Patience Necessary Trait For Arkansas’ Backfield

RUNNERS WILL BE FRESH FOR FINAL TWO GAMES

By Robbie Neiswanger

Posted: November 18, 2009 at 3:20 a.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Ronnie Wingo may be a freshman, but the Arkansas running back sounded like a wise veteran when he was asked about his playing time Monday.

Sure, averaging less than four rushing attempts a game isn’t what he expected. It has been tough to swallow at times. But he understands the importance of patience.

“When you go in, you’ve got to go like it’s your last time getting the ball,” Wingo said. “There are only so many chances you can get because there are so many of us.”

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said earlier this season he wanted to spread the ball to each of his running backs and has followed through with the plan. The Razorbacks’ backfield has resembled a revolving door, with five ball carriers shuffling on and off the field this season.

As a result, Michael Smith is Arkansas’ leading rusher with just 396 yards and the Razorbacks won’t have a 1,000-yard rusher for the second time in eight years. The benefit? No one has been taxed by the workload, something the Hogs believe will pay off in the next two weeks.

“I think it always takes them a little while to get used to how it works,” offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. “I think it’s growing into what we wanted it to become.”

Arkansas had some problems running the ball earlier this season and enters Saturday’s game against Mississippi State averaging 140 rushing yards a game. But the Hogs — who are ninth in the Southeastern Conference in rushing — have been gaining steam lately, averaging 185 yards in three straight wins.

All five backs have contributed, enjoying big runs and short-yardage success, especially in the second half of the Razorbacks’ wins. Wingo said sharing time hasn’t affected how the backs feel about each other, though.

“We’re really just a brotherhood,” Wingo said. “We just look out for each other (every) day. Outside of football, too.”

Petrino said it was evident in the Troy game, when each back took turns making plays. Six different ball carriers had a run of at least 9 yards, topped by Johnson’s impressive 46-yard eff ort in the second half.

Petrino wasn’t watching the run, though. He was paying attention to how other running backs were reacting.

“They were all smiling when Dennis came in and made yards and plays,” Petrino said. “When Knile (Davis) came in and made plays. All of them together and happy for the other guy as opposed to saying, ‘I wish I could get more touches.’

“That’s a great teambuilder right there.”

But Petrino knows how competitive his backs have become.

“They all want touches,” Petrino said. “There’s no question in my mind that they all think they should get more. I hope they do. That’s what a competitor does.”

Three different Razorbacks — Smith, Broderick Green and Dennis Johnson — have logged 100-yard performances. No one cracked the 100-yard mark last week, but the entire group was at its best against the Trojans.

Wingo said Arkansas beat Troy with its depth in the second half. The Razorbacks had 20 rushing attempts for 77 yards in the first half, 15 for 110 after the break.

Johnson said it’s a sign everyone is fresh and ready to run the stretch. That’s good news for Arkansas, which is hoping to wear down defenses with its loaded backfi eld.

“When it really comes right down to it, when you get your chance you better make the most of it,” Paul Petrino said. “And then whoever is hot, you just keep feeding them.”

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If you ride who is hot then why doesn't dennis johnson get more carries? That man flat out runs people over, then goes around people, and then out runs people! He is a good looking running back and will be a better featured back than Michael Smith.

Posted by: razorback44

November 19, 2009 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )