Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

9/7/2010 at 10:03pm

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ season opener went as planned for the Razorbacks, who defeated Tennessee Tech 44-3 Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Ryan Mallett and the passing game were as good as the preseason hype, but head coach Bobby Petrino said the running game still has some kinks to work out after running for just 51 yards on 13 carries in the first half.

Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee also wasn’t happy with the output from the ground game. Three fumbles by the running backs (two were recovered by Arkansas) were particularly troubling, McGee said Tuesday.

“We need to have more pride and passion and respect for the ball,” McGee said. “That’s the first thing we learned. …We had a long offensive meeting yesterday and they were settled today at practice. I could see them making a conscious effort to secure the football and respect the ball. I think they will be under control and ready to play a good game this weekend.”

Arkansas finished the game with 196 total rushing yards on 28 carries from its stable of running backs. Four saw significant time — Dennis Johnson, Knile Davis, Broderick Green and Ronnie Wingo Jr. — but there wasn't a clear frontrunner for the starting position after Saturday's game.

Knile Davis started Saturday. He led all Razorback rushers with 67 yards on 6 carries, an average of 11.2 yards per carry.

“It was good to get the start,” Davis said after practice Tuesday. “I feel like I had a good count, but I made a few mistakes, so we've been watching film to correct those.”

Davis graded his performance at "80 percent", and he said every day at practice there is a stiff competition.

“We just have to work hard and make as less mistakes as possible, because if you're out there making mistakes they'll put you down the depth chart,” Davis said.

The Arkansas running backs only lost one fumble last year, but ball security was an issue Saturday night. Johnson caught the ire of Petrino on his explosive 49-yard run in the third quarter after he held the ball away from his body with one hand, and Johnson and Davis both fumbled in the game.

“We did a couple of extra drills because of the two fumbles Saturday night,” Davis said. “We don't fumble a lot. We made some mistakes, but they got corrected.”

Rain rain...please stay?
The steady rain that the Razorbacks found themselves in for Tuesday's practice was welcomed by offensive coordinator Garrick McGee. Instead of going indoors, Arkansas players worked outside.

“It was a really good decision to come outside and practice,” McGee said. “It was enough rain to be a distraction and get the balls wet, and we were able to move around the surface when it was wet. The rain was a highlight. It was good for us.”

Quotable
“Practice is the competition. I mean, game time is still a huge deal, but if you can't perform in practice then you can't do it in a game. It's just that simple.”
—Arkansas freshman kicker Zach Hocker on the competition at kicker between himself and Alex Tejada.

“Coach is always preaching make one guy miss, and Mallett kind of double pumped it and threw the ball when the guy was right in my face. I had to make a move and then I just dove into the end zone.”
—Receiver Joe Adams on his nifty move that resulted in an Arkansas touchdown last Saturday night.

Tagged: Knile Davis, Arkansas Razorbacks, Ronnie Wingo Jr., Broderick Green, Bobby Petrino, Dennis Johnson, Zach Hocker, Joe Adams