Green goes 99, just like in ’09

FAYETTEVILLE — Broderick Green is becoming an ace at length-of-the-field scores, Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said Monday.

Green broke two tackles in his own end zone, got through another would-be tackler around the 9-yard line and raced 99 yards for a touchdown in Friday’s mock game.

The full-speed scrimmage was closed to all but the Arkansas team and various UA staff, but Petrino relayed some of the highlights during the inaugural meeting of the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club on Monday.

Petrino said the play, reminiscent of Green’s 99-yard touchdown run against Eastern Michigan last season, came on the heels of a Joe Adams punt return for a touchdown, when Petrino “threw a flag” to back the first-team offense up to the 1-yard line.

“Ryan Mallett came over to me and I said, ‘We might as well run the same play we ran last year for a 99-yard touchdown,’ ” Petrino said. “And Mallett kind of smiled at me, because I knew he wanted to throw the ball.”

And so Tight Left, Z Half, 46 was the call, and Green ran 101 yards after contact to duplicate the scoring play from last year’s homecoming game.

“The only difference this year was we didn’t block anybody,” Petrino said. “They angled the front on us and both our guards missed.

“Broderick got hit at about the minus-1, broke two tackles there, broke another about the 9 and took it 99 yards ... so it’s a play we like a lot now.”

In commenting on a question from the audience about the battle for the starting center job between junior Seth Oxner and redshirt freshman Travis Swanson, Petrino mentioned that Oxner was injured during the mock game Friday.

“He didn’t get to finish the scrimmage the other night, but I think he’ll be OK there,” Petrino said.

He later clarified that Oxner suffered a sprained foot.

Petrino is on record as saying his team welcomes and embraces the higher expectations being heaped upon the Hogs this season, but he hasn’t made any predictions for 2010 - until now.

His prediction didn’t have to do with Arkansas’ record or its SEC finish, however. It had to do with the punt return unit.

Petrino said that his philosophy on punt returns has changed from trying to apply pressure and force bad or blocked punts to constructing better blocking and setting up for returns.

“We went back and studied Coach [Ken] Hatfield’s return for a touchdown,” Petrino said, referencing Hatfield’s 81-yard punt return in the Hogs’ 14-13 victory over Texas in 1964, and nodding to Hatfield in the audience. “That was Coach [Frank] Broyles’ team.

“Coach Hatfield, we’re going to get a punt return for a touchdown for you this year.”

Petrino also offered some insight into the 2008 season, when the Razorbacks played 16 true freshmen and suffered through growing pains.

“That’s why I have all this gray hair now,” he said. “That why when we play indoors ... and I don’t wear a hat at Dallas’ stadium, my daughter calls me and says, ‘Hey, Dad, you’re really bald.’ ”

Petrino projected six to nine true freshmen will play this year. He has previously said defensive linemen Byran Jones and Chris Smith will have to play. Otherwise, cornerback Eric Bennett, some combination of receivers Maudrecus Humphrey, Julian Horton and Javontee Herndon, maybe safety Daunte Carr, and possibly kickers Eduardo Camara and Zach Hocker could work into the mix this year.

Petrino praised the level of high school football in the state, and the commitment to facilities by the state’s high schools.

“The high school football in this area is unbelievable,” he said. “When I first took the job, it was something I was real nervous about.

“Obviously with me, knowing I like to throw the football, is there going to be guys here who can throw the ball?”

Petrino also doled out praise for the leadership his team has been providing throughout the summer and fall camp. He singled out Mallett, defensive end Jake Bequette and cornerback Ramon Broadway.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the guys we have leading us right now,” Petrino said.