Article from ESPN.com
Take look....
courtesy ESPN.com
Here's what we know about Arkansas junior Darren McFadden: He finished second in the Heisman Trophy race last season, rushed for 1,647 yards, has one of best fullbacks in the nation in front of him in Peyton Hillis and has Felix Jones to spell him when he needs a breather.
But before anyone buys McFadden a nonrefundable ticket to New York for the Dec. 8 Heisman ceremony, it's worth pointing out that the Razorbacks have only two returning starters on the offensive line.
Granted, center Jonathan Luigs made the All-SEC team last season. But Luigs can't play center and the left side. Left tackle Tony Ugoh played well enough that Indianapolis picked him in the second round and has entrusted him with protecting quarterback Peyton Manning's blind side. The departed left guard, Stephen Parker, is a free agent who made it through the first cut of the Miami Dolphins' camp.
As well as that left side of the line performed last season, Arkansas coach Houston Nutt believes his running game remained balanced. (Oddly enough, Florida prepared for Arkansas to run more to the right side last season. The Razorbacks rushed for 132 yards against the Gators, but lost the SEC Championship Game, 38-28.) This season, that might not be as easy to do.
"When Shawn Andrews and Mark Bokermann were here [2003], we were really right-handed," Nutt said, before switching his focus back to last season. "… It is a concern. The right side is more experienced. If we had to, we will lean that way."
Nutt said his running game usually uses a power play on one side of the line and a counter on the other, both in search of balance and to keep it simple enough in limited practice time that the offense gets enough repetitions of both plays. Zone-blocking rushes, he added, keep the defense honest.Ugoh and Parker will be replaced by juniors Jose Valdez and Mitch Petrus, respectively. Valdez averaged 11 snaps a game last season and filled in well for Ugoh when Ugoh got hurt in the Capital One Bowl. Petrus is a beefed-up former fullback.
"Valdez has done a good job so far," Nutt said. "He had a good camp. We need to go play somebody and see how we're going to do in front of people."
McFadden, Nutt said, has never been more ready.
"Oh my gosh," Nutt said. "He's in great, great shape. Everybody was wilting during two-a-days. Not him and the skill-position guys. If we can keep him healthy …"And if the left side of the line develops, McFadden will get to his second consecutive Heisman ceremony
courtesy ESPN.com
Here's what we know about Arkansas junior Darren McFadden: He finished second in the Heisman Trophy race last season, rushed for 1,647 yards, has one of best fullbacks in the nation in front of him in Peyton Hillis and has Felix Jones to spell him when he needs a breather.
But before anyone buys McFadden a nonrefundable ticket to New York for the Dec. 8 Heisman ceremony, it's worth pointing out that the Razorbacks have only two returning starters on the offensive line.
Granted, center Jonathan Luigs made the All-SEC team last season. But Luigs can't play center and the left side. Left tackle Tony Ugoh played well enough that Indianapolis picked him in the second round and has entrusted him with protecting quarterback Peyton Manning's blind side. The departed left guard, Stephen Parker, is a free agent who made it through the first cut of the Miami Dolphins' camp.
As well as that left side of the line performed last season, Arkansas coach Houston Nutt believes his running game remained balanced. (Oddly enough, Florida prepared for Arkansas to run more to the right side last season. The Razorbacks rushed for 132 yards against the Gators, but lost the SEC Championship Game, 38-28.) This season, that might not be as easy to do.
"When Shawn Andrews and Mark Bokermann were here [2003], we were really right-handed," Nutt said, before switching his focus back to last season. "… It is a concern. The right side is more experienced. If we had to, we will lean that way."
Nutt said his running game usually uses a power play on one side of the line and a counter on the other, both in search of balance and to keep it simple enough in limited practice time that the offense gets enough repetitions of both plays. Zone-blocking rushes, he added, keep the defense honest.Ugoh and Parker will be replaced by juniors Jose Valdez and Mitch Petrus, respectively. Valdez averaged 11 snaps a game last season and filled in well for Ugoh when Ugoh got hurt in the Capital One Bowl. Petrus is a beefed-up former fullback.
"Valdez has done a good job so far," Nutt said. "He had a good camp. We need to go play somebody and see how we're going to do in front of people."
McFadden, Nutt said, has never been more ready.
"Oh my gosh," Nutt said. "He's in great, great shape. Everybody was wilting during two-a-days. Not him and the skill-position guys. If we can keep him healthy …"And if the left side of the line develops, McFadden will get to his second consecutive Heisman ceremony
posted by Anonymous at 9:29 PM
<< Home