Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

8/30/2010 at 2:32pm

FAYETTEVILLE — Playing better defense is undoubtedly a focus for Arkansas football this year. Based on the unit ranking No. 89 nationally in total defense last year, any improvement would be nice, but  Coach Bobby Petrino has a specific goal in mind over the first two weeks of the season.

What Petrino told the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club he wants to see is a “dominant” defense as Arkansas hosts Tennessee Tech in Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday and the next week will host Louisiana-Monroe in Little Rock at War Memorial Stadium. And by dominant, Petrino means he’d like to see the unit force three-and-outs 80 percent of the time.

“I think that’s the best thing that could ever happen to our defense in one of these early games,” Petrino said. “Then your confidence grows. Your belief in each other grows, and we have a chance to be a much better football team on defense.”

How conceivable is it that the Razorbacks would keep its third-down conversion percentage that low? Arkansas held opponents 36.67 percent of the time in 2009. That was good enough to be ranked in the top third of the country and seventh in he Southeastern Conference.

Improved defensive line depth should help the Razorbacks’ cause. Petrino, who said during an off-season Razorback Club appearance he wants a Top 20 defense nationally, also likes the team’s secondary. Linebacker continues to be an issue, he said.

There’s no doubt the defense must improve, Petrino said. The need for improvement has been understood since last year.

“Everybody here in this room, everybody in the state of Arkansas, every one of our defensive players know that if we play good defense, we have a chance to be a good team,” Petrino said. “Believe me, our defensive players know that. We’ve got a chip on our shoulder.”

PROMISED IMPROVEMENT
Arkansas now has no choice but to improve its punt return game this season. Petrino promised a punt return for a touchdown to the NWA Touchdown Club audience, specifically former Razorback Coach Ken Hatfield.

Hatfield was seated at a table near the podium, and Petrino acknowledged him when a question about punt returns came his way. Hatfield was a noted punt-return specialist as a Razorback player, including an 81-yard touchdown against Texas in 1964.

“Coach Hatfield, we’re going to get a punt return for a TD this year,” Petrino said. Hatfield led the nation in punt return yardage as a junior and senior for Arkansas.

It’s been awhile since the Razorbacks had a consistent return threat. Part of the reason Arkansas didn’t do better last year is that the team went for the block rather than set up a return.

Expect that to change. Petrino said SEC teams might be too talented to try for blocking punts as often as the Razorbacks did last year.

“Our percentage of blocking may be not as high as in other conferences that we’ve been in,” Petrino said. Petrino and special teams coordinator John L. Smith had used the punt block philosophy during stops in the Big East and Big Ten.

Joe Adams is likely the team’s return man this year. Petrino said Adams ran back a punt for a touchdown in last week’s mock game.

SEEKING SEPARATION
Still, the Razorbacks have no starter at running back. Petrino said he’s happy with all four options at the position and continues to critique their efforts in pass blocking as well as running.

Broderick Green, Knile Davis, Ronnie Wingo and Dennis Johnson have all had moments in camp. Green, according to Petrino, had a solid scrimmage on Friday, including a 99-yard touchdown run similar to the one he had against Eastern Michigan in 2009.

Green still must work to separate himself from the other three backs.

“We are waiting to see which one guy wants to take over and be the everyday starter,” Petrino said.

NOTABLE
*Center Seth Oxner was injured in Friday’s mock game. He should be OK, Petrino said, and continues to battle with Travis Swanson for the starting job.

HOG FUTURES
Arkansas offensive line commitments Mitch Smothers and Brey Cook were among those recognized at the luncheon. Smothers was attending with Springdale High Coach Shane Patrick and Cook attended with Springdale Har-Ber Coach Chris Wood.

QUOTABLE

“Sometimes they didn’t know which way they were coming out of the huddle. Hopefully now we see that paying off.”

—Petrino on playing 16 freshmen as starters in his first season. Arkansas expects to play between six and nine freshmen this year.

QUOTABLE II
“He broke the same bone Ryan did. He just didn’t get the publicity. That’s the life of a defensive end.”
—Petrino on defensive end Tenarius Wright recovering from a broken foot in the off-season, just like quarterback Ryan Mallett.

Tagged: Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club, Bobby Petrino, Arkansas Razorbacks