Razorbacks report to campus, drills begin Monday, pressure's on

Arkansas football players gathered back in Fayetteville on Saturday to begin preparations for the 2005 season, and while there&#39;s pressure on the whole team to win and return to a bowl game, there&#39;s extra pressure on receivers, backs and linemen to give a new quarterback a chance to survive.<br> <br> Gone is Matt Jones, who signed last week with the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League after completing his eligibility. Coach Houston Nutt says he wants to quickly settle on a quarterback in a battle among Robert Johnson, Alex Mortensen and Cole Barthel.<br> <br> Practices start Monday and the Razorbacks will hold their annual Media Day on Tuesday. The season opens Sept. 3 against Missouri State known previously as Southwest Missouri State.<br> <br> If the offensive line isn&#39;t protecting, the running backs aren&#39;t running and the wide receivers aren&#39;t catching, it could be a long season for whoever lines up behind the center.<br> <br> ``Offensively, you start with the offensive line,&#39;&#39; Nutt said.<br> <br> Zac Tubbs is a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection in 2005; last year, he broke his left fibula and has had related ankle ligament tears.<br> <br> ``There&#39;s times when it does swell up on him, but he&#39;s fighting through some of the pain,&#39;&#39; Nutt said. ``I like his attitude.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> At tight end, Jared Hicks, Marcus Winston and Lance Thompson must play a role, Nutt said.<br> <br> ``I think they can do it, and I think they feel it. They&#39;ve had a good summer,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> But Arkansas needs headlines in the backfield and at receiver players who can run enough to take the pressure off the quarterback or make an acrobatic catch of an otherwise errant pass from a brand-new quarterback.<br> <br> Arkansas last year gained 4,377 yards in total offense. Jones accounted for 62 percent of it. Johnson is the only quarterback with college experience. He completed 10 of 19 passes last year for 209 yards, seeing limited action as Arkansas often played from behind or as the game was on the line in a 5-6 season.<br> <br> ``In the backfield, we&#39;ve got De&#39;Arrius Howard, a senior, and he&#39;s been real steady for us,&#39;&#39; Nutt said. ``We want him to be a great leader for us. We want him to step up and take charge.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Peyton Hillis, who led the team in scoring among non-kickers last year, is back at fullback, also after suffering an injury last year. Nutt also is high on receivers Marcus Monk, Cedric Washington and Chris Baker.<br> <br> Monk, Nutt said, has a good work ethic.<br> <br> ``His attitude is contagious, the way he goes about things. First class everywhere, everytime, every drill. Doesn&#39;t make a difference,&#39;&#39; Nutt said. ``He&#39;s there to make it happen.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)