Razorbacks tackle next step of spring
FAYETTEVILLE — Spring practice No. 6 today will be the most significant yet for the Arkansas Razorbacks, who will conduct their first live tackling of the semester at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The 11 a.m. practice, which is closed to the public, will ramp up the intensity for a team that has undergone periods of live blocking and “thud” impact by defenders since the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville put on full pads for the first time last Saturday.
“It’ll be great,” offensive coordinator Dan Enos said. “I
know the defense is chomping at the bit to do it. We’re chomping at the bit to play full go. We want to see how guys handle the ball, getting hit. The ball security piece of it is very important.”
The defense, now coordinated by Paul Rhoads, is transitioning to a 3-4 front and has worked on a limited amount of calls through five practices.
“We’ll have enough to address the situations that Coach [Bret Bielema] is going to put us in, which will be first, second and third downs,” Rhoads said. “Not in a thorough fashion, but enough to at least give us a call that we might play in any of those situations.”
Bielema’s scrimmages typically consist of pre-scripted down and distances from a set point on the field for about half of the workout, then unscripted “move the ball” sequences, with the coaches well away from the huddles.
“I think during practice, guys get kind of comfortable having coaches there helping them,” Enos said. “Things are scripted, so I think they know beforehand what plays are coming.
“This is going to be as close as we get to a game, to see them respond and react to down-and-distance situations and field position situations. And also to see how they respond without coaches on the field. One of the big things is to see guys get tackled and handle the physicality.”
Enos said the offense probably would work on high redzone plays today, but probably not goal-line calls.
Last Saturday, Bielema said he was pleased with the attitude and energy he was seeing on both sides of the ball. He also projected the work the Razorbacks would get done this week prior to the
scrimmage.
“On Tuesday, we’ll jump into our third down and long package, third and short, break into red zone and hopefully get all of those things covered this week, so in our first scrimmage … we can do those various situations.”
Tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. guessed that the offense has gone through 60 percent to 70 percent of its installation.
“We’ve got a pretty good chunk of it in,” he said. “There are obviously some concepts that we haven’t put in, but we’re pretty deep into it.”
Lunney said the tight ends, who occupy three positions on offense — in-line, split out, and the “F” position that goes in motion and is often a lead blocker in the mold of a fullback — have a lot on their plates in the schemes.
“The more you put in, the more you find out what they really know and what they don’t know,” he said. “It comes out when they come up to the line of scrimmage.”
The most lively position battles include those for starting jobs at wide receiver opposite senior Jared Cornelius; the strong safety competition between DeAndre Coley and Santos Ramirez; the cornerback spots with Ryan Pulley, Henre Toliver, Kevin Richardson and Britto Tutt; tight end spots to pair with and sub in for Austin Cantrell; and backup quarterback between Ty Storey and Cole Kelley behind returning starter Austin Allen.
“The positions are open right now and it’s great, because it brings out a lot of the competitive natures of our guys,” receivers coach Michael Smith said. “I’m just looking for consistency. That’s my biggest thing with my position. … I don’t want any balls on the ground. I want the consistency of getting lined up and making plays out there because when we have our opportunities, we’ve got to take advantage of them.”
Players who are out or possibly limited for today include linebacker Dre Greenlaw (foot surgery), tight end Grayson Gunter (shoulder surgery), Tutt and receiver Kofi Boateng — who are both recovering from knee surgery in the fall — and center Frank Ragnow.
Bielema said Ragnow, entering his third year as a starter, has earned the right to rest during live tackling periods.
Ragnow isn’t sure how to feel about watching Zach Rogers, Dylan Hays and others work at center with him on the sidelines.
“That’s weird,” Ragnow said. “I’ve never … I’m anxious to see … I’m going to try and get reps. I don’t really know. It’s kind of one of those positions where the first time I’m not scrimmaging, I don’t even know how to handle it.
“It’s a humbling thing to be looked at with the ability that I can be held out, but I’m going to be out there chomping at the bit to at least be speaking to the guys.”