FIRST DOWN
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett was back on the practice field Tuesday and said he felt “100 percent” after leaving last week’s 38-24 win against Ole Miss with a bruised right shoulder.
But Mallett’s top receivers were missing as No. 19 Arkansas (5-2, 2-2 in Southeastern Conference) continued its preparation for Vanderbilt (2-5, 1-3).
Greg Childs and Joe Adams, who suffered ankle injuries in the second half against Ole Miss, were not on the field during the portion of practice open to the media. Their absence was noticeable. Childs and Adams rank first and second, respectively, on the team in receiving and have combined for 71 catches for 1,116 yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games.
It’s not clear if they’ll be available for Saturday’s game, but offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said Arkansas has confidence in the group.
“They had a good meeting day (Monday), so we were pretty much ahead of the game plan and understand what we wanted to get done,” said McGee, who added he did not known when Adams or Childs would return. “I thought they did a good job of executing (Tuesday).”
Jarius Wright and Cobi Hamilton are regulars in the rotation and will be counted on to lead the way against the Commodores if the duo is sidelined.
After that, youngsters like Lance Ray, Julian Horton, Maudrecus Humphrey and Javontee Herndon will get more opportunities if Childs and Adams are out.
“We didn’t see (Childs and Adam),” Mallett said after practice. “But we had guys that stepped in and made plays. That’s what our offense is about.”
Mallett said he felt “a lot better” after two days of treatment. He said the injury occurred on one of the two plays he was sacked Saturday, but didn’t recall exactly which one when asked Tuesday.
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino pulled Mallett out of the game when the teams returned to the field following the first weather delay because the velocity on his passes had dropped off considerably.
But McGee said Mallett, who felt he could have continued if needed Saturday, looked good at practice Tuesday. The junior, who has thrown for an SEC-high 2,040 yards with 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions this season, said it was a “relief.”
“It was just a bruise,” Mallett said. “Just had to get the blood moving and circulating.”
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
• Cornerback Isaac Madison was working with the first-team defense during the portion of practice open to the media. Sophomore Darius Winston, who had started the previous two games, was with the second-team unit. “Both him and Isaac have been rotating in and competing in practice,” Petrino said Monday. “We’re grading effort in practice. I think Darius has made some strides, but he did give up a couple of big plays the other day which he’s in position. He’s got to go play the ball and compete for the ball better.”
• Why did Arkansas’ offense continue to succeed with Mallett, Adams and Childs sidelined down the stretch last Saturday? McGee’s answer: “It says we have recruited a lot of good players. It says our kids have a lot of pride in what we are doing. Our coaches are doing a good job coaching everybody in our meeting rooms and doing a good job explaining to everybody about their role and that you never know when your number is going to be called or what you are going to have to do throughout a game.”
• Arkansas’ practice ended a little earlier than usual Tuesday. McGee said it’s the time of year when Arkansas wants everyone fresh. “We didn’t cut back much but there are some periods we cut down just to keep ourselves fresh and not install as much,” McGee said. “What’s important is you have got to cut back but continue to get better because the games are going to get tougher and tougher.”
• Mallett’s weekend didn’t just revolve around the Ole Miss game. He also attended a concert featuring rap artist Snoop Dogg on Arkansas’ campus Sunday night. The two met briefly backstage and the moment was captured in a picture that appears on Snoop’s Twitter page. “I just got to meet him for a second,” Mallett said. “It was pretty neat. He’s a legend in the music industry. It was pretty cool to meet him.”
QUOTABLE
“It’s the best he’s done. There was three bricks or three pancakes or three knockdowns, whatever you want to call them. But there were three different occasions where he splattered them good.” — Arkansas running backs coach Tim Horton on fullback Van Stumon’s blocking in the Ole Miss win.
— Robbie Neiswanger • Arkansas News Bureau
