Dick now being counted on to throw

For the past three years, Casey Dick's job was to do no harm.

The Arkansas quarterback would throw an occasional pass, often a short one with minimal risk. The rest of the time, he'd watch star running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones race up and down the field.

It's different this season. Much different.

With the Razorbacks breaking in new players all around him, Dick now needs to provide stability on offense. The senior is already passing a lot more - he threw 41 times in Saturday night's 28-24, season-opening victory over Western Illinois.

"He executed the offense well, did a nice job with the line of scrimmage, made some checks and protection calls that really helped, and really played well down the stretch - and when the game was on the line made some crucial throws," coach Bobby Petrino said.

Dick went 25-of-41 for 318 yards, solid numbers for any quarterback and positively dazzling by Arkansas standards. This is a new era of course. With Petrino in charge - and McFadden and Jones in the NFL - the Razorbacks don't look anything like the run-oriented team Houston Nutt coached last season.

"We rely on the passing game if the running game isn't where we want it to be and vice versa," tight end D.J. Williams said. "Casey made great reads, he came through."

Dick's 25 completions put him third on the school's single-game list. The 318 yards put him seventh. More importantly, he accounted for all four Arkansas touchdowns - and led his team back from a 24-14 fourth-quarter deficit.

"We've been in some tougher situations than that," Dick said. "Obviously we were playing with some young guys and it was great experience for them to be in that situation this early in the season."

In 2005 Dick was one of those youngsters. His redshirt was pulled late that year and he started the final four games. The following season he was hurt early on and then backed up Mitch Mustain for a while. Nutt then switched quarterbacks, and Dick started the final five games of the 2006 season.

After Mustain transferred, Dick was the undisputed starter for all of last season. He threw for 1,695 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions - but the quarterback spot was almost an afterthought as McFadden nearly ran his way to the Heisman Trophy.

In fact, the most memorable play Dick made last season might have been a crushing downfield block against LSU on a long touchdown run by McFadden. On that play, McFadden lined up at quarterback and kept the ball, but Dick cleared out the last defender with a chance to catch him.

This year, Dick has already provided some highlights - with his arm and his feet. With the Razorbacks down 17-7 Saturday, Dick took off on third-and-10 for a 23-yard touchdown run. It was the first scoring run of his career.

Later, Dick scored on a 4-yard run with 1:49 remaining to give Arkansas the win.

"I think he learned a lot about himself as far as his ability to run the ball and make plays when they're dropping eight men into coverage and allowing the quarterback a lot of room," Petrino said.

Dick's experience - combined with Petrino's offensive acumen - could lead to some impressive passing numbers this season. But the Razorbacks will need some of their newcomers to settle in. With junior Michael Smith suspended, Arkansas relied on freshmen Dennis Johnson and De'Anthony Curtis at running back Saturday. The Hogs rushed for only 76 yards. Smith is expected back this weekend against Louisiana-Monroe.

Dick also had to overcome several dropped passes. Still, he managed to coax just enough out of the Arkansas offense. Freshman Joe Adams caught a 10-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, and freshman Greg Childs caught a 26-yarder in the fourth.

And on the game-winning drive, Dick found Carlton Salters for an 11-yard gain on fourth-and-10.

"They made big plays for us down the stretch," Dick said. "They need to know that if they miss a ball that I'm going to come back at them and keep it going."

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