Razorbacks Look to Get Better During Bye Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Arkansas football team conducted its first practice of the bye week on Tuesday with a 90-minute workout in shells on the practice field south of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. "We had a good practice today," Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said. "We were going to try and go in full pads today and scrimmage a little bit, but we have a few more bumps and bruises than we anticipated. So we just had a good learning day with a lot of corrections. It was the first time we had watched the film from Saturday, and we made those corrections and had a good fundamental day of practice." Mason Templeton, Clarke Moore and Weston Dacus all missed practice with minor knee injuries on Tuesday, but all three are expected to be fine. The main focus of the Razorbacks off week will be to improve on an impressive showing against fourth-ranked Georgia last weekend. The Hogs next take the field against Steve Spurriers South Carolina Gamecocks for Homecoming on Nov. 5 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The game is slated for an 11:30 a.m. kickoff and will be televised by Jefferson-Pilot Sports. "The main thing for us to accomplish during the off week is to get better," Nutt said. "When you watch the film you see a lot of effort and a lot of good things, but there is just some little mistakes like penalties and executing in the red zone after a turnover. Everybody has to carry out their responsibilities. There were about five plays that we really zeroed in on that if everyone does there part - it takes 11 - you are going to get points out of that." Reggie Herrings defense continues to get better after holding fourth-ranked Georgia to 23 points and just 52 yards of rushing. The bye week will give the defense a chance to continue to build on the progress that has been made. "We put emphasis on the defensive side of the ball to just get better," Nutt said. "They (the defense) got better in Athens, and now they have to keep getting better. They did a good job of getting turnovers, they stopped the run and they forced a lot of three-and-outs. It was a very good day for the defense and now you have to build off that." Coach Nutt continues to be impressed with his teams focus and desire to become a better football team. "They have done a good job of coming out here with a good attitude and trying to get better," Nutt said. "That is all you can ask for to have your team come out and get better each time you take the field. They have really laid it on the line this season." The Hogs will return to the practice field on Wednesday afternoon looking to get some scrimmage time in for the younger players.