Hogs' Brady Latham, AJ Green on Facing BYU
Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman Brady Latham and running back AJ Green previewing game against BYU on Saturday, recapping win over Kent State last week.
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00:00 Just curious your overall thoughts on matching up with BYU,
00:03 returning to Fayetteville,
00:04 and an opportunity to play those guys again.
00:07 Yeah, kind of like what the defensive guys are saying
00:09 is BYU is a great team.
00:11 They win. Every year, they win.
00:14 They have a great head coach.
00:16 They're a super disciplined team,
00:17 and they play super, super hard.
00:19 We have a lot of respect for them,
00:21 and we're preparing really hard to get ready for them.
00:24 AJ?
00:25 I would say just another challenge.
00:28 We played them last year, but that was last year.
00:30 There's going to be a new team coming in.
00:32 They're going to fight. We're going to fight.
00:34 Somebody has to go down, but either way,
00:37 like I said, it's going to be a fight.
00:39 I'm just curious for both of you guys with the running game,
00:42 Brady, your thoughts on how you guys were run-blocking,
00:46 AJ finding the hole.
00:47 Actually, I mean, I think you found the hole
00:49 probably as well as any back on Saturday,
00:51 but just your guys' thoughts on just continuing
00:54 to improve in that area and what you've done this week.
00:58 Yeah, so we've had a huge emphasis on getting to fits,
01:02 getting to fits and driving.
01:04 You know, no lines gone together,
01:06 and the run game is kind of what we want to be known for.
01:10 We've had success in the pass and run game,
01:12 and we want to continue to have success,
01:14 so we've taken these challenges really personal,
01:17 and it's something that we're going to get fixed
01:20 and we're working really hard at.
01:23 Yeah, I would say, like he said,
01:25 I mean, it's really a challenge now,
01:27 and obviously we got new people on the line.
01:30 We have some people that left, so we're not all comfortable yet,
01:34 and that's what we've been working on every single day.
01:38 So the run game, as you can see,
01:40 is just going to keep getting better from now on,
01:43 and we're just going to learn to execute our plays better.
01:48 Thanks, guys.
01:49 Daw.
01:52 Hey, AJ, you got the start last week,
01:54 and, I mean, until Rocket comes back,
01:56 I guess you guys are going to kind of be,
01:58 you know, mixing it up.
01:59 How does it feel maybe, you know,
02:01 going out there with a starting unit?
02:05 I was -- It felt good, but, I mean,
02:08 I'm out there with the starting unit a lot,
02:10 so it wasn't really anything different to me.
02:13 It was just I got the ball first last game,
02:16 but, I mean, it's like the same looks that we get, so.
02:21 I got you.
02:22 Brady, you guys really kind of overpowered BYU last year,
02:27 particularly in the second half.
02:29 Is there any concern that maybe guys might underestimate
02:33 what they have this year?
02:36 No, I don't think there's any concern
02:37 that we're going to underestimate BYU.
02:40 We're playing them again, but we have a really new team.
02:45 We've got a lot of new guys up front.
02:46 We got new guys at almost every position.
02:50 We got guys who this is their first year
02:52 being raised back. We got a lot of transfers.
02:54 So this is a new team.
02:56 They're a new team. They're a really good team.
02:59 We've watched a lot of their film.
03:01 They won a lot of games,
03:03 so we're not underestimating them at all.
03:06 AJ, any concerns there?
03:09 No, just like Brady said, really no matter what team
03:13 comes in here, we're never going to underestimate them.
03:16 We're going to play them as we were playing Bama.
03:18 We're playing, as Coach Pitt liked to say,
03:21 the Green Bay Packers.
03:24 All right. And, AJ, just maybe what you make
03:26 of the BYU defense in particular
03:29 because they've got a lot of changes,
03:31 new guys on their defense.
03:34 It's still -- It's kind of similar to last year,
03:37 but now they play more of a one-safety-high look.
03:41 Their players fly around. They run to the ball.
03:45 They're really physical, and we just got to match
03:47 their intensity or even overmatch it, you know?
03:50 Got you. And my last question, Brady,
03:52 your thoughts about BYU, what you're up against, the personnel?
03:56 Yeah, they have a really talented defensive line.
03:58 They have some really good linebackers.
04:01 They're really smart, and they play super hard.
04:03 They give us a lot of different looks,
04:05 which we're going to need to prepare for and be ready.
04:07 We're going to need to spend some extra time in the film room,
04:10 make sure that we know the looks
04:12 and that we're comfortable with them.
04:14 It'll be a good challenge, and we're up for it,
04:17 and we're excited for Saturday.
04:20 Bob?
04:23 And I know he's obviously on the other side of the ball,
04:25 but, you know, Pooh was banged up in camp,
04:28 and then he got ejected in the opener
04:30 and then he was out the first half,
04:31 and it seems like, you know, maybe he's finally,
04:35 you know, full go physically
04:36 and doesn't have any restrictions on him.
04:38 Just kind of what do you guys expect from Pooh on Saturday?
04:42 And as a relatively, you know, young player,
04:44 just still a third-year guy, redshirt sophomore,
04:46 how important is he to you guys?
04:48 Yeah, he's super important to us.
04:51 He's a great guy. He's a vocal leader.
04:53 He plays hard all the time.
04:55 He brings fire and juice to the defense.
04:59 We expect -- every time Pooh's on the field,
05:01 we expect him to make plays,
05:02 and he's a great guy to have back.
05:06 Yeah, I would piggyback off of what he said.
05:09 He's one of those guys that brings a lot of energy
05:12 to the defensive side of the ball.
05:14 I mean, he's going to fly around.
05:15 He's going to find a way to the ball.
05:17 He's either going to make the play
05:19 or make the play for somebody else.
05:21 So he's definitely somebody
05:23 that will make a big impact on the game.
05:26 And then for both of y'all, you know,
05:28 BYU's a Big 12 team now,
05:29 and the SEC's gotten off to kind of a rough start
05:32 in some of these marquee matchups,
05:34 I think three and six against Power Five teams.
05:37 And is that something you guys think about at all,
05:40 SEC versus Big 12, you know, kind of holding up the SEC banner?
05:44 Does that enter into it at all?
05:46 No, it doesn't really cross our mind.
05:48 We have a lot of pride about being the SEC.
05:50 That's really cool, but there are good conferences
05:53 and good teams all over the country,
05:55 so that hasn't been an emphasis.
05:58 Same thing he said.
06:00 Okay. I just got one more.
06:02 I guess I spoke and missed on that one.
06:05 Brady, you were talking about their personnel,
06:07 defensive line, I think it's number 95, Caden Hawsey.
06:11 He's actually from Pulaski Academy.
06:14 I know that's a different part of the state.
06:15 Well, yeah, actually, you know, he wouldn't have played
06:17 against them or anything in high school,
06:19 but I was wondering, 95,
06:21 do you have any impressions on that guy?
06:24 He's a great player.
06:25 I actually know a lot of PA guys.
06:28 I used to room with Hudson Henry and J.D.
06:30 Wyatt, and, you know, I'm really good friends with Luke Jones
06:34 from playing with him for so long.
06:36 And I know one thing is, like, those PA guys,
06:38 they're smart and they're going to play really hard.
06:40 So I remember him from last year,
06:42 and, you know, I expect him to be the same way.
06:46 Thanks. Jackson.
06:48 Hey, guys, for both of y'all, from our vantage point,
06:54 it seems like the offense got a little bit better on Saturday
06:58 when KJ started running the football, you know, more.
07:03 What is it like when he does get running,
07:04 not only from just a scheme set,
07:07 but an emotional set for you guys on the offense?
07:09 Does it make a difference when he kind of adds
07:11 that element to the offense,
07:12 and maybe just everybody's a little bit more fired up?
07:15 I don't know if it, like -
07:20 I know in the past in big games and stuff like that,
07:22 when KJ's running down the field and he lowers his shoulder
07:25 and says sliding or something,
07:26 it always gets me a little bit juiced.
07:28 Like, if my quarterback's going to go lay someone out,
07:30 then, shoot, I can dig deep and keep going.
07:32 So, definitely, KJ getting physical
07:36 definitely makes me want to play harder.
07:39 Yeah, that always brings extra juice
07:42 just to see him make big plays,
07:45 like plays that really aren't expected.
07:47 Well, it's kind of expected now
07:48 because we've seen it so many times.
07:49 But last game, we had a couple drops to start,
07:53 and he just felt like, okay, we're not there yet.
07:58 So he just started running the ball whenever he could,
08:00 and that just juiced up the rest of the team,
08:02 like Brady said.
08:04 And that really opened up a lot of more things
08:06 because now they have to watch KJ in the box.
08:09 And make sure he's not able to get out.
08:11 So the receivers were able to get open,
08:13 and it was just history from there.
08:18 Thanks, guys.
08:19 Daniel?
08:22 Well, to you all, Coach Pittman has mentioned
08:24 that you only had seven drives all of last Saturday.
08:29 And for the most part, the number of plays is down.
08:31 I'm just wondering if that's something
08:32 that the coaching staff has talked to both of you all about.
08:37 Well, they haven't talked about that to us.
08:39 There's some new clock rules with football,
08:41 so the games have been going faster.
08:44 But, yeah, the games fly by.
08:47 Yeah.
08:49 I don't really have a comment on that one.
08:52 The games do seem a little faster to me.
08:55 I wish we could get the ball more,
08:56 but we can't really control, really, how that goes.
09:00 So...
09:03 Thanks, guys.
09:04 Bob, last one.
09:06 Yeah, it's not -- Okay.
09:12 Oh, I'm sorry. I was looking at the hand thing.
09:14 It should go down.
09:15 Finally getting the hang of this Zoom after five years.
09:18 You guys are talking about KJ being physical.
09:20 Speaking of that, what do you remember about that play
09:22 last year where about five people,
09:23 you guys had a shot at him, and he stayed upright and hit,
09:26 I think it was Trey, for a big gainer.
09:28 And what do you all remember about that play?
09:29 Does that fire you up when you see something like that?
09:32 Well, it's not my favorite play to watch
09:35 since he almost got sacked,
09:38 but we see it a lot.
09:39 It's all over Instagram, all over social media.
09:42 We're really lucky to have a player like KJ
09:44 who can bail us out and make big plays when we need him to.
09:48 Yeah, same here.
09:51 It's funny how he always talks about how he lifts weights,
09:54 but I really think that's just more of a balance thing,
09:57 but, I mean, y'all don't have to tell him that.
10:02 No, I'm sure he likes to watch the Zooms.
10:05 I'd say one more.
10:06 Brady, you were banged up in camp,
10:08 and then you had to miss the first game.
10:09 Your last week was your first game back.
10:12 Do you feel better now, like you're better prepared,
10:14 got knocked the rust off?
10:16 How do you feel going into your second game back now?
10:19 Yeah, I feel great. My body feels good.
10:23 I'm excited for BYU.
10:25 I prepare hard every single week, no matter what,
10:28 but I'm definitely really excited
10:30 for this weekend night game at home.
10:32 There's nothing like being at home with a home crowd.
10:35 So I'm excited.