Hogs Struggle In First Practice Back

Considering how things went in Saturday’s season opener against Western Illinois, one might assume Arkansas’ players would return to practice focused and ready to correct their mistakes in preparation for Saturday’s game against Louisiana-Monroe.

But to the dismay of Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino, the Razorbacks didn’t show the type of resiliency that he had hoped to see following their sloppy 28-24 win over the Leathernecks.

“We didn’t come out and execute as well as we needed to. A couple of guys weren’t into practice like they should have been,” Petrino said Tuesday evening following a two-hour practice. “Some guys had great effort, but overall it’s needs to be a lot better.

“We better come out here with a lot more enthusiasm and focus (Wednesday) night.”

Arkansas wide receiver Lucas Miller said coach Bobby Petrino was “upset” with the team’s lack of focus and effort during the practice. The poor performance was surprising considering how close the Razorbacks came to opening the season with a loss to a Football Championship Subdivision team.

Arkansas needed a fourth-quarter comeback to erase a 10-point deficit and score the game-winning touchdown with less than 2 minutes remaining against the Leathernecks.

“Obviously, it was a rough game. We didn’t play the way we wanted to,” Miller said. “We got the (win) and that was the important thing, but (Wednesday) we’ve definitely got to come out with better focus and better effort and execute the game plan that we’re going into this week.”



Crawford Update

The status of Arkansas wide receiver London Crawford remains uncertain as he continues to be bothered by the effects of a concussion suffered Saturday night against WIU.

Crawford began Tuesday’s practice working with the other wide receivers, but he then went to the sideline and did rehabilitation exercises with an athletic trainer.

Paul Petrino said he’s not sure whether the junior will be available for Saturday’s game against Louisiana-Monroe in Little Rock.

“I think he needs to come out here and practice (Wednesday). That’s up to the trainers whether he does or doesn’t,” Petrino said. “But hopefully, he’ll get out here (Wednesday) and see how he goes and see how he’s playing and go from there.”

Freshman Greg Childs, who led the Razorbacks with six catches for 88 yards and a touchdown, is set to make his first career start if Crawford is unavailable.

Petrino also said former Shiloh Christian star Crosby Tuck has been preparing for more playing time in case he’s needed.



More Observations

Arkansas cornerback Jerell Norton, who has been sidelined since undergoing hernia surgery on the first day of fall practice, continued to get more work in practice. It’s uncertain when he’ll be healthy enough to play Saturday, but he appears to be getting closer.

Meanwhile, offensive guard Mitch Petrus practiced Tuesday, even though he’s ineligible to play until the university resolves an undisclosed issue involving him.



ULM Receiver May Return

Louisiana-Monroe could get one of its top wide receivers back in time for Saturday’s game against Arkansas.

ULM coach Charlie Weatherbie suspended junior Darrell McNeal for Saturday’s season-opening loss to No. 9 Auburn because of an unspecified violation.

McNeal led the Warhawks with 54 catches for 502 yards and four touchdowns last season, and without him in the lineup, ULM lost 34-0 loss at Auburn, Ala.

But Weatherbie said Monday that there is a chance that McNeal could be reinstated in time for Saturday’s game in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. The junior is listed as a starter on the team’s depth chart.

“I’m hoping so. We’ll see,” Weatherbie said Monday when asked during the Sun Belt teleconference if McNeal could return against Arkansas.