Hog Football Starts Week With Monday Practice

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas football returned to the practice fields just south of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for a two-hour practice in full pads on Monday. The Hogs last practiced on Saturday with Sunday being an off day.

“We had a good practice today,” head coach Houston Nutt said. “We got better today. We had some guys get some things done. We really tried to correct some scrimmage stuff on offense. We tried to correct some things on protections. We tried to narrow some things down in the protection part of it. We got better today. Monday is usually a hard day to come out and get going, especially with some soreness. They came out here and fought through it.”

With the first full week of spring practice complete, Nutt can see strong points from his squad on all three sides of the ball.

“The film shows that the defense is competing and playing hard,” Nutt said. “They are a little bit ahead of the offense and we expected that. There are some things we are doing well on offense too. We have to get some things ironed out protection-wise where everyone knows what to do and you do it on automatic pilot. When we do that, getting 11 guys going the right way, you execute and you make plays.”

At Saturday’s scrimmage, the defense outmaneuvered the offense so Nutt was happy to see a sharper offense at Monday’s practice.

“Protection got better today,” Nutt said. “(The offense) caught the ball better today. We ran routes better. These guys are improving and that’s what keeps you excited.”

Much of last week’s practices and Monday’s practice have been spent participating in drills in game-like situations.

“We did a lot of scrimmage work today, probably close to 70 plays,” Nutt said. “We didn’t tackle anyone to the ground but that’s what these guys need. There’s a lot of youth, a lot of young guys and you want them to play.”