Razorbacks report
Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tackling is focus after loss
FAYETTEVILLE — As Willy Robinson approached the media gathering for his weekly Wednesday interview session, the Arkansas defensive coordinator smiled and made a prediction.
“Who wants to ask me about tackling ? Somebody wants to ask me about tackling,” Robinson said.
After the Razorbacks’ sievelike defensive performance in last Saturday’s 49-14 loss to Alabama, Robinson was right: Tackling was the talk of the day.
“Maybe it was the fact that we played Alabama and they were awed by Alabama,” Robinson said. “But technique, if your eyes are right, that body right there is going to look no different week in and week out.”
Linebacker Elston Forte called the Alabama game a trip from a tackling standpoint.
“It was just a mind thing for us,” he said. “We’re a great tackling team and I think every team has their [bad ] game, and we’re going to make sure we don’t have another game like that.”
Arkansas seems determined to correct the gaps it gave up and the shoddy tackling on display against the Crimson Tide, and has made adjustments in preparation for Saturday’s game at No. 7 Texas.
Freshman Jerico Nelson, who started at the “jack” linebacker position the first three games, is now at starting strong safety in front of Matt Harris, and Freddy Burton is in the starting lineup at strongside linebacker as the Hogs lean more toward a conventional 4-3 formation.
“We need to get tacklers on the field,” Robinson said. “You know we’re trying to find our best tacklers. That young kid [Nelson ] has been extremely productive for us, and now we’re going to put him in a different position, in a starting role and see how he performs there.”
Harris recorded no tackles and reserve strong safety Rashaad Johnson had just one assist against Alabama.
Burton’s debut Linebacker Freddy Burton blasted back onto the scene — after serving a two-game suspension for a drunk-driving arrest — with nine unassisted tackles and 16 total stops against Alabama. Burton reprised his role as a special teams ace with four tackles and grabbed a large chunk of playing time at linebacker. His 16 tackles marked a single-game high for the Hogs this season and propelled him into a tie for third on the team tackle chart. “Freddy Burton is doing a nice job,” defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. Burton’s play earned the sophomore from Morrilton a quick promotion to the starting unit.
“I guess if the coaches think I earned it, it’s basically up to them,” Burton said. “I’m just doing what I can, playing hard, trying to keep my head up, moving on through the tough times and all that. I’m just doing whatever the coaches need me to do.”
Burton served as a scout teamer while on suspension.
“I messed up, made a mistake,” he said. “I sat out my two games. I was there cheering on my team the whole time. You make mistakes, learn from them and you move on. That’s where I am right now.”
The real McCoy Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has his name sprinkled throughout the Texas record book and figures to continue his climb up the Longhorns’ career passing charts this season. It’s what McCoy has done carrying the ball this season, however, that grabbed Arkansas cornerback Jamar Love’s attention. “He’s great on the run,” Love said. “Whatever play they have called, if it breaks down, Colt McCoy goes and tries to make a play with his feet.” Through three games, that’s been a good solution. McCoy leads Texas in rushing with 194 yards on 25 carries. He also has two rushing touchdowns and only 9 yards in losses. Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson called the 6-3, 210-pound McCoy “a freak” in a complimentary manner when asked about his ability to run. Robinson also lauded McCoy’s maturation as a quarterback.
McCoy has completed 63 of 81 passes this season for 833 yards with 1 interception and 11 touchdowns.
Injury report Arkansas linebacker Jelani Smith, who suffered a hand injury against Louisiana-Monroe and missed the Alabama game, will also not be available against Texas. Smith has done rehab work on the sidelines during practice while still wearing a brace and wrap on his left hand. If the true freshman is out much longer and the Razorbacks’ linebacking corps stays healthy, redshirting will likely be an option. Smith started the first two games at weakside linebacker and posted 8 tackles, 1 pass breakup and 1 forced fumble while Elston Forte and Ryan Powers were on the mend.
Texas tough While Arkansas’ blemishes have come out in spades during its 2-1 start, Texas has rocked along, thumping its three opponents by a combined score of 146-33 and showing few weaknesses in any phase of the game. “The guys have done what we’ve asked them to do,” Texas Coach Mack Brown said. “They’ve played three teams that we’re better than, and they’ve dominated all three.
“ There are a lot of question marks about this team. But to the team’s credit, they’ve beaten three teams like they were supposed to.”
Quotebook “Hey, all I can say, the pressure’s not on us, you know what I’m saying ? The pressure’s on them. We can’t get any worse, we can only get better from here on out.” — Arkansas LB Freddy Burton on being a 28-point underdog to Texas. On further review
Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino had a succinct review of the Razorbacks’ goal-line failure late in the second quarter against Alabama.
His play-by-play summary: “Yeah, the worst one was the first-down play,” Petrino said. “That should have been an easy touchdown. We’ve just got to get our pads down and run over our pads and a couple of guys keep their blocks.
“ The second play we missed a down blocker. It’s a walk-in [touchdown ]. The third play, Casey [Dick ] probably could have pumped it and ran it in, and the fourth play... the [blocker ] didn’t stay in his zone.
“ You probably always look back and say things you could’ve done different. But to be honest, it was a guy here, execution on the last two plays, and just getting our pads down and running harder on the first two.”
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