FIRST DOWN
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino puts a lot of stock in his team’s success on third downs. It’s something the Razorbacks work on extensively, monitor constantly and count on in their quest for offensive perfection.
So it’s no surprise Petrino was disappointed earlier this season, when Arkansas ranked 10th in the Southeastern Conference on third down conversions (36.1 percent). But his frustration has faded since.
The Razorbacks have been impressive on offense the past three weeks and their work on third down has been a big reason for the success. Arkansas is converting 61.9 percent (26 of 42) on the critical down, which has helped it role to easy wins against Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Texas-El Paso.
“We have improved a lot on third down,” Petrino said Monday as his team prepares for Saturday’s game at No. 22 Mississippi State. “Some of it is being better on first and second down, getting into better third and short, third and medium situations. You have more options available. You can still run the ball. You can still use play action. You can still use your quick game, your drop back game. It helps a lot not to be in third and long and third and extra long.”
It was a scenario Arkansas had trouble avoiding earlier this season with a run game struggling to get to the 100-yard mark. But with running back Knile Davis and the ground game rolling, Arkansas has managed to grab chunks of yards on earlier downs.
Offensive tackle Ray Dominguez said the Razorbacks emphasized third downs more in practice as well.
“We have drills during practice where it’s specifically third down conversions,” Dominguez said. “We just starting picking this up four weeks ago and it’s amazing how it correlates to the game. … If we’re doing well throughout the week on third downs it’s showing. And for the past couple of weeks, our points are going up every week. It’s really amazing.”
Arkansas faced 3rd-and-10 or longer only twice against UTEP. Both came early in the first quarter.
The Razorbacks got a first down on one of the third down plays after a pass interference penalty and quarterback Ryan Mallett found receiver Cobi Hamilton for a 20-yard gain on the second.
The Razorbacks finished a season-best 8-for-10 on third down against UTEP. The starters alone were 5-for-6 before being pulled late in the game.
Arkansas’ starters, who have been pulled in the fourth quarter of the past three games, are 23 of 33 (69.7 percent) overall during the three-game stretch.
“We are not having negative plays on first down as much as we were in the beginning of the season,” Mallett said. “That has really helped us. … If you can stay out of third and long, the third down conversions come a little bit easier.”
The improvement has helped Arkansas climb from 10th in the SEC (36.1 percent) to fifth (44.8 percent) on third-down conversions in just three weeks.
It’s no surprise the Razorbacks are scoring more, too. Arkansas is averaging 49.3 points in its past three games after scoring 33 in its first seven.
“We understand if we win third downs, we’re going to win ball games,” tight end D.J. Williams said.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
• Williams participated in the portion of practice open to the media Tuesday. The senior suffered a bruised shoulder in the second half of the UTEP game and Petrino said he would be day-to-day this week. “It’s just a little dinged, a bump and bruise,” Williams said Tuesday. “We’ve got a great medical staff. It’s getting better every day.”
• Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett was named a player to watch for the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s 2010 player of the year award. Mallett joined 15 others — including Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley — on the Walter Camp list. Five finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award will be announced Dec. 1 and the award winner will be named on Dec. 9.
• Cornerback Darius Winston was working with the first-team defense during the portion of practice open to the media. Winston worked opposite Isaac Madison. Greg Gatson, who started at one corner spot last Saturday in place of injured senior Ramon Broadway, worked with the second-team group.
• Running back Dennis Johnson worked out in his helmet with no pads during the portion of practice open to the media. It was the first time Johnson has been spotted doing any work with the team since suffering the torn bowel against Louisiana-Monroe. He is not expected to return this season, but Arkansas hopes he’ll be available for spring practice.
QUOTABLE
“When you’ve got a guy like No. 15 back there and you’ve got Knile Davis running amuck, everybody has confidence right now. We’re ready to step into any hostile environment right now.” — Dominguez on Arkansas’ confidence as it prepares for its final road game at Mississippi State on Saturday.
— Robbie Neiswanger • Arkansas News Bureau
