Hogs scrimmage for first time
Matt Jones
Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: Sports
Arkansas donned pads for the first time Friday afternoon. Saturday, they hit.
The Razorbacks held their first scrimmage of the season inside the Walker Pavilion with the large stable of running backs stealing the show.
"I thought our running backs ran well," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "I thought we broke tackles which is something we have been emphasizing, make yards after contact, hit and spin."
With senior Michael Smith relegated to watching from the sideline this spring with an injured hamstring, sophomores De'Anthony Curtis and Dennis Johnson, freshman Knile Davis and transfer Broderick Green took several reps in Saturday's scrimmage.
Green led all rushers with 59 yards on 10 carries, Curtis had six carries for 56 yards, Davis seven carries for 50 yards and Johnson six carries for 41 yards.
Green, Curtis and Johnson all ran for scores, including a 30-yard score by Curtis toward the end of the scrimmage that had everyone talking afterward.
"Everybody thought he was down and he just kept pumping his feet," said quarterback Ryan Mallett. "We've got to make those plays to win a lot of ballgames."
Green, who transferred to Arkansas from Southern Cal in December, said he has been impressed by the Razorbacks' backfield talent through one week of drills.
"They're pretty good," said Green, who added a 20-yard reception in the scrimmage. "There are a lot of fast guys. You saw the 4.3s and 4.4s today. De'Anthony with his balance today on that long run…we're competitive."
Green himself improved to a 4.5, 40-yard dash in the offseason and was praised by Petrino after showing what he could do in pads.
"He's big, physical and he falls forward," Petrino said. "Sometimes you have great 5 and 6 yard runs with a big back like that where there is not a whole lot there. Maybe there is 1 yard there, then after contact he ends up getting you 6 yards. Second and four is a good down to be in. I liked that ability to make yards when nothing is there."
The Razorbacks held their first scrimmage of the season inside the Walker Pavilion with the large stable of running backs stealing the show.
"I thought our running backs ran well," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "I thought we broke tackles which is something we have been emphasizing, make yards after contact, hit and spin."
With senior Michael Smith relegated to watching from the sideline this spring with an injured hamstring, sophomores De'Anthony Curtis and Dennis Johnson, freshman Knile Davis and transfer Broderick Green took several reps in Saturday's scrimmage.
Green led all rushers with 59 yards on 10 carries, Curtis had six carries for 56 yards, Davis seven carries for 50 yards and Johnson six carries for 41 yards.
Green, Curtis and Johnson all ran for scores, including a 30-yard score by Curtis toward the end of the scrimmage that had everyone talking afterward.
"Everybody thought he was down and he just kept pumping his feet," said quarterback Ryan Mallett. "We've got to make those plays to win a lot of ballgames."
Green, who transferred to Arkansas from Southern Cal in December, said he has been impressed by the Razorbacks' backfield talent through one week of drills.
"They're pretty good," said Green, who added a 20-yard reception in the scrimmage. "There are a lot of fast guys. You saw the 4.3s and 4.4s today. De'Anthony with his balance today on that long run…we're competitive."
Green himself improved to a 4.5, 40-yard dash in the offseason and was praised by Petrino after showing what he could do in pads.
"He's big, physical and he falls forward," Petrino said. "Sometimes you have great 5 and 6 yard runs with a big back like that where there is not a whole lot there. Maybe there is 1 yard there, then after contact he ends up getting you 6 yards. Second and four is a good down to be in. I liked that ability to make yards when nothing is there."
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