Razorbacks Report

Arkansas plans for rainy day

Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman watches warmups prior to a game against UTEP on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman watches warmups prior to a game against UTEP on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman won't mind at all if the storm front expected to roll through Northwest Arkansas on Friday evening dumps a little rain in Reynolds Razorback Stadium for Saturday's 11 a.m. game against Auburn.

The Razorbacks won rough-weather games against LSU and Ole Miss last year in shutout fashion, and they won 24-20 at Tennessee three weeks ago on a field soaked by pregame rains.

"Really the last game we had like that was Tennessee and we felt like it was an advantage for us," Pittman said. "Certainly we feel the same way if it happens to rain on Saturday. But only one guy can control the weather, so we'll just figure out what happens when we get there."

The extended forecast is calling for a 90 percent chance of rain Saturday.

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Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos said the team would "certainly do some wet-ball things" in practice because of the forecast.

"Tennessee week, we had some guys wear different shoes, and we've done those a couple of times," Enos said.

Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn noted Tuesday that the Tigers have practiced in the rain a few times already this fall.

"We had one mist game already," he said. "We'll do some things in practice to try to simulate the situation. We'll simulate a lot of the factors like keeping the footballs dry, keeping your hands dry with the towels and everything that goes with that."

Early work

The Razorbacks held an 11 a.m. practice Tuesday to correspond to Saturday's kickoff time against Auburn.

"It got all the players up and ready early, like 6:30 or 7 o'clock, which is what it'll be like on game day," receiver Drew Morgan said.

Quarterback Brandon Allen said the bye week refreshed the Razorbacks.

"We had a lot of energy," he said. "It was a good practice today. We're getting our bodies used to getting up for an 11 o'clock game. I was very pleased with practice. No one out there was really sluggish."

Injury update

Kody Walker has a smaller cast on his right hand this week after sporting a massive club on it for the past five weeks, and running backs coach Jemal Singleton said the junior looked solid in practice Sunday and Tuesday and should be ready to play against Auburn.

"Absolutely," Singleton said. "He can carry the ball and do some things. I think he can definitely be a help this next game."

Singleton said tailback Juan Day, who just started taking contact last week after a second knee surgery, might not be game ready.

"I'm not sure I'm comfortable enough with everything we're doing game-plan wise ... but he's definitely coming along," Singleton said.

Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn said he expected defensive tackle Montravius Adams and tailback Roc Thomas to be ready for Saturday's game. Both sustained undisclosed injuries in last Thursday's 30-27 victory at Kentucky. Thomas has been dealing with leg and foot injuries this year.

"They both practiced Sunday and we expect them to play," Malzahn said.

Tempo up

Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn said the bye week before facing Kentucky last Thursday played a role in the Tigers' improved offensive tempo in their 30-27 victory over the Wildcats.

"I think it was the bye and putting in some pieces of the puzzle and getting some consistency with personnel," Malzahn said. "I think it was a combination of all of that.

"Last week was the first time that we really got in a rhythm and started playing with the tempo that we want."

The Tigers opened the season with quarterback Jeremy Johnson throwing six interceptions and five touchdowns in the first three games before he was replaced by Sean White, who started the next three games and has been named as the starter for the Arkansas game.

"He's improved each game," Malzahn said. "I think the big thing from my standpoint is he's protecting the football."

Auburn had not turned it over in its past two games.

Birthday boy

Arkansas center Mitch Smothers, doing interviews on his birthday Tuesday, sounded like he was going to enjoy a low-key birthday celebration.

"I'll probably just hang out," Smothers said.

"He's 23! My gosh, when did he start school, when he was 10 or something?" offensive line coach Sam Pittman said jokingly. "Nah, we don't have much planned for old Mitch. I'm pretty sure he and his wife can handle whatever he needs to do, but happy birthday to him. He's a great kid."

Not Alabama

Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman was asked what the key was to reigniting the Razorbacks' run game.

"Well, uh, we're not playing Alabama. That helps," Pittman said. "Look, they're really good, and so is Auburn, and so is everyone else that we play. We just have to get better at moving double teams."

Alabama, which held Arkansas to 44 rushing yards, ranks No. 3 nationally in run defense, allowing an average of 70.9 yards per game. Auburn ranks No. 101, allowing 197.7 rushing yards per game.

"Part of it, too, you've got to give respect to your opponent," running backs coach Jemal Singleton said, noting the lack of production against Alabama. "We just have to continue to get better and turn some of those 2- and 3-yard carries into 4- and 5-yard carries. That's going to be an emphasis for this week."

Redshirts get work

Players who are redshirting and working on the scout teams got a chance to run Arkansas' plays instead of the opponents during scrimmage work last week.

Bret Bielema said players who stood out during the scrimmage included tight ends C.J. O'Grady and Will Gragg, tackle Colton Jackson, receiver Deon Stewart, defensive lineman T.J. Smith and defensive back Nate Dalton.

Sports on 10/21/2015

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