Robbie Neiswanger by Robbie Neiswanger

What We Learned

Just walked back in the door from Arkansas’ press conference. Bobby Petrino, QB Ryan Mallett, WR Greg Childs and DE Jake Bequette were selected to participate today. Here are the biggest things we learned:

1. LB Jerry Franklin, indeed, will be back on the field Saturday. Petrino confirmed what the SEC office told us earlier today, saying Franklin won’t be suspended for his ejection. However, Petrino said reviewing the film showed that Franklin did bump an official and deserved to be ejected. He said it will serve as a lesson to Franklin and anybody else who was watching. Franklin will be disciplined in house according to Petrino, but will be back in his starting spot Saturday.

2. Arkansas’ WRs will get some help Saturday from senior Lucas Miller. The senior will be back on the field after missing the first two games with a broken collarbone. It should help, considering Petrino believed his sophomore trio of Greg Childs, Joe Adams and Jarius Wright were worn down in the second half. The Razorbacks plan to get Miller and freshman Cobi Hamilton more work, giving them at least five receivers they can count on against the Crimson Tide.

3. Petrino said there are a handful of players that need more playing time. The three he mentioned — freshman running back Ronnie Wingo, freshman offensive tackle Greg Oden, and junior safety Anthony Leon. Not sure if it means those three will find their way into starting roles (OK, not Wingo). But we’ll know more when we take a look at the first 20 minutes of practice. Petrino did say that Wingo’s lack of playing time is on him. He just didn’t want to put a freshman in a game like that and in a situation like that. Instantly, I thought of Houston Nutt’s decision not to play Darren McFadden and Felix Jones vs. Vanderbilt in 2005.

4. Speaking of running backs, Petrino was asked about Broderick Green and the goal line. He put the blame on the offensive line for not opening any sort of path for Green to run. Remember, the big back was stuffed a couple of times in the second half. Arkansas eventually scored on the drive, but the inability to run the ball into the end zone remains obvious.

Categorized | Blog, Football



2 Comments For This Post

  1. Blake Says:

    I really hope Leon and Oden both get that playing time.

    On the OL there was clearly some issues and if someone isn’t performing than regardless of experience give the next man more work and a chance.

    Same goes for Leon. In the secondary he can hit and if he does make a mistake he is fast as all get out so he should be able to catch up and make a tackle. He is bigger and taller and I think after some hits he could have WRs timid. It was never more obvious to me that Leon needs to get in than when Green caught the pass over the middle and Thomas came flying in with his head down to lay a big hit and Green didn’t even budge and ran on into the endzone.

  2. Chad Rogers Says:

    The OL didn’t open a hole for Broderick Green? You gotta be kidding me. This guy is one big disappointment so far. He should make a hole as big as he is or at least be able to push the linemen forward for a stinkin yard. Give Petrino credit, at least he didn’t try and run it again on third down like Dale Nutt would have done.

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