Tailback corps gets thinner as Smith injures hamstring
BY NATE ALLEN Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006
URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/43646/
Just in time, it seems, the Razorbacks moved freshman linebacker Van Stumon of North Little Rock to join former offensive guard Mitch Petrus as reserve fullbacks.
The Hogs need all the reserve fullbacks they can get behind No. 2 fullback Farod Jackson because with tailback Michael Smith injuring a hamstring Tuesday night, No. 1 fullback Peyton Hillis likely will be playing a lot of tailback behind sophomore starter Felix Jones.
Jones was going to be a co-first team tailback with Preseason All-SEC tailback Darren McFadden, but McFadden is idled indefinitely and doubtful for the Sept. 2 opener with Southern California as he rehabs from major surgery on his dislocated left toe.
Now Smith, the redshirt freshman redshirted last year because of a pulled hamstring, injured a hamstring during Tuesday night’s practice in shoulder pads and shorts. Smith will be evaluated over these next few days, trainer Dean Weber said.
Running backs coach Danny Nutt said it wasn’t the same hamstring Smith injured last preseason.
In the meantime, head coach Houston Nutt and Danny Nutt must feel fortunate to have Stumon to fullback Tuesday before Smith’s injury and their unorthodox switch of the 6-5, 284-pound Petrus to fullback just before drills began last Saturday.
“[Stumon ] came over there and did some good things, ” Houston Nutt said. “ We’ll keep him going. ”
Stumon was recruited as a possibility at linebacker, fullback or defensive end, but the choice is clear to Danny Nutt.
“ Van Stumon is a natural fullback, ” Danny Nutt said. “ He has great hands. He is going to help us. ”
Meanwhile, Petrus seems like a bull in a china shop — and twice during Tuesday night’s drill defenders dropped like broken china.
“ Not real athletic, ” D. Nutt said of Petrus, “ but when he gets a hold of you, you are going to get knocked to the ground. Not knowing yet about Smith’s hamstring, we are going to need those guys at fullback so Peyton can be ready at tailback. ”
The defense was ready Tuesday night in the fullteam portion of drills.
However, other than one pick by cornerback Matteral Richardson of a Mitch Mustain pass, quarterbacks Mustain, the freshman from Springdale, and Robert Johnson fared well in the pass skel preceding the full-team workout.
Sophomore quarterback Casey Dick, the incumbent from starting the final four games of 2005, didn’t do any team portion Tuesday but likely will get plenty of work tonight. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and quarterbacks coach Alex Wood try to give each of the three quarterbacks extensive auditions.
“ We just are mixing it up, ” Houston Nutt said. “ We are rolling them without knowing who is going to be under pressure. You are up, you are up. You never know when your number is going to be called. ”
The defense seemed to have the right numbers during team.
“ Pass skel we stunk it up, ” defensive backfield coach Louis Campbell said, “ but in team we came back and did a good job. Overall we were pleased with where we were today, obviously there is tomorrow. ”
Houston said a veteran defense is “ playing with confidence and is a step ahead. ”
Adding shoulder pads Tuesday night seemed to make the defense a hit ahead, too.
However, the offense also progresses.
“ We are light years ahead of where we were in the spring, ” first-year offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said after Tuesday’s practice. “ When we put our best out there, we are a pretty good offensive football team. We are trying to rotate those quarterbacks and see who the best is.
“ We are getting closer to making decisions. The wide receivers are getting better every day. Running routes better and the quarterbacks are starting to get it to them. ”
The addition of five freshman scholarship receivers continues to spur to shine the veteran receivers that other than Marcus Monk suffered either injury-plagued or lackluster spring drills.
“ Our young guys, ” Malzahn said, “ brought in a lot of energy and our old guys have responded. They aren’t the same receivers they were in the spring. I told them the other day, I don’t even recognize you. Right now it looks like we’ll be able to put eight guys in the rotation. ”
Senior offensive right tackle Zac Tubbs is healthy again after a minor ailment and practiced first-team Tuesday night.
