Some random thoughts after watching Saturday’s Red-White Spring game.
The Good
Let’s start with Tyler Wilson. After spending what seemed to be every series changing the color of his jersey, Wilson took turns shredding both the Red and the White teams combining for a 23-36, 301 yards, 2 TD performance. Razorback fans have to feel good about depth at the quarterback position heading into the fall.- Receivers Joe Adams (118 yards, TD), Jarius Wright (125 yards) and London Crawford (85 yards, TD) all showed flashes Saturday of good things to come. All three, even the oft injured “LC,” can be electric playmakers with the ball in their hands.
- After watching the performances of safety Tramain Thomas and cornerback Andru Stewart, one was left wondering why they weren’t wearing red jerseys full-time. Thomas picked off a Ryan Mallett pass and returned it 20 yards in the first quarter. Both he and Stewart showed good skills and seemed solid hitting and playing the run. Nice job.
- Three 2-minute drill TD scores capped the end of both halves Saturday night. Wilson, who led two of the drives, and Mallett both looked sharp in these hurry-up situations.
- The defensive front four seems improved and showed as much Saturday night. Despite all being 20+ pounds heavier this year, Adrian Davis (Sr., 6-4, 255), Jake Bequette (So., 6-5, 271), Zack Stadther (So., 6-1, 289) and Malcolm Sheppard (Sr., 6-2, 280) seem quicker off the ball.
The Bad
- Both quarterbacks tossed first quarter interceptions they wished they had back.  Quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee said Wilson missed a read, and Mallet was “just kind of being lazy back there” and threw one off his back foot. Both correctable mistakes.
- Hope everyone enjoyed (and maybe even bought a piece of) the lush, green grass that is (was) Frank Broyles Field…since that’s the last time you’ll see it. Construction on the new synthetic surface for RRS begins next week.
The Ugly
- After suffering through a freshman campaign plagued by critical fumbles, De’Anthony Curtis tempered his rushing success Saturday (10 rushes, 103 yards, 2 TDs) by throwing it on the ground twice.  If Curtis wants playing time in the fall, he’s got to work on securing the ball.
Can anyone comment on our receivers yards after catch? It's been a weakness of ours for a while…. Hope there has been some improvement there
I agree with most comments Sunshine… Where's the "If anyone thinks Wilson has a shot at starting they're crazy" talk? That's what you were saying last week right? I told you Wilson is making a run for the starting spot. I think Mallett will start, but I think he will have a short leash and I also think they'll both play a lot the first 3 or 4 games.
My thoughts on the scrimmage from watching on TV.
LC got hurt AGAIN. Until he gets tougher I will never expect anything more than 1 or 2 catches a year that make you go "huh?" such as LSU last year.
Thomas has been an unexpected surprise to me. I've seen about 3 or 4 practices and 2 scrimmages and he has wowed me every time. He will play a lot next year and I hope he does.
Our O-line is not a very good run-blocking team. This is one of the things I think people were worried about with Petrino was whether or not we'd still run the ball. While we were able to get the 3rd and shorts on Saturday against the 2nd team – I think we are going to still have issues getting 1 or 2 yards against SEC defenses when we absolutely need it and the defense knows we're running.
On the receivers – I thought the RAC stats were pretty good. I have no idea what they were, but Petrino knows how to get the WR's in open space to give them a chance to run. The problem in the previous regime was there was no space for RAC – and with only 2 WR's in a pattern that leaves a LOT of DB's available to make a tackle. With Petrino – there is almost always 4 eligible receivers (WR, TE's, and RB) and a lot of times there are 5. So, that puts a lot of pressure on the DB's and thus creates open space if a WR can get open – and make no mistake – these WR's can get open.
I think we'll definitely be better next year – at least good enough to go to a bowl. If some of these highly touted freshman are as good as billed and pick up the gameplan quickly then we could be pretty dangerous. I'm sure nobody is counting us a definite 'W' next year.
I think we are very good against our defense. Have seen this before, but have hope and some belief that our offense will make good improvements over last year, mostly because of the QB and more experienced Joe Adams, J Wright and Greg Childs. Throwing downfield will only open it up more for D Williams. Won't know about O Line till we play a quality D Line.
I feel better about our secondary, but if we can't put pressure on the QB, it won't matter.
Can anybody tell me if the D Coordinator can get these young kids fired up, or communicate on their level?
Has Tejada overcome his mental problem. Probably won't know till game time.
I do not care if the field is red. I just want to win our home games. I can't think of any athletic event I have ever watched that I went to because of the field. We are talkin accessories here and it is making me uncomfortable.
Soupd,
I can honestly say that Joe Adams should be our best playmaker.
The reason being because of his outstanding quikness and instincts after the catch.
If he's capable of consistantly catching the ball and not putting it on the ground, I fully expect him to compete for the punt return duties also.
He's going to light a few people up this season if he stays healthy.
Jarius Wright should be dangerous in the open field too, but he doesn't quite have the shifty moves of Adams.
Take away Mallett 6'7", 260 lb body and everyone would be begging for Tyler Wilson. That guy does nothing but win. Mallett's spring led to a completion % of just 51%. Petrino's offense needs a higher % than that.
Some have said they expect Petrino to pronounce Mallett the starting QB on Thursday.
After listening to Petrino's comments about which QB he's favoring, it's obvious he has a pretty good idea of what he wants to do there. Hmmmmm, already?
After studying the spring practice stats between the two, it's pretty clear that Wilson surpassed Mallett in the last 3 out of 5 total scrimmages.
If Petrino already has a pretty good idea about what he wants to do, then the only sensable conclusion I can come up with, is that Petrino will either keep their status the same at it presently is, proclaiming the competition for the starting spot is still wide open, or simply modify their status from 1st and 2nd string to Mallett-1A option
Wilson-1B option
Could we see different starting QBs throughout the season, depending on how well they executed in practice that week? Very possible.
It'll be Mallet. Experience in games gets him the first start if they are anywhere close. I'm just glad we have a quarterback controversy because they are both good.
Poor old Mitch Mustain 3rd string going into USC's Spring Game.
http://usc.scout.com/2/858762.html
Is it football season yet??? I am already re-running football DVDs/VCRs.
Yes, Adams will be one of the stars, but do Not overlook Williams who is going to be even better. Both should have a super year. One thing about Mallet is he seems to lack touch on many passes, Suppose that he will learn in due time but we fans will just have to be patient as the QBs learn. In the meantime, we should not be surprised that some passes will be intercepted off a receiver's hands because Mallet has a bullet that arrives fast and mean.
I am disappointed in the defensive side of the ball but it is so difficult to judge olffense and defense in the spring. Remember last year when most fans were saying we going to smoke other teams. Well, did not happen and we got smoked. I say this to say that it may take a few games to see where team is.
I do not see Wingo breaking in immediately if Johnson is doing well, but before the season is over perhaps it will be Wingo's job. It is a high step up from HS to SEC. That said we can start thinking where we will rank the teams. Since we have a great coach, anything less than 9 wins would be a BIG disappointment for many. Although Florida appears to be extremely strong, it would not surprise me to see them falter since they seem such a sure thing to repeat as NCs. It should not happen to them but as they say nothing is as good as it seems and nothing is as bad as it seems in so many cases. So many topsy turvy things happened last year that predictions are very difficult. Witness Franklin and Tuberville's falling and MSU's coach crashing and burning after many thought he would have a good team in 2008. Then Ole Miss smoking Auburn and LSU and then smoking a great passing offense like Texas Tech team in the Cotton Bowl. That is what makes college football so interesting. Bring em on!