Practice Notes: Wilson gets more snaps at QB
Tyler Wilson’s sweaty brow after practice today tempted the obvious question.
Did you get twice as many snaps today compared to any previous practice at the UA?
“Definitely. Definitely,” he said.
The true freshman quarterback, who relieved Casey Dick in the second half when the Alabama game was out of control last week, was moved to the backup slot ahead of Casey’s brother, Nathan Dick, this week.
“I got some good work in today,” Wilson said. “I’m happy with that. I feel more prepared today than I had been in a while. I feel like I got a good sweat in today. It’s something I feel comfortable with and I’m ready to come out the next couple of days and do the same, and work hard.”
VIDEO: The starter noticed some of Wilson’s progressions today in practice.
“He did good,” Casey Dick said. “Any time a young guy gets in there, it’s probably going to be a little faster for him than what he’s used to. He’ll get better everyday that he gets in there. That’s something he’ll have to work on — he’ll have to study more and do whatever — but it’s certainly something he’s excited about.”
Wilson completed 4-of-7 passes for 27 yards and 1 touchdown against the Crimson Tide. He also tossed an interception.
Wilson, who played primarily out of the shotgun Saturday and during his career at Greenwood in high school, still has some work to do when lined up under center, he said.
“Saturday (the coaches) wanted to let me be a little more relaxed and let me work out of shotgun, which was nice,” Wilson said. “This week I think I’ll be working under center maybe a little bit more, trying to get me more familiar with it. It’s progressing but I’m still working out of the shotgun a little bit more than under center.”
BACKFIELD SHAKEUPS
As he said yesterday, Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino wants to get true freshmen tailbacks Dennis Johnson (5-7, 195) and De’Anthony Curtis (5-10, 205) more touches to relieve a tiring Michael Smith (5-7, 173).
And it seems the two could be seeing more playing time this week.
“I worked a lot of reps at running back today with the first team,” Johnson said. “So I believe this game me and De’Anthony should be getting a lot of reps.”
Petrino voiced concern over Johnson’s practice habits during his Monday press conference. Brother Paul Petrino said today that the Texarkana native improved quite a bit Tuesday.
“We came up with a couple of personnel groups today to try to make sure we can get those guys in,” he said. “Dennis, I thought, had a pretty good practice today. I’m anxious to go watch tape. He ran the ball pretty hard the other day on kickoff return.”
The two still have some work to do on pass protection. Bobby Petrino said Monday that he had been hesitant in subbing the two in more previously because of the strength of pass protection that Smith brought to the offense.
And Smith has also been helping off the field.
“Mike helps out a lot,” Johnson said. “Every meeting he tells us what to do, when a blitz should be coming. He tells us every time we go on the field, ‘Protect first before you release.’ He’s a big help.”
Some other backfield notes: Mike linebacker Jermaine Love (5-11, 226) and defensive tackle Van Stumon (6-2, 277) worked at fullback today for the Hogs. True freshman Mitchell Bailey (6-1, 220) and junior John Durmon (5-11, 217) were listed on the depth chart Monday. Bailey was listed as the starter.
The Hogs are surely adding Love and Stumon in to help shore up some pass protection and get some more weight in the backfield. Bailey and Durmon have yet to catch a ball or notch a carry. That was expected in Petrino’s offense, as previously mentioned here.
NO MILLER TIME
Junior Lucas Miller (6-3, 201), listed Monday as a starter at ‘W’ receiver, did not practice today. Miller suffered a concussion during the Alabama game Saturday.
True freshman Chris Gragg (6-3, 210), who came down with that fourth-and-1 ‘Cowboy Get It’ pass that saved Arkansas’ comeback attempt against ULM earlier this season, will get more plays this week if Miller doesn’t return, recievers coach Paul Petrino said.
(Photo by Andy Shupe, Northwest Arkansas Times)
– Brandon Marcello
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