FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said Wednesday he expected to make no changes to his coaching staff as the Razorbacks hang up their shoulder pads and cleats a month earlier than they had hoped.

“I certainly feel our staff worked extremely hard, did a good job in the transition,” Petrino said during a half-hour news conference that served as his season-wrap session with reporters. “They are very good teachers, very detail oriented.”

The Razorbacks (5-7 ) ended their season with last week’s 31-30 victory over defending national champion LSU in Little Rock. It was Arkansas’ seventh game decided by four or fewer points, and the Hogs went 4-3 in those games.

Petrino said he detected continual advancement from his club as the season progressed.

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“Winning the LSU game helps us get into the off-season with a great attitude,” Petrino said.

Petrino gave no credence to speculation he might make changes on his defensive staff. The Razorbacks finished last in the SEC in six major statistical categories, four of them on defense: total defense (375. 2 yards per game ), rushing defense (170. 8 ypg ), scoring defense (31. 2 points per game ) and pass efficiency defense.

But Petrino said he thought defensive coordinator Willy Robinson did a “very good job” with a defense that lacked experienced personnel, had injury problems virtually throughout the year, lacked depth and had a shortage of physically imposing players at several positions.

Plus, Robinson had to replace seven starters, including the top six tacklers, from a defense that allowed an average of 26. 5 points and 365. 5 yards in 2007.

“I know there were times out there where we had, someone told me one time we had four freshmen and five sophomores out there on defense at the same time,” Petrino said. “Personally, I would like to see us be a little more physical throughout the entire year. I thought there were a couple of games where we didn’t play as physical as we needed to play.

“ Obviously everybody understands that. The players did and the coaches did.”

Arkansas finished out of the postseason picture for the first time since 2005. But one more victory would have made the Razorbacks bowl-eligible, and Petrino had no trouble pointing out where that victory could have come. “I think there’s a couple of games I was real disappointed in that we didn’t win, particularly the Kentucky game, where

1 we’re in complete control for 3 / 2 quarters and then kind of give it away,” Petrino said. “That’s why we’re sitting at home right now. “ We could still be practicing and getting better as a football team. You know, you can’t give one away like that. I guess that would probably be my biggest disappointment, the way we were in control of that game.”

Arkansas used 16 true freshmen, third-most in the nation according to UA media relations research. It was a trend Petrino established even before the first game, when three freshmen — Elton Ford (safety ) and linebackers Jerico Nelson and Jelani Smith — won starting jobs. Some seniors fell out of favor or had injuries or disciplinary problems sidetrack their seasons, most notably defensive linemen Ernest Mitchell and Antwain Robinson, linebacker and team captain Elston Forte and safety Walner Leandre. But Petrino said after watching clips from Arkansas’ early games, it reinforced his belief that the Hogs were better on Nov. 28 than they were on Aug. 30

“You see the Western Illinois game and Louisiana-Monroe games, having to come from behind and win those games, we improved a lot,” Petrino said. “We certainly are not where we want to be, and we certainly are working towards that.

“ I’m looking forward to the off-season because we have a lot of things we have to improve on. Foremost with our physical status. We have got to get stronger. We have to work extremely hard on our speed.

“ It’s going to be great for these true freshmen and redshirt freshmen that they have to understand now what they are facing each week, the size and speed of the competition. Our motivation will be very high.”