Ryan Mallett will make his fair share of highlight-reel plays this season.
His cannon of an arm will produce touchdown tosses and a few jaw-dropping throws on a rope that many quarterbacks in the nation can’t provide.
But what about his presence in the pocket when the routes fail or the protection collapses? Suddenly, he’s facing a possible sack, a lost down or, worse, a turnover. What does a quarterback, who was healing a broken foot for the better part of five months during the offseason, do to get his team out of a possible hole?
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett tries to shake Tennessee Tech defender Travis Adkins in the second half of the Razorbacks' 44-3 win Saturday at Razorback Stadium. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MICHAEL WOODS)
“You have to be a willing runner,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. “That’s part of being a quarterback.”
Mallett, criticized for being a statue in the backfield last season, did just that in Arkansas’ 44-3 win over Tennessee Tech to open the season Saturday at Razorback Stadium. He ran upfield when needed, picked up a couple of yards and moved the sticks. His most impressive run, a five-yard touchdown that ended with a big hit and the record-setting quarterback stretching his arm to the goal line, was called back after a hold by center Travis Swanson.
At no point in his three rush attempts was Mallett willing to slide safely to the turf after a run.
“Just slide,” tailback Dennis Johnson said. “You are not a running back. Do not try to run over somebody. Just please slide.”
The worries of injury are always present when a team has a superstar at a skill position, especially a player of Mallett’s caliber at the most important position on the field.
Mallett’s numbers Saturday prove just how valuable the Texarkana, Texas native is to the Razorbacks’ hopes. He completed 21 of 24 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
But he can’t do it all with his arm, Petrino said. Some times, when the opportunity presents itself, a quarterback must also use his legs.
“You have to be smart when you do it,” Petrino said. “You have to know where the sticks are, how to get a first down and take care of yourself.”
While some fans were cringing with every hit Mallett took Saturday night, the Arkansas coaching staff was not worried. Of course, some players — like Johnson — will worry when they see their lanky, 6-foot-6 field general run up field. Receiver Joe Adams said he’d rather keep the Heisman Trophy hopeful untouched in the pocket as he dissects the defense than watch him dive head first into the end zone like he did Saturday.
But that’s part of the game, and Petrino and Mallett’s playing philsophy.
“That’s just Mallett. That’s just how he plays,” tight end D.J. Williams said. “One time, he did kind of get hit, trying to get that first down. I wouldn’t mind seeing him slide a little bit, but he’s just an aggressive player, an aggressive quarterback. I don’t think he’ll be sliding much.”
“It’s football,” Mallett said. “That’s part of it. I don’t care. That’s why I play football.”
Is there not even the slightest hesitation and widening of the eyes by the coaching staff when Mallett takes off running?
“I was cringing,” offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said, “because he missed some pressures that we should be throwing hot to one side when a guy is coming, based on the projection. And he missed a couple of them.”
Apparently not.
Yes, the coaching staff was more worried about Mallett’s three incomplete passes than his three rushing attempts.
“He’ll be fine,” McGee said. “He needs to get banged up some. It’s good for him.”
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 think Ryan has made his mind up,he is going to run a little this year,if that is what it takes to win.
Just when I think ESPN has figured out where Mallett came from, they do it again. He’s a Texarkana, ARKANSAS native. He might have gone to school on the Texas side, but he’s FROM Arkansas. An important distinction to those of us who live on the right side of the line. If his own bio lists Texarkana, Arkansas, why can’t ESPN figure it out?
Mallet had 3 touchdowns Saturday, not 2.
Hey CDFYS, look who wrote the article…if you followed this in from Chris Low’s blog, his “Lunchtime Links” are just that..links to the local writers of the SEC teams.