About to call it a day, but wanted to post one more time before calling it a night.
Throughout the season, we’d like to do some short Q&A’s. It could be an assistant coach, a player, an opponent, whatever. We just want to get some stuff on the blog that might not make the paper.
We’ll start with Arkansas running backs coach Tim Horton, who was cornered by us media types for several minutes after today’s practice. He said some good things about a bunch of RBs. Let me be clear with one thing: I didn’t ask all of these questions. But here is what he said about several players:
Q: What about Dennis Johnson? The spring wasn’t the way he wanted it to go.
A: “I’ve been really plesased with Dennis so far. He’s come out with a good attitude. He’s worked really hard. He’s playing fast. And he’s not making mental mistakes that he made this time a year ago. So if Dennis Johnson was a stock he’s definitely going up right now.”
Q: What is Knile Davis’ schedule?
A: “Knile should be able to go full pads tomorrow afternoon. We’ll get him in as fast as we can. obviously he was not able to go through any of the full contact stuff today, but he did go through the individual and the team segments where there wasn’t tackling because he couldn’t wear full pads. But should be able to go tomorrow. He did a nice job and he is eager to get back out there because it’s been a tough 10 days for Knile. We’re really glad to have him back.”
Q: Last year pass blocking was a problem for the backs, how is it now?
A: “It’s something where we’re a lot better at, a lot more knowledgeable at at the running back position and that’s been something we’ve been very pleased with so far in camp. We call them our blitz pickup drills. When people in the past have blitzed us, this time a year ago, we didn’t recognize it and respond very quickly. This time this year, we’re on our P’s and Q’s and doing a lot better there.”
Q: What have you thought of Ronnie Wingo?
A: “He has a very good attiutude. He’s a quick learner. He’s got a really good burst. At the same time he still has to learn to carry his pads a little lower. He’s still got to learn some of the blocking schemes so he can read and make some of his cuts a little cleaner and smoother. But we’ve been very pleased and encouraged by him. I think he’s got a chance to be a really good player for the Hogs.”
Q: Coach Petrino seemed to be a little upset with Broderick (Green).
A: “Broderick has a little hamstring issue. It’s just a situation where he’s got to learn to fight through those things. Obviously, at this position, at this level and in this league, you’re not always going to feel perfect and be perfect. So we just need Broderick to step up and on those days when he’s got those bumps and bruises and pulls, you’ve got to fight through that and be the kind of player we know he can be.”
