We’ll wrap up the Saturday scrimmage with some notables. You can also check out my recap (click here), unofficial statistics (click here) and Bobby Petrino‘s complete press conference (click here) after the scrimmage.
On to the notes and observations in Day 10 of the Razor Review.
— Defensive tackle Alfred Davis continues to impress. The run-stopper had two tackles for losses early in the scrimmage and was in on many tackles.
“Alfred has had a very good camp,” Petrino said. “First of all, it started with his summer. He got himself in much better shape. He can run and play full speed now, and stay in there and play a number of reps.”
— Tailback Knile Davis got the start with the first-team offense, but didn’t last long in the scrimmage. Davis carried the ball once for a 6-yard gain and was held out after straining his hamstring.
Davis tweaked the hamstring in practice Friday.
Starting safety Rudell Crim also left the field early during the scrimmage.
— Would defensive end Jake Bequette be a good option at defensive back?
Well, surely not, but the 271-pound junior fit the role well in a busted coverage. Bequette broke on a pass play near the goal line late in the scrimmage, dove to the ground and knocked the ball away from fullback Van Stumon on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
“I’m not talented enough to play defensive back. But on those zone blitzes and coverages, I’ve got to get better,” Bequette said.
— Someone finally got a leg up in the competition at kicker Saturday.
Alex Tejada was a perfect 3 for 3 on field goals. His longest was a 42-yarder. Eddie Camara struggled, missing two of his four attempts. The freshman did hit a 48-yard field goal, however.
Petrino says the battle there is still a tight competition.
— The first-team defense was impressive. They forced fumbles, broke up passes and also had a coverage sack or two.
Holding Ryan Mallett‘s offense to just one touchdown is a good sign, but what is it about this defense that’s making them better?
For one, experience and a few breaks here and there.
“Our defense is doing a much better job of disguising,” Petrino said. “You can see their experience”
The defense was also helped by several drops by the receivers. Mallett had “two bad decisions” during the scrimmage, including a pass protection non-call.
“That’s going to happen,” though, Petrino said.
— A word to the wise: Don’t wear Florida gear at an Arkansas press conference.
Petrino didn’t appreciate the fashion choice of a local radio personality who wore a Florida Gators hat to the coach’s post-scrimmage press conference.
The coach answered the radio host’s question like every other question but added a caveat: “That will be the last question I answer with that hat on.”
PLAY OF THE DAY
De’Anthony Curtis‘ 67-yard touchdown catch from Tyler Wilson was impressive on its own. After all, he was being pegged near the sideline and managed to force a tackling whiff by safety Anthony Leon as he juked his way to the end zone.
But it’s what set up the scoring play that caught our ears.
“Right before I took off, I saw (outside linebacker) Ross Rasner,” Curtis said. “He was throwing up.”
Really?
“Yeah,” Curtis responded. “When I took off, he was standing right there throwing up, so I didn’t have anybody to jam me up. I didn’t see Juice (Anthony Leon). He wasn’t paying attention, so I just broke my route off and ran off and Tyler hit it.”
PLAYER OF THE DAY
QB Tyler Wilson
There is not a quarterback controversy at Arkansas, but Tyler Wilson‘s work with the second team offense had to give the redshirt sophomore some breathing room in the competition for the backup spot.
Wilson completed 16 of 22 passes for 268 yards and five touchdowns against the second-team defense. He completed his first nine passes of the scrimmage.
QUOTE ME
“As far as improvement goes, we’re miles ahead of where we were even in the spring. You turn the film on and we’re a different team. We’re flying to the football. I think anybody who watched the scrimmage, who watches practice, can tell our defensive backs have improved an incredible amount. ”
— Defensive end Jake Bequette
ON TAP
Arkansas returns to the field Monday for two practices at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
RELATED
Defense rebounds, holds Mallett’s offense at bay in scrimmage
Day 10 scrimmage statistics (unofficial)
Raw Video: Petrino post-scrimmage
Make sure to check out WholeHogSports.com and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more coverage. You can also follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates with @bmarcello and @wholehogsports.
Im really glad the defense stepped up today.
Brandon a few quick questions,
Who took over the majority of first team snaps at tailback after Davis left?
Also Who played middle linebacker for the first team defense?
Thanks
Sorry folks but it’s gotta be said. To just give the quarterback job to a fellow because of his name is asinine. If we are truly operating a meritocracy then whoever performs the best should win the job, no ‘ifs’, ‘ands’, or ‘buts’ about it. Oh yeah, anybody see Tyler Wilson’s numbers on the day? Yeah, thought so.
Soloman,
From what ive heard Tyler Wilson went against the second team defense all day. Besides, it was just one scrimmage.
Ryan Mallett is the starter, so just get over yourself Soloman. Maybe if you weren’t so contrary you wouldn’t have to be a “solo man”.
Besides, it’s not going to surprise me at all if Brandon Mitchell beats out Wilson for the starting job in 2011.
That’s clever Win. But what is wrong with what I said? Isn’t it true?
Soloman, in theory I agree with you, but I remember the same things being said last season. I even wondered aloud last season if Mallett was being handed the starter’s role because of his credentials and not his performance. His play last season showed why I am sitting here on a laptop watching Star Wars and why the coaching staff is evaluating the starters and backups. Mallett is clearly better. These scrimmages are like NFL preseason for our offense. We know what we have; we are just trying to keep players healthy and tweak a few things. Your suggestion that Wilson should start is like saying that a Class AA ball player should be put in a MLB starting rotation because he pitched four good innings in Spring Training, while the ace got rocked because he was trying to develop a change-up for a third pitch.
Thanks for your thoughtful response skezell but I politely disagree with you. I think Wilson is better than Mallett. The numbers don’t lie. If given the starting job in Coach Petrino’s offense I feel confident he would rewrite the record books this season.
Soloman, the scrimmage is open. I suggest you go to next Saturday’s scrimmage and look at both QB’s. Wilson is going to be a good one, but Mallett is a special player. When you see them together it’s pretty obvious.
I guess Soloman is beginning the Tyler Wilson Heisman watch today.
No sirrah, I am most certainly not. Young Mr. Wilson has very well done that for himself.
Good god, man, it’s just one scrimmage. If Mallett would have gone nuts against the ones, then people would be whining about the lack of defensive improvement. It’s one data point to consider, but it’s certainly not the ONLY data point.
When Wilson starts putting up better numbers against the first team defense that Mallett does then I might kind of see your point. Wilson had trouble handling snaps last year in mop up duty. I think Wilson is a good qb and will the starter next year, but Wilson is not better than Mallett. I don’t see how a guy can break every school passing record and people still think the backup is better. Anyone that thinks Wilson is better is crazy.
Good points all the way around, guys. I also agree that Number 15 is a special player, but Tyler Wilson is going to be a good one, as will Brandon Mitchell. It reminds me of USC, in glory days gone by, where the starter is a junior or senior [and potential Heisman candidate]. All is well at Quarterback U.
Thanks for the update and hard work, Brandon. I hope your field observations are right on about the defense.
Yes, God save the King.
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The only issue we have at 1st team QB is Ryan Mallett’s foot.
I’m a big Tyler Wilson fan, but he’s not quite ready to step in and fill the shoes of Ryan Mallett just yet.
Of course he’s better at the short passing game, but to say he’s simply better is nothing short of illogical.
I agree with the posters who say it’s only one scrimmage, because simply, it’s true.
The very first practice Mallett participated in he threw completions on 79% of his passes. He threw for 70% on the 2nd day and it has become obvious he checks down to the TE (D.J.) with regularity, something we rarely seen last season.
The exact same thing can be said for Alex Tejada. He has beat out the young Freshman, Eddie Camara, every day, with the exception of one.
We should all just be proud our team finally has some depth. If the first man goes down, we have someone who can step in and produce results.
How many times could we say that in the past, especially at QB?
GO HOGS GO, BABY!!!!!
Petrino plays the best player period “no ‘ifs’, ‘ands’, or ‘buts’ about it”… – I agree with Gonzo. I’m a Wilson fan too but you’re being illogical. You really just seem like a Greenwood homer Solomon. To go along with saying that, I’m from Greenwood, so no shot at the town.
Mallett has been a couple steps ahead of Wilson ever since they both stepped on campus. Lets not forget the Spring game, the fumbled snaps, the lack of leadership. – Wilson is a good quarterback and will grow into his role, but this is Mallets team this year…
So Soloman according to your logic, Jacoby Walker should have been the starting quarterback going into the fall because he had a better spring game than any of the other quarterbacks (minus his injury)? Think about what you are really saying.
The real question is, who was the reporter wearing the Gator hat?
Blu3tick,
I must have missed something. All this time, I never knew you were from Greenwood. Go figure.
Anyway, my e-mail is gonzohog2125@yahoo.com. Give me a shout sometime.
GO BULLDOGS and GO HOGS GO, BABY!!!!!
Brandon Thanks alot for all the scrimmage and practice updates. Your site has been where its at!
Oh and Gonzo that email didn’t work… Sure its right?
win,about Brandon beating out Tyler for the QB job next year,it could happen,if not Petrino has two options to pick from.
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