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Practice report: Players recall '07 Arkansas game
Posted on 11.05.08
CommentsLeading off
Last year, Darren McFadden had an SEC-record-tying 321 rushing yards and his Arkansas team totaled 651 yards overall against USC. Gamecocks defensive players have not forgotten.
“I felt real bad,” Eric Norwood said. “That game, you can’t really get it out your head.”
Even receiver Kenny McKinley has a bad defensive memory from the game. He was put on the field to defend a potential desperation pass before halftime, but instead McFadden got the ball on a draw.
“And the next thing I know he was running at me full speed,” McKinley said. “That was a scary moment. Luckily, (safety Emanuel) Cook stepped up and made a tackle, because I didn’t know what I was going to do.”
McFadden is an Oakland Raider now, but the Razorbacks still boast the SEC’s leading rusher, junior Michael Smith.
“Smith’s a very good runner in his own (right),” Norwood said. “He’s not McFadden or (Felix) Jones, but he’s a pretty good back.”
Stock rising
Seaver Brown at guard. The redshirt sophomore started six games at guard last year then moved to center this season. He is back on the depth chart at guard because of injuries and could step in for starters Terrence Campbell or Hutch Eckerson.
Stock falling
Brown as a center. He has been behind starter Garrett Anderson on the depth chart, and snapping doesn’t appear to be his forte. “He rolled a few back on the dirt last night in practice,” Spurrier said. “So hopefully he’ll be a guard and not a center.”
Injury report
Guard Lemuel Jeanpierre (knee) is out. Quarterback Stephen Garcia (knee) is set to start. Tailback Eric Baker (right thigh bruise) practiced. Tailback Brian Maddox (knee) has returned to practice after missing several weeks.
Quote of the day
“I think people in Canada know more about the American election rather than the Canadian one.”
— Right tackle Justin Sorensen, a Canadian
Extra points
Spurrier believes Garcia is a “good spring practice and a year or so away” from knowing the offense. But the redshirt freshman will continue to start ... The coaching staff was in favor of the time switch for the Arkansas game, which was originally announced as a 7 p.m. kickoff. “I think our fans would rather have an afternoon game late in the year, especially when it cools down a bit,” Spurrier said.
Scouting report
Arkansas has had a noticeable change in its defensive strategy under new coordinator Willy Robinson, who has an NFL background. “They play a lot of different zones and zone blitzes, as well as man-to-man,” Spurrier said. “They play as many coverages as anybody we’ve played this year.”
— Seth Emerson
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