Arkansas shuffling secondary FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas secondary continued to undergo shuffling Wednesday, with movement at cornerback and safety.
Junior Matt Harris, who is being pushed for the starting free safety job by true freshman Elton Ford, took first-team snaps at strong safety again, while sophomore Ramon Broadway who is having a strong camp, was elevated past Jamar Love for first-team snaps at boundary cornerback.
Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said Broadway was moved up because he’s a physical player and he’s been more consistent.
“Right now he’s playing at a level that is consistent, and that’s what we’re looking for,” Robinson said.
Love was voted a team captain prior to the start of camp by teammates and the coaching staff.
Senior Dallas Washington, who opened camp as the strong safety starter, has been dealing with a hand injury.
“We moved [Harris ] from the open [free ] safety to the tight [strong ] safety, and what’s happened there is he sees that the game is a lot faster in that area,” Robinson said. “So his reads are a lot different, but he’s capable of doing that.” Robinson said the changes in the depth chart are not etched in stone.
“That could be [Washington ] that’s going back in there, OK ?” Robinson said. “It could be [Harris ] back at open safety. We’ve got to find continuity back there in the back end.” Harris made the move to strong safety at halftime of the team’s last scrimmage and has been teaming with Ford in the starting lineup the past few days.
“The more you know on the defense, the more opportunity you have to go in on the field,” Harris said. “I’ll learn three spots.” Robinson mentioned that the safeties had been missing too many tackles through the opening portion of camp.
“We need physical people on the field, but once again, it’s not just about being physical. It’s about being smart too,” Robinson said. “What’s happening with us right now is we’re kind of escalating our freshmen up the ranks to be those No. 1 guys. But they haven’t had the same reps those guys we had in the spring have.
“ So it’s a matter of do you live with the growing pains, and how long do you do that before you feel more comfortable with possibly going back to that next guy if he shows us he wants to be that type of football player — a physical, smart, tough football player.” Wade sentenced Sophomore receiver Marques Wade was ordered Wednesday to pay a $ 225 fine, $ 300 in court costs and $ 10 to Washington County in Fayetteville District Court after pleading guilty Monday to driving while intoxicated and careless driving.
Wade, 19, also was sentenced to 90 days in jail by District Court Judge Rudy Moore, but that sentence will be suspended if Wade completes 16 hours of public service and attends an alcohol awareness class. Wade, of Ellenwood, Ga., was arrested on the drunken driving charges by UA police July 26 and was subsequently suspended for the first two games of the season by Coach Bobby Petrino.
D. J. ’s move The recent spate of nicks suffered by tailbacks Brandon Barnett, De’Anthony Curtis and Chip Gregory has increased the workload on the healthiest backs. “Dennis Johnson is the one [young back ] that’s gotten a lot of reps here lately and has really done some good things,” running backs coach Tim Horton said. “I think we see a lot out of him. He’s starting to learn the offense better.
“ He’s going to play and play a lot and play early. It’ll be exciting.” Gregory (bruised ribs ) picked up his work level Wednesday, while Curtis (knee sprain ) is not expected back until possibly next week. Barnett was rehabbing from knee surgery early in camp, then was banged up again recently. Step forward Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson, who called out his defense last Friday for a lack of intensity and leadership, said Wednesday he’s seen encouraging progress the past few days. Robinson said the defense “took a big step ahead” Wednesday. “Today it wasn’t our voices I was hearing, it was the players’ voices, and lot of that has to do with responsibility,” he said. “You saw the energy [that occurs ] when you do start getting success.” Robinson said some breakdowns still happen, but more players are doing the right thing more often. “We’re still not there yet,” Robinson said. “But at least now we’re starting to play faster to the ball.” Pick it up Tight end figures to be a position of strength this season with D. J. Williams, Andrew Davie and Ben Cleveland, but offensive coordinator Paul Petrino wasn’t totally satisfied with their performance in last Saturday’s closed scrimmage. “The tight ends did a pretty good job, but they can play better,” Petrino said. “They need to pick up their game and start playing better.” Williams said he understands the tight ends can play at a higher level.
“That’s just something we need to work on,” Williams said. “We’ve had a long, hard camp, and I think fatigue is really getting to us now, but that’s just something that happens in the fourth quarter and we need to overcome and step up if they want us to be the playmakers like they want us to be.” Personnel report Linebacker Wendel Davis seemed to take another step in his road back to the playing field Wednesday as he participated in some 1-on-1 pass rush drills against the running backs. Davis, who is coming off knee surgery from last winter, has his right hand heavily wrapped.
Jerell Norton has not rejoined his fellow cornerbacks on the field just yet, but he was fully dressed on the sideline and appeared to be picking up his rehab level Wednesday.
Defensive tackle Brandon Lampkin, who was rushed to the hospital with shooting neck pains during the first week of camp, has bounced back in good shape and was even taking a few reps with the second unit on defense on Wednesday.
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