Razorbacks football report

Arkansas Razorbacks' Tight end D.J. Williams.

— UA has plans for tight end.

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said the relationship between quarterback Ryan Mallett and tight end D.J. Williams would be a point of focus in fall camp.

Williams, coming off a 2008 season in which he was a semifinalist for the Mackey Award, given to college football’s top tight end, with a team-high61 receptions for 723 yards, caught just 32 passes for 411 yards and 3 touchdowns last season.

Brandon Marcello and Tom Murphy discuss Arkansas' third spring under Coach Bobby Petrino, the improvement of the defense and several players the guys have their eyes on as the Razorbacks enter a summer filled with high expectations.

WholeHogCast: Wrapping up spring football

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Mallett and Williams maintained during the season their relationship was fine, but Petrino shed more light on the situation Monday before his appearance in Bentonville at the Northwest Arkansas Razorback Club.

“I probably didn’t do a good enough job of getting the relationship between him and Ryan Mallett, and throwing and catching, and Ryan understanding where he’s going to be, how he gets open,” Petrino said, adding that he pushed Williams to become a better blocker throughout the off-season. “So his production last season went down a little bit.

“We’re certainly going to emphasize their relationship. It’s been worked on in individual drills, getting those guys together. Because D.J.

converts third downs for us ... and can really run with the ball and break tackles.” Love hurts

Middle linebacker Jermaine Love had an extremely active Red-White game for the victorious White team that propelled him into the off-season atop the depth chart.

Love had an 8-yard sack that helped stop a third quarter series, and he filled against the run with authority on several plays, including a hit on first-and-goal from the 1-yard line on which he stopped big back Broderick Green in his tracks.

“That’s what we expect out of him,” defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said.

“He’s a physical football player, and that’s what he brings to the football team.”

Jacoby earned it

Quarterback Jacoby Walker came a long way in 15 spring practices, and no matter the extent of the injury to his hyperextended knee, the true freshman made an impression on his teammates with his mental and physical capabilities.

“Jacoby just came out and he really competed,” receiver Jarius Wright said. “We know he’s a smart quarterback, and he’s won our trust from being able to make the checks and the plays he needed to be able to make.” Wrong way Wingo

Coach Bobby Petrino called Ronnie Wingo’s Red-White performance “inconsistent, a little bit,” specifically pointing out Wingo’s slip and fall on a failed fourth and-2 run at right guard.

“I’ve got to get my shoulder pads down and just get the first down instead of trying to make fourth-and-1 into a touchdown,” Wingo said.

“Just get the first down, then make the next play.”

Wingo, who rushed for a team-best 88 yards on 18 carries and had touchdowns rushing and receiving, also lost a fumble on a big hit by Patrick Jones and Freddy Burton.

Just his luck

Tailback Knile Davis had a couple of hard-luck scrimmages in which his yards per carry were ruined by unavoidable incidents, like a muffed snap picked up with the defense bearing down or a toss play that was scoped out and stuffed by a breakaway defender.

Then, when Davis finally got a head of steam going with several hard-charging carries in the Red-White game that netted 49 yards, he broke his collarbone when he and safety Tramain Thomas fell hard to the turf after an 18-yard run on a draw play.

Crim reminder

Senior Rudell Crim appeared to make a near-seamless switch from cornerback to safety in the final week of spring, helped by his stint at safety at Barton County (Kan.) Community College and his knowledge of the Razorbacks’ defense.

Coach Bobby Petrino said Crim will remain in the safety mix, and he’ll factor in at the nickel spot, through summer and the start of fall camp.

“Here’s a kid that came in on Tuesday, got moved to that position and then performed,” defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said.

“I think when that move was made he really got excited.”

Crim’s speed is an asset at the spot, and he said he likes playing safety.

Kicking away

Coach Bobby Petrino had few words to say about senior kicker Alex Tejada’s spring performance.

“Very inconsistent,” he told reporters Monday.

“Very inconsistent.”

Asked by a fan if there was a kicker who could be consistent, Petrino turned to Athletic Director Jeff Long and said, “Did you ask if Jeff Long is going to kick an extra point for us next year?”

After the laughter subsided, Petrino mentioned that Long’s eligibility was up and then said, “We’ll go on to the next question.”

Freshman signees Zach Hocker and Eduardo Camara apparently will have every chance to compete for the starting place-kicking duties.

Worth noting

Offensive tackle Anthony Oden, who jogged off the field in Saturday’s Red-White game with obvious pain in his left shoulder, is apparently fine. Coach Bobby Petrino said Oden “got a little stinger” and was tired, and he praised Oden’s toughness and aggressiveness in the game.

Sophomore punter Dylan Breeding averaged 40.2 yards on his four punts, including a long of 43 yards, though there was no rush.

Sports, Pages 21 on 04/28/2010