Premium placed on protection
FAYETTEVILLE —Arkansas has a growing concern with its leaky pass protection, and because its passing game has been more reliable than the run, it’s a concern that has to be addressed and corrected.
Arkansas’ next five games are against No. 12 Florida, at No. 13 Auburn, at unbeaten Kentucky, Ole Miss and unbeaten Tulsa, teams that can bring substantial pass-rush heat.
Arkansas ranks last in the country in sacks allowed, at 4. 25 per game. Texas put a hurting on the pass protection with seven sacks Saturday, including six on quarterback Casey Dick.
“We got beat 1-on-1 a couple of times off a quick swim move, a jab step outside on a quick swim move while the center is working the other way in protection,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said.
“There were a couple of times we held the ball. We’ve got to get the ball out of our hand, and we have enough time where [Dick ] should have moved up in the pocket and slid a little bit.”
The Razorbacks have been forced to pass more than Petrino would like due to playing from behind or having their running game throttled, as it was against Texas last week, and the result hasn’t always been pretty.
“Really, it’s just getting the guy in the right area and winning the 1-on-1 battles,” All-America center Jonathan Luigs said. “We know how to do it all week, but we get to Saturday and we either have mental errors or get out-physicaled and get beat 1-on-1.” Arkansas’ run game is ranked last in the SEC and 109 th nationally at 90. 5 yards per game.
Injury report Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said Monday he expects receiver Lucas Miller to be ready for the Florida game. Miller did not play against Texas because of a concussion suffered on a punt play against Alabama.
“We still have a few guys who came out of the game [at Texas ] who didn’t go back in. We have to find out later what their status is,” Petrino said.
That group would include offensive tackle Ray Dominguez, who suffered an unpublicized ankle injury last week. Dominguez started against the Longhorns, gave up a sack and a false-start penalty, and eventually gave way to Michael Aguirre.
Florida has an injury mess at left guard and a more extensive list of injured players than Arkansas.
Running back Emmanuel Moody (high ankle sprain ), linebacker Dustin Doe (double hernia ), linebacker Ryan Stamper (ankle sprain ) and tight end Aaron Hernandez (ankle sprain ) have all been slowed.
Florida Coach Urban Meyer said Hernandez should be available this week, while Moody is questionable. Doe and Stamper are to be evaluated later in the week.
Left guard has been muddled for the Gators, and they might be down to their fourth option at that spot against Arkansas. Projected starter Jim Tartt missed the first two games, then the Ole Miss game last week, with a shoulder injury. His top backup, Maurice Gilbert, suffered a sprained ankle against the Rebels and is questionable for Saturday, and third-teamer Maurice Hurt (elbow ) has been unable to play guard. The probable starter now is redshirt sophomore Carl Johnson, with redshirt freshman James Wilson and junior Ron Wilson behind him.
TV talk Arkansas’ road game at Auburn on Oct. 11 was not picked up by any of the SEC’s broadcast partners Monday, and Auburn officials have established a 4 p. m. kickoff time and a pay-per-view broadcast for the game.
The pay-per-view will be available in the states of Alabama and Arkansas to cable subscribers and small dish owners who subscribe to DirecTV or Dish Network, according to an Auburn media relations release.
Fans should contact their local cable provider or small dish provider to order the game. Arkansas officials are still discussing the details regarding the broadcast. Individual tickets are still available for Arkansas at Auburn through www. autigertickets. com or by calling 1-800-AUB-1957.
No Emmy Arkansas punter Jeremy Davis had a chance to draw a running-into-the-kicker penalty in the first quarter against Texas, but Davis didn’t fall down on the play. The play brought back memories of the Alabama game, when Elton Ford’s bump into P. J. Fitzgerald drew a 5-yard penalty on a fourth-and-4 to keep alive the first series of the game. The Crimson Tide went on to score a touchdown on that series.
“He’s not going to Hollywood, that’s for sure,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said of Davis. “I talked to him right after it happened, out on the field. “ He had a great punt, the guy bumped him, probably bumped him just like Elton Ford did on the one against Alabama. Their guy fell down, and Jeremy didn’t. “ Whether we get the call or not, who knows. But we do teach him that, and he should be able to do it. He just kind of stood up there and took the shot.”
A jolt for Colt Texas quarterback Colt McCoy’s superb showing during Saturday’s 52-10 rout against Arkansas propelled the junior to the Davey O’Brien Foundation quarterback of the week award.
McCoy completed 17 of 19 passes for 185 yards and 3 touchdowns and ran for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns. McCoy ranks second in the country with a 209. 7 efficiency rating.
“Colt is playing as well as any quarterback in the country,” Texas Coach Mack Brown said. “It would be hard to imagine anyone playing better. Colt’s confidence is just oozing.”
Arkansas had more incomplete passes (three ) in its first eight offensive snaps of the game than Texas had in the entire game.
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