The Razorbacks were better equipped to expand their game in Wednesday’s practice.

Those NCAA-mandated two days practicing in helmets but no pads are over. So shoulder pads were added to the helmets in Wednesday’s workout and will be again today.

Full pads don’t get donned until Friday, but shoulder pads alone sufficed nicely for Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.

“ We can evaluate with shoulder pads and helmets because we are basically going to do what we are going to do with lower pads on anyway, ” Petrino said after Wednesday’s sizzler. “ That really helps because then you get to do inside run against each other and work on being physical.

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“ It was good for our running game because looking at yesterday when we were not in pads, you lose your pad level and you lose your strike. We got that back today. ”

Other than one bobble, Chip Gregory, the 6-3, 220 sophomore ex-linebacker moved to running back, fared well in extended running back work Wednesday.

Set back last spring by ankle injur ies r ight after he switched positions, Gregory worked up the pecking order Wednesday because two tailbacks from Texarkana’s Arkansas High are sidelined.

Freshman Dennis Johnson missed Wednesday’s workout with a strained hamstring, and junior Brandon Barnett, second-team at the close of spring drills, is going to be out a while rehabbing from offseason knee surgery.

Gregory is the Hogs’ lone tall tailback. Senior starter Michael Smith is listed a generous 5-7, 173, and Barnett is also a generously listed 5-10, 206. Johnson is 5-7, 195 and Camden freshman De’Anthony Curtis is 5-10, 205.

Petrino likes those compact backs, and already works Curtis and Johnson in the rotation, but he does want a big back changing the pace, particularly in the fourth quarter.

“[Gregory ] started behind the two freshmen and now he’s working his way forward, ” Petrino said. “ I’ve liked what I have seen in all three practices. That’s a big, good-looking back. He did put the ball on the ground once today and we can’t have that. ”

Gregory knows his role.

“ I just want to be a pounder, ” Gregory said. “ I know Mike Smith, and De’Anthony and Dennis, and when Brandon Barnett gets back, they’re real fast guys and they’re going to run around them and make them tired. Then when I get in I can just pound on them. ”

If he can hang on to it.

“ I thought he had a good day, ” running backs coach Tim Horton said. “ He did put the ball on the ground one time, and that will kill you. But he is getting better. ”

Horton laments about Barnett: “ We really need him to get on the field. I think he’s about a week or 10 days away. ”

Another fast, compact freshman back, 5-10 Albert Gar y, did not practice Wednesday.

Not completing drills in Wednesday’s heat were first-team middle linebacker Jerry Franklin of Marion and first-team outside Will linebacker Ryan Powers. Firstteam wide receiver London Crawford also cramped by practice’s close.

Defensive backs Darrell Glasper and Rashaad Johnson were idled, too.

Alex Tejada, the Springdale sophomore strictly a placekicker last year, is replacing graduated letterman Brian Vavra of Bentonville as the kickoff man.

“ We will get working on that tomorrow, ” Petrino said Wednesday. “ We are going to have to place the ball and get good hang time on it. ”

Petrino and special teams coach Kirk Botkin have been careful with Tejada, who dislocated a kneecap on his left [plant ] leg on May 30 but seems to have successfully rehabbed without surgery.

“ We’ll keep him inside 40 yards for another week before we let him go a little deeper, ” Petrino said. “ Just really work on his accuracy and timing. He looks very good. I think the operation, the snap and the hold [with snapper Rhett Richardson and holder Matt Harris ] is a lot better. It’s really improved and that will definitely make Tejada feel a lot better. ”

That makes Petrino feel better about going for long field goals.

“ If we can have the ball where he’s at 50 yards going in, ” Petrino said, “ I feel comfortable right now we can get three on the board. ”

Senior Dallas Washington of Douglasville, Texas and nearby Atlanta (Texas ) High, still is contending for the strong safety position but also working along with Walner Leandre at Jack, the new outside linebacker / safety hybrid defensive coordinator Willy Robinson employs in some packages.

For those not knowing jack about Jack, what’s Washington’s biggest adjustment ?

“ For a safety, ” Washington said, “ just being used to being so low and so close to the box, just showing up on run responsibilities. ”