FAYETTEVILLE — The quarterback position in the Houston Nutt and David Lee offense at Arkansas was more of a caretaker role: call the play, get the checks on time, take the snap, hand off, manage the offense.

It’s a whole different deal in the Bobby Petrino system, as the Razorbacks’ four quarterbacks are finding out.

In the first day of full pad work on Saturday, the group left quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee wanting more.

“We’re looking for more leadership at quarterback,” McGee said after the two-hour workout inside Reynolds Razorback Stadium. “When you’re going to run this offense... the way it’s set up right now, the quarterback has got to take control. So we’re looking for someone to really take control. Right now, it’s me and I can’t play, so that’s not good.”

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Contrast that to Lee’s approach this time last year: “We just need a bus driver. We don’t need to a guy to be a Heisman Trophy quarterback. We just need a guy to keep it in the street and not let us get off the road.”

Senior quarterback Casey Dick would ostensibly have the reins at the position, having started 22 career games, including all 13 last year. Dick completed a career-best 57. 3 percent of his throws last season, going 150 of 262 passing for 1, 695 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. But, given Arkansas’ SEC-best running game, Dick wasn’t asked to hit many pressure throws, and he averaged just 130. 4 passing yards per game, ninth-best among SEC starters.

Dick is learning under his fourth quarterbacks coach and playing for his fourth offensive coordinator during his Razorbacks career.

“It’s been tough, but at the same time it’s been fun and exciting,” Dick said. “You learn a whole lot from those coaching who have come through. You take bits and pieces from everybody that’s helped out and made you progress.”

The Petrino system, combined with Arkansas’ massive losses in the running game, will call on the quarterback to trigger more of the big plays than ever before.

“It’s very exciting,” Dick said. “It calls for a lot of studying, watching more film than we probably ever watched, studying more than we’ve ever done. And not just defenses, but your offense, too. What’s a good play into this defense ? It comes with a lot of work.”

Dick appears to be working most often with the first offense early in spring, ahead of his brother Nathan Dick, a redshirt freshman, junior Alex Mortensen and sophomore Ryan Mallett, who transferred from Michigan.

“They’re all working hard and competing. I think they’re all improving,” offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. “Casey’s done a good job in trying to pick up the offense.

“ You can obviously see Mallett’s talent and that he’s got a big-time arm. He’s just got to keep working on his feet. Mortensen’s been working hard, [he’s ] just got to keep working on being accurate and getting the ball out of his hand.

“ Nathan’s just got to continue to learn the offense.

“ I think for all of them, it’s just learning the offense and getting to our checks faster and the tempo of the offense. In three days, I think they’ve all shown improvement each day on their accuracy and getting the ball out of their hands a little bit quicker.”

Mallett must sit out one year after transferring unless the university’s appeal on his behalf results in the NCAA granting him a waiver. With Mallett out of the picture, the Hogs might have a battle between brothers, with Casey Dick trying to stay ahead of Nathan Dick.

“On the field, we’re not brothers,” Nathan Dick said. “We’re just competing as quarterbacks, trying to earn the starting job. Once we’re off the field, we can be brothers again.” All the quarterbacks liked the idea of their position playing a larger role in the Arkansas offense.

“I think that fares well for me in the long run, once I get the offense down,” Nathan Dick said. “Because that’s what I like doing the most, spreading the ball around to my receivers and sometimes play-actioning and handing the ball off, too.”

Casey Dick understands he must bring some leadership into the competition.

“Everybody just kind of looks up to you because you’ve been there,” he said. “You’ve been in most situations that some of those guys haven’t been. You’ve just got to stay calm and work through it. Don’t panic is the biggest thing.”

Obviously, 12 more practices and fall camp will provide more opportunities for the leadership McGee, the Petrinos and the offense will demand.

“Today was not their best day, when it comes to focus and concentration,” McGee said Saturday. “But the best thing about practice is you get to come back tomorrow. We’ve got a lot we’re throwing at them right now.

“ They’re trying, but today, when it came to focus and concentration, the concentration wasn’t their best today.”