Razorbacks report

Defense studying options

University of Arkansas assistant coach Taver Johnson during media day Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013 at the Fred W. Smith Football Center in Fayetteville.
University of Arkansas assistant coach Taver Johnson during media day Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013 at the Fred W. Smith Football Center in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE - The experimentation at Arkansas’ linebacker spots has continued late into the second week of camp for the Razorbacks, but it came behind projected starters Jarrett Lake, Austin Jones and Braylon Mitchell.

True freshman Brooks Ellis is now taking reps at second-team weak side linebacker (will) behind Lake, while junior college transfer Martrell Spaight is backing up Mitchell on the strong side (sam) and sophomore Otha Peters is back in the middle behind Jones.

“I’ve been going back and watching things I did wrong so I could try to improve on them and just taking it day by day and learning pretty much what to do at sam, how to do it, where to do it,” said Spaight, who had a couple of big plays in last week’s scrimmage.

“They just kind of moved me around, seeing what I play best,” Ellis said.

Injury report

Center Travis Swanson (groin) said late Wednesday he worked through both practices that day.

“I practiced all day today and felt fine,” Swanson said.

Safety Rohan Gaines is still being held out while his sore knee recovers.

“Just watching, but his spirits are unbelievable,” cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson said. “When you’re injured, as long as your spirits are up, you’re apt to get back out there quicker.

Signing limit

Arkansas officials are asking fans to get only one autograph per player or coach during the Razorbacks’ Fan Day event Sunday at Walton Arena.

The one-autograph policy has been in place for several years, said UA associate athletic director Kevin Trainor, and the NCAA investigation into allegations that Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was paid to sign autographs has increased awareness.

“In all autograph available events, we have staff members on site to monitor signing periods,” Trainor wrote in an e-mail exchange with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “We have also communicated to our student-athletes to personalize individual signatures and not to sign multiple items for the same requestor.”

Ram jam

Walk-on fullback Patrick Arinze, the leading rusher in the Red-White game with nine carries for 66 yards, is seeing more action than he ever imagined.

“I came here to play fullback,” said the muscular 5-10, 238-pounder. “I didn’t come here expecting to get carries.”

Arinze, starting at fullback in place of the injured Kiero Small, broke off an 18-yard gain as part of his three carries for 24 yards in Arkansas’ first fall scrimmage.

“Anything I get ... is a bonus for me,” said Arinze, who was described by Coach Bret Bielema in the spring as “like a Tonka truck.”

Takeaway time

Arkansas defenders know they created zero turnovers in last week’s scrimmage, and they’d like to change that this Saturday.

“We’ve got a couple of individual drills that we force turnovers,” defensive end Trey Flowers said.

“Strip attempts. Interception returns. Most definitely want to create turnovers.

“The offense did a good job handling the ball, but … we didn’t attempt to strip the ball. So we’re coming out at practice and working on things like that.”

Slow start

Cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson said Thursday was not one of the defense’s better practices.

“You have those days sometimes,” he said. “Guys fought through it. One thing that was happening, some pads were popping and that was good to hear and good to see.”

Defensive end JaMichael Winston said practice got off to a “rocky start” but got better.

“We got into the 1-on-1s and got our groove back and then it carried over,” Winston said.

Head spins

Coach Bret Bielema included freshman quarterbacks Austin Allen and Damon Mitchel among his group of 10 true freshmen with a chance to play.

“Their heads are spinning like all freshman quarterbacks’ are,” offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. “One of them learns a couple of things and the other one learns a couple and they kind of blend it together.

“But I’m pleased with both of them … They’re good young men, they’re competing hard, they love the position and they have a passion for the game. So I don’t know why they won’t be successful.”

Face time

Coaches don’t have much free time, especially during fall camp, but Barry Lunney Jr. tweeted a picture of himself with his wife, Janelle, and sons, Luke and Levi, on the Reynolds Razorback Stadium field before Wednesday night’s practice.

Lunney, who coaches tight ends, said Coach Bret Bielema is good about letting families visit when time allows.

“We had a little bit of down time between dinner and practice, so there were some families that came up just to see their dads and be around the players and be on the field before practice,” Lunney said. “That’s cool to be able to do that.”

Installs in

Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said there isn’t a lot installation going on this week.

“We’ve got a majority of what we’re trying to look at installed right now,” Chaney said. “They seem to be grasping what we’re wanting them to do on the offensive side of the ball, and we’re pleased with it.”

Sports, Pages 24 on 08/16/2013

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