Davis Offensive Line Solid at Friday?s Practice

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas football participated in drills and maneuvers for slightly less than two hours in shorts and shoulder pads on the practice fields just south of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Friday.

“We had a good mental day, good concentration,” head coach Houston Nutt said. “We have to be a little bit better when we go to shorts. You want the same intensity that you have in pads. We want to get out of (being slower in shorts). I thought the offensive line came back and protected much better today. I’m looking forward to (Saturday).”

Saturday’s practice will begin on the practice field but will move into Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for a scrimmage.

“(Saturday) we are going to start down here at 10:30 a.m. in full pads after a good meeting,” Nutt said. “We’ll start at 10:30 a.m. for about 45 minutes. We’ll get them some individuals, some fundamentals. Then we’ll go into the stadium and try to get about 30 plays for the first group and 30 plays for the second group, then whatever we have left. We are pretty thin. We are trying to get everybody a little bit.”

Saturday’s scrimmage will be another chance for Nutt to see key members of his team in game-like situations.

“The biggest things are execution and protection,” Nutt said. “Protecting our quarterback and letting him throw the ball down the field. Hopefully we will be able to complete a few balls. Of course, the defense is going to try to prevent that. The main thing we want to see tomorrow is a good physical scrimmage but hopefully we’ll protect the quarterback.”

Key components of the special teams group were lost to graduation but kicker Jeremy Davis returns and is impressing Nutt this spring.

“I thought Jeremy Davis hit the ball extremely well today,” Nutt said. “He started the day off right with extra points and field goals. He ended the two-minute drill today with a very good kick. His leg is very strong right now and he is doing a good job.”