Defensive Consistency and Emotion is the Key for Robinson

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Razorback football team completed a two-hour practice session Thursday on the turf inside Willard and Pat Walker Pavilion. Arkansas will have one more day of practice before Saturday’s Red-White Spring Game. The defense had a good day but is still looking for a more steady attack, according to defensive coordinator Willy Robinson.

“Today was probably one of our better days,” Robinson said. “We hope to get some consistency. We’re still going ebb and flow, but it’s a good start for the middle of the week.”

Robinson and the rest of the Arkansas coaching staff will be looking for the team to eliminate mental errors and big gains by the offense. The coaches have also been teaching the value of getting to the football fast to make a play.

“If you’re going to make a mistake and it’s an honest mistake, so be it,” Robinson said. “But run to the football full speed. It’s what our head coach (Bobby Petrino) pledges and it’s what we pledge as well.”

Heading into Saturday, Robinson said because Arkansas has a lot of inexperience on the defensive side of the field, he is not keying in on individual play, but is looking for the Razorback defense to operate as a cohesive unit. He also wants to see who can control their emotions and still be effective in the game-day atmosphere.

“You’d like to think that because of the excitement that’s created, starting today and tomorrow,” Robinson said, “you’d like to find out if you have people that can play with emotion, but it’s a controlled emotion where they don’t abandon everything they’ve learned in the last four weeks. That’s what we’re looking for with the consistency.”

In his 31st year as a football coach, including 18 seasons in the collegiate ranks, Robinson said he has never been a part of an environment so excited about a spring football event. He is looking forward to a great atmosphere inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

“I have never experienced anything like this being from Fresno State, Oregon State or the University of Miami,” Robinson said. “This is an amazing event all throughout the week. I’ve never experienced anything like this and this is why I came back to (the college game). I came back to experience the enthusiasm that this town and state has for this football team.”

The annual Red-White Spring Game is set for a 6 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Razorback Stadium. EAS RazorFest will open the day with family activities and entertainment beginning at noon. Admission to both, the game and RazorFest, are free. Log on to www.hogwired.com for more details.