LITTLE ROCK — Notes, takeaways and tidbits from Arkansas' spring game in War Memorial Stadium on Saturday:
Impressive Pettway
La'Michael Pettway has been running mostly with the first-team offense this spring, and he gave Chad Morris no reason to slide him down the depth chart today.
Pettway led all receivers with six catches on seven targets for 91 yards and a great grab along the sideline to set up a Maleek Williams score. Defensive back Micahh Smith laid the wood to Pettway, but he held on and popped right back up. The Nashville native has the perfect build to absorb a shot like that and provide one or two of his own.
"Every time I go against Pettway I know I've got to get down because he's a big guy and he's strong," Ryan Pulley said. "He had a nice catch when he got hit on the side, and that's what we need on the offense is guys making big plays. He's a pretty good receiver, good hands. He did good today."
Pettway said he feels like he has greater opportunity to make an impact in this offense and feels a bit rejuvenated. He's having fun, and when you're having fun you tend not to overthink things.
He was one of just two receivers with more than two receptions. Tyson Morris was the other. He finished with four. Pettway's seven targets were second most among the group to Mike Woods.
Woods could have very easily had a solid day had it not been for a pair of drops and two overthrows from Ty Storey and Cole Kelley. Woods dropped a deep ball along the sideline and another late in the game from Jack Lindsey in the corner of the end zone. He had just two catches for 21 yards on eight targets.
Cheyenne O'Grady had a very effective day, hauling in a pair of passes for two scores. His first catch was a 53-yarder from Storey. O'Grady caught in the flat and got a great downfield block from Pettway. Bringing down passes wasn't the only positive for Pettway on Saturday.
O'Grady's day got even better when he caught a score from Kelley over the middle. Kelley said he feels tight ends should like this new offense. It also could have been a bit of a recruiting pitch as well with prospects in attendance.
Defensive backs respond to challenge
Jonathan Nance's challenge to Arkansas' defensive backs echoed throughout the interview room on Thursday and even spilled onto Twitter.
Ryan Pulley caught wind of Nance announcing the 'Bomb Squad' would take over the spring game. He, Chevin Calloway, Kam Curl and D'Vone McClure didn't allow that to happen. As a collective, those four finished with seven pass breakups on the day. Pulley led the way with three and McClure had two. Curl broke up a would-be touchdown pass in the end zone early on.
"I heard the (challenge), but I kept it to myself," Pulley said. "I told them there weren't going to be any deep balls going today. They maybe took, like, two shots. Pettway had a good catch.
"But that's our culture coming out of the spring and into next year. We don't want to give up six points. Kam is at home. He's our best all-around defensive player if you ask me. Chev is doing what he's got to do, and I like him on the other side of me."
McClure has been a very pleasant surprise on defense this spring as well. Chad Morris said when McClure approached him about walking on he thought there might be a spot for him on special teams. Now, Morris feels like the former minor league baseball player is going to factor in this fall.
"I'd obviously never seen him, so I didn't know what to expect," Morris added. "He said, 'I'll go offense or defense, it doesn't matter.' We want him on the defensive side of the football. He's stood out this spring. He's going to help this football team."
Granted Arkansas didn't take very many shots down the field due to the weather, the defensive backs group looked very good today. The guys up front were able to get pressure, too. The front and the secondary feed off each other I think. Randy Ramsey had a pair of sacks today and Jamario Bell contributed two tackles for loss and a forced fumble on the final play of the first half.
Devwah Whaley
I firmly believe Arkansas feels good about its running back situation, and Devwah Whaley showed what he has all spring, Morris said.
Whaley rushed for 62 yards on just eight carries - none after the second quarter - and just ran really hard. His first three touches of the day went for 25 yards and a pair of first downs. The longest burst of the day was right up the gut for 17. I was impressed.
Prior to the game, Morris recognized players in all three phases for their consistent play throughout the spring, and Whaley was one of two running backs honored alongside Chase Hayden. Hayden ran eight times for 28 yards with a long of eight. His day didn't start out well, losing a yard on two carries, but finished the game with a near five-yard average over his last six.
Whaley is finding a bit of a groove offensively and part of it is the gaps and holes have become cleaner for him, Morris said. What Morris saw from Whaley today did not surprise him one bit.
Whaley has to feel good about heading into the summer as one of the top two guys in a really competitive, talented group.
Quarterbacks a tad shaky
Neither Ty Storey or Cole Kelley set the world on fire Saturday. They each threw for 126 yards and completed 17 of 33 passes for a pair of scores - both to O'Grady. Kelley finished 10 of 19. Storey 7 of 14.
They each had their moments through the air as well as headscratchers. Both missed a wide open Mike Woods for would-be scores. Kelley's was more egregious, overshooting Woods by several yards after the freshman had his man beaten by a couple steps. Storey overthrew Woods over the middle in the end zone.
The defensive backs and pressures from the front four didn't help, though. Kelley thought the DBs made several really nice plays on the ball. Even if the receivers brought the pass in, the backs weren't giving up, Kelley said.
As far as the tempo, Kelley thought the offense did a solid job playing how Morris wanted. Later in drives, though, he noticed the guys slowing up a bit. It takes time, and it's going to take longer than a couple months of practice. Progress is the goal, as Morris likes to say.
Daulton Hyatt, Austin Aune, Jack Lindsey and Carson Proctor took the second half snaps. Hyatt was most impressive out of the group. He made several nice plays with his feet, rushing five times for 21 yards with a long of 17. Hyatt held on to the ball far too long the one time he was sacked Saturday. Otherwise, he was solid.
Game attendance
Estimated attendance for the spring game was said to be 7,000.
Personally, I thought that was a bit on the light side. There was a pretty solid contingent on the side opposite the press box behind what is generally the opposing sideline. The weather certainly didn't help at all with the turnout, but I thought it was a decent crowd considering.
Spring game crowds and attendance figures are largely overrated anyway. Sure, you'd like to have a strong showing, but it's not a sign or indication of doom if you don't.
Spring game crowds at Auburn, Ole Miss and Michigan State today were nothing special. It's the spring.