FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas football is currently in its second week of spring with Bobby Petrino's offense. The former head coach will return to Fayetteville and look to help the program return to the heights it reached from 2008-2011.
Arkansas had the worst offensive line in the country a season ago, and while it's still early days, initial reports are positive for the Razorbacks.
The offensive line looks improved and the scheme looks more dynamic. While defense dominated fall training prior to last season, things became more even-keeled during the first few weeks of March.
It has become a hot topic around the program. While Petrino's hiring has energized the fan base, coaches and players have noted his immediate impact. Through five spring practices, here are some of the most notable quotes regarding Petrino's return.
Arkansas football receivers excited about new scheme
Last year's offense had too much variation among pass catchers. Andrew Armstrong was good, but the Hogs were unable to find a reliable second target after tight end Luke Hasz was injured.
Although Arkansas did not add any receivers through the transfer portal, Sam Pittman is optimistic that Petrino's offense will get the most out of the position.
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“I think we’re finding that our windows as receivers are better than they’ve ever been,” Pittman said. “If that makes sense. Our route is that we have a lot of freedom to put it in the hall and understand the human-to-human zone coverage.”
Sophomore Davion Dozier had a big day Thursday, scoring a touchdown with a spectacular one-handed catch. Tyron Broden and Isaiah Sategna both show good chemistry with quarterback Tyren Green.
play with speed
It remains to be seen what tempo Arkansas' offense will play at this fall, but the first two weeks of spring practice have focused on pace.
“Go, go, go. Just do everything quickly,” Arkansas wide receiver Andrew Armstrong said of his first impression. “Make sure you know your game and make sure it’s in the playbook.”
Communication is essential to playing a controlled rush. Petrino has relied heavily on wide receivers coach Ronnie Fauci as an extension of the offensive coordinator in practice. Fauci was an assistant under Petrino at Missouri State and was one of the most vocal coaches during 11-on-11 practices.
Keep your defense in order
An improved Arkansas offense in 2024 will allow defensive coordinator Travis Williams to get better reps in practice, and the Hogs will be impressed with the versatility of the new scheme when they play against Petrino this spring. There is.
“They're going to throw a lot at us, so we've got to keep on playing our game,” Arkansas defensive tackle Eric Gregory said. “Every day something new happens, so you can't just focus on what they did the day before, because they'll throw something new at you the next day.”
The multifaceted offense should be the perfect test for the Razorbacks' inexperienced linebackers. Brad Spence and Georgia transfer Zavian Slay Jr. are likely starters and have combined for 40 tackles in their careers.
bring out the fun
Dan Enos' offense felt like a slog. By the time he was fired, Arkansas had completely lost confidence in him, especially up front.
Petrino and offensive line coach Eric Mateos are rebuilding in the trenches, and the focus has been on building better chemistry throughout the spring. Playing a more dynamic scheme could be an easy way to boost morale.
“It feels like there's almost a million things happening at once,” said Francisco Carmona, a left tackle who transferred to Arkansas from San Jose State.
“But it's really fun to be a part of. There's a lot going on, so he just lets us play as offensive linemen. We just have to run. Get moving and be physical at the same time. .”
