Thursday’s Practice Report
Arkansas spent a portion of its Thursday practice working on the two-minute drill after suffering close losses to Kentucky and Alabama in consecutive weeks.
The Razorbacks’ offense sputtered down the stretch last week after the Wildcats pulled ahead, 35-29, in the fourth quarter. On two separate drives in the final four minutes, two seconds, Arkansas ran 10 plays and advanced the ball only 11 yards. No points were produced on either possession.
In the Razorbacks’ 41-38 loss to the Crimson Tide, they ran a hurry-up offense in the last eight seconds of regulation after Alabama scored what would be the game-winning touchdown. Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick found London Crawford for a 22-yard completion before time expired.
“It wasn’t real good,” Arkansas wide receivers coach Alex Wood said of the two-minute offense. “We’ll find out more when we get to go against these guys [North Texas] if we get a chance to operate our two-minute operation.”
If given the opportunity, Arkansas said it will try to run its hurry-up offense against the Mean Green, when the two teams meet at 6 p.m. Saturday at Razorback Stadium.
“We might, we might,” Razorback coach Houston Nutt said. “You do it, work on it, you practice it. Communication. Know the time and score. Get the play communicated. Run your route. Protect. All those things and do it again and again and again.”
And hope it produces results.
BARNETT EXPECTED TO GET SOME CARRIES
Sophomore tailback Brandon Barnett is expected to see a lot of action this weekend. Barnett was the beneficiary from third-string running back Michael Smith’s arrest and subsequent suspension last Sunday. With Smith out of the picture, Barnett is the primary backup to Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.
“He’s done well,” Nutt said. “Had a good week. Got a lot of reps the day. Darren wasn’t there. Real quick, built low to the ground, has great speed. I’m anxious to see how he does. Haven’t seen him really get hit yet. I’m anxious to see how he handles the contact part of it.”
HILLIS TO STAY AT PUNT RETURNER
Arkansas is dead last in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision in punt returning, averaging .2 yards per return. But fullback/H-back Peyton Hillis will still be back handling punts.
“Peyton’s got to get a little help, let him have a chance,” Razorbacks coach Houston Nutt said. “There’s a couple of times he could have taken it and ran. We’ve put an emphasis on catching the ball.”
Arkansas’ longest punt return of the season was made by Reggie Fish, who advanced the ball five yards against Troy. Hillis has handled duties as a returner for the last two games but only has one official return. It covered zero yards.
SCOOTER NUTT
After practice, Arkansas coach Houston Nutt was seen cruising up and down the west sideline at Razorback Stadium on a scooter owned by his daughter, Hailey.
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