Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

10/4/2011 at 2:40pm

Image by Mark Wagner

Arkansas medical personnel check on the health of cornerback Darius Winston after he was hurt against Texas A&M on Saturday. Winston is one of multiple starters who have gone down with injury this season.

Halftime of Arkansas’ loss at Alabama brought the sort of question that must be asked even knowing how much coaches hate to answer.

CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson noted that defensive end Jake Bequette was out for the game and end Tenarius Wright had gone down with what was later diagnosed as a fractured arm. Wolfson wanted to know what sort of impact that might have on the Razorbacks.

Coach Bobby Petrino handled the question about like you’d expect. Injuries aren’t a favorite topic of his, especially in the heat of the moment. Petrino answered before abruptly heading off to the Arkansas locker room.

“We don’t worry about things like that. We’ve just got to go play.”

Coaches will often tell you football is supposed to be all about overcoming injuries, surviving obstacles, living in the moment, making the most of your opportunities, etc. That’s what Petrino was telling Wolfson, just not in so many words.

Those are lessons Petrino seems to be teaching daily as injuries continue to mount for his team.

Following Saturday’s 42-38 victory against Texas A&M, there were questions about the physical wellbeing of Bequette (hamstring), Wright (arm), defensive tackle Robert Thomas (leg), cornerbacks Darius Winston (knee) and Isaac Madison (arm) and wide receiver Joe Adams (ribs). Don’t forget all-SEC running back Knile Davis was lost to a broken ankle before the season began, knocked out seven plays into the first full-contact scrimmage of fall camp.

Petrino didn’t want to spend much time on the topic Monday when discussing Saturday’s 6 p.m. matchup between the No. 10 Razorbacks (4-1, 0-1) and No. 15 Auburn (4-1, 2-0). He offered no updates on the health of players. Essentially his point, the one he was trying to convey to CBS, was that he can’t have his team thinking it is doomed because a handful of guys are on the shelf.

“Unfortunately injuries are a part of the game of football,” Petrino said. “… You get guys that get dinged up, a new guy comes in. You get guys healthy. It’s kind of the way it works.”

That’s the way it is supposed to work if you have good depth. Not every team can afford to have multiple playmakers on both sides of the football.

So far, though, Arkansas has just plugged and played. Depth has been serviceable enough that the team has survived.

But depth is just one concern. Mentally, injuries can take a significant toll on a team.

To this point the Razorbacks have survived mentally. Which is why I don’t think the term “soft” is fair game when describing this team. Fans have been offering that adjective up on Twitter, message boards and talk radio all season.

Physically, does the team need to play stronger? Yes. There’s work to do, but equating this team with marshmallows or quality toilet paper is off the mark.

Weak teams don’t rally from an 18-point deficit against a Top 25 opponent like the Razorbacks did against Texas A&M on Saturday. Weak teams don’t wind up in the Top 10 with backups playing at running back, both defensive ends and both cornerback spots. Let’s not forget wide receiver Greg Childs is finding his way after knee surgery and running backs Dennis Johnson and Broderick Green are coming off significant physical setbacks.

Injuries absolutely would not be an excuse if Arkansas was 3-2 or worse right now. But that shouldn’t stop us from applauding the way the Razorbacks have handled a less than ideal situation.

“I think it shows the character of the team,” quarterback Tyler Wilson said. “We just keep on swinging. You don’t get down. You don’t get frustrated and give in. You just keep going and eventually somebody that’s been injured finds a way to get back on the field or some new guy steps in and does a great job.

“I think that’s what is special about our team.”

It might be a tad bit early to describe this team as “special.” There are plenty of on-field issues to work out before Arkansas gets to that point.

But win against Auburn on Saturday and the ailing Razorbacks are 5-1 heading into the bye week. Get this team as healthy physically as it seems to be mentally and a healthy win total isn't out of the question.

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ArkansasSporst360.com editor Chris Bahn has won several awards you’ve probably never heard of, but are kinda cool. Not, however, as cool as his two beagles, Hoops and Sugar, who you might occasionally hear join Bahn during his multiple weekly radio appearances in Fayetteville, Little Rock, Jonesboro and Fort Smith. For more details on those appearances follow CBahn on Twitter and check our Facebook page for ArkansasSports360.com.

Tagged: Broderick Green, Ronnie Wingo Jr., Dennis Johnson, Tracy Wolfson, CBS Sports, Tenarius Wright, Robert Thomas, Joe Adams, Greg Childs, Darius Winston, Isaac Madison, Bobby Petrino