Practice Report

Miller Playing Catch Up Receiver Lucas Miller has a problem with Arkansas’ passing offense. The aerial attack has piled up 855 yards, but the senior hasn’t had a chance to join in on the fun because of a broken collarbone.

“I’m jealous,” Miller said. “I’m behind the game now.”

Miller should get a chance to catch up beginning Saturday, though. The receiver participated in Tuesday’s practice and is expected to see his first action when Arkansas plays at No. 3 Alabama.

Miller, who caught 30 passes for 490 yards and 2 touchdowns last season, has gradually worked back from the injury. He has been sidelined five weeks.

“I don’t like standing over there on the sidelines watching,” Miller said. “I’ve done a lot of that lately, so getting back out there was fun. I’ve been able to catch the ball, move around with my teammates. That was something I’ve been looking forward to.”

Miller is hoping to knock off as much rust as possible this week. He even tested his shoulder Tuesday, running into defensive backs like Anthony Leon.

Arkansas hopes Miller will help a rotation that relied heavily on Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs last week. Miller, Cobi Hamilton and Carlton Salters are expected to play bigger roles Saturday.

“I’ve got to play catch up with my guys,” Miller said about the wideouts. “They’re giving me a hard time, saying ‘You’ve got to catch us now.’”



Two-Minute Drill

• DE Damario Ambrose was arrested Tuesday on a misdemeanor charge of failure to appear, stemming from a traffic ticket he received in January.

A warrant was issued in February after Ambrose failed to appear in Johnson City Court. He was booked into the Washington County Detention Center at 9:55 a.m. and released after posting $464 bond. Ambrose did participate in Tuesday’s practice.

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino wasn’t available for comment Tuesday. Ambrose’s teammate, CB Ramon Broadway, has not missed playing time after being arrested on a similar charge late last month.

• Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said there’s a “great chance” freshman offensive tackle Anthony Oden will play Saturday. Oden played in the opener, but remained on the bench against Georgia. Petrino also said guard Mitch Petrus and tackle DeMarcus Love graded out best in the Georgia game.

• Three former Michigan State head coaches will be in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.

Alabama coach Nick Saban (1995-99), Alabama tight ends coach and special teams coordinator Bobby Williams (2000-2002), and Arkansas outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator John L. Smith (2003-2006) all led the Spartans.



Red Zone Trouble

Arkansas was 4-for-4 in red zone scoring against Georgia and is 10-for-10 for the year. But the Razorbacks aren’t celebrating their perfection.

Two of the four trips inside Georgia’s 20 resulted in place-kicker Alex Tejada field goals. Both came in the second half after Georgia scored touchdowns.

“Those two times we had to kick a field goal, if we score, that changes the game,” Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett said. “That’s frustrating. I don’t even have to explain that, I don’t think. We’ve got to execute in the red zone and put the ball in there.”

Mallett shouldered some responsibility for the second field goal, which came after Arkansas faced third-and-10 from Georgia’s 12 in the fourth quarter.

Mallett scrambled for a few yards before sliding well short of the first-down marker.

“We couldn’t keep up in the scoring battle when we had to do that,” Petrino said of the two field goals.