FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen said the offense must find a way to keep producing now that it has lost receiver Keon Hatcher in addition to tailback Jonathan Williams, both with foot injuries.
"Definitely a setback, but guys have to step up," Allen said. "We can't have excuses for having a receiver out. We've got more receivers."
Drew Morgan will move into Hatcher's starting role opposite Jared Cornelius, with Jojo Robinson being promoted into Morgan's old spot in the slot.
"It sucks losing a leader like Keon," Cornelius said. "But at the same time, we have other guys capable of stepping up and making big plays for us.
"I want to be a guy. I didn't come here to be a second fiddle to anybody. Everybody wants to be a guy. ... I got my starting job in high school when somebody got hurt and I had to step up, and I'm looking forward to doing the same thing here."
Run here
Offensive line coach Sam Pittman said Tuesday's practice was a physical one as the Razorbacks looked to refocus on their running game.
"You get what you emphasize," Pittman said. "We've thrown 73 passes and we haven't given up a sack and we can't run the ball. That's coaching. We're trying to get it fixed the best we can. We'll have it fixed."
Arkansas is averaging 142.5 rushing yards per game to rank in a tie for 89th in the country with UTEP. The Razorbacks' 360 passing yards per game ranks 12th in the nation.
Tretola talks
Offensive guard Sebastian Tretola got a forum to address the entire team on Tuesday and didn't mess around with pleasantries.
"I was just letting the boys know ... if you're a man and somebody walks up to you and punches you in the face, I would hope you're going to punch him back," Tretola said. "You're not just going to stand there and cry about it.
"It was along those lines. Just letting them know we've got to get back to who we are and what we do."
Asked if Toledo punched Arkansas last week, Tretola hesitated a moment, then said, "Yeah ... that's exactly what happened. And by no means do I say we laid down, because we came out and we fought. We fought, but for whatever reasons things weren't clicking."
Said offensive tackle Dan Skipper, "When he talks, he means business. That was the message of we know who we are, it's time to get back to business to do what we do."
Quarterback Brandon Allen said Tretola's message resonated.
"He's a very emotional guy, and he probably took that loss to heart, just kind of like we all are," he said. "We're not letting it affect us the rest of the season, but it's kind of one of those things where it wakes up a lot of people and it's like, 'We can get beat by any team. We're not going to walk in and just show up and win.'"
Denver stays
Offensive line coach Sam Pittman said there is no consideration of moving Denver Kirkland away from left tackle, no matter what some fans are saying.
"Denver, we've thrown 73 passes, he hasn't gave up a sack," Pittman said. "I don't know what they're talking about, A, and don't care. But B, he's the best left tackle we have on the team and he's going to stay at left tackle."
Pittman also said he expected Kirkland would be ready to play on Saturday after his right arm was bent back late against Toledo.
Jojo mojo
Jojo Robinson is a player the fans have heard about a lot, but have only seen in a few open practices the past two years.
A touted signee from Miami, Robinson was slowed by injuries early last season and redshirted, was suspended for the season opener, then played one snap last week against Toledo.
Robinson's time appears to be coming Saturday against Texas Tech. He's listed as the No. 1 slot receiver with Drew Morgan getting more work outside because of Keon Hatcher's foot injury.
"I'm just hoping Jojo goes out and executes our offense," receivers coach Michael Smith said. "If he does that with the ability he has, he's going to be fine."
Smith said he finds it interesting Robinson has gotten so much attention from fans.
"Everybody has put Jojo on this pedestal, but he hasn't played a lot of football at this level," Smith said. "He's a tremendous athlete and all that stuff, but until he does something, they need to stop with that Jojo stuff.
"That's just my opinion, and it's not a knock on Jojo Robinson, because I love the kid and I want to see him have success. But there are lot of guys on this football team that have done it. He hasn't done it yet, but when he does, I'll be his biggest fan, I promise you."
Dodging 2012
Bret Bielema doesn't know all the details of the 2012 implosion that led to his hiring at Arkansas, but he's gotten more insight on it this week after the Razorbacks' upset loss from several people who were around the program then, including strength and conditioning assistant Price Holmes, a safety on that team.
Holmes was glad the current staff is in place, Bielema said, to help prevent the downward spiral that ravaged the 2012 team under interim Coach John L. Smith.
"Because when this happened before, people would just, you know, go sideways and kind of throw it all in," Bielema said on Monday. "I doubt very much, with the character, the stamina -- and he named off about four or five [current players], and he's like, 'Coach, they're not going to let this happen.' And just by the reaction I saw yesterday, obviously they were very upset and very angry, but it was so easy to point out what we failed to do, why we failed to do it and the results were pretty clear."
Rough Razorbacks
Texas Tech offensive coordinator Eric Morris said the Red Raiders will have to make adjustments in practice this week to get ready for Arkansas.
"Practice physical," Morris said. "We'll be on the scout teams all week. We'll go against each other a little bit more inside ... to get some of that good on good look with some physical activity up front.
"We're better right now than we were a year ago up front offensively, but we'll practice good on good a little more this week."
Good arm it
Arkansas running back Kody Walker sustained a jammed thumb against Toledo, but running backs coach Jemal Singleton said he expects him to play Saturday wearing a cast.
"I broke my hand twice, in college as a senior and in high school as a senior," Singleton said. "I still carried the ball and even caught passes.
"You've got two arms, so carry the ball with the good arm and protect it with the off arm. It's not a concern."
Singleton said Walker should be able to catch a pass.
"I've always felt that guys with something on one of their hands tend to focus more and actually might be a better receiver," he said. "I don't think that's going to be something that affects him."
Sports on 09/16/2015