Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

8/13/2010 at 2:16pm

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coaches want the team to be more physical. Yet there’s been a limit to the amount of full-scale tackling that’s gone on so far.

Can coaches really gauge if the team has improved or will Saturday’s scrimmage be their first real measure of toughness? Apparently, the limited hitting work made an impression on defensive coordinator Willy Robinson and Coach Bobby Petrino.

“[Petrino] made the comment — for first time since he’s been here — that was most violent contact period he’d seen in a long time,” Robinson said. “... Watching on film it was pretty tenacious.”

Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee is hoping to see more of the same from Saturday’s scrimmage. And physical play shouldn’t be limited just to the defense. Arkansas needs to play tougher on the offensive line and in the running game to be successful this year.

“I want to see us play violent, extremely tough; mentally and physically tough,” McGee said. “If we start fast are we mentally tough enough to keep grinding and keep executing. … Or if we’re not doing well in the scrimmage are we mentally tough enough to turn it around and get it going?”

Saturday’s scrimmage is tentatively set for 9 a.m. Practices have been starting earlier, however. Either way, expect the scrimmage to be lengthy and full of collisions.

TAKING ADVANTAGE
Defensive ends Tenarius Wright and Damario Ambrose have been slowed throughout camp. That’s opened some time on the first team for freshman Chris Smith.

Smith has drawn rave reviews from teammates and coaches. He’s still learning, defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said, but benefiting from the experience with the first team.

“When he guesses right, he’s pretty good,” Robinson said. “… He’s a lot like the kids he’s waiting behind. We’ve got to find a way to get all three of them on the field.”

IS LaCRAIG LaGONE?
Freshman defensive tackle LaCraig Brown has been missing from practice for several days. He’s also now missing from the online roster.

So is he still on the team? Robinson wouldn’t address the topic on Friday.

“I’m not going there,” Robinson said. “I’m staying in my lane.”

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino will meet with media on Saturday, following the scrimmage; perhaps an answer will surface then.

MALLETT SHARP
Those “elementary” mistakes Ryan Mallett made on Thursday? They didn’t seem to be there Friday.

Mallett was sharp in late 11-on-11 drills, completing seven consecutive passes during one stretch. He and D.J. Williams hooked up twice and Mallett threw a beautiful ball to Joe Adams for a 30-plus yard touchdown.

QUOTABLE
“It seems like last year at this time it was an air raid.”
—Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson on the improvement of the secondary

QUOTABLE II
“The thing that is really impressive for a 323-pound man, [Alfred Davis] can sustain. It’s not like last year or the year before, where it was two plays, tap the hat and get me out of here; I need oxygen. This cat can sustain now.”
—Robinson on the improvement of defensive tackle Alfred Davis

Tagged: Arkansas Razorbacks, Willy Robinson, Bobby Petrino, Garrick McGee, Chris Smith, LaCraig Brown