It’s Closing Time

Just like in the final scene of The Godfather, the door swings shut this week on the “All Access” pass we’ve been given to the 2009 Arkansas Razorbacks.

On behalf of all Hog fans, we should say thanks to Coach Petrino for allowing us to watch practice for 2 1/2 weeks — longer than any team in the SEC and maybe in the country, for that matter.  For those of us who live close, it has given us that ‘fix’ that we crave leading up to the season.  And we do our best here to share those impressions with those of you who follow from afar.

On the surface, it would be hard to match the intensity of last Saturday’s 170+ play scrimmage.  Players described it as a “game day feel.”  But the scrimmage this Saturday — which is now open to the public — should surpass the first.

Positions are still up for grabs, especially at linebacker and in the secondary.  Coaches also have to make up their minds pretty quickly on who’s going to redshirt and who’s going to be on the scout team.  Saturday’s scrimmage is another chance to “improve your résumé,” as Paul Petrino likes to say.

David Gordon, Rudell Crim and Anthony Leon appear to be making their move in the secondary.  Gordon has been taking the second team reps at Isaac Madison’s corner spot, as first team sophomore Greg Gatson holds on for dear life.

Questions still abound.  If De’Anthony Curtis is the fourth best tailback coming out of the scrimmage, do you redshirt him?  Can sophomore Grant Freeman hold the weak side offensive tackle spot…even after Ray Dominguez gets that ankle back to 100 percent?  Who’s your punter…scholarship-holding junior Briton Forester or walk-on freshman Dylan Breeding?

Two weeks from Saturday, it’s game time.  And minus the battle for punter (which may not be settled for a while), the scrimmage on Saturday most likely will produce a shuffled two-deep on Monday, when the Hogs start to game plan for Missouri State.