Hogs' Sam Pittman on Team's 'Vibe' This Week
Arkansas Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman likes the "vibe" the team has shown this week in practices before the BYU game at Razorback Stadium on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m.
Transcript
00:00 Yeah, Coach, last week, you know,
00:02 I asked you how practice is going and stuff.
00:03 You said on Tuesday you had to kind of get on them
00:05 a little bit, you know, kick it up.
00:07 How has practice been this week so far?
00:10 Well, to be honest with you, it feels different out there.
00:15 Very physical, has been really good morale.
00:22 We've got some things to clean up, obviously,
00:26 but it's hard, you know, if you're worried about effort
00:29 or passion or anything like that,
00:33 which I'm not saying we didn't have it.
00:37 We didn't have as much as we do this week,
00:41 but I think we're ready to play.
00:45 We've got to take Monday and Tuesday and make it Wednesday,
00:48 but I'm really -- you can just feel
00:51 it's a little bit different out there this week.
00:53 It feels good.
00:55 I was curious on the routine for Friday night,
00:58 like if you guys have stuff planned for the movie.
01:01 I don't know if teams do different things.
01:03 Yeah, you know, am I right, Kyle,
01:09 that the first time we went on the road
01:11 and we played a night game, we went and saw --
01:14 we went to the movies, and we won, didn't we?
01:17 Didn't we beat Mississippi State?
01:21 So that kind of was a staple of --
01:23 We did it all the time when I was at Georgia.
01:25 If it's a night game, you go to the movies.
01:27 So we got a movie set up for --
01:30 I can't remember the name of it.
01:32 Samuel L. Jackson, right?
01:35 No, who's it? Yeah.
01:37 Denzel Washington. You can't go wrong, whatever it is.
01:40 So we're going to go to the movies Friday night.
01:45 And on Saturday, is it as simple as just, like,
01:48 moving the schedule back a little bit,
01:50 or is there more filler stuff?
01:52 Well, we feel -- In other words, a lot of times,
01:55 if it's a morning game or early game,
01:58 you'll have a chapel on the night before
02:00 and all those type things.
02:02 What we do, we go for a team walk.
02:04 Differently, we go for a team walk.
02:06 We'll have a few -- about a 15- to 20-minute meeting
02:10 with our position on that day.
02:15 And then that's probably the only addition.
02:19 Obviously, you have one more meal,
02:21 so you have some time in there for that,
02:23 but that's probably the only addition
02:25 that you would do for a night game versus a day game
02:28 is you get up a little later.
02:30 You would obviously have one meal.
02:33 You'd have a team walk.
02:35 Then you would come back with some meetings.
02:38 Then you'd still have -- You'd have a little lengthier break
02:41 in between the meetings
02:42 and when you come back for the walk-throughs, Trey.
02:46 Thanks, Coach.
02:48 Tom?
02:52 That's probably equalizer three, which I want to say much more.
02:54 That's what it is. Is it good?
02:56 Well, some of the other equalizers
02:58 have been really good, so if it follows, that's good.
03:02 Hey, so on Monday, we saw the linebackers hitting each other,
03:06 and it was about as vicious, like, as a game,
03:09 and you probably saw that when you watched the film that day.
03:11 Yeah. Is that how hard
03:13 y'all wanted to be hitting that day?
03:17 Well, we didn't wrap up very good,
03:20 and so the only way I know how to get better at it
03:23 is to go do it, and I'll be honest with you.
03:26 I was out there watching it live, too,
03:28 and I was like, "Man."
03:32 You know, I mean, it was --
03:34 They were getting after it, you know,
03:36 and every group was having a tackling circuit,
03:39 but this one right here, it drew your attention to it
03:42 because of the noise that was going on,
03:45 but, yeah, a lot of strong hitting right there,
03:49 and we just -- You know, we didn't wrap up very good Saturday,
03:53 and we wanted to make sure we emphasized it.
03:56 So I'm taking that's part of what you mean by the vibe,
03:59 and what else do you mean by the vibe?
04:01 Just more attention?
04:03 I think the meetings are going better.
04:05 You can just feel it.
04:06 You know, sometimes you walk in a room,
04:09 and you've had different situations
04:12 where you feel that you're at an event.
04:17 You feel it, you know, and I felt Monday,
04:21 it was just different.
04:22 It was locked in, laser-focused.
04:25 I mean, a lot of the times when you're having to tell them
04:31 to do something or, you know, transition,
04:36 fix all these type things, strain,
04:40 you're on them all the time about it.
04:41 It's a lot better when they just do it themselves,
04:44 and I guess that's what I'm talking about.
04:46 Hadn't had to be a lot of correcting physical,
04:52 strain, pursuit, things of that nature
04:55 that on a week-to-week basis,
04:59 you may have to do it a time or two.
05:01 This week, it hasn't been like that.
05:03 We understand that this is a big game for us,
05:07 and, you know, BYU's averaged almost 10 wins a season
05:12 in the last three years.
05:14 They're on a six-game winning streak.
05:17 We know that they have revenge, you know, things of that nature.
05:23 So we know it's a big game for us.
05:24 Best opponent we played by far, so we know it's a big game
05:29 for us.
05:30 You like how Dwight's looking this week,
05:32 think he might be back in there regular?
05:35 You know, he's practiced both days.
05:39 He's still got a little tenderness in that toe,
05:42 but I believe that he'll be ready to play on Saturday.
05:46 Okay. Hey, the last thing I wanted to say
05:48 was you mentioned fits in the run game,
05:51 and Brady Latham mentioned that, too, that working on the fits.
05:54 What have you seen from working on the fits this week?
05:58 Yeah, after Monday's practice,
05:59 I took about six of them out of there
06:02 that I felt like we weren't fit where we need to be.
06:09 But of all those plays, you know, the other ones we were,
06:14 so, you know, you either control your destiny or he does.
06:19 It depends on your shoulder level and your fit.
06:23 And, you know, some -- let me explain it like this.
06:27 Some plays, you're taking your backside shoulder
06:30 and you're fitting it inside his near shoulder.
06:33 Sometimes you're taking your backside shoulder
06:35 and you're fitting it half of his body.
06:38 Sometimes you're taking it, your shoulder,
06:42 and fitting all of him.
06:46 If you're off on those fits,
06:47 that means that you're off on where the play
06:50 has opportunities to go.
06:52 So if I don't cut anybody out of their gap,
06:55 then everything gets spilled to safeties.
06:59 We have to cut guys out of gaps so we can have --
07:01 if it's an A-gap play,
07:03 we have to be able to hit it in the A-gap.
07:06 Now, you're not always going to be able to do that,
07:08 but you have to some of the time.
07:10 So then linebackers, they misfit.
07:15 So all those things, tight ends were not very good
07:19 in their fits.
07:21 I mean, we're running a duo play
07:23 and we're kicking it outside the tight end.
07:26 It's supposed to go frontside to backside A-gap.
07:29 Now, AJ got eight yards on whatever the play was.
07:33 That ain't the point.
07:34 The point is, is that we're not fit right,
07:37 so we're not giving the back every opportunity
07:39 to make yards.
07:41 And once we get our fits better, I think that'll help us.
07:45 Bob?
07:49 Hey, Sam. That was all too technical for me, I think.
07:52 I wanted to ask a couple things about Pupal.
07:55 You know, he obviously was banged up in the fall.
07:58 I know you mentioned he missed both scrimmages
08:00 and then he wasn't able to, you know,
08:02 fully play either of the first two games
08:05 because of targeting stuff.
08:06 Just kind of what have you seen from him
08:08 maybe this week about being really anxious,
08:10 just kind of let it all hang out?
08:12 Yeah, I had a good talk with him, you know.
08:17 He did play some good ball in the second half Saturday,
08:23 and I'm expecting, you know, we thought going into camp
08:27 that he was going to be as good a linebacker as we have.
08:31 And unfortunately, from whatever reasons,
08:34 what you just mentioned, we haven't seen that.
08:39 But we got a little glimpse of it last week.
08:42 I expect him to have a great game.
08:44 He's practiced well,
08:46 so I expect him to grab some confidence.
08:51 And with that, he's got a lot of talent.
08:54 Yeah, and with him clicking, and, you know,
08:56 we know he's a younger guy,
08:57 but he seems like a real good team leader.
08:59 Just what all does he mean to you guys?
09:02 A lot, you know.
09:05 By some of the things you just said,
09:06 he's such a really good kid.
09:08 He's a hard worker.
09:09 But he has special speed.
09:11 I mean, he's, you know, so he can make plays a little faster
09:16 than what a lot of guys can.
09:17 And, you know, you know and I know that a yard difference,
09:20 half-yard difference is a big deal
09:22 in being able to get a guy on the ground.
09:24 So I think what we've got to do is get confidence in him first,
09:31 and then he'll get it into the --
09:33 it'll wear over to the team.
09:35 But I think he's going to have a really good game.
09:38 And then we were talking to Kehlani on Monday,
09:43 and I know you guys spoke highly of each other last year,
09:46 but there's been discussion about you
09:48 like you're his favorite uncle or something.
09:50 I know Coach makes sure you all like each other
09:52 and respect each other most of the time you do.
09:54 But you guys seem to have a real strong connection.
09:57 I was wondering maybe what's going on there
09:59 where you all seem to hit it off so well.
10:02 Well, we know mutual --
10:05 we have mutual friends which started it.
10:07 And then I knew Kingsley, you know, at their left tackle.
10:15 Knew his parents.
10:17 They rave about Kehlani.
10:20 And so I already knew some people
10:24 that told me several wonderful things about him.
10:27 And then I just like the way his team plays.
10:30 But if you talk into coaching circles,
10:34 he's one of the most well-respected guys
10:37 in the country.
10:38 And then you go and play them.
10:42 Their team plays extremely hard.
10:44 They're well-coached, but they're very disciplined.
10:48 I just have a lot of respect for him as a family man,
10:53 how he runs his business.
10:55 And he was very kind to me when we went out there last year.
11:00 And it's not -- and when you lose,
11:01 you know, obviously we were fortunate we won.
11:04 It's hard to say some things after the game.
11:07 It's hard, you know, but he was very respectful of the team
11:10 and myself and all those things even after the win.
11:13 So, you know, it's easy to be a good guy when you win.
11:17 It's hard whenever you lose.
11:18 It just is, and that's in about anything.
11:22 Thanks.
11:24 Otis?
11:26 Yeah, Coach, there's been quite a bit said about the game,
11:30 but AJ Green has 19 carries for 104 yards.
11:33 That's about 5 1/2 yards of carry.
11:36 Talk about how AJ's maybe stepped into a bigger role
11:40 there with the rockets.
11:41 Yeah, he has.
11:45 And I think, you know, I just wish that we started faster.
11:50 You know, I think AJ has gotten into a groove
11:52 as the game has gone on.
11:55 We need him to start a little bit faster.
11:58 The line has a lot to do, tight end.
12:00 A lot of people have a lot to do with that.
12:04 But, yeah, I think, you know, almost 5 yards of carry
12:07 and -- or a little over 5 yards of carry.
12:10 And doing a good job holding --
12:13 all of them is holding on the ball well,
12:14 doing things that I think R.W.
12:15 May had to fumble against Western Carolina.
12:17 But, yeah, he's running with his pads down.
12:23 I think we made a big challenge on the running backs, too.
12:26 You know, obviously, we've done a lot of talking
12:28 about the offensive line and all that kind of stuff.
12:32 But there's a whole lot of things
12:34 that go into rushing the football,
12:36 the offensive line included, you know.
12:38 But the backs have a lot to do with that, too.
12:41 You know, we've all seen 80-yard runs
12:44 where you don't block a sole,
12:45 and a guy just breaks it and gone.
12:47 We just haven't had that yet.
12:50 And right now we've had to be pretty picture-perfect
12:54 to have success running the football.
12:56 AJ has made some of those runs that we may or may not
13:00 have been perfect on, and he's made yards.
13:03 -AJ brought up the same point you just did
13:05 about AJ getting stronger as the game goes along.
13:08 KJ brought that up on Saturday.
13:10 Hey, do you think the Liberty Bowl helped his confidence some?
13:15 -Yeah, I think so. I think him and Arda.
13:17 You know, I think it did.
13:21 You know, any time, I think it's a lot about
13:22 how we approach things, too.
13:24 I mean, we feel like whomever we put out there,
13:27 we can win the game with.
13:29 And I think that goes to the team,
13:32 and then it obviously builds confidence in the player
13:34 that's out there doing it.
13:36 But, yes, I believe that had a lot to do with him
13:39 and, to be honest with you, with Arda as well.
13:42 -Thanks, Coach. -Cut.
13:46 -Yeah, Sam, I got a couple of linebacker questions.
13:48 Jordan Crook, I know he started week one.
13:51 I don't know if we saw him out there much
13:52 on defense this past week.
13:53 What's he got to do to get back in that rotation?
13:57 -Well, he's got obviously a lot of things, you know,
14:00 that each and every player at any position has to do.
14:04 You know, he's got to be more consistent
14:05 with his mental part of the game.
14:10 He's got to wrap up a little bit better in tackling.
14:16 Sometimes you're just -- If you're three or you're four,
14:19 sometimes the opportunities of playing just aren't there.
14:24 Obviously, we went --
14:25 Antonio was here last week when he wasn't the week before.
14:32 But there's nothing wrong with Crook.
14:34 It's just he needed to practice a little bit better
14:36 and do some things, which he has this week.
14:38 So I wouldn't be shocked at all if he's out there
14:41 playing some ball for us on Saturday.
14:44 -And then Brad Spence obviously had the pick six in week one.
14:47 Y'all gave him the start this past weekend.
14:49 Just how would you assess his second game out there?
14:53 -Well, I think he played maybe 13 plays or something,
14:55 19 or 13, not as many plays as what we might have thought
15:01 going into the game, what didn't go quite
15:02 like we thought it would there in the first half.
15:07 But I think this, that he's very physical.
15:10 He's getting more and more confident.
15:12 I think he's going to be a really good linebacker
15:14 in the future, and obviously,
15:16 we felt like he was ready for that start, which he was.
15:20 But he's young.
15:22 I mean, he's way ahead of young, you know,
15:26 but I think he's going to -- We'll play him,
15:30 and he'll get quite a bit better as the season goes on, too,
15:33 because he's very physical and can really run.
15:35 -Scottie.
15:39 -Yeah, Sam, I know you talked about Nudy earlier.
15:43 What's the confidence in Keon Stewart
15:46 if you need him to give you snaps again this weekend
15:49 for whatever reason, and maybe what gave you confidence
15:51 in him last week?
15:53 -Well, Keon has played ball before he got here,
15:58 you know, first of all, and so --
16:01 But in practice, in two days, we saw a really good athletic guy.
16:07 Obviously, he didn't know the system quite as well.
16:11 We could have went with Braxton as well.
16:16 I think you'll see Braxton this weekend
16:21 because I think he's had a really good week of practice.
16:25 But I think you're asking about Stewart,
16:29 and I think you might ask about Nudy as well,
16:31 but I think I answered the one about Nudy.
16:34 I think he'll be ready.
16:35 Keon, basically, we thought he was older.
16:38 He had played in games before.
16:39 We went with that as a start.
16:41 We were playing pretty well,
16:42 so that's why we stuck with him.
16:46 -Drop us off, Jackson.
16:48 -Sam, after the game on Saturday,
16:51 you mentioned how you had some plans for KJ
16:54 running the football in short yardage situations,
16:56 and you had to adjust.
16:58 I'm just curious, like, wanting to maybe only run KJ
17:01 in short yardage, was that opponent-specific Saturday,
17:05 or is that a trend maybe you'd like to see
17:06 throughout the whole year where you kind of maybe don't run him
17:09 as much as you have in years past,
17:11 except when you need to in those short yardage situations?
17:14 -That's a great question.
17:16 To answer the question, it was opponent-driven.
17:22 We really didn't want to run him much
17:25 if we didn't have to in the first two games.
17:28 From now on out, it's a different story,
17:33 and so we're just going to run, you know,
17:38 whatever we think we can get the most yards
17:40 and score the most points.
17:43 We did not necessarily do that in the first two games
17:47 simply because taking him out of the running game
17:51 cuts down quite a bit of offense, you know,
17:57 when you're not giving him that option to run,
18:00 so that has been --
18:04 We've got big-time opponents coming up,
18:07 so we got to do whatever it is.
18:09 If that's running him or throwing him or both,
18:12 got to do whatever it is to win the game.