FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ offense has been challenged this preseason by a defense showing off play making ability in the team’s scrimmages, but will get another crack at getting a handle on new defensive coordinator Paul Haynes’ schemes in today’s 7 p.m.

scrimmage at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

“It’s a new defensive scheme ... a little bit different scheme,” Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson said. “There’s a number of things they’ve been doing defensively where they’ve made us throw it. They’ve been stacking a lot of people inside the box, and we’ve been airing it out.”

Wilson’s passing numbers in practices and scrimmages have been solid, but the first and second units on defense have gotten a number of tackles for loss, pass breakups and even a couple of scores, like Otha Peters’ interception return last Saturday and Chris Smith’s tipped-pass interception and touchdown in practice.

Assistant head coach Taver Johnson said effort will be the first trait he’ll be looking for today.

“The first scrimmage, it was OK at best,” he said. “We need to be through the roof when it comes to running to the football.”

Personnel report

Linebackers Tenarius Wright and Alonzo Highsmith did not dress for Friday afternoon’s practice, making their status questionable for today’s scrimmage. Safety Eric Bennett did rehab work on the sideline, but the junior is also questionable.

Receiver Keante Minor made his first appearance since injuring his right shoulder Monday. The sophomore ran sideline to sideline around midfield for a short time in a T-shirt and shorts and seems unlikely to be ready for the scrimmage.

Rookies slowing?

Arkansas’ coaches have noticed their freshmen feeling the effects of nearly three weeks of camp life in recent days.

“Oh yeah, once we start putting in the whole defense and our offense is putting in the whole offense, some of those freshmen don’t quite operate at the same speed,” defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell said.

“Those guys are starting to hit that freshman wall a little bit,” linebackers coach Taver Johnson said, referencing Otha Peters and A.J. Turner. “I ask [Peters] and A.J. just about every other day if they’re getting on the midnight train, you know, heading back home.

“They’re getting tired.

They’re not used to the long days, just because it’s college. They’re fighting. We’re helping them along with that as well.”

Road closed

Stadium Drive will be closed all day today to accommodate a production truck for the new video board, which will make its debut during the 7 p.m. scrimmage.

Sports, Pages 26 on 08/18/2012