Hogs Focus on Situational Work in Wednesday's Practice Sessions

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UA Sports Information) - Arkansas wrapped up its third day of two-a-day practices on Wednesday and the results from the off-season conditioning program are beginning to show. "Overall we had a good day of practice," Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said. "The guys came to work today. There is nothing like practice." The Hogs practiced for just over an hour Wednesday morning in the Willard and Pat Walker Pavilion in shells working on the kicking game and doing situational work. The evening session lasted two hours in full pads on the practice fields just south of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The Razorbacks have only been able to conduct two-a-day practices every other day since last Saturday and have just four scheduled for the entire preseason. With the reduced number of practices dates, the off-season conditioning program has the players already in shape before practice starts and allows the coaching staff to concentrate on fundamentals and teaching. "The year-round conditioning helps out a lot," Nutt said. "It is not like it used to be when you come in and find out who is in shape, and then get them in shape. Those days are over. It is a year-round game now and they have been running year-round." With the start of school slated for Monday, Aug. 22, the Razorbacks are beginning to narrow their focus. "We have thrown a lot at them, and we are going to start cutting back a little bit as far as the number of plays they are going to have to know," Nutt said. "We are going to start zeroing in a little more. Not that we are game-planning yet, but we are just going to start cutting a few things." Both of Wednesdays practices were heavy on situational work that allows the Hogs to focus in on what they are going to be faced with from play to play during the upcoming season. "We are still putting them in situations every single day like third-and-long, third-and-medium and first-and-10," Nutt said. "We are just playing the game. We are just trying to get better, and we had a good day today. They gave good effort." Arkansas will hold one practice at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday on the practice fields south of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas annual Fan Day is set for Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to noon with the festivities being held on the lawn in front of the Tyson Poultry Science Building. A scrimmage will follow at 6 p.m. in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Gates 1, 6 and 10 will be used to access the west side of the stadium one hour before the scrimmage begins.