Razorbacks work on all facets of the game

FAYETTEVILLE – During its second practice of the day on Monday the Razorback football team worked on all facets of its game from blocking and tackling to running the ball and red zone plays to special teams in a second two-hour session.

In a well balanced second-session on Monday afternoon, the players avoided the looming storm clouds and started with blocking and tackling drills. The squad then moved on to throwing the ball inside the red zone while the offensive and defensive lines worked on technique.

“I think they responded well,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. “They got after it, I thought that they came out here focused and played hard. They did a really good job.”

Razorback defensive coordinator Willy Robinson shared his counterpart’s thoughts. “They came out this morning and they established that they needed. They identified what happened yesterday and took it upon themselves to get rolling.”

With increased intensity on both sides of the ball as well as full pads the Razorbacks came out hitting. When the team broke into small groups to work on inside run blocking with three offensive linemen, a fullback and tailback and three defenders, there was the sound of crashing shoulder pads heard throughout the practice fields.

Those same sounds were heard throughout the 15-plus minute session on red zone offense and defense where both squads placed 11 men on the field and ran their plays. Most of the hitting ended after the team went to full squad 11 on 11 plays from the 20-yard line but those in attendance knew that neither the offense nor defense was resting on its laurels from Sunday’s scrimmage.

Arkansas also worked on its kickoff coverage and punting during Monday afternoon’s practice giving it a well rounded affair in the books on day eight of fall training.

Coach Petrino also commented on his offense’s fast start on Sunday. “We had real good execution and came out ready to play early. The guys were definitely focused and played fast early but we missed a couple of big plays for touchdowns and we can’t have that happen. Sometimes you only get so many big plays to score.”

Robinson’s analysis of Sunday’s scrimmage painted a slightly different picture.

“I think that when we took the break, we came back with the intensity that we should have started with,” Robinson said. “When you get off to a fast start like (the offense did) it’s hard to get your focus.”

The Razorbacks are back on the field for a morning practice on Tuesday, a 9 a.m. start, which is open to the public. There is no afternoon training session scheduled for Tuesday. For more information regarding Razorback football or University of Arkansas athletics please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.