WholeHogSports
UA FOOTBALL PRACTICE : Petrino expected to ‘light a fire’ under Hogs
Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008
URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/64450/
Bobby Petrino more enjoyed watching old scrimmage film than Tuesday’s practice, his Razorbacks’ first workout since last Saturday’s scrimmage.
“ Our execution was a lot better, ” Petrino said Tuesday of the Saturday scrimmage. “ Unfortunately today I thought we didn’t practice the same intensity that we need after a good, hard scrimmage and a couple of days off. I thought we had a couple of guys just trying to get through it and we are not going to do that. We need to learn how to work hard. ”
Petrino’s Tuesday criticism wasn’t unexpected.
With another off day today, it’s anticipated the coach will light a fire for the spring’s final three practices culminating in Saturday’s 6 p. m. Red-White game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
And Tuesday’s practice setting, inside the Walker Pavilion with the practice field soaked by on and off hard rain throughout the day, isn’t to Petrino’s liking compared to practicing in the great outdoors.
Some things worthy of note Tuesday, senior Antwain Robinson and redshirt freshman Jake Bequette logged some first-team time at defensive end while redshirt freshman Jerry Franklin of Marion and sophomore Jermaine Love split time at firstteam middle linebacker.
Film confirmed Robinson posted his best scrimmage of the spring last Saturday, Petrino said Tuesday.
Cornerbacks Jamar Love, withheld from last Saturday’s scrimmage because of a bruised quadriceps, and Isaac Madison, injuring an ankle last Saturday, both practiced Tuesday.
So did Chip Gregory, the big freshman linebacker moved to tailback. Gregory has missed time adjusting to this spring’s position switch, first because of injuries and then because of a death in his family.
He looked rusty and raw early in Tuesday’s drills with a dropped pass and fumbled run on successive touches but later made a nice catch over the middle and powered through a strong run.
Certainly at 6-3, 218, he would be a late-game hammer change of pace from top two backs Michael Smith and Texarkana’s Brandon Barnett, quick scatbacks at 5-7, 173 and 5-10, 206.
“[Gregory ] looked big lining up back there, ” Petrino said. “ It’s good to see a big running back downhill. He’s still a little bit gimpy, but he’s working hard and pushing through it. It would be nice if we could get him some work Saturday night the spring game. See him get hit and knocked down and see if he can do it about four or five times in a row. ”
On the offensive line from Saturday’s scrimmage, Petrino most lauded senior Rimington Award winning All-American center Jonathan Luigs and senior starting guard Mitch Petrus but also boosted sophomore secondteam guard Wade Grayson of Harrison.
Grayson shook off an injury during last Saturday’s scrimmage to practice at two positions and went through all of Tuesday’s drills at guard.
“ I thought Grayson did a really nice job, ” Petrino said. “ He was working with the twos and we flipped him out some at tackle. He certainly showed some improvement. ”
Grayson is a lifelong Razorback fan willing to play for Arkansas anyplace anywhere.
“ In the scrimmage I played tackle the last three or four plays, ” Grayson said. “ Somebody got hurt or was really tired and they threw me in there. I think I did all right. ”
Originally deemed likely to redshirt last year as a true freshman, Grayson lettered as a backup for former coach Houston Nutt’s 2007 Razorbacks and even logged one start ahead of Petrus.
Now he’s adjusting like ever yone else to a new offense and new plays.
“ It was pretty iffy the first part of it, getting used to all the new plays, ” Grayson said. “ But right now it’s coming along pretty good. ”
Last Saturday was a good scrimmage for the quarterbacking Dick brothers, Casey, he senior starter, and Nathan, the redshirt freshman backup.
“ Saturday, [Casey ] looked as in sync as he has all spring, ” Petrino said. “ His footwork was better. His timing. He understood coverages and distributed the ball. There were certain times I felt, ‘ Hey we know what we are doing’ because the timing of the receiver and the quarterback and the protection were all in line together. ”
Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino was asked Tuesday about Nathan Dick, now apparently moved up the pecking order at No. 2 ahead of senior Alex Mortensen.
“ He’s really improved technique-wise, ” Paul Petrino said. “ He’s getting the ball out of his hands quicker, and he’s throwing it accurate. He’s just got to continue to understand the offense and get in there and call plays. ”