'Showtime' for the Petrinos: a year in and seemingly better stocked at quarterback, hog staff expects to see offense the way the

It's probably best to consider 2008 a sneak preview of the Arkansas offense envisioned by Razorback coach Bobby Petrino.

Arkansas never really achieved what Petrino, his coaches, players or Arkansas fans expected on offense last season. "Showtime"--as labeled by Petrino and his brother/offensive coordinator Paul Petrino--was never featured at Razorbacks games in 2008.

There were glimpses here and there.

It's hard to forget the way Arkansas ended the season on London Crawford's 24-yard touchdown catch with 22 seconds remaining in a come-from-behind victory. That was "Showtime."

Remember Michael Smith's 61-yard touchdown run in a 25-22 victory at Auburn? That was "Showtime."

Beyond a handful of other plays, the Razorbacks offense was often more gag reel than highlight reel. Arkansas finished 5-7. It failed to make the postseason and broke 30 points just twice during a difficult season.

Arkansas ranked 91st nationally in scoring offense, 97th in rushing and 48th in total offense. Arkansas did rank 23rd in passing offense after nearly a decade of finishing in the lower third of FBS schools, but the Razorbacks ranked 118th in total sacks allowed.

"We gave people 'Showtime' a couple of times, but not like we would have wanted," said junior tight end D.J. Williams, the Razorbacks' most consistent offensive performer with 61 catches for 723 yards and 3 touchdowns.

"We were like a whole team of freshmen trying to grasp the offense and execute it. You'll see mistakes cut almost to a minimum this year. We were tired of walking off the field last year wishing we could have been better. That got old."

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How will things improve in 2009? Experience overall and an expected upgrade at quarterback should help.

Early in spring practice it became apparent defenses will be tested this season by the Razorbacks' ability to go deep. Presumed quarterback starter Ryan Mallett developed a deep connection with receivers Joe Adams and Jarius Wright. Mallett's backup, Tyler Wilson, also proved he can complete passes downfield.

That should add a new dimension to the Razorbacks' offense. It will also help open up things for a running game that last year was the worst at Arkansas in at least a decade.

"We've got some guys that can go deep," Mallett said. "We've just got to get them the ball and they can go make some big plays. It's like I need a list to keep up with all the playmakers we've got."

Arkansas still has work to do in the running game. Injuries hurt in the spring, but even when healthy the Razorbacks didn't make the tough plays Petrino wanted to see.

Granted, the small but quick Smith was out during the spring to recuperate from offseason surgery. He'll be back a year after running for 1,072 yards and 5 touchdowns during an injury plagued season. Ronnie Wingo Jr., the highly touted recruit from St. Louis, could add another dimension to the offense in goal-line and short-yardage situations with his size (6-3, 212) and speed (4.4 in the 40-yard dash). The staff was also hoping to see something from freshman Knile Davis, who left high school early to enroll at Arkansas for the spring, but he suffered a broken ankle early in workouts.

"I expect us to make huge strides," Petrino said during the spring. "We came in a year ago and every day was a new day. There wasn't any carryover. I expect now to see a lot of improvement. When you do that, you can play fast."

Petrino's offense was going full speed ahead by his second season at Louisville. He immediately turned the Cardinals into one of the nation's best offenses in 2003, before they took the national top spot for total offensive production in 2004.

Points per game production at Louisville went up by 15.1 points between his first and second seasons. Passing improved by 27.89 yards per game, while rushing totals jumped 22.27 per outing.

Mallett, the Texarkana native who transferred home in 2008 after playing significantly as a freshman at Michigan, thinks the Razorbacks can experience similar gains.

Arkansas returns eight starters and 24 lettermen on offense. Experience and familiarity with Petrino will mean huge gains.

Last year it seemed like no matter how many hours passed on the field, no matter how much film study went on, each practice felt like the first one all over again.

Petrino was constantly teaching and reminding players of his philosophies on football and work ethic. Many Razorbacks seemed shell-shocked by the amount of work was required of them on and of the field.

Not so this year, Mallett said.

"There are no more excuses about being in a new system," Mallett said. "We have had a year. We need to go out there, execute it and make it happen.

"We haven't showed the fans and the nation what 'Showtime' is yet.... It's hard to explain. We all know what it is. People better be ready."

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