FIRST DOWN
Arkansas’ passing offense was having a slight problem during the team’s first practice Tuesday.
A quarterback would throw the ball. A receiver would get one or two hands on it. But the ball would tip into the air and land into a defensive back’s arms.
It happened three times during the workout, drawing Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino’s ire.
“Tipped passes are interceptions,” Petrino said. “It’s a combination of being accurate throwing the ball and when the ball hits your hands, make the catch. Sometimes you throw it too hard it’s hard to catch. We cannot have tipped balls.”
Quarterback Ryan Mallett threw the first interception when a ball tipped off receiver Joe Adams’ hands into safety Tramain Thomas’ arms. Safeties Elton Ford and Rudell Crim also collected interceptions off tips.
“They don’t help you,” Mallett said. “But you’ve just got to keep moving on. That’s how you get used to each other in camp. That’s what camp is for, to get your timing down and get to know your personnel.”
Receiver Jarius Wright said the good news is that the problem is correctable. He said the group would go back and watch practice film to see what went wrong.
“I guess the timing is a little off or the receiver didn’t get both hands up,” Wright said. “It’s just something we have to watch on film and correct.”
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
• Sophomore Greg Childs was named to the watch list for the 2010 Biletnikoff Award, which is presented to the nation’s top receiver. “Greg is a very, very good wide receiver,” Petrino said. “He worked hard in the offseason. He is stronger. He’s faster. He’s in better condition. … I thought he had a real good year for us last year and expecting big things from him again.”
• Center Travis Swanson spent time with the first-team offense during Tuesday’s practices. The redshirt freshman was working with the ones in place of returning starter Seth Oxner. “Don’t get caught up too much in who is working with the ones, who is working with the twos,” Petrino said about the competition. “Because we’re going to continually rotate them.”
• Petrino tried to beat the heat by pushing Arkansas’ morning practice up from 9 a.m. to 8:30. The afternoon workout was conducted inside the Walker Indoor Pavilion. “They say be careful what you wish for because it’s been real hot,” Petrino said. “We had two hard, physical tough practices in the heat.
• The Razorbacks spent a good chunk of their afternoon practice on the run game. “We have run the ball well on the perimeter and stretched the linebackers a few times,” Petrino said. “It’s an emphasis the entire camp to continue to work and improve the running game and try to find out our personality what we do best running the football.”
INJURY REPORT
DT LaCraig Brown was not on the practice field Tuesday. After being asked about Brown’s status, Petrino said “our policy is to talk about the players that are practicing.” … DE Damario Ambrose, OL Denton Simek and DT Jeremiah Jackson missed the afternoon workout with injuries after practicing Tuesday morning. … TE Brad Hefley missed his second straight day of practices with an unknown injury.
Mallett Watch
Who says Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett can’t run the option? The junior, who has shown no signs of trouble with his surgicially repaired left foot, scored a touchdown after faking a hand-off to a running back. After sprinting into the end zone, Mallett enjoyed a brief celebration with tight end D.J. Williams before returning to the huddle.
Mallett also completed a 60-yard touchdown pass to receiver Greg Childs, who had beaten cornerback Ramon Broadway deep downfield, in a seven-on-seven drill.
Quotable
“I believe it. DeMarcus is a great player. He’s nasty, he’ll get after you and he’s real physical. … I’ll take him in a dark alley with me if we’ve got to fight somebody.” — Mallett on tackle DeMarcus Love, who was tagged as the top offensive line prospect for the 2011 NFL Draft by the Sporting News on Tuesday.
Up Next
Arkansas will be back on the practice field this morning. Practice time is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 11:30 and will be open to the public unless it is moved indoors for weather reasons.
