Arkansas’ performance at its morning practice was lackluster, sloppy and worrisome Monday inside Razorback Stadium.
The execution just wasn’t there after the first day off in preseason camp. Passes were overthrown and underthrown by the quarterbacks and balls were dropped by the receivers. The running backs could not hold onto the ball, which resulted in several fumbles.
Simply put, it was ugly for the offense.
“These are the dog days of two-a-days,” offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. “This is when you go through the grind, where you’ve got to physically and mentally fight yourself. That’s what we’re going through right now. But we’re tough enough. We’ll get out of it.”
Arkansas did manage to bounce back in the afternoon session. There were still some dropped balls but the execution was crisp and the leadership on the field helped pull the Razorbacks out of the “dog days” for a short practice to cap the day.
“These are the dog days of two-a-days. This is when you go through the grind, where you’ve got to physically and mentally fight yourself. That’s what we’re going through right now. But we’re tough enough. We’ll get out of it.”
- Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee
“I don’t think our attitude was where it needed to be,” tight end and team captain D.J. Williams said of the morning practice. “I wouldn’t say we were dreading practice, but we weren’t focused on getting better. That’s something we need to get out of the system quick.”
Eleven passes were either dropped, broken up or intercepted in the second half of the morning practice. Not included were the badly-placed passes by Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson.
Players came out flat and the energy just wasn’t there, Williams said, and others were visibly upset with the dropped passes and mental gaffes.
Junior receiver Jarius Wright said leaders like offensive tackle DeMarcus Love and Mallett talked to the team between practices today. The result was a lively practice in the afternoon.
The execution also improved and provided some much-needed confidence for an offense that has failed to click on all cylinders consistently in preseason camp.
Even in the 184-play scrimmage Saturday the Hogs’ offense was routinely halted by the first-team defense. Film review showed a problem with technique and execution, Williams surmised.
Mallett started out well in the scrimmage. He led the Hogs on a field goal and touchdown drive, but not much else as he finished the day completing 24 of 43 passes for 274 yards and one touchdown. McGee believed Mallett “started pressing” to make big plays in the second half to “get us out of the rut.”
“I do know early he missed some checks because he was excited,” McGee explained.
The good news? Mallett still has some time to work through the kinks and the “dog days.”
“He’s on the right path to come out here a few weeks from now and have a good performance,” McGee said.
NOTABLES
— Linebacker Jerry Franklin was not at Arkansas’ two practices Monday and linebacker Jermaine Love worked the majority of the morning and afternoon on the sideline in conditioning drills. Safety Rudell Crim, who was injured in the Hogs’ scrimmage Saturday, missed the morning practice but returned in the afternoon to work through conditioning drills on the sideline with a trainer. Cornerback Andru Stewart, who has had a great camp so far, missed the morning practice was back on the field in the afternoon.
— Ross Rasner and Tramain Thomas had interceptions, and Darius Winston and Anthony Leon (now at linebacker) dropped interception opportunities in the morning practice.
— Leon, who lined up at safety all preseason, moved to linebacker in the morning practice. It was a move to help combat the Hogs’ battle with depth at linebacker and the loss of Franklin and Love from the practice field Monday.
Linebackers Freddy Burton and Ryan Powers worked some snaps with the first-team defense as well.
— Dylan Breeding continues to be the most consistent punter at practice. The sophomore boomed a 54-yard punt in the afternoon practice.
— After 10 days of practices and one scrimmage, freshman Zach Hocker joined the competition at placekicker.
Hocker, whose kicks were high and arcing, connected on 6 of 10 kick attempt. His longest a 44-yarder from the right hash mark.
Overall, the kickers (and snapper) struggled.
Eddie Camara hit a few snags and connected on 4 of 7 kicks. One of his misses was partially blocked by Elton Ford. His longest conversion was from 44 yards on the right hash mark.
Alex Tejada had the strongest day and connected on 5 of 6 attempts, but that did not include a high snap over the head of holder Austin Tucker. His longest conversion was only 40 yards.
— Running back Knile Davis, who tweaked his hamstring after one carry in the scrimmage Saturday, was back at practice. He committed two fumbles — one apiece in the morning and afternoon practices — on handoffs in the Shot formation.
— Monday marked the 21st birthday of backup quarterback Tyler Wilson. What will he do on his big day?
“He’ll probably get lost somewhere tonight,” tight end D.J. Williams joked. “I think he’s going to Vegas or something like that. Him and Coach Petrino are flying out after practice …. That’s off the wall, obviously. Hopefully nobody will believe that.”
Wilson doesn’t have time for much in the way of a birthday celebration. After all, he’s got to be back on the practice field in the morning and there’s that competition for the backup duties at quarterback with Brandon Mitchell.
Or is it really a competition? Could both see the field this season?
“We don’t spend a lot of time in our meeting room talking about the competition between the two,” offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. “We talk about those two guys getting better and better, and getting in position to get in the game and help us.”
— Want to know more about the miscues and big defensive plays of the morning? Here are my notes from Arkansas’ 11-on-11 and pass skeleton drills in the latter half of the morning practice.
INTERCEPTIONS
Ross Rasner, Tramain Thomas
PASS BREAKUPS
Jerico Nelson, Darius Winston (nearly intercepted), Anthony Leon (nearly intercepted) and Bret Harris
FUMBLES
Tyler Wilson, Knile Davis, Broderick Green
DROPPED PASSES
Ronald Watkins, De’Anthony Curtis, Lance Ray, Van Stumon, Marquel Wade and Jarius Wright
PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Arkansas’ team captains
Let’s give a much-deserved tip of the hat to Arkansas’ team captains led by Ryan Mallett and DeMarcus Love, who rallied the troops after a disappointing morning practice. On a day that could have quickly turned south, the Razorbacks showed some maturity in the afternoon and responded well to a challenge from the coaching staff.
QUOTE ME
“The day off was great. The only bad part was we had until noon to sleep in, and I still woke up at 6 o’clock staring at my wall.”
— Tight end D.J. Williams on Arkansas’ day off from the practice field Sunday.
ON TAP
Arkansas is scheduled to hit the field Tuesday for one practice at 9 a.m.
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.
I have always wondered why leon was not tried at lb before considering that he is tall and alot slower than I would expect a s to be. I think this is going yo be a good move for leon and the team. It is to bad that they did not make this move last year.
Our kicking game is in major trouble!!! Our kickers are already having a hard time and now our snapper wants to get in on the act. I know it’s just one practice so I’m hoping it gets better between now and the first game.