FIRST DOWN
Arkansas’ defense is facing an unusual challenge as it prepares to play Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. But the Razorbacks have what Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino called an “inside guy” trying to help them out.
ULM will play its first game under new coach Todd Berry and, in addition, unveil its new offensive scheme in War Memorial Stadium. Berry most recently worked as UNLV’s offensive coordinator from 2007-09 before being hired by the Warhawks.
Arkansas wide receivers coach Kris Cinkovich was on UNLV’s staff from 2004-09 and worked in Berry’s offense the past three seasons. So Cinkovich said he has been getting plenty of questions this week.
“Oh, yeah, they certainly asked me,” Cinkovich said. “This being Monroe’s first game, they don’t have much to go on. So we spent some time this summer going through stuff and we talked this week.”
Cinkovich said ULM will run a Spread offense with three or four wideouts on most downs. He said to expect a “controlled passing game” from the Warhawks on Saturday, who are also breaking in a new quarterback in redshirt freshman Kolton Browning.
Petrino said earlier this week that, with Cinkovich’s help, the Razorbacks have broken down video of UNLV’s offense to prepare. Petrino believes Arkansas has an “understanding of what they’re going to try to do.”
“He ran the offense at UNLV when I was there and I’m sure he’ll run the very same thing,” Cinkovich said after Wednesday’s practice. “I wouldn’t expect he would change much other than I’m sure he’s made some improvements and altered a few things.”
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
• What happened to S Tramain Thomas in the first half, when he left the field for a few minutes with an injury? Thomas explained Wednesday, saying he took a helmet in the stomach and “threw up” on the field. Thomas returned later and CB Ramon Broadway has since gotten a few laughs out of the incident: “I told him he’s got to work on his core,” Broadway said. “That’s funny man. … His core is definitely weak.”
• Arkansas worked in the rain for the second straight day and defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said it was good for the Razorbacks since there is the potential for rain in the forecast Saturday. “We play within the element that we might have to deal with,” Robinson said. “It doesn’t confine us. Going into the indoor (practice facility) kind of confines us.”
• LB Anthony Leon got most of the recognition for his debut at a new position, but former S Ross Rasner also did well in a reserve role. Rasner, in his first game at linebacker, finished tied for second on the team with seven tackles, two for losses. “I had a few tackles, came off the edge a few times and made a few plays,” he said. “It was a pretty good fit for me.”
• Did anyone notice Arkansas going no-huddle against Tennessee Tech. The Razorbacks did early, but Petrino said they struggled with it. “I thought it hurt our tempo early because we waited around seeing what the defense was doing and we went away from it and started executing better,” Petrino said.
• WR Marquel Wade, who left campus because of an “eligibility issue” midway through the preseason, is apparently attending a prep school in New York this semester. Wade is listed on the 2010 football roster at Milford Academy, according to the school’s website.
INJURY UPDATE
LB Bret Harris and DT Patrick Jones did not practice Wednesday, but were riding stationary bikes during the portion of practice open to the media. Both players missed the season opener against Tennessee Tech.
QUOTABLE
“It was great to come out and show people we’re for real and show that we can be an anchor, too. We don’t want to just lean on the offense. We want to go out there and stop teams and hold teams to goose eggs. We don’t want anybody to score.” — DE Damario Ambrose on Arkansas’ defensive performance in the opener
— Robbie Neiswanger • Arkansas News Bureau
