The need for speed

Offense and defense consider utilizing Gordon's skills

Posted: August 29, 2009 at 4:23 a.m.

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By Andy Shupe
Arkansas freshman defensive back David Gordon moves through a footwork drill during practice Aug. 7 at the UA practice field.

FAYETTEVILLE — ESPN's Lee Corso isn't the only one who says "Not so fast, my friend!"

Apparently Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson and his Razorbacks defensive staff pulled a Corso on Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino after he publicly pondered pulling a fast one on them.

Petrino had mused to media in July that incoming Razorbacks' freshman cornerback/Razorbacks' track team sprinter-to-be David Gordon of Tulsa East Central may be "too fast" to play in the secondary.

Perhaps Gordon should play receiver, suggested Petrino, the offense's play-caller.

But the defensive staff cornered the cornerback for all preseason practices since the Razorbacks began them Aug. 6.

"Defensive coaches have convinced me he's not too fast," Petrino said, with a smile hinting he doesn't believe a word of it. "He's going to playcorner."

Speed helps any side of the ball and the Hogs' have more depth at receiver than cornerback.

"He's got a chance to be a special player," Petrino said.

Perhaps special enough to be a Charles Woodson twoway some day?

"Maybe as he gets older, he can pop over on offense and scare the DB's a little bit," " Petrino said.

Gordon would go for it.

"Yes I would," Gordon said. "To be known as a guy who can go on both sides of the ball would be great."

That's what Gordon did at East Central last fall. As a safety he logged 56 tackles, four interceptions, 18 pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He also excelled at running back and receiver, with 32 carries for 535 yards and nine touchdowns and eight catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns.

Other than possibly returning kickoffs, however, Gordon is more than content to spend his first Arkansas year strictly on defense.

Already he's discovered he has much to learn playing college corner. But he knows enough to appreciate an old Lou Holtz joke about fast rookie corners rough around the edges.

During his 1977-83 era coaching Arkansas, Holtz once described a freshman flash: "He's got 4.3 speed which means he gets to the wrong place faster than anybody else."

"Exactly," Gordon said, smiling. "I have learned you have to have patience at the cornerback position because you try and rush things, you end up messing up. That's what they have been trying to help me on."

Not only Willy Robinson, the secondary coach, buteven the veterans Gordon tries to beat out like returning starter Isaac Madison and backup Greg Gatson.

"It's competition but we are a team," Gordon said. "They have been so helpful with the playbook and my technique. They tell me, 'You are coming in as a fast guy and this is a fast sport, but don't be so jittery."'

It's been a wakeup reality check for both of Arkansas' most highly recruited corners, Gordon and fellow true freshman Darius Winston of West Helena, Ark. One or both might even redshirt. It boggles the mind to envision them down the road with the fifth-year senior knowledge going with that raw ability that should only improve with experience.

Then again, both could wield an impact now even as they apprentice.

"It's a matter of how quickly they pick up the defense," Robinson said. "What they have is great skill. You always have to take advantage of that. They both have great recovery ability. So what they might lack in technique, their ability to recover is tremendous. How fast do you bring them along? Do you redshirt or do you play them? That's still up in the air."

Speaking of "up in the air," Garrick McGee, the Arkansas quarterbacks coach and former Oklahoma Sooners' quarterback who recruits Razorbacks in and aroundTulsa, says Gordon is a Razorback with the wing span of an eagle.

McGee envisions his recruit's super long arms deflecting passes and making plays that test the imagination.

"He's about 5-11," McGee said, "but we measure him with a wingspan of 6-foot-5. He's one of the fastest people in the country and he's got good feet and quickness. So once he learns how to play the position, we feel he can be one of the best in the SEC."

Sports, Pages 8, 9 on 08/29/2009

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