FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney would not comment on the allotment of repetitions for his quarterbacks at Tuesday’s indoor practice, but it’s sounding more apparent that the Razorbacks are preparing as if junior AJ Derby will make his first start Saturday at Rutgers.
Chaney said the offense spent a good bit of time Tuesday working on center Travis Swanson’s Shotgun snaps, which were a problem Saturday with Derby bobbling or dropping at least three of the exchanges.
“Travis shoots some hard shots back there,” Chaney said. “He’s got a great arm and he’s really good at what he does, but it takes some time to get used to it and Brandon had gotten used to it. When AJ had to play, he wasn’t really ready for the steam.”
Arkansas players and assistant coaches who were available to media Tuesday indicated the team is ready to rally behind Derby, who completed 4 of 6 passes for 36 yards last week after Allen landed on his right shoulder at the end of a first-quarter touchdown dive and didn’t return to the game.
“It’s next man in,” receivers coach Michael Smith said. “We’re ready for AJ to come in and pick up where Brandon left off. We are going to do everything we can to try to support him and make him feel as comfortable as we can out there on the field.”
Running back Jonathan Williams said Derby’s demeanor at Tuesday’s practice hadn’t changed.
“Just like every week,” Williams said. “Before he was a starter he came out and worked hard every day at practice and took the field as if he was a starter.”
Senior receiver Julian Horton said Derby handled his emergency duty well.
“I think he was under control,” Horton said. “I mean, maybe jittery at the first … but he’s handled it pretty well. I know he’s taking this week serious, very serious, because [it’s] his first start probably. … He’s getting ready for it.”
Chaney did not comment regarding true freshman Austin Allen’s amount of work Tuesday, nor about any discussions regarding taking Austin Allen’s redshirt off.
Nova limited
Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova had limited work in Tuesday’s practice, and Coach Kyle Flood said there hasn’t been a decision on whether Nova will play against Arkansas.
Nova sustained a concussion last week against Eastern Michigan and didn’t play after the first series.
“I think it means he has a chance,” Flood told the Newark Star-Ledger. “I don’t think there’s any certainty at all. These are decisions that I don’t make. The medical staff makes them, so they give me an idea of what they think he can do and I do it.”
Center Betim Bujari, who missed the Eastern Michigan game with a head injury, also practiced on a limited basis Tuesday.
Injury report
Arkansas offensive tackles Grady Ollison (ankle) and David Hurd (knee) both came out of last week’s game and were replaced by true freshmen Denver Kirkland and Dan Skipper.
Ollison split time at practice Tuesday with Kirkland, and Hurd is improving.
“They’re obviously getting better,” offensive line coach Sam Pittman said.
“We’ll see how they come around tomorrow."
Pittman said he hoped the starters would be ready for the Rutgers game and “obviously we’re trying to get Dan and Denver ready as well.”
Receiver Keon Hatcher (hamstring) is expected to be part of the game plan this week, along with tight end Austin Tate.
Tate will make his season debut after missing the first three games recovering from shoulder surgery.
“I’ve been out way too long, I feel,” Tate said. “But it’s still pretty early in the season, so I’m thankful to be back out there. I’m ready to roll.”
Tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. said Tate, who went through pregame warmups last week, doesn’t look rusty.
“Austin knows football,” Lunney said. “He’s been around and played in games, and that’s important for us, especially in our first road game.”
Use the ‘Fourth’
Arkansas has dominated the fourth quarter against its first three lower-level opponents.
The Razorbacks out gained Louisiana-Lafayette, Samford and Southern Miss by combined 308-78 in total offense in the period. Just as impressive, Arkansas holds a time of possession advantage of 35:46 to 9:14, an almost 4-to-1 ratio, over those opponents in the fourth quarter.
Arkansas ranks third in the NCAA with 284 rushing yards in the fourth quarter and 11th overall with 294.3 rushing yards per game.
Expect ‘blackout’
The Scarlet Knights have designated Saturday’s game as their “blackout” game, so the home team will dress in black and will have “Family” printed across the backs of jerseys rather than players’ last names.
Rutgers coaches also will wear arm patches related to the “Coach to Cure DMD” cause this weekend in support of work to cure Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy.
One for seven
Southern Miss was in Arkansas territory seven times and came away with a single field goal, making it the first time the Golden Eagles were held without a touchdown since a 2006 game against Virginia Tech.
The Razorbacks’ most impressive push back was a goal-line stand after 30-yard reception and a pass interference call on Eric Bennett in the end zone set up the Golden Eagles with first-and-goal at the 2.
Robert Thomas crashed across the line to team with Byran Jones in stopping Kendrick Hardy for a 3-yard loss on first down.
After an incomplete pass and a false start, blitzing Arkansas cornerback D.J. Dean slapped down an Alan Bridgford pass at the line on third down to hold Southern Miss to a short field goal.
The Golden Eagles had a 49-yard touchdown run called back on holding by a receiver and had a fake field goal foiled by Jarrett Lake.
Sports, Pages 21 on 09/18/2013