FIRST DOWN
One of Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett’s goals this preseason has been improving a completion percentage that lagged at times last season.
Mallett wasn’t horrible in 2009. The junior, who did set or tie 16 school records, completed 55.8 percent of his passes in his first full season under center. But Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has pressed Mallett to be much better this fall.
So how is it going?
“I’ve been a lot more accurate,” Mallett said Thursday night. “We keep a tally in the quarterback room every day and my numbers really haven’t been up and down.
“They’ve been consistent and gone up each day.”
That’s good news for the Razorbacks, who are hoping Mallett’s big-play capability can be aided by better accuracy in the intermediate attack.
Petrino said Mallett is doing well percentage-wise, although his numbers have been affected by some dropped passes throughout preseason camp.
“When I got in the quarterback’s meeting room every day that’s the first thing I look at,” Petrino said. “How many completions from the previous practice? What the percentage is. He’s doing a good job distributing the ball.”
Last year the Razorbacks set a goal in breaking the school’s single-season completion percentage mark, which is held by former Razorback quarterback Kevin Scanlon (66.2 percent). Mallett fell short, but is confident it can happen this season based on his performances this preseason.
“If we continue it to the game, I think we might break that with ease,” Mallett said.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
• Running back Dennis Johnson missed his second straight practice Thursday afternoon, but Petrino said he was out because his wisdom teeth pulled. It should not affect his status for the season opener. “He’s fine,’ Petrino said. “He’s got to recover from that. He did have an infection in there, so we’re hoping he’ll be back full speed and ready to go on Monday.”
• Petrino indicated that sophomore Dylan Breeding has won the punting job, but the battle for place kicking duties has not yet been decided. All three kickers — Alex Tejada, Eddie Camara and Zach Hocker — will have a chance to impress in tonight’s mock game, though. “One thing I’m not going to do is make a decision until I have to,” Petrino said.
• How many members of Arkansas’ freshmen class will play this season? Petrino couldn’t put a number on it Thursday, but did say two defensive players (defensive end Chris Smith and defensive tackle Byran Jones) have “got to go.” The rest will be determined after soon. “We’ll get (tonight) over with and that will be the first thing we address on Sunday,” Petrino said.
INJURY REPORT
Cornerback Darius Winston (right middle finger) was dressed out Thursday and participating in non-contact drills during the portion of practice open to the media. … Reserve tight end Brad Hefley was wearing a yellow, non-contact jersey Thursday. Hefley became the first player to don the yellow jersey this preseason … Receiver Greg Childs, who missed Tuesday’s practice, explained his absence Thursday. Sort of. “I was fine. MIA, that’s all” Childs said.
QUOTABLE
“Mike would know better than anybody about mental errors. He had plenty of them last year.” — Mallett, after being asked about mental errors by former Arkansas running back Michael Smith following Thursday’s practice. Smith is in his first week as a radio personality at the Springdale-based Hog Sports Radio.
UP NEXT
Arkansas will hold its second and final mock game in Razorback Stadium tonight. The scrimmage is closed to both the media and public, but Petrino said it will include fewer plays and more work in the kicking game than last Thursday’s.
“I think that will really help us when we get to the first game,” Petrino said.
— Robbie Neiswanger • Arkansas News Bureau
