2008 Woodie Awards
Seeking answers
Fundamentals, techniques key to successful spring, Petrino says
Matt Jones
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Sports
Bobby Petrino has a lot of questions lacking answers about the Arkansas Razorback football team.
Luckily for him, he has spring practice to get a jumpstart on the 2008 season.
Petrino will kick off his first spring drills at the helm of the Razorbacks beginning Thursday with a 4 p.m., practice on the fields south of Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Petrino said he welcomes the challenges of implementing a new system, but said learning the playbook can't be the team's only concern.
"We have to make sure we concentrate hard on our technique and fundamentals, and not get caught up on just Xs and Os of it," Petrino said. "Also we have to make sure we're patient and not going too fast. Any time you put in something new, you want to go too fast and what happens then is you get away from the technique and fundamentals of playing the position just to get that part of the offense implemented or that part of the defense implemented."
Petrino said the fundamentals and techniques will be keys in determining the post-spring depth chart.
"When you come back in the fall, you line up in those spots that you ended spring…," Petrino said. "Every practice that we have this spring is going to be very, very important to our team and to the individual as far as the depth chart goes."
One area of particular interest to Petrino will be the quarterbacks, he said.
Senior-to-be Casey Dick started all 13 games for the Razorbacks last season, but will be challenged in the spring by younger brother Nathan Dick, who redshirted the 2007 season.
Casey Dick will start off with the first group, but Petrino said he will also give Nathan Dick, as well as redshirt senior Alex Mortensen, a shot with the first-team offense throughout the spring as well.
Petrino called two brothers competing for the same spot a "unique situation."
"I'm going to be interested to see how that works," Petrino said. "They certainly will both compete for it.
Luckily for him, he has spring practice to get a jumpstart on the 2008 season.
Petrino will kick off his first spring drills at the helm of the Razorbacks beginning Thursday with a 4 p.m., practice on the fields south of Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Petrino said he welcomes the challenges of implementing a new system, but said learning the playbook can't be the team's only concern.
"We have to make sure we concentrate hard on our technique and fundamentals, and not get caught up on just Xs and Os of it," Petrino said. "Also we have to make sure we're patient and not going too fast. Any time you put in something new, you want to go too fast and what happens then is you get away from the technique and fundamentals of playing the position just to get that part of the offense implemented or that part of the defense implemented."
Petrino said the fundamentals and techniques will be keys in determining the post-spring depth chart.
"When you come back in the fall, you line up in those spots that you ended spring…," Petrino said. "Every practice that we have this spring is going to be very, very important to our team and to the individual as far as the depth chart goes."
One area of particular interest to Petrino will be the quarterbacks, he said.
Senior-to-be Casey Dick started all 13 games for the Razorbacks last season, but will be challenged in the spring by younger brother Nathan Dick, who redshirted the 2007 season.
Casey Dick will start off with the first group, but Petrino said he will also give Nathan Dick, as well as redshirt senior Alex Mortensen, a shot with the first-team offense throughout the spring as well.
Petrino called two brothers competing for the same spot a "unique situation."
"I'm going to be interested to see how that works," Petrino said. "They certainly will both compete for it.
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