FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino offered a frank assessment of the performance of his three offensive units in Saturday’s scrimmage.
On quarterback Tyler Wilson and the starters, he said, “The ones had 70 plays and they scored five touchdowns, so that’s 35 points. We got stopped on the 1.
“So that’s a good day, but it’s not a great day. We expect great days.”
On the second offense: “Disappointing. That was real disappointing. What’s real disappointing, they just didn’t help out [quarterback] Brandon Allen. Like the first three plays, every one of them was right on the money: Drop, drop, drop. ... Wasn’t happy with them.”
Petrino said the third teamers did some good things and that he likes the freshman class of receivers.
The defense had 12 sacks, 27 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 fourth-down stops at the 1-yard line, and held the top two units to nine touchdown drives on 31 possessions, but Petrino said those numbers give a distorted view of the first team offense’s play.
Said Wilson, “If you watch just the ones, there was a lot more positives out there. ... I threw four touchdowns and we scored five, threw for a lot of yards and did a lot of good things, but my expectations aren’t that. They’re a lot better. So, not terrible, but we’ve got to get better. We’re used to being better.”
Still waiting
Tailback Knile Davis, like Arkansas fans, is wondering when he’ll face live tackling again.
“I want to know, too,” said Davis, who has fully recovered from the broken left ankle he suffered last August. “I’m waiting on the call. As soon as he tells me I can go in, I’m in there.”
Coach John L. Smith said in the spring he wanted Davis to get tackled a few times before the first game, which is Sept. 1 against Jacksonville State.
Smith said after holding Davis out of Saturday’s scrimmage there’s a plan for Davis, but he didn’t offer details.
Davis said he has taken some hits in practice.
“We’re not just out here having two-hand touch, you know what I mean?” he said. “I get a little contact.”
Two rookies
Paul Petrino said freshman receivers Keon Hatcher and Mekale McKay are showing separation from the rest of their big class.
“The best thing about those two ... there was an instance in this morning’s practice when I thought they were going to get into a fight with each other over who got to be in the huddle, because they try to be in there every single play and they’re always trying to get reps,” Petrino said. “They’re always trying to learn. That’s why those two players right there are going to be great players at this school.”
Personnel report
Inside linebackers Tank Wright and Alonzo Highsmith suited out together Monday morning for the first time since Highsmith suffered a hamstring injury Aug. 4. Wright went through more individual and group drills than Highsmith, but neither participated in team periods with hard contact.
Senior Terrell Williams and freshman Otha Peters continued to work first-team reps in their places.
Highsmith did not suit out for the evening work.
Safety Eric Bennett did not dress for either practice, but he did a little bit of individual work.
Receiver Keante Minor appeared to hurt his right shoulder while diving for a pass deep down the sideline. Defensive backs Tevin Mitchel and Kelvin Fisher Jr. appeared to tweak leg muscles during pass coverage in the afternoon practice.
Complete stretch
Tyler Wilson went 6 for 6 in the first team period early Monday, connecting with Julian Horton, Dennis Johnson, Javontee Herndon, Cobi Hamilton, Brandon Mitchell and Chris Gragg.
Freshman Brandon Allen completed his first four passes in the next sequence -- to Herndon, Kody Walker, Mitchell and Johnson -- before throwing incomplete deep for Herndon.
Tackle tandems
If there’s one seemingly interchangeable spot on the Arkansas roster, it’s defensive tackle. Byran Jones and Robert Thomas worked with the first team most of the first week of camp, and now Alfred Davis and D.D. Jones are taking most of the first team snaps. Jones was held out of some team periods with a wrap on his right hand.
Fan day
Arkansas players and coaches will sign autographs from noon to 2 p.m. at the team’s fan day Saturday at Walton Arena. The first 1,000 fans will receive T-shirts.
The Razorbacks will scrimmage that night at 7 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Sports, Pages 19 on 08/14/2012