Freshman shows off pass skills
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas freshman receiver Joe Adams played quarterback during his freshman and sophomore seasons in high school, so he was a likely candidate to be the passer on a favored trick play finally whipped out by Coach Bobby Petrino last weekend.
Adams took a reverse handoff from fellow freshman Jarius Wright and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Casey Dick late in the third quarter in Arkansas’ 25-22 victory at Auburn.
Adams has been cool under pressure this season, and he showed it on the gadget play, which is called Six-pack left, Z half, six pack.
“Just make sure Casey’s open before I throw the ball,” Adams said about what was going through his mind when the play was called. “He was open. If he wasn’t open, I’d have just run it for a touchdown.
“ It was open for the run, too, but I decided since Casey was over there with the big eyes, standing over by the end zone, I’d throw it to him.”
Adams made the left-handed throw across his body while moving right, which is not the easiest throw.
“I went back and watched tape and it looked like a pretty good spiral,” Adams said.
It was Dick’s third career reception for the Razorbacks, but his first touchdown catch at any level of play.
Making recovery Arkansas senior defensive tackle Ernest Mitchell is making a quick recovery from the knee surgery he underwent Oct. 1 to repair a torn lateral meniscus. Mitchell practiced Tuesday and Wednesday, going through individual drills and limited team work. Coach Bobby Petrino said coaches need to review practice video and see if there is any swelling in Mitchell’s knee before determining if he can play Saturday at Kentucky. “After [Tuesday’s practice ] it didn’t swell at all, but after doing more [Wednesday ], we’ll see how he handles that and if it swells or not,” Petrino said. Petrino called it a “great sign” Mitchell has been able to practice this week. “It started the day after the surgery that it didn’t swell up on him and he had good flexibility, good range of motion,” Petrino said. “It kind of surprised everybody how well he handled the surgery. “ So there’s no doubt he’ll be back. It’s just a matter of if it’s this week or not.”
Love full speed Arkansas sophomore guard DeMarcus Love is back at full speed, Coach Bobby Petrino said, after missing the past two games because of an ankle injury.
Petrino said redshirt freshman Grant Cook, who replaced Love against Florida and Auburn, likely will continue to start.
“[Cook ] has been playing well and doing a nice job,” Petrino said.
Love can play at Kentucky if needed.
“He’s doing a lot better,” Petrino said. “You see him up on his toe with more flexibility. He’s working hard on his technique.
“ The hardest thing for him was when the ankle wasn’t feeling good. He’s such a competitor he got away from his technique and just wanted to maul people. That actually set him back more than just having the injury.
Losing ground Auburn’s angst over its wayward offense is understandable. In Saturday’s 25-22 loss to Arkansas, the Tigers ran 61 offensive plays and 34 of them (56 percent ) went for no gain, lost yardage or a turnover. The breakdown: 18 incomplete passes, 10 lostyardage plays, 3 interceptions and 3 plays for no gain. Arkansas spread the wealth on the tackles for loss or no gain, with nine players being involved on those 13 plays. Adrian Davis led the way with three sacks, including an 18-yarder on which Chris Todd was called for intentional grounding, and a forced fumble, and he had an interception. The lost-yardage trend started on the game’s opening play, when Damario Ambrose, making the start in Davis’ spot, forced Auburn quarterback Kodi Burns out of bounds for a 1-yard loss. Other Razorbacks with lostyardage tackles were Malcolm Sheppard (3 yards ), Zach Stadther (2 ), Isaac Madison (2 ), Ramon Broadway (1 ) and Freddy Burton (3 ). Jerry Franklin, Dallas Washington and Broadway all had stops on plays that gained no yardage.
Haddock’s range Arkansas kicker Shay Haddock booted a 44-yard field goal in the opening minute of the fourth quarter to pull the Hogs within 20-19 in a game they would eventually win 25-22 at Auburn. “ Man, I feel good about it,” Haddock said. “In front of a lot of fans, fourth quarter, tight game, it felt really good.” Haddock, a transfer from TCU, said the 44-yarder was a career best in college, but that he had made a 49-yard kick in high school. How long is Haddock’s range ? “I hit a 53 [yarder ] in pregame at Auburn,” he said. “I figure anywhere 53, 54 and under. Comfortable from 50 and in, but can hit up to 53, 54.”
Worth noting All-America center Jonathan Luigs graded at 98 percent with five knockdown blocks in the victory at Auburn. Kentucky leads the SEC in defense against touchdowns in the red zone, as the Wildcats have allowed just 2 of 8 drives (25 percent ) inside their 20-yard line to turn into touchdowns. Arkansas ranks last in that department in the SEC, giving up touchdowns on 14 of 22 (63. 6 percent ) penetrations into the red zone. Shay Haddock’s two field goals at Auburn marked the first time the Razorbacks have made two field goals in a game since Alex Tejada converted tries from 31 and 42 yards in a 34-13 loss at Tennessee last season.
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