Arkansas Media Day: Quick hits from Petrino

Bobby Petrino sounded a bit tired when he took the podium this morning at Arkansas media day at the Broyles Athletic Complex. Petrino brought a cup of a hot beverage in a Starbucks cup to clear his throat and wake him up a bit.Here are some quicks of what he’s talking about right now on the podium:

— The coaching staff has high expectations for senior quarterback Casey Dick.

“He knows we have high expectations for him and he’s starting to have those same expectations for himself,” Petrino said.

Petrino cited a scrimmage just prior to Arkansas’ Red-White game in April, when Dick was as on target as ever in Petrino’s new offense, he said.

— The true freshmen quarterbacks Tyler Wilson and Jim Youngblood had an “all-time anxiety high yesterday,” Petrino said. “They were trying to go as fast as they possibly could.”

— Leadership  “wasn’t as good as I wanted it yesterday,” Petrino said. Some players got too tired too quick and started just practicing to reach the end of practice, Petrino said.

— Petrino would much rather have a lot of experience returning on the offensive and defensive lines, and a lack of experience at the skill positions compared to experience at the skill positions and none on the lines.

“I think that allows you to be able to build our team with the young skilled guys that we have,” Petrino said.

— As the Hogs did in the spring, there will be first-teamers vs. first-teamers during practice this year, but there will be some sessions of scout vs. first-team and second-team vs. first-team to give the offense a different look at a new defense, Petrino said.

Also, there will be a lot of hitting this year in practice.

“I do believe you do some type of hitting every day,” Petrino said. “… I believe that’s how you stay healthy.”

— There’s a new position in the defense — jack linebacker. It’s a hybrid position described by Petrino as an outside linebacker/nickel back/strong safety.

Senior Walner Leandre will get a look at the spot, along with Dallas Washington who has bumped up to 218 pounds and is “very physical,” Petrino said.

— As for the rest of practice before the season-opener on Aug. 30 against Western Illinois: “There’s a lot of teaching,” Petrino said. “A lot. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

– Brandon Marcello 

Filed under: Arkansas Football by Brandon Marcello. Posted on: August 5, 2008 at 7:56 am