RAZORBACKS SPRING FOOTBALL REVIEW : A whole new look

BY TOM MURPHY

Posted on Friday, May 2, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/224483/

FAYETTEVILLE — Bobby Petrino’s Spread offense produced big numbers in the spring finale, so an upbeat mood prevailed in the wake of Saturday’s Red-White game.

“We really made some strides in the right direction,” Petrino said earlier this week at a Razorback Club function in Fort Smith. “There’s no question about that.”

But the reality is Arkansas faces a 2008 schedule that will likely be one of the 10 most difficult in the nation with a team that suffered heavy losses at the skill positions, including two running backs — Darren McFadden and Felix Jones — who were taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Still, Razorbacks fans can be encouraged by the relatively smooth transition that took place as the new coaching staff installed radically different offensive and defensive philosophies.

On Saturday alone, the Razorbacks produced: A 404-yard passing game by Casey Dick, whose career high is 228 yards. A 157-yard rushing game by Michael Smith, who showed Petrino an ability to run between the tackles and be more of an everydown back than first thought. Three players with at least seven receptions, including D. J. Williams, whose spring performance highlighted the role tight ends will occupy in this offense. Four touchdowns by Brandon Barnett, a solid complementary runner behind Smith, whose vision and instincts help him root out paths to the end zone.

“Right now, you would come back in the fall saying our strengths are going to start with our offensive front and defensive front,” Petrino said. “We know that we have some defensive backs that can run to the ball and tackle well. I thought our corners started to play real good man coverage and understood our zone concepts.

“ We certainly have some work to do, like in the linebacking corps, just because they’re young and inexperienced. Receivers, I think we took some giant steps, but we need a couple more playmakers, a couple of guys that can catch a 6-yard pass and go the distance for a touchdown.”

Overall, Petrino appeared to be upbeat about the direction of the team and the program. The spring game drew an estimated crowd of 40, 200, which was a Red-White game record and the seventh-highest spring game attendance in the nation, third-best in the SEC

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Petrino said, “particularly seeing the passion and the energy by all the fans for Razorback football.”