Petrino's system readies players for pro football
Matt Jones
Issue date: 3/11/09 Section: Sports
It was low key, but effective.
While not nearly the spectacle of a year ago, Tuesday's Arkansas 2009 Pro Day gave several Razorback seniors, and a few alumni, a chance to impress scouts one more time before next month's NFL Draft.
Five of the Razorbacks from the 2008 squad that worked out were of the offensive variety, and the recurring theme of the day was Bobby Petrino's system and how well it helped players prepare for life at the next level.
"It helped me because I got to learn a new system - more of a pro-style system," former center Jonathan Luigs said. "It gave me more knowledge of the game and different techniques to use."
Luigs, who is projected as a mid-round selection, impressed scouts at last month's NFL Combine in Indianapolis, but decided to work out in an effort to improve his numbers in the shuttle run, which he finished in 4.62 seconds.
Fellow offensive lineman Jose Valdez worked out with Luigs at the combine, but decided to come back and participate in most of the workouts. Like Luigs, Valdez said he wanted to focus on agility drills and finished his shuttle run in 4.64 seconds.
"Working out today really helped me," Valdez said. "A scout from the Rams told me I pushed my stock up a little more by being out here and going through the drills.
"It really helped (focusing on those drills). I knocked down my time by a couple of seconds."
Valdez, who has been working out with former Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl guard Will Shields, said Petrino's pro-style offense allowed him to show scouts his versatility.
"Coach Petrino has a strong and weak system," he said. "Being able to show you can play right tackle and left tackle is a huge upside. The scouts see it and they all like it."
Perhaps no one benefited more from the pro-style attack than quarterback Casey Dick, who shattered his career records for passing yards (2,586) and completions (205), while throwing for 13 touchdowns as a senior.
"He opened up the offense a little more," said Dick, who ran a 4.7, 40-yard dash and benched pressed 20 reps. "It helped me with throwing the football, getting schemes down and reading defenses. It helped me progress a lot as a player."
Dick, who was scouted by a pair of Canadian Football League teams Tuesday, said while making the NFL is a dream, any opportunity is a good one.
"It's an opportunity to play," Dick said. "That can also lead to the NFL. One of the coaches said he had a whole lot of guys that had gone on to play in the NFL."
More than anything, all players were happy the scouting process was nearing its end.
"They treat you like a piece of meat sometimes," said Luigs, who won the 2007 Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman. "They especially do at the combine with all the medical stuff. But teams are investing a lot of money in you, so they want to know everything about you - what you do good and what you do bad."
Valdez echoed the sentiment.
"It's been a grind every day," he said. "I've been doing two workouts a day - full workouts. I'm just glad I'm here and finished it."
Davie impresses
Redshirt junior tight end Andrew Davie showed scouts his versatility by taking reps as a long snapper at Tuesday's workout.
"I haven't snapped since high school and I've worked on it a little bit," Davie said afterward. "One (of the scouts) showed me three different techniques to work on, and I'll try to fine tune it a bit. I was a one-hand snapper in high school, and they want two hand snaps."
Chris Mortensen, an NFL analyst for ESPN, said Davie's willingness to play more than one position will go a long way with scouts.
"He's an interesting guy to some teams," Mortensen said. "I think he's got a chance to get drafted in the second day, late. He's mature and he's worked hard.
"Blocking tight ends are actually a little bit rare in the NFL and teams are looking for them…Seeing him long snap was interesting. To get on an NFL roster, the more things you can do, the better."
The 26-year-old Davie, who spent four years in the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league system prior to his football career, said working out for scouts just comes natural.
"It was one of those things where I had experience," Davie said. "I worked out for scouts for eight years now, basically. You have to go into these type situations like you're playing football in your backyard. The more tight you get, the worse you're going to perform."
Monk, Cobbs Participate
Four former Razorback football players participated in the Pro Day, including Marcus Monk, Cedric Cobbs, Fred Talley and Matt Hewitt.
Monk, who was drafted last season by the Chicago Bears and later signed briefly by the New York Giants, is 100 percent after a knee injury during his senior campaign in 2007. He didn't run a 40-yard dash Tuesday, but Mortensen said he knows of some teams interested in the wide receiver.
"He's healthy and playing basketball was big for him," said Mortensen, after Monk played in 10 games for John Pelphrey earlier this season. "I think he'll get another chance and will have some teams that bring him in (for individual workouts).
"Coach Petrino was watching him and said, 'I wish I had him.'"
Cobbs, who spent three injury-filled seasons with the Patriots and Broncos, looked good as well, Mortensen said.
"There was a time when he was in Denver that he looked really good before hurting his ankle," Mortensen said. "Right now he is in about as good in shape as I've seen him.
"The problem is when you play running back in the NFL, they just recycle you in and out of there. But I know a team in the NFC North that is thinking about bringing him in."
While not nearly the spectacle of a year ago, Tuesday's Arkansas 2009 Pro Day gave several Razorback seniors, and a few alumni, a chance to impress scouts one more time before next month's NFL Draft.
Five of the Razorbacks from the 2008 squad that worked out were of the offensive variety, and the recurring theme of the day was Bobby Petrino's system and how well it helped players prepare for life at the next level.
"It helped me because I got to learn a new system - more of a pro-style system," former center Jonathan Luigs said. "It gave me more knowledge of the game and different techniques to use."
Luigs, who is projected as a mid-round selection, impressed scouts at last month's NFL Combine in Indianapolis, but decided to work out in an effort to improve his numbers in the shuttle run, which he finished in 4.62 seconds.
Fellow offensive lineman Jose Valdez worked out with Luigs at the combine, but decided to come back and participate in most of the workouts. Like Luigs, Valdez said he wanted to focus on agility drills and finished his shuttle run in 4.64 seconds.
"Working out today really helped me," Valdez said. "A scout from the Rams told me I pushed my stock up a little more by being out here and going through the drills.
"It really helped (focusing on those drills). I knocked down my time by a couple of seconds."
Valdez, who has been working out with former Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl guard Will Shields, said Petrino's pro-style offense allowed him to show scouts his versatility.
"Coach Petrino has a strong and weak system," he said. "Being able to show you can play right tackle and left tackle is a huge upside. The scouts see it and they all like it."
Perhaps no one benefited more from the pro-style attack than quarterback Casey Dick, who shattered his career records for passing yards (2,586) and completions (205), while throwing for 13 touchdowns as a senior.
"He opened up the offense a little more," said Dick, who ran a 4.7, 40-yard dash and benched pressed 20 reps. "It helped me with throwing the football, getting schemes down and reading defenses. It helped me progress a lot as a player."
Dick, who was scouted by a pair of Canadian Football League teams Tuesday, said while making the NFL is a dream, any opportunity is a good one.
"It's an opportunity to play," Dick said. "That can also lead to the NFL. One of the coaches said he had a whole lot of guys that had gone on to play in the NFL."
More than anything, all players were happy the scouting process was nearing its end.
"They treat you like a piece of meat sometimes," said Luigs, who won the 2007 Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman. "They especially do at the combine with all the medical stuff. But teams are investing a lot of money in you, so they want to know everything about you - what you do good and what you do bad."
Valdez echoed the sentiment.
"It's been a grind every day," he said. "I've been doing two workouts a day - full workouts. I'm just glad I'm here and finished it."
Davie impresses
Redshirt junior tight end Andrew Davie showed scouts his versatility by taking reps as a long snapper at Tuesday's workout.
"I haven't snapped since high school and I've worked on it a little bit," Davie said afterward. "One (of the scouts) showed me three different techniques to work on, and I'll try to fine tune it a bit. I was a one-hand snapper in high school, and they want two hand snaps."
Chris Mortensen, an NFL analyst for ESPN, said Davie's willingness to play more than one position will go a long way with scouts.
"He's an interesting guy to some teams," Mortensen said. "I think he's got a chance to get drafted in the second day, late. He's mature and he's worked hard.
"Blocking tight ends are actually a little bit rare in the NFL and teams are looking for them…Seeing him long snap was interesting. To get on an NFL roster, the more things you can do, the better."
The 26-year-old Davie, who spent four years in the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league system prior to his football career, said working out for scouts just comes natural.
"It was one of those things where I had experience," Davie said. "I worked out for scouts for eight years now, basically. You have to go into these type situations like you're playing football in your backyard. The more tight you get, the worse you're going to perform."
Monk, Cobbs Participate
Four former Razorback football players participated in the Pro Day, including Marcus Monk, Cedric Cobbs, Fred Talley and Matt Hewitt.
Monk, who was drafted last season by the Chicago Bears and later signed briefly by the New York Giants, is 100 percent after a knee injury during his senior campaign in 2007. He didn't run a 40-yard dash Tuesday, but Mortensen said he knows of some teams interested in the wide receiver.
"He's healthy and playing basketball was big for him," said Mortensen, after Monk played in 10 games for John Pelphrey earlier this season. "I think he'll get another chance and will have some teams that bring him in (for individual workouts).
"Coach Petrino was watching him and said, 'I wish I had him.'"
Cobbs, who spent three injury-filled seasons with the Patriots and Broncos, looked good as well, Mortensen said.
"There was a time when he was in Denver that he looked really good before hurting his ankle," Mortensen said. "Right now he is in about as good in shape as I've seen him.
"The problem is when you play running back in the NFL, they just recycle you in and out of there. But I know a team in the NFC North that is thinking about bringing him in."
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