FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Razorbacks got a little dose of everything -- inside, outside, wet and dry -- in their final major scrimmage of training camp Saturday.
The 98-play scrimmage started at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in rain that ebbed and flowed in intensity through 42 plays.
Saturday scrimmage links
http://www.wholehog…">Freshmen QBs get work in Peavey's absence
http://www.wholehog…">Injured players get light day
http://www.wholehog…">Offensive line taking shape
http://www.wholehog…">Observations and notes
http://www.wholehog…">Unofficial stats
http://www.wholehog…">Depth chart
The operation moved inside Walker Pavilion after the kickoff team got in some practice on an overcast, wet afternoon, with unseasonably cool temperatures in the mid-70s.
"I've been wanting to work with a wet ball all camp, so to get that opportunity today, I wanted to seize that," said Bielema, noting that several other rainy days in camp included lightning in the area, which forced the team indoors. "I really wanted to see them battle through the elements, and overall I thought they handled it very well.
"I thought the quarterbacks threw the ball pretty well with the wet ball and caught the ball very well. You can't simulate that moment, another great teaching moment that just came about because we did it."
The starting defense, which worked against the first-unit offense, did not tackle to the ground, while the second-teamers and the development group did tackle.
Bielema said he wanted to keep the starting units fresh and healthy, so he pulled back on the tackling.
"And we got tackling in four different times during practice where we went to the ground and tackled in addition to last Saturday, so I just didn't really feel we needed it," he said.
Redshirt junior quarterback Austin Allen completed 15 of 21 passed for 158 yards with the first offense. He threw touchdown passes of 3 yards to Jeremy Sprinkle during a red zone period and 30 yards to Jared Cornelius in a move-the-ball period. Cornelius' catch came at the goal line against tight coverage from Henre Toliver.
"I think Austin's in a constant evolution of what we want to do," Bielema said. "Of course, I want to take shots. I want to take my opportunities down the field. But we're an offense that methodically can move the ball down the field, and we've got to get ourselves wired in to that a little bit more."
Defensive end JaMichael Winston, starting in place of Deatrich Wise, had four "sacks" and plenty of push on the pocket. Wise was attending his grandfather's funeral in Texas and is expected back today.
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos called on Ty Storey and Cole Kelley to direct the second offense over Rafe Peavey.
Storey connected on 2 of 9 passes for 26 yards, but he was victimized by a few dropped passes from receivers. Kelley went 8 of 15 for 127 yards. He threw the day's only interception, a pass into double coverage in the rain that was tipped by corner Byron Keaton and intercepted by De'Andre Coley, who was in the midst of a long return when whistles blew the play dead. Kelley completed a 26-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-2 play to La'Michael Pettway.
Storey did not move the offense in the red zone period, and Adam McFain came on to make a 39-yard field goal on the final play inside the stadium.
Bielema would not say that Storey and Kelley had moved ahead of Peavey, who has had some tightness in his back since minor surgery last month.
"No, I think there's more of a -- when you look at the cumulative reps that someone's got, we wanted to make sure that we gave those two guys, who have had the least amount of time in comparison to the three of them total, get more reps," he said. "That's probably it more than anything.
"You know Rafe has been through three springs, and this is his third fall right now. We've seen a lot of them, and there's been some really, really good things and some things that I wish would come along a little bit quicker. I love his attitude, his demeanor."
Because the top running backs were not tackled, their statistics were based on when a defender arrived and touched them. For instance, Rawleigh Williams was given 20 yards for a run that broke free around left end on which he could have scored a 63-yard touchdown with one broken tackle.
Williams finished with 42 yards on five carries. Devwah Whaley, who was wearing a green jersey to protect a tender shoulder, had 27 yards on nine carries.
Damon Mitchell and the other backs were tackled. Mitchell had 10 carries for 30 yards, while Juan Day added 9 carries for 20 yards.
De'Jon Harris led the second unit with seven tackles, while Coley added six.
Cornelius had 66 yards on 4 catches to lead the wideouts, while Drew Morgan added a team-high 7 catches for 51 yards.
Bielema said the Razorbacks would not scrimmage Saturday but would go through mental exercises instead.
The Razorbacks open the season Sept. 3 against Louisiana Tech at Razorback Stadium.
Sports on 08/21/2016