UA football : Razorbacks' injuries creat competition on offensive line

BY NATE ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/69890/

Other than Rimington Award winning two-time All-American senior center Jonathan Luigs, no Razorback starting offensive lineman can take it for "Granted" that they're in the starting lineup.

The significant playing time debuts of redshirt freshmen Grant Cook and Grant Freeman in Arkansas' 38-7 loss to 12th-ranked Florida last Saturday seems to create some competition at tackle and guard.

Well, senior strongside tackle Jose Valdez looks real safe, too, to start Saturday's SEC game at 20th-ranked Auburn.

However returning starter Valdez said back in April he got a taste of avoiding any future complacency after backup tackle Michael Aguirre briefly was promoted ahead of him during spring drills.

But with Cook of Jonesboro and Freeman of Paris projecting into the picture, sophomore weakside guard Wade Grayson of Harrison and weakside tackle Ray Dominguez and strongside guard DeMarcus Love all would appear to have competition now once everyone gets healthy.

Dominguez faces that competition already as coach Bobby Petrino said Monday he'll evaluate both Dominguez and Freeman when the major practicing starts today for the Razorbacks' Saturday trip to Auburn, Ala. for a 4 p.m. kickoff.

Injuries and absences changed everything for the two Grants last Saturday.

First Love, an incumbent starter and the starter the first four games for these 2-3, 0-2 in the SEC Hogs, injured an ankle during last Thursday's practice.

Backup guard Cook finished the practice and found out last Friday he would be starting and that Cook couldn't play.

Meanwhile Dominguez of Bainbridge, Ga., and also a four-game starter but already slowed by an ankle injury he first hurt before the Texas game and aggravated during that game of Sept. 27, had to leave on a family emergency because of the serious illness of his grandmother.

Aguirre, the top backup in waiting at both guard and tackle in the Hogs' first four games, started against Florida. He injured a knee and an ankle on the first play against Gators.

So third-team Freeman became the first-teamer the whole way against Florida.

Petrino praised both Grants right after the game.

Evaluating game video hadn't changed his mind when he discussed them at Monday's press conference.

"I was pleased with the way both of those guys played," Petrino said. "They allowed us to keep running the ball and they protected the quarterback and battled. It certainly wasn't something where we limited what we were doing offensively because of the injury to Aguirre. We didn't have to do that at all."

Petrino commented on both individually.

"I thought Cook really played physical," Petrino said. "He did a nice job in pass protection. He did a nice job in the run game."

And what about Freeman, the guy practicing all spring, summer and fall in the shadows of Dominguez and Aguirre?

"I think he didn't think he would be in there," Petrino said, "and after the first play, bang, he's right in there. He really battled."

Answering opportunity's knock no doubt has coaches and players eyeing Freeman a little differently than they have ever eyed him before.

"I got a lot of respect for how hard he played and how hard he worked at his technique during the game," Petrino said. "He got better as the game went on. I think our players really have a lot of respect for his toughness and his ability to stay in there and battle."

So what happens now?

Well, Love's ankle apparently might still be iffy, and Cook got himself a leg up.

"I think Cook played well and I would anticipate him having a good week of practice and being the starter there," Petrino said. "But that's still yet to be seen."

Dominguez is back, returning last Sunday night, but Aguirre is out.

"Aguirre is going to be done for a little bit with his injury," Petrino said. "Whether that's one week, two weeks or three weeks, I'm not sure yet."

He's also not sure who starts.

Mentioning Dominguez's Sunday night return, Petrino said, "Him and Freeman will kind of battle it out in practice."

The coach doesn't mind a position battle here and there one bit.

"Competition is always good," Petrino said. "You'd like to really have everybody healthy and have the competition while they're all healthy and not have to jump in there and get your shot because of injury. But sometimes that's how you get your shot and how you learn how to step up and play."