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Location: WholeHogSports > Story     |     TAGGED: football (5)

Offense is getting hang of it

Published: Monday, April 07, 2008 PRINT E-MAIL

FAYETTEVILLE - On their second day in full pads this spring, the Arkansas Razorbacks ran a relatively smooth 80-play scrimmage marked by significant offensive production.

For a new regime with new systems on both sides of the ball and a limited amount of time on the field, the scrimmage came off with fewer penalties, fewer missed assign-Bobby Petrino ments and less sloppiness than most would expect.

"It was a good first week for us, and I thought we got a lot accomplished," Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. "We didn't do everything right, but I do like the effort and we will continue to work on toughness, and I think before it's over with we will be a tough football team."

Michael Smith led all rushers with 63 yards. Brandon Barnett had two rushing touchdowns, while London Crawford had a touchdown catch and tied tight end D. J. Williams with a scrimmage-high five receptions.

Senior quarterback Casey Dick led the first-unit offense to two touchdowns and a field goal on four possessions. One sequence ended when cornerback Jamar Love jumped an out route and made a diving interception, the only turnover on the day.

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Dick finished 13 of 17 for 102 yards with the interception and a touchdown to Crawford.

"I thought we did really well," Dick said. "We threw the ball, caught the ball well. We weren't perfect, but we're not going to be perfect after four days with the amount of offense we've put in. I was pleased with it, and [the coaches ] were, too."

The starting offense, working against the first defense, went 57 yards on its first possession before bogging down. Alex Tejada came on to kick a 30-yard field goal out of the hold of Matt Harris for the first score.

Transfer quarterback Ryan Mallett then led an 11-play, 70-yard touchdown drive with the second unit. Mallett went 5 for 8 for 45 yards on the series, which was capped by Barnett's 12-yard touchdown on a third-and-goal draw play out of the Shotgun.

Barnett also had a 1-yard touchdown burst to cap the next series for the first offense.

"All I worry about is going in there and getting the job done," Barnett said. "If my number is called and they need me to do certain things, I just go out and give it my all."

Barnett finished with 57 yards on 10 carries.

"We had some positive things in the passing game, a few positives in the running game, and the blocking schemes went all right," Smith said. "We've just got to know what we're doing a little bit more so we can go a little bit faster."

Mallett, who completed 7 of 13 passes for 60 yards, had two other series fizzle out.

Alex Mortensen went 2 of 2 for 9 yards on his only series, guiding the first offense 55 yards on the series that ended with Barnett's 1-yard score.

Nathan Dick went 3 for 5 for 50 yards and hit John Aaron Rees with a 29-yard score while working the last two series of the day.

Unofficially, the offense generated 365 total yards on 72 snaps, for about 5. 1 yards per play against a defense that has a bunch of new faces and several key players out with injury or on suspension.

"That's a hard thing about the head coach. You always worry about the other side of the ball when [the offense ] is moving it," Petrino said. "But I thought our defense did a nice job today, as far as running to the ball and tackling, and showed a lot of improvement in our coverage aspects."

Safety Matt Harris and linebacker Ryan Powers led the defense with 10 tackles each, while defensive linemen Adrian Davis, Antwain Robinson and Brandon Lampkin all registered "sacks."

Tejada connected on 3 of 4 field goal attempts, making kicks from 30, 35 and 50 yards and missing a 50-yard attempt wide left.

The Razorbacks will take today off before heading back for their fifth of 15 spring practices Tuesday. Unofficial statistics RUSHING Michael Smith 15-63 Brandon Barnett 10-57, 2 TDs (12, 1 ) Landon Williams 3-6 Seth Armburst 2-4, TD (1 ) Taylor Huskisson 1-9 Cliff Moore 1-5 PASSING Casey Dick 13-17-1, 102 yards, 1 TD Ryan Mallett 7-13-0, 60 yards Nathan Dick 3-5-0, 50 yards, 1 TD Alex Mortensen 2-2-0, 9 yards RECEIVING London Crawford 5-45, 1 TD (3 ) D. J. Williams 5-35 Brandon Barnett 4-29 Reggie Fish 2-19 Marques Wade 2-17 Carlton Salters 2-15 John Aaron Rees 1-29, 1 TD (29 ) Rod Coleman 1-13 John Durmon 1-11 Lucas Miller 1-5 Michael Smith 1-3 TACKLE LEADERS Matt Harris 10 Ryan Powers 10 INTERCEPTIONS Jamar Love

SACKS Adrian Davis Antwain Robinson Brandon Lampkin

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AP Top 25

Updated November 03

1. Alabama 9-0

2. Texas Tech 9-0

3. Penn State 9-0

4. Florida 7-1

5. Texas 8-1

6. Oklahoma 8-1

7. USC 7-1

8. Oklahoma State 8-1

9. Boise State 8-0

10. Utah 9-0

11. TCU 9-1

12. Ohio State 7-2

13. Missouri 7-2

14. Georgia 7-2

15. LSU 6-2

16. Ball State 8-0

17. Brigham Young 8-1

18. Michigan State 8-2

19. North Carolina 6-2

20. West Virginia 6-2

21. California 6-2

22. Georgia Tech 7-2

23. Maryland 6-2

24. Florida State 6-2

25. Pittsburgh 6-2

How many games will the Razorbacks win this season?


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Arkansas Razorbacks' 2008 Football Schedule

Aug. 30

Western Illinois

W 28-24

Sep. 6

Louisiana-Monroe

W 28-27

Sep. 20

Alabama

L 14-49

Sep. 27

@ Texas

L 10-52

Oct. 4

Florida

L 7-38

Oct. 11

@ Auburn

W 25-22

Oct. 18

@ Kentucky

L 20-21

Oct. 25

Ole Miss

L 21-23

Nov. 1

Tulsa (Homecoming)

W 30-23

Nov. 8

@ South Carolina

L 21-34

Nov. 22

@ Mississippi State

      TBA

Nov. 28

LSU

     1:30 pm