Hogs Prepare to Play Without Wilson
By: Adam Alter
Updated: September 10, 2012
In his first drive of the second half against Louisiana-Monroe, Brandon Allen showed glimpses of a bright future at Arkansas. After that, he completed just 3-16 passes.
"I think Brandon's going to be fine, to be honest with you," head coach John L. Smith explained Monday. "I think he's going to bounce back and he's going to prepare himself. He knows he can play the game. We know he can play the game."
"After the game when people were trying to bash him, he had his head down. I told him to pick his head up," senior tight end Chris Gragg said. "We're still behind you. You've got playmakers and you can make plays. We've just got to go out there and work, get our stuff right, get our timing right, chemistry, and go out there and get ready to put on a show Saturday."
When breaking in a new quarterback, a solid running game can be his best friend. After taking a 28-7 lead against the Warhawks, the Razorbacks only ran the ball six more times.
"We did want to run the ball. I think we could have been a lot more physical on them," Gragg said. "It was just the little small things and that's what we have to get back to this week. Get back to the fundamentals and get back to what we know how to do."
"We have to be able to block it better than that," Smith added. "They got up, got in our face but it was disappointing we're not able to pound it like we would have liked."
Despite getting far fewer carries this season, Dennis Johnson's been the most effective back for Arkansas. Knile Davis continues to be a work in progress.
"Is Knile back to where he was? Not yet," Smith described. "Is Knile going to get back to where he was? I really (believe so), yes."
"I think Brandon's going to be fine, to be honest with you," head coach John L. Smith explained Monday. "I think he's going to bounce back and he's going to prepare himself. He knows he can play the game. We know he can play the game."
"After the game when people were trying to bash him, he had his head down. I told him to pick his head up," senior tight end Chris Gragg said. "We're still behind you. You've got playmakers and you can make plays. We've just got to go out there and work, get our stuff right, get our timing right, chemistry, and go out there and get ready to put on a show Saturday."
When breaking in a new quarterback, a solid running game can be his best friend. After taking a 28-7 lead against the Warhawks, the Razorbacks only ran the ball six more times.
"We did want to run the ball. I think we could have been a lot more physical on them," Gragg said. "It was just the little small things and that's what we have to get back to this week. Get back to the fundamentals and get back to what we know how to do."
"We have to be able to block it better than that," Smith added. "They got up, got in our face but it was disappointing we're not able to pound it like we would have liked."
Despite getting far fewer carries this season, Dennis Johnson's been the most effective back for Arkansas. Knile Davis continues to be a work in progress.
"Is Knile back to where he was? Not yet," Smith described. "Is Knile going to get back to where he was? I really (believe so), yes."
