Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

News and notes from Monday’s Arkansas media availability…

I. Put Me In, Coach
Battling for playing time has taken on new meaning for freshmen wide receivers MeKale McKay and Keon Hatcher.

McKay and Hatcher nearly got “into a fight with each other” over who got to be in the huddle next during one portion of practice Monday, offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. Neither wanted to be on the sideline while the other was getting to play.

Both McKay and Hatcher have had moments in camp to suggest they can contribute this season. Arkansas needs help at the position and the athleticism both have shown impresses coaches and teammates. Hatcher caught four passes for 41 yards and McKay had one catch for 10 yards in a recent scrimmage.

Physical skills and a desire to be on the field will get them playing time sooner than later.

“That’s why those two players right there are going to be great players at this school,” Petrino said. “Just because of their attitude. Obviously they have talent, and they’re great players. But boy they just want to be in there, they want to get reps and they want to learn. That’s a good thing.”

II. Good, But …
Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino didn’t agree with the assessment the defense came away victorious in a recent scrimmage. Watch the film, he said, and accounts of the scrimmage would likely be different for the first-team offense.

But…

Petrino was willing to concede the starters weren’t much better than OK. Arkansas’ first team had five touchdowns on 11 possessions.

“That’s a good day, but it’s not a great day. We expect great days,” Petrino said. “You know, if we don’t have a couple drops on third downs, then we’re in the 50s and that’s what we expect. That’s the way we should play.”

Quarterback Tyler Wilson had a similar assessment. He liked the touchdowns, but was disappointed there weren’t more. Drops and exchange problems with the center were frustrating for the fifth-year senior.

“We scored five, threw for a lot of yards and did a lot of good things,” Wilson said. “But my expectations aren’t that. They’re a lot better. So, not terrible, but we’ve got to be better. We’re used to being better.”

Petrino liked what he saw from the first and third units. He was disappointed in the second team as it suffered drops and poor protection that put quarterback Brandon Allen in a lot of third-and-long situations.

“We’ve got to hit all those plays so that we’re always in third and short and third and medium with the twos,” Petrino said. “If we end up in third and long with the twos we’re going to be in big trouble.”

III. No Two-Hand Touch
Knile Davis has yet to be tackled to the ground in preseason camp. He’s still awaiting word on when that day will come, but he wants to clear up the notion he hasn’t had contact.  

“I mean, I DO get hit now,” Davis said. “We’re not just out here having two-hand touch, you know what I mean? I get a little contact.”

Speaking Out
“The pass protection wasn't perfect and that's something we worked hard on today. That's something take pride in as a unit. We don't want to get any quarterback hit and we definitely don't want to give up sacks ... .”
—Guard Alvin Bailey on the team allowing 12 sacks in a recent scrimmage