By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ offense turned in some eye-opening numbers during the team’s scrimmage in Razorback Stadium on Thursday night.
But lost in conversation about Ryan Mallett’s impressive statistics (484 yards and 5 touchdowns) and Greg Childs’ big performance (175 receiving yards and three touchdown catches) was this: Arkansas’ first-team defense turned in another solid scrimmage effort.
Make no mistake, the group wasn’t perfect. But defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said it performed pretty well in the mock game. The most notable part was forcing three turnovers.
“We have some things we can get better at, but I thought we did get the ball back on that first unit,” Robinson said Thursday night. “We got a couple of interceptions and a fumble recovery and they came back and responded.”
Cornerback Isaac Madison and Tramain Thomas teamed up for a hit that knocked the ball out of receiver Lance Ray’s hands on the second play from scrimmage. Linebacker Freddy Burton scooped up the fumble and returned it 30 yards before being pushed out at the one-yard line. Broderick Green scored a touchdown on the next play.
The unit also picked off two passes by third-team quarterback Brandon Mitchell. Linebacker Anthony Leon’s interception off a tipped ball set up a 60-yard touchdown pass from Mallett to Childs. And safety Elton Ford’s interception — and 53-yard return — set up the offense’s final score on a one-yard run by Dennis Johnson.
“They were good plays,” Robinson said of the interceptions. “Ford’s was off an overthrow. Leon’s was off a tipped ball and that’s tough. And the defense responded and got blocks. Ford’s was way down there and the defense gave him a chance to keep going the sideline.”
The first-team defense did give up three touchdowns, including a 79-yard run by quarterback Brandon Mitchell that was initially whistled dead by an official before being overturned. And there were three plays that went for 30 yards or more, including Maudrecus Humphrey’s 39-yard touchdown catch on the scrimmage’s final play. But cornerback Ramon Broadway said those weren’t cause for alarm.
“We had a few breakdowns,” Broadway said. “We had those two or three big plays where we’re a second too early or a step too late.
“That probably was the cause of it. We know exactly went on and we can fix it.”
Robinson said the good news is that the defense didn’t let the mistake snowball.
“We had some setbacks, obviously, but I liked the way we responded,” Robinson said. “They didn’t sit back and go back into their shell after they had some negative plays. They went on to the next series. It wasn’t perfect, maybe it was a field goal instead of holding them to a punt, but the thing is they got that momentum.”
Arkansas is hoping it will continue as it inches closer to the opener against Tennessee Tech on Sept. 4. Broadway said after the first scrimmage the Razorbacks wouldn’t be satisfied by holding an opponent scoreless for a couple of series. They were looking for shutouts.
But Arkansas’ first-team group wasn’t exactly discouraged after giving up a few points in Thursday night’s mock game.
“The defense looked good,” defensive end Tenarius Wright said. “Even giving up 20 points, it was nothing we couldn’t overcome.”
