrino said. “Well, some people do. I guess that’s what they call the exit polls right? No exit polls in coaching football.”

Petrino is pleased with where the team is ranked to start the year. He’s spent much of the offeason talking up his team and hoping for expectations to be placed upon the Razorbacks by folks outside the program.

“Yeah, we’ll take it,” Petrino said. “Now we have to go prove it.”

BRIGHT FUTURE
Petrino isn’t big on making comparisons. In fact, he shot down a question about comparing this year’s Arkansas team to any other teams he’s previously coached.

Keep that in mind when reading Petrino’s take on freshman defensive end Chris Smith. Petrino compared Smith to a current NFL player who played at Louisville for Petrino.

And Petrino made the comparison unprompted:

“You know, if there is one guy you’d compare him to, to guys that I’ve coached it would be Elvis Dumervil, where their arms are longer than their body,” Petrino said. “That helps you be a pass rusher. The distance he can do with his arms, his ability to bend and change directions. Before it’s over with he’s going to be a real special pass rusher.”

BIGGER THAN TEXAS
Freshman running back Jatashun “Big Tex” Beachum has quickly gained notoriety in practice. He’s listed at 6-foot-1, 270 pounds, but appears to be even bigger.

Beachum has shown good hands and mobility for his size. Petrino would like to see what Beachum could do if slimmed down.

“We need him to be ‘Small Tex,’ Petrino said. “Right now he doesn’t look real good in that uniform, but boy he is an athlete. To be able to move and do some of the things he can do at that weight: catch the ball, open his hips. He’s got to continue to reduce that body fat and get stronger.

“Certainly he is a guy we probably will redshirt.”

NOTABLE
*Mallett completed 79 percent of his passes on Friday, Petrino said.

*Former Razorback linebacker Quinton Caver is working as a student assistant with the team. Caver, who played five seasons in the NFL and spent time in the CFL, is back in school finishing his degree and helping with the team.

QUOTABLE
“It’s not about maintaining. That’s a word I don’t like. It’s about getting better."
—Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino

UP NEXT
Arkansas practices newcomers at 3 p.m. and veterans at 6:30 p.m. today. The Razorbacks have the same schedule on Sunday.

Tagged: Arkansas Razorbacks, D.J. Williams, Big Tex, Ryan Mallett, Jake Bequette, Ramon Broadway, DeMarcus Love, Jerry Franklin, John L. Smith