Petrino seeks better effort from Hogs versus Eastern Michigan

Posted: October 27, 2009 at 5:45 a.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas could have used a more patient coach, the Arkansas coach said.

In his Monday retrospective of last Saturday’s 30-17 SEC loss to Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. andlook ahead to Saturday’s ESPNU televised 6 p.m. nonconference homecoming game with 0-7 Eastern Michigan at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino shouldered blame for the Razorbacks in Oxford producing just 45 rushing yards on just 22 carries.

“We need to run it better and we needed to run it more,” Petrino said. “We needed to be more patient. That’s my fault.”

Trailing14-0 after a quarter anddown 17-0 with 4:12 left before half had Petrino relying too much on quarterback Ryan Mallett’s arm.

“I think Ryan really tried to make things happen instead of just executing the offense and letting the offense work for him to make things happen,” Petrino said.

Of course the offense can’t make anything happen without the ball.

Ole Miss controlled the ball 37:13 of the game’s 60 minutes and ran 80 plays to Arkansas’ 58.

“What hurts is the number of opportunities,” Petrino said. “It has to work hand-in-hand. Our defense has to get the ball back, and then the offense can control it and keep them on the sideline. And it was really just the opposite. Defensively, we didn’t tackle well, and we gave up way too many big plays.”

The woes manifested most on third down, or, more accurately, “third doom” for the Hogs in Oxford.

“Offensively,” Petrino said of third down problems, “a lot of it was our protections and their speed in their blitzes and their defensive ends coming off the edge. The bad thing is it was different guys and different places that you get beat. And that’s when you’re in trouble, is there’s not one area where you can help out or concentrate on helping that out. They got after us pretty good with their rush. Our timing wasn’t great with our quarterback and receivers, as far as keeping our focus downfield and being set and ready to throw the ball. So it was a lot of things.”

Ditto, defensively.

“Defensively, we missed some crucial tackles on third downs that allowed them to convert it,” Petrino said. “Had a pass go right over our fingers that we could have maybe intercepted for a touchdown, so a lot of little things on defense.”

Neither Arkansas’ offense nor defense got assisted by the special teams.

Example: The Hogs took too much time aligning which voided Alex Tejada’s career-long 52 yards field goal and then punterDylan Breeding shanked the punt after the delay of game penalty.

“Special teams, you know,” Petrino said. “I just didn’t feel we played up to speed. We didn’t punt the ball well, we didn’t change the field. We had been flipping the field most of the year, particularly on kickoff return, and we didn’t get that done. So, it’s a disappointing game. We’ve got to put it behind us and move on to this week and get better in our prep this week.”

The Hogs start practice today without their starting cornerbacks. Ramon Broadway (hamstring) won’t play against Eastern Michigan, Petrino said.

Rudell Crim, hip pointer during the Ole Miss game, is out for now but “has a chance” by Saturday, Petrino estimated.

Some of Arkansas’ few bright spots against Ole Miss were provided by the replacement cornerbacks. JC transfer Andru Stewart logged an interception with a 30-yard return plus 3 tackles, including one behind the line, and true freshman David Gordon whom Petrino credited with the tip that Stewart intercepted.

“David Gordon is a pure speed guy,” Arkansas senior free safety Matt Harris said. “I know he’s going to be helping us with the vertical threats. And Andru Stewart, I’ve got faith in him. He’s been playing all season good for us. He made a heck of a play on the ball and got a pick for us.” UA, USC, TV

Arkansas’ Nov. 7 SEC game against South Carolina, will kick off at 11:21 a.m. at Reynolds Razorback Stadium and be televised by the SEC Network, it was announced Monday.

Kickoff times aren’t set for Arkansas’ final three games, Nov. 14 against Troy in Fayetteville, Nov. 21 against Mississippi State in Little Rock and Nov. 28 against LSU in Baton Rouge, La.

Sports, Pages 9 on 10/27/2009

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