Apparently the safeties had to do too much because the defensive line was doing too little Saturday.

Saturday marked the Razorbacks' first day in pads in three practices under new coach Bobby Petrino and also their first day outdoors.

About 500 fans assembled at Reynolds Razorback Stadium to watch Arkansas take Frank Broyles Field for the first time this spring after two days of weather-induced hibernation inside the Walker Pavilion.

The Razorbacks did a little scrimmaging Saturday though not to the extent they will today in a 10: 30 a.m. workout that will be half practice and half scrimmage.

Because today's morning starting time precludes church services for most players who would attend them, a voluntary chapel service is available, UA media relations director Kevin Trainor said, to players and staff after today's scrimmage.

It would seem debatable if a football wish list is worthy of prayer, but if it is, defensive coordinator Willy Robinson might pray safeties Matt Harris and Dallas Washington be required to make fewer tackles today than they did Saturday.

" It was a good news / bad news deal when your safety is the leading tackler in the drill, " Robinson said. " The good news is we are stopping the big run, the bad news is we are not attacking the line of scrimmage and winning up front. We need to make sure our first-level people help our second-level people that it doesn't get to that last level. I was pleased with how our safeties tackle. "

Robinson also said he was pleased with the general pursuit to the ball.

On the offensive side, wide receivers London Crawford, Carlton Salters and Lucas Miller and tight end D. J. Williams all logged some nice catches though it was not, according to quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee, a banner day for QBs Casey Dick, the senior returning starter, redshirt freshman Nathan Dick, senior Alex Mortensen or sophomore transfer Ryan Mallett.

None took up the leadership role to McGee's standards.

" I'm having to lead right now, " McGee said. " When you're going to run this offense, the quarterback has got to take control. Right now, it's me and I can't play, so that's not good. "

In their defense, all the quarterbacks are having to adjust to a new offense and new coaches with Bobby Petrino, McGee and offensive coordinator / receivers coach Paul Petrino.

And Mallett, the former quarterback from Texas High in Texarkana and sophomore transfer from the University of Michigan, will be eligible in 2008 only if he wins a NCAA appeal superseding the rule that dictates transfers must redshirt upon changing Division I schools.

" We've got a lot we're throwing at them right now, " McGee said. " They're trying, but today, when it came to focus and concentration, the concentration wasn't their best. "

Paul Petrino cited individual attributes in them all and said, " I think for all of them it's just learning the offense and getting to our checks faster and the tempo of the offense. "

Senior Cord Gray of Wynne took first-unit defensive tackle snaps Saturday alongside sure starting tackle Malcolm Sheppard.

With returning outside starter Freddie Fairchild on indefinite disciplinary suspension and middle linebacker Wendel Davis, last year's backup to graduated Weston Dacus, out all spring from knee surgery, Robinson and linebackers coach Reggie Johnson rely on redshirt freshman Jerry Franklin of Marion in the middle and senior three-year letterman Elston Forte, originally a strong safety, and sophomore letterman Ryan Powers outside.

Other than Forte there's not a great deal of experience, but Robinson said, all are off to a running start.

" The one thing, all of them can flat run, " Robinson said. " That's a common denominator. Powers can really run. He just has to know when to run and how to get there to do it. "

All are having to adjust from the man coverage defense of Reggie Herring, the former Arkansas defensive coordinator from 2005-07 under former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt, to the zone defenses Robinson employs.

" Each day is like a box of chocolates, because these zones always continually change, " Robinson said. " It's huge for a linebacker going from a man defense to trying to operate in space. It's a lot harder than it looks. We made it look hard today. "

However, Robinson said they are willing workers and their speed could allow them to improve vastly as they learn the scheme.

Robinson also said he's impressed how few mental errors the secondary has committed the first three practices.