[Tuck4Bama]

Special teams get special time every practice day, but no area gets more last-minute attention the last gameweek practice than they do.

So the Razorbacks, opening the season at 6 p. m. Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium against Troy University, spent their tune-up practice Thursday in shorts stressing special teams, where many things can go wrong to undo what might be achieved offensively and defensively.

“ On special teams, we hit every situation just trying to get all of it, ”

Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. “ We spent a lot of time on kickoff and kickoff return. ”
With the NCAA moving the kickoff from the 35 back to the 30, Arkansas All-American running backs / kick returners Felix Jones and Darren McFadden would seem to be more dangerous than ever.

However, all it takes is a clip or other penalty to undo a big McFadden or Jones return.

Plus, as Nutt notes, when the Razorbacks are kicking off to Troy return men / starting cornerbacks Leodis McKelvin and Elbert Mack, the shoe’s suddenly on the other foot.

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