Concentration Remains High at Wednesday?s Practice

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In preparation for this week’s South Carolina match up, Razorback football practiced for slightly less then two hours at the practice fields just south of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas spent the afternoon concentrating on South Carolina and implementing the game plan.

“Always a good, long day on Wednesday and we had a good work day today,” head coach Houston Nutt said. “We are trying to hit all the different formations, different sets, a punt team that is rugby style. Coach (Steve) Spurrier also has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and we are preparing for a lot of those things. We got some good work in today.”

Returning to practice on Tuesday, Sam Olajubutu was back on the field on Wednesday, getting more reps then he did the day before. Olajubutu missed the Louisiana-Monroe game because of injury but is expected back when the Razorbacks travel to Columbia, S.C. to face the Gamecocks.

“(Olajubutu) did a little bit more today then he did yesterday which is great,” Nutt said. “Hopefully, he’ll get a little bit more (in during the rest of this week’s practices) and he should be ready to go on Saturday.”

Marcus Harrison is also recovering from injury but has participated in practices this week. He is also expected to take the field on Saturday.

“He’s getting better,” Nutt said. “We are looking for him to be okay by Saturday.”

Nutt has stressed focus and concentration since fall camp. As the weeks progress, he has found that to be one of the most important elements to the Razorback game plan.

“(The focus and concentration of the team) has been (very consistent),” Nutt said. “That’s what it is going to take, especially on the road. This is a very tough environment. It’ll be tougher then Auburn simply because (the game) is at night. We have to have a greater focus, a greater concentration. It’s going to be very loud. You have to take the concentration and focus to the field in a very hostile environment.”

The success of the running game has been evident in the last seven contests but Nutt and his staff are striving for balance as well. A successful and consistent passing game is always on the agenda.

“We are striving for balance,” Nutt said. “We are striving for that downfield game. I think with Marcus Monk, Damian Williams, London Crawford, Cedric Washington, we feel like we are getting better. We just have to keep working at it. There is going to come a time where a big play is needed and I feel like one of those guys is going to do that.”