FIRST DOWN
Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson still has plenty to sort out before the season opener against Tennessee Tech on Sept. 4. But at this point in preseason camp, Robinson sounded confident about the improvement from his first-team defense Tuesday.

“We like where we are with our ones,” Robinson said. “It’s the dog days so we need to make sure our leadership steps up with the soreness and the fact that it is hard. We have to overcome hard. We have to fight through hard and grind. Our leadership has got to step up. We have been inconsistent on that part of it. But when we are rolling, we feel we are capable of being a much better defense.”

The group, which is being watched closely this preseason, has been missing a handful of regulars (Rudell Crim, Jerry Franklin and Jermaine Love) this week. Robinson said the absences are noticeable.

“You always miss the ones and find out how important they are when they are not on the field,” Robinson said. “When we’ve got the one group out there it’s a lot more efficient.”

But the group is coming off a strong performance in last Saturday’s scrimmage in Razorback Stadium.

After a slow start, the first-team defense bounced back to frustrate quarterback Ryan Mallett and the Arkansas offense. Robinson said it wasn’t a perfect scrimmage by any means. But he liked the way the unit “took control” in the second half.

He admitted there were problems with the backups, though. Something the Razorbacks are working on.

“The seconds didn’t perform very well at all,” Robinson said. “Seems like they came out very lethargic and didn’t perform up to expectations we were looking for. We were kind of disappointed.”

TWO-MINUTE DRILL
• Senior Anthony Leon spent time working with the first-team defense during Tuesday’s practice. Afterward, Robinson said Leon’s move from linebacker to safety was a good one. Not only for the Arkansas defense, but for Leon. “He enjoys being around the ball,” Robinson said. “We felt like he was very natural his first day there as far as his reads. He’s a big body in there and can run.”

• Arkansas linebacker Jerry Franklin was named to the Butkus Award watch list on Tuesday. Franklin is one of 51 players who are on the watch list for the award, which is presented to the top linebacker.

• Arkansas spent an early portion of practice on the run game, putting the ball in the hands of backs during a perimeter drill that featured live tackling. The most impressive play came from junior running back Dennis Johnson, who broke off a 30 yard run. Johnson was dragging three defenders for extra yards before finally being pulled down.

• Cornerback Isaac Madison did not participate in contact drills Tuesday, giving sophomore Darius Winston a chance to work with the first-team defense. Robinson said Winston, who broke up a pair of passes, still needs to “overcome the fact it’s faster” with the first-team: “His focus probably needs to improve,” Robinson said. “When he is focused he is a really good football player.”

INJURY REPORT
Crim and Franklin were both back on the field after missing Monday’s workouts. Both players worked with the second-team defense and Crim appeared to be limited to non-contact work. … Love worked off to the side for the second straight day with what linebackers coach Reggie Johnson described as “hip and knee” issues. The nagging injuries do not appear to be serious. … Offensive tackle Anthony Oden missed Tuesday’s workout for an unknown reason.

QUOTABLE
“Oh sure there’s a timetable. It’s coach Petrino’s timetable. Whenever he says, ‘We’re going to set the depth this way,’ that’s obviously what you go by.” —  Johnson, when asked if there was a timetable for narrowing the depth chart at linebacker.

UP NEXT
Arkansas will practice twice today. The first is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 11, while the second is set for 4 p.m. to 6. It is the final day of two-a-day practices this preseason.

— Robbie Neiswanger • Arkansas News Bureau