Razorbacks Report: Offensive line trying to find right chemistry

ROB KEYS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Including its game against Georgia, when it started two tight ends, Arkansas has started four different offensive lines this season.
If you consider that Mark Bokermann saw extensive action in place of the injured Shannon Money against Georgia and Scott Davenport played much of the Louisiana-Monroe game in place of the injured Kenny Sandlin, Arkansas' chemistry problem is even more jumbled.
Clearly, it has not been an optimum situation for offensive line coach Mike Markuson. Even so, Markuson said, it's time for Arkansas to put aside its chemistry problems.
"I'm to the point where ... I'm just trying to get our best guys out on the field," Markuson said. "There comes a point in time where I'm not going to make any excuses. We've got to execute."
Markuson said despite some glaring pass-protection breakdowns against South Carolina, he believes the offensive line's run blocking improved. Now, he said, it's just a matter of putting both together on a consistent basis.
One positive side effect of having to shuffle so many players along the offensive line because of injuries is that younger players -- particularly Davenport, Bokermann and Bo Lacy -- are getting a serious amount of reps in practice.
"Those guys are going to be critical down the road, and they're really doing a lot of good things in practice," Markuson said. "That's encouraging."

HAMPTON & CLARK UPDATE
Quarterbacks Robby Hampton and Zak Clark are still bothered by injuries, but Clark more so than Hampton.
Clark didn't go through any live drills during Wednesday's practice. The decision to hold him out of such situations was a precautionary one. He still will continue to participate in individual and noncontact drills as Arkansas continues to prepare for its Oct. 28 game at Auburn.
"He'll be ready mentally," Coach Houston Nutt said. "We're just trying to get him as well as we can without getting him stepped on or hit again."
Hampton looked much more comfortable during Wednesday's workout than he did Tuesday. He took the majority of the snaps with the first-team offense and said he feels much better physically than he did following the Razorbacks' loss at South Carolina.
Hampton suffered a sprained thumb, a sprained neck and a bruised knee against the Gamecocks.
"I think the two days off [Coach Nutt] gave us on Sunday and Monday gave me a chance to heal up a little bit, and I felt all right today," Hampton said. "My thumb has loosened up, and it doesn't really bother me to throw the ball at all. My knee is just swollen, and it's something I'm going to have to get through but nothing's too bad."

HOGS-TIGERS TELECAST
The Arkansas Razorback Sports Network, in conjunction with the Auburn Network, will offer a pay-per-view broadcast of the Arkansas-Auburn game Oct. 28. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
Cost of the game is $24.99 in advance and $29.99 the day of the game. Interested people should call their local cable system for more information.
The game also will be available to home satellite dish owners. C-Band dish owners should call 1-800-887-8277. Commercial establishments with a C-Band satellite should call 1-888-887-8277.
Subscribers to the Dish Network can purchase the telecast on the day of the game by tuning to channel 455 and ordering via remote control.
The cost for C-Band and Dish Network is $29.95.

BALL'S A PLAYER
Sophomore Nathan Ball made his second consecutive start at left tackle against South Carolina and continues to get reps in practice with the first-team offensive line.
That's a more remarkable feat than it might seem considering Ball opened the season at tight end.
Ball made the move to tackle, where he played some last season as a true freshman, when starter Shannon Money sprained his ankle. So far, offensive line coach Mike Markuson has been pleased with the way Ball has responded.
"The one thing he does is give great effort," Markuson said. "He's a wild man out there. He busts his butt and tries to get to the spot and works hard. He just loves to play football. We could put him anywhere and he'd play. That's just the kind of kid he is."
Markuson said Ball should only get better as he logs more playing time. In particular, Markuson said, Ball needs to concentrate on keeping his hands in tight to his body when he's making blocks.

This article was published on Thursday, October 19, 2000

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