Thursday Practice Notes: Hogs in game week mode
Linebacker Wendel Davis is back on the field, the Hogs are in game week mode and head coach Bobby Petrino believes more freshmen than even what he first thought are going to play this season.
Petrino just met with the media for the final time this week before the Razorbacks take to Razorback Stadium tomorrow for a dress rehearsal. After that, the Hogs get two days off to prepare for the start of classes and game week practices Monday.
“That’s always a big challenge when you start class,” Petrino said. “You acutally wish we would have started this week. We’ll practice on Monday, which normally won’t be a practice day for us. One of the reasons is to get the bad practice out of the way when you start class because there certainly is a different mindset, different distractions that get you.”
Arkansas practiced for about 90 minutes today, providing the Hogs a rare two light practices in a row.
“We should have our legs back now,” Petrino announced as he stepped up to face the media after practice. “We gave them a lot of time off the last two days to recover and we came out today and did what we would do in a normal Thursday practice.”
— Here are more quotables from Petrino:
“We had a good end of the week this week on our game prep and them trying to see what the schedule will be like, what the practices will be like and I think that will help us a lot.”
— On whether Friday’s dress rehearsal impacts the depth chart:
“It impacts it. We really haven’t finished any depth charts at all. We talk about that every day but we’ll probably sit down Sunday night and really decide going into the first week.”
— What will happen in the mock game/dress rehearsal Friday:
“We’ll be hitting. We like to hit. Yeah, we’ll definitely be hitting.”
Petrino said the first team offense and defense will go against the second, third and scout teams to give the Hogs some looks that Western Illinois will provide the Razorbacks in the season opener Aug. 30. The whole day will be like game day at the athletic complex, Petrino said. The team will have a pre-game meal, walkthrough and the team will learn how to approach the locker room, training room and the pre-game routine on the field.
— Linebacker Wendel Davis was back on the practice field today, participating with the scout team defense. Davis is coming off surgery on his knee in the winter and a hand injury he suffered during a traffic altercation in June.
“Wendel is back out and running around. He doesn’t know a lot what we’re doing because he’s missed so much but he did a great job on the scout team today. I thought he gave us good looks. … I was impressed with his movement. I probably watched him more than I normally would.”
Davis won’t be ready to play in the Western Illinois game, Petrino said.
— Petrino will also be keeping an eye on the freshmen, who he expects will make a huge impact this season. When asked how many freshmen he projected would be on the field, Petrino smiled and entered a verbal game of repetition.
“A lot. A lot. It’s a lot. Yeah, it’s a lot. How many freshmen are we going to play? It’s a lot. A lot more than you’d like to. More than you’re used to.
“We always played somewhere between six and eight. I think the last year we were maybe down to five — our last year at Louisville. We had a lot of vets back (in 2006). I went into this thinking somewhere maybe six and 10 the first year, but I think it’s probably going to be a a little more than that.
A reporter then asked if it was a case for Petrino feeling older as the players on the field got younger.
“I haven’t been sleeping very good, so maybe you’re right.”
9 Responses to “Thursday Practice Notes: Hogs in game week mode”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I have sat back and withheld comments for quite a while. I wanted to allow the new coaching staff time to impress me. Well I am. I harped (as did many other fans) about the team’s leadership and focus for the past several years. In many of my previous posts I used words like consistency, accountability, discipline, focus and being a student of the game. I know all coaching staffs use these words but they just seem to resonate better with the new coaching staff. I like the professionalism and business like approach. I think if this year’s players will work with this coaching staff and become students of the game I believe we will be pleasantly surprised with our record and proud of their efforts. We will loose some games but with consistency, accountability, discipline, focus and being a student of the game we may loose by very narrow margins. I could envision some nail biters if the defensive staff can overachieve with the current talent. I see us being better on special teams and time management as well. With the new staff we will do a better job of striking all over the field. I think the recruiting will only get better from here and going forward because of the staff. I think the defensive staff will eventually put together a wrecking crew unseen before at Arkansas. I see us finally developing NFL level QBs and more NFL level receivers at Arkansas.
If you’re a high school top gun come here and let’s do something that hasn’t been done in a long time. Come here and let’s do it more often than every 45-50 years. Your years at Arkansas will be cherished. The fans will love you as much or more than any other SEC school. You will be taught the game by a quality coaching staff.
Well said, allentxhog. With some time, Coach P and his staff are going to take the program to a different level. With recruiting, they will be in the [national] “hunt” in two to three years.
In my opinion, the Razorbacks will be much better this year than advertised. The defense will also be better from going one on one against the offense they are facing each day in practice. As stated, “We love to hit.” Too cool.
Petrino also seems to really like and enjoy the NW Arkansas area, as well, from everything being written. I am not, at all, surprised.
As a fan deep in the heart of Texas, I am totally jacked up about the season and future of the program. Go Hogs!
[...] messaging, improper contact with recruits, and an improper official visit. The football team is in game week mode. Freshman QB Tyler Wilson is competing for the backup QB spot. ESPN’s Chris Low visited [...]
[...] notes column from Thursday’s practice, including the news that Bobby Petrino now feels that more freshmen will play for the Hogs this year than he’d initially [...]
Well stated allentxhog!! I believe you are 100% right. I like the fact that they are physical in practice and it appears the players have bought into this system. The HOGS will be competitive this year. I look forward to the season.
It’ll be great–he’ll win games and then be gone as soon as something better comes along.
I give him 4 years.
What if nothing better comes along, austinhawg? Petrino seems to be much better suited for the college game and in this regard, Arkansas is one of the premiere stops in coaching football. The Razorbacks are the only game in town and have a loyal, rabid, fan base - unlike many places elsewhere where you have 2 to 10 major in state programs dividing the fans.
The facilities are as good or better than any other college program. NW Arkansas is a hidden treasure and most people fall in love with the place. I would not be surprised to see Petrino and his family do the same. He is also very well paid.
As a fellow TexasHog, in my opinion, Petrino will be around for a longer time than most folks expect. Regardless, I think the program will get to a much higher level during his stay.
hawgnaustin…
if he continues to get support from fans throughout the state then nothing better can come along. Razorback football is the #1 game in the state, how could it get better than that. Play in the SEC, get to recruit the south (TX, LA, FL), play for some of the most rabbid fans in the country who don’t mind spending $$ on facilities and resources. I think he would be hard pressed to find a better job anywhere, besides that who would take him unless he wins huge here. And if he wins big here he will make mucho $$ and have no reason to leave. U need to stop watching so much ESPN.
I like the sentimentality of these comments. Goodness knows that if I had a chance to move back to NW Arkansas, I do it in a heartbeat.
Unfortunately, college football has become a business, a business of money. I’d like to think Petrino would stay a long time. I sincerely hope he does. But, a part of me is also a realist. Guys like Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden are a throwback to the past. The average stay of a college football coach these days is about seven years. If you’ve watched MSN’s site recently and seen who’s on the hot seat, Charlie Weiss at Notre Dame is living on borrowed time. If Petrino has a breakout first year and Weiss tanks at South Bend, I cannot believe the priests would ignore who’s to their southwest.
But, that’s pure speculation. Meanwhile, I’m gonna enjoy the ride, watching this program be far more prepared for its games every week than we’ve ever seen since Broyles’ glory years. Win or lose, I think these guys are going to hurt some people. SEC teams beware, you come to play Arkansas this year, you’re going to feel the effects the next morning.