UA FOOTBALL PRACTICE : Improving Hogs’ defense focal point in scrimmage

BY NATE ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Sunday, August 17, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/68209/

Arkansas ’ defense has been scorched in the preseason scrimmages and last Friday was publicly scorched by defensive coordinator Willy Robinson.

So given the Razorbacks’ scrimmage Saturday was closed to media, allowing head coach Bobby Petrino to critique the performance with no media eyewitness to view with dissent, the time seemed ripe for post-scrimmage coachspeak. Some saccharine summations the defense rose to the coaches’ challenge and beyond. Use the media to build up after tearing down as coaches so often do.

To Petrino’s credit, that didn’t occur.

The young defense showed some improvement, he said, but certainly no instant turnaround in the 135-play scrimmage at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Just like the spring game last April, Saturday’s session featured Arkansas’ first defense against the second offense and the first offense against the second defense.

“ We still have got a ways to go, ” Petrino said. “ We still need a little more pass rush and still need to get everyone to the football better. I thought we were looking a little bit better against the run. But still a little bit behind the offense. ”

Sometimes the first offense was behind the second offense Saturday though apparently with not quite the big-play regularity of previous scrimmages.

“ Our No. 1 defense limited some of the big plays, ” Petrino said. “ We still have got to get improvement. Because of the injuries and some of the youth on defense we are going to be a little bit behind the offense right now. ”

Some of the youth excelled most, especially Elton Ford, the true freshman promoted last Thursday to first-team free safety.

“ Elton Ford had an interception for a touchdown, ” Petrino said. “ He blocked a punt and picked that up for a touchdown. I thought we created some turnovers and that’s something we definitely need. ”

Another true freshman, Khiry Battle, continues at firstteam weakside linebacker as senior captain Elston Forte and sophomore Ryan Powers remain idled by injuries.

First-team redshirt freshman middle linebacker Jerry Franklin of Marion said Willy Robinson last Friday — imparting to media his displeasure with the defense’s performance, pride, leadership and emotion — did light a spark.

“ Any time the coach calls you out you really want to show them different, ” Franklin said.

A different Robinson also lit a spark Saturday. Senior defensive end Antwain Robinson of Little Rock Central, out of Friday afternoon’s practice with a hyperextended knee in Friday morning’s practice, scrimmaged Saturday. Robinson’s rush apparently harassed second unit quarterbacks Nathan Dick and Tyler Wilson.

“ He has a knack for rushing the passer, ” Petrino said.

Statistics were not dispensed post-scrimmage. However, offensively, Petrino said senior starting quarterback Casey Dick, senior starting running back Michael Smith, true freshman running back Dennis Johnson of Texarkana, junior first-team receiver London Crawford, true freshman receivers Jarius Wright of Warren and Joe Adams of Central Arkansas Christian, all fared well.

Casey Dick also cited sophomore tight end D. J. Williams and senior tight end Andrew Davie. Wright and Williams caught Casey Dick TD passes, and Crawford caught two. Dick was picked off once, an interception by backup cornerback Ramon Broadway.

“ He did throw one pick in the end zone, ” Petrino said. “ But what I liked is he came back later in the scrimmage, called the exact same play and threw it for a touchdown. ”

Asked how the backup quarterbacks fared in the scrimmage, Petrino mentioned redshirt freshman Nathan Dick and true freshman Tyler Wilson.

He replied “ not really, ” to the question if anyone took the lead for No. 2.

“ It was kind of like last week, ” Petrino said. “ Nathan moved the team and then Tyler got in shotgun and threw the ball all over the place.

He’s got a great feel for the game and has very good vision. We’ve got some work to do to figure that one out. ”

Today, the Razorbacks get their first day off since preseason drills began Aug. 4.

Petrino has the option of another week alternating twoa-days since UA classes don’t begin until Aug. 25, but said Tuesday, with an afternoon session on special teams, will be the lone double-dip Monday through Friday.

“ We need to freshen up, ” Petrino said. “ We’ve got twoa-day legs. ”

The Hogs open their season Aug. 30 against Western Illinois here.