Arkansas Razorbacks running backs AJ Green and Raheim "Rocket" Sanders on what they've learned playing for Jimmy Smith in crowded backfield for playing time.
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00:00 >> Rocket, Coach Pittman was in here the other day and we're talking you're at 242
00:04 pounds and stuff and I was asking him if he liked that weight on you and
00:08 he said he couldn't cut anything off with skin.
00:10 What is your body fat percentage at and how do you feel carrying 242?
00:14 I think you're less than 227 last year.
00:16 >> I am a lot to you, I feel great.
00:18 Just I feel like the strength staff got me prepared physically and mentally.
00:23 >> What body fat percentage are you carrying right now?
00:28 I mean, how did you increase weight that much?
00:30 >> Really, we did a minute ago, so I don't remember exact body fat, but
00:34 I know I lost weight and then gained it back by muscle.
00:37 >> Jay, how do you feel going into the practices now after coming off a really
00:43 good bowl game and what was your off?
00:45 >> I mean, I feel really good.
00:49 We've been putting in work.
00:50 Coach Souders has been making us put in a lot of work that we're not really used to.
00:55 It's like a lot more volume stuff and a lot of reps and
01:00 I honestly feel good, I feel stronger than I ever have.
01:03 >> Rocky, what are your thoughts on AJ?
01:07 Coach Smith was just in here saying that he's kind of a can do everything now guy,
01:12 as opposed to maybe last year there was something that might have been missing,
01:15 but now it's kind of a do everything guy.
01:18 >> Yeah, I feel like just not even just AJ, but in the running back room,
01:20 we got more faith in each other since we know each other.
01:23 And I'm just going in another year with AJ and the other guys,
01:26 I feel like way more.
01:28 I feel like he got way more confident, not even just on the field, but
01:31 off the field and even in the weight room, I'm next to him in the weight room.
01:34 I feel like it's some days that I come in, not even lazy, but
01:37 just not wanting to be there and he gives me the strength to keep going.
01:42 >> The running back room is the same room that's been for a few years.
01:49 I think there's other schools or other places where it wouldn't stay that way.
01:52 What's the secret that y'all all have been here?
01:57 >> I would say Coach Smith and just the way we push each other.
02:02 We all know if we wanted to go somewhere we could play, but why do that when we
02:07 have the best players right here that's gonna push us to our best potential?
02:11 So that's it, and we're brothers.
02:14 So we don't hate on each other and he's getting this many carries, this and that.
02:18 We just pushing each other to be the best we can.
02:21 >> Really got you, you know, with Coach Smith,
02:25 I feel like he keep it 100, Coach Pitt, he keep it 100.
02:30 But just playing with these guys, I feel like they're making me better and
02:34 I'm making them better.
02:35 >> Isaiah is another back from Florida, like you just what have you thought about
02:39 him and just that relationship there?
02:42 >> He learning, both the running back learning, but I feel like he got the speed.
02:46 He willing to work, not even just on the field, but in the weight room as well.
02:50 But I feel like he gonna have a great year and he learning.
02:52 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:57 >> Is on the defensive side of like transfers and newcomers and stuff.
03:01 What have it's only been two days, but what have you seen from that unit that I
03:04 know they're expected to take a big jump?
03:06 What's it like going against the defensive line kind of every day with all
03:10 the guys that they have?
03:11 >> I definitely say it's been a lot of energy.
03:13 They bring a lot of energy and I feel like that making us stop the offense go as
03:16 well, offensive line go faster.
03:18 I feel like this is a tempo defense and I'm just the back end as well.
03:22 I mean, they bring in that energy and then with TC coming back,
03:25 he been doing good and I'm giving that energy.
03:29 >> Both of you, what have you seen from Dominic as he's just working back and
03:33 can you just get healthier?
03:35 >> Like I always say about Dom, I feel like he buy in,
03:40 things he went through I feel like in just staying here.
03:44 And just really respecting Coach Smith in a way and just trusting him.
03:49 And I'm just trusting the process.
03:50 I feel like he did that.
03:52 I feel like he was always in a room and he wasn't even playing last year.
03:54 >> I would say the same thing and he's always been one of the work and
04:00 be one of push, like I said, like we always all push each other.
04:04 But he's the one that pushed us cuz when we first got here, that's who started.
04:08 That's who we were looking after.
04:10 That's who we were getting in there to submit for.
04:13 So he's always been like one of the leaders that we looked up to and
04:17 it's his work ethic always show.
04:19 >> Also, there's gonna be new faces that you're running behind on the offensive
04:23 line.
04:24 Is there anybody outside of Brady and Bo that's stood out to you so far?
04:28 >> All the guys, cuz you really don't know anybody's potential to learn.
04:35 You know what I mean?
04:36 Cuz whenever you're nervous or don't wanna mess up, I feel like nobody don't show
04:40 their potential in a way because you weren't about what you got on this play or
04:43 that play.
04:44 But I feel like all the guys are buying in, always give a shout out to the coach,
04:47 shout out.
04:48 Just working on a little thing so everything can develop.
04:51 >> To piggyback off that, it's crazy because we got so
04:57 many different offensive linemen and so many crews that we go with.
05:01 We all rotate with all the groups and it's crazy.
05:04 All of them are good and we all get different types of looks because they're
05:08 all different players, but they're all good players.
05:10 So it just gives us a visual of how things could look, how this could look, and
05:15 from different fronts and things like that.
05:17 It gives us different perspectives on things.
05:20 >> Yeah, you mentioned that you guys are all brothers.
05:22 I was curious about the team as a whole.
05:24 Is there any kind of different vibe or
05:26 feeling about the team right now versus last year?
05:29 >> I would say I feel that we're way closer.
05:36 It's like, I guess because we're all basically starting over.
05:40 We got a new staff, all that stuff.
05:42 So it's like we're all starting over and we're all just connected more because
05:46 our workouts were more like bigger groups kind of.
05:51 But I definitely say that we're closer this year than we were last year.
05:55 >> What was it like in the weight room stuff we watched Bo Lemersquad,
06:00 700 pounds, and everybody jumping up and hollering and everything?
06:04 What was it like and you think that Coach Shatters kind of helps facilitate that,
06:08 the big group, like you were talking about in that poem?
06:11 >> I feel like that get everybody together.
06:13 And I lift a bone, remember them, but I don't go that way, of course.
06:17 But I feel like living with them, they bring a lot of energy in,
06:20 like no matter what.
06:21 And with the squat, with him going down, it's crazy.
06:24 But yeah, I feel like Coach Shatters is bringing everybody together.
06:27 >> Quick thoughts on Emmanuel Crawford.
06:31 He's a walk-on, a little wide, needs to add some weight.
06:33 What is he like and what's he brought to the running back?
06:37 >> He's fast, man.
06:39 He twitchy, he twitchy.
06:41 He a quick guy, you know what I mean?
06:43 And just both the running backs, I'm just patient.
06:45 We're trying to show them patience is the key.
06:47 And I feel like as a running back, you can be more patient than on a hurry.
06:50 You know what I mean?
06:51 I feel like just being patient, great guy outside of football as well, but
06:56 I feel like he's fast.
06:56 >> But from my perspective, me coming in, playing high school football,
07:03 all I knew was go fast, fast, fast.
07:05 So when he got here, when I saw that's all he did, and I'm trying to teach him,
07:09 I know that's how you're used to doing things.
07:10 But up here, you gotta be patient with it.
07:13 Everything is not gonna be super fast, cuz then you could miss something.
07:17 You could make somebody make a tackle just by going fast.
07:20 So you gotta slow down a little bit.
07:22 But that's one of the things I related to him on, and
07:24 I try to keep pushing that onto him so he can keep learning to do it.
07:28 >> Point of emphasis over the offseason,
07:31 what you wanted to do better, anything?
07:35 >> I would probably say mine was just being able to stop and go better.
07:39 That's one of the things I have worked on the most, but that was really it.
07:44 Yeah.
07:45 >> The five who reported a 22 mile per hour,
07:48 did y'all get any kind of citation, any kind of thing for hitting 22?
07:52 >> No, we didn't.
07:53 [LAUGH] >> You went to Nashville,
07:56 what did you think of that whole experience?
07:58 And needed a lot of water afterwards, and you thought, I wouldn't say a lot of water,
08:03 cuz I was just ready for it.
08:05 And like Cal and Coach was saying, Coach Pitt was saying,
08:08 it's like an interview.
08:10 So just it went by fast, it went by fast, you know what I mean?
08:13 And it was great to be there, and a lot of people don't get a lot of opportunities.
08:17 But just expressing my feelings on certain things about what the new staff or
08:21 whatnot, I definitely treated it like an interview.
08:24 >> Do you have any thoughts on Coach Smith saying,
08:27 the kind of guy that can do everything now,
08:30 instead of being a third way to make him stay where he is?
08:33 >> Yes, but I mean, I feel like all of the backs that we have are kind of that way.
08:40 And I always looked at my way that's self coming out of high school, but
08:43 obviously there's always things that I can get better on.
08:46 So, I mean, it makes me feel good that he says that about me and
08:50 that the coaches think that.
08:51 But I think that about all the running backs to be honest with you, so.
08:56 >> Yeah, Rocket, obviously in Nashville and so far,
08:58 everybody's been talking about you stepping up as a leader and
09:01 you were pretty vocal today.
09:02 Is that something that you're gonna keep doing moving forward?
09:04 And how do you feel about being a leader during the first few days?
09:07 >> Yeah, of course, man, it's just a blessing to have that position.
09:12 But from a jump coming in, I've always been quiet, so
09:15 I wanna stay quiet for sure.
09:16 But definitely gonna be there to help somebody next to me and
09:20 just somebody in front of me because I wanna be great as a unit, not just me.
09:24 >> And for both of you guys, Coach Smith emphasized that it's a new competition
09:28 between you guys every week for who gets the reps.
09:30 How do you feel about that and what excites you about this running back room?
09:34 >> Really, when it comes down to that, man, outside looking in,
09:38 it's like everybody figuring out who's the one or who's the two or whatnot.
09:42 As we see it, everybody's gonna work and Coach Smith buy in in a way to help
09:48 everybody develop what we need to develop, you know what I mean?
09:51 Cuz everybody got different talent in a way, you know what I mean?
09:53 So I feel like that's not something we're worrying about and we just keep working.
09:57 And that time will come back and then the day is like everybody gonna get theirs.