Razorbacks trying to find more support for Monk

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Posted 7:33PM on Thursday, October 6, 2005

LITTLE ROCK (AP) Marcus Monk is off to a good start this season for Arkansas. In four games, he has 18 catches for 216 yards and four touchdowns, and he's on pace to improve on his impressive freshman season of 2004. He's also the only Razorback with more than 10 receptions. Only one other player versatile running back Peyton Hillis has caught a touchdown for Arkansas. ``We've got to have more production out of our other guys,'' wide receivers coach James Shibest says. Coming into the season, Arkansas was confident about its depth at wide receiver. Anthony Brown had moved to defensive end, but the Razorbacks still had Monk, junior Cedric Washington and speedy junior Chris Baker. Monk has played well, but injuries and inexperience have slowed the rest of Arkansas' receiving corps. The Razorbacks' inconsistent passing game ranks last in the Southeastern Conference with 130.5 yards per game. Washington is second on the team with 10 catches and 106 yards, but he's been bothered by a hamstring injury lately. Shibest said Arkansas has had to be patient with Washington, who was signed as a quarterback out of high school. ``I think sometimes you try to do too much instead of focusing and concentrating,'' Shibest said. ``This position's still new to him. Sometimes we see great things in practice and we think it's going to happen all the time.'' Baker, who had nine catches for 213 yards and two touchdowns last season, hasn't played in 2005 because of a sprained knee. His slow recovery has led the coaches to consider removing the redshirt from freshman Rod Coleman. Tight end Jared Hicks has also been hurt. He re-injured his ankle in a Sept. 24 loss at No. 7 Alabama after playing for the first time this season. Arkansas isn't using the injuries as an excuse. ``We just have to come out prepared,'' Monk said. ``And pick up the slack for those who can't play.'' The Razorbacks have tried to make adjustments. Hillis has 10 catches for 90 yards, and senior Dedrick Poole is learning to play wide receiver. A tailback for most of his career, Poole has seven receptions this season after having only nine though his first years at Arkansas. Quarterback Robert Johnson showed promise through the first three games of the season before going 11-of-26 for only 81 yards against Alabama. Coach Houston Nutt hopes Johnson's struggles were only temporary. Nutt said he's happy with the way the sophomore has progressed as Matt Jones' replacement. ``Matt was a big-time athlete that did a lot of things for us,'' Nutt said. ``But I've been really happy with Robert. ... I think he's learning.'' Johnson and Monk have been in sync for most of the season, and Shibest isn't worried that the quarterback is focusing too much on one receiver. ``I think he's done a good job, going to the right guy,'' Shibest said. ``But this is his first year playing.'' Regardless of who is healthy, Shibest hopes enough of Arkansas' receivers will develop over the course of the season to give Monk some much-needed support. Sophomore Cedric Logan and freshman Reggie Fish, for example, will have to play larger roles if Washington's injury lingers. Both have shown flashes of ability as playmakers. ``You see glimpses,'' Shibest said. Now, the Razorbacks need their receivers to start building on that potential. Arkansas hosts Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)