Arkansas Razorbacks defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Travis Williams wants a new, more aggressive approach on defense against new and challenging offenses.
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00:00 Guys, you see, first of all, you can tell the guys like each other.
00:03 You bring in high school guys in, guys from out the portal,
00:06 guys that are already here, and you're trying to put it all together.
00:09 First of all, the guys like each other.
00:11 Effort is really what we've been kind of honing in on, and
00:14 guys are trying to fly to the ball.
00:15 The great thing is they're trying to do exactly what we're actually doing.
00:20 That's all we do.
00:21 We tell them there's gonna be stuff that we have to correct every day.
00:24 But control what you control, and it's fun.
00:26 It's fun to coach those guys.
00:27 >> Bunch of bruises here and there at linebacker.
00:31 I know last scrimmage you guys probably put a lot on Gaheem Thomas.
00:34 How did he respond to that?
00:35 What are your thoughts on what he can bring to the table?
00:37 >> Yeah, it was good to get him out there and get those finish reps.
00:41 And he didn't go through spring ball at the last place he was at.
00:45 And to get him some live reps is always good.
00:47 We went in with the mindset to get him a lot of reps,
00:51 just to see if he could just work the rust off or whatever you wanna say.
00:54 But he did a really good job.
00:56 He's doing a good job and very smart, very detailed,
00:59 takes a lot of notes, I'm happy he's with us.
01:02 >> Who was in here the other day?
01:05 It seems like to me that he's been here forever.
01:07 But when you think about it, he's only really started two games.
01:09 Just talk about his part, he and Crook started the bowl game for you.
01:13 Or how they doing?
01:14 And then Antonio Breer, the guy last spring, I know he was hurt today,
01:19 but talk about Breer and those guys.
01:22 >> All three of those guys are doing a great job.
01:24 And just a new defense for all of those guys.
01:26 And what's always exciting is to see, okay, the growth, the football IQ,
01:30 just learning what we're doing and different concepts.
01:33 And all of those guys have a really good football IQ.
01:36 All of those guys come to work every day and love to come out and practice.
01:39 So it's been good.
01:41 Poole is very detailed.
01:43 He takes pride in his performance.
01:45 Same thing with Crook, same thing with Antonio.
01:47 Just me, even when you watch him in the summer workouts, and
01:50 the way those guys bond together and work together.
01:52 And we need all of them, we need everybody in that room.
01:55 So we talk in terms of, man, we don't have starters, we have standards.
01:58 So if you uphold the standard, you will play.
02:02 So all those guys work well together, proud of all three.
02:05 >> Three high school kids that came in, Sanford.
02:08 And Sanford didn't come in at midterm, I think the other two did.
02:11 But how are they coming along?
02:13 Coach Pittman has praised those guys from time to time.
02:16 Where are you seeing them from, Coach?
02:17 >> All three guys, I think all three guys have bright futures here.
02:21 And all of them at a great pace of just being able to help us at some point.
02:26 This year, special teams, and maybe on the defense.
02:28 All of those guys have a skill set.
02:30 You can see that they are SEC players.
02:32 Brad Spencer's one that we put in so many different positions,
02:37 cuz he could do so much.
02:38 But all those guys have high ceilings, and
02:40 we're very, very happy with their progress right now.
02:42 >> Specifically with Poo being out, I know it hasn't been ideal.
02:47 But that allowed Crook to, you got seen with the first team a lot.
02:51 I wonder specifically on Crook, what did you see from him during this period?
02:54 >> Just a true leader, he a warrior.
02:56 I mean, I just love the kid, man.
02:59 Cuz in the workouts, he's always, when they're racing or
03:02 they're running sprints, he's always trying to be first.
03:05 He wants to lead, he has that Mike Linebacker mentality that you want on
03:10 your team.
03:10 And we see all those guys like Crook, Crook is a starter for us.
03:14 Poo is a starter, Antonio is a starter, Jaheim is a starter.
03:16 All those guys are gonna play, even the freshmen.
03:18 So we need all of them, and Crook is a really, really good leader.
03:23 Really, really good person, so I'm glad he's on our team.
03:26 >> I had struggled to get quality depth on every level of the defense for years.
03:31 But when we look at this roster, it seems like you're building,
03:35 rotating a bunch of linemen.
03:37 You're talking about the backers, and the back end seems to have some,
03:41 can you maybe talk about across the board where you feel the depth?
03:44 >> Yes, I think we have enough depth, and it's just like anybody else,
03:48 you don't wanna get anybody hurt.
03:50 But you gotta get guys ready, that's why we two spot.
03:53 So it's always guys always getting reps, so
03:55 you start with the defensive line.
03:56 I think Coach Adams has done a heck of a job with the defensive line.
04:00 It's first with the relationship with the players that he have, and
04:02 also the way he coaches them and teach them.
04:04 And we got depth on the defensive line, I can just say that.
04:10 So very, very happy where we at there.
04:12 And then we already talked about linebackers, but on the back end,
04:15 Coach Wilson and Coach Wilson does a great job.
04:17 Same thing, relationship people, and also being detailed in their teaching.
04:22 So we got enough depth to get the job done.
04:25 >> Can you talk about buy-in from players and stuff like that?
04:30 How's the buy-in so far from the coaches and
04:32 the communication between the coaching staff, particularly on the defensive side?
04:36 >> The buy-in is, I mean, you're a pro, right?
04:39 We're pros.
04:41 So when you buy in as a coach, it doesn't take much.
04:44 It starts with our head coach, Coach Pittman, and his leadership, and
04:49 his direction for the program.
04:50 And whatever he's saying, we wanna be aligned to exactly what he want us to do.
04:55 So I go into the defensive room, and this is what we're gonna be.
04:57 And we have good coaches.
04:59 I'm just blessed to be around Coach Adams, and Coach Wilson, and
05:03 Coach Wilson, and even our analysts and GAs.
05:05 So there's not a lot of room now to just have good people in the rooms, and
05:09 we're blessed to have good people.
05:10 >> Well, depend on matchup and everything like that, but
05:13 the numbers say you blitzed a lot in your past.
05:16 I mean, I'm curious, where does that aggressive mindset,
05:19 does that come from a former coach, somewhere where you were a player?
05:23 Where does that kinda stem?
05:24 >> I think it's all situational.
05:27 Can you get to the quarterback with just rushing forth?
05:30 Do you have to bring more than four, bring five, bring six?
05:33 I think it's all situational.
05:35 But a lot of times, offenses put defenses on the heels.
05:39 They give you pace, you gotta get lined up, they'll give you unbalance,
05:42 they'll give you formation in the boundary.
05:44 So a lot of times, defenses are kinda reacting.
05:48 So it's always good for a defense to throw a curveball and
05:51 make the offense panic a little bit.
05:53 So that's my mindset when it comes to blitzing.
05:56 But everything is really situational.
05:58 Do you need to blitz?
06:00 You don't just blitz just to blitz.
06:02 So, but I do like to throw the kitchen sink at an offense and
06:05 make them work at something that they saw the week before.
06:09 >> Are there any specific intangibles with the freshmen that have maybe allowed them
06:14 to be, I don't know, further along than you expected?
06:16 I know, I mean, Coach Pittman seemed when he talked to us,
06:18 very impressed with where they are right now in the linebackers.
06:21 >> Yeah, I mean, I think all three of those guys, I mean, and
06:25 just shout out to the high school coaches.
06:27 All of those guys, man, they learn ball pretty quickly and easily.
06:30 And like Brad Spence is doing some really good things out there.
06:35 Carson Dean is doing some really good things.
06:37 And then Alex just got, he didn't even go through spring ball.
06:40 You can just see right now, he just running to the ball as fast as he can go.
06:43 He likes to play physical.
06:44 He's learning the system.
06:46 He's just 12 days into practice.
06:48 But you can see the skill set on all three of those guys.
06:51 >> Coach, already you've talked a lot about relationships.
06:55 And that's something obviously, this is your first year in Arkansas.
06:57 How do you believe that relationships will help define this defense,
07:01 especially in this year?
07:03 >> I think it's just, I think a kid will run through the wall if you know you care.
07:07 I really do, we don't cuss our guys, but
07:11 we don't cuss the kid or talk to a kid, that's not how we operate.
07:16 But we're gonna coach them hard.
07:18 We're gonna put our arms around them.
07:19 It's okay, it's okay to put your arm around a kid and say, man, you did a good job.
07:24 It's okay to tell him, hey, man, you gotta tighten up and run to the ball.
07:27 And then when he runs to the ball, man, that's exactly what we want you to do.
07:30 And they appreciate that.
07:32 We have the guys over the house and our wives are involved.
07:35 And that's where the relationship comes in at.
07:39 And we do a lot of things with the defense.
07:40 And we do a lot of things as a team, to be honest with you,
07:43 to bring the relationship as a team together.
07:45 I think that's important.
07:47 They'll run through the wall once they know you care.
07:48 >> You've seen your DBs go up a lot against the wide receivers.
07:53 What do you think of that wide receiver group?
07:54 And who really stands out for you?
07:57 >> Shoot, man, they got a few of them over there.
08:00 First of all, I think Coach Guyton does a great job.
08:02 And then Coach Enos does a great job of calling and
08:04 putting them in positions to make plays.
08:06 And they got a lot of length, they got speed.
08:08 Tesla, I think is really good.
08:12 I think Luke Cass is good.
08:17 And I could go on and on.
08:19 But it starts with the players, cuz they have the skill set.
08:21 But it also, Coach Enos and Coach Guyton putting them in position to make
08:25 those plays.
08:25 >> A lot of fall camp is getting mental reps, especially for the younger guys.
08:31 Are there any players in particular that stand out that you've kind of seen
08:34 a light bulb go off?
08:35 >> Yeah, I mean, it's always good to see the growth of all the players.
08:40 Guys like me, Jalen Johnson, he's showing flashes.
08:44 And Day Day is showing flashes.
08:47 Cuz it's new to all these guys.
08:48 So just to see them learn defense, the new defense, and
08:52 being able to go out and execute the new defense.
08:54 But all those guys, I just name a few, even the newcomers.
08:58 Al is doing really good, Snacks.
09:01 So Jaheim Singletary that just got here.
09:05 So I could go on and on and on.
09:06 But I mean, all of those guys are really picking it up.
09:09 And the main thing is just I think the coaches are doing a good job of teaching
09:13 them and getting them to understand the concepts and
09:15 different things that we're trying to do.
09:16 >> Travis, I was wondering what your take was on the scrimmage last week and
09:21 then what you're anticipating for this second one on Saturday?
09:24 >> Yes, sir.
09:26 Last week, one thing we want to go out there,
09:28 we always tell the guys if you mess up on a play, we didn't coach it right.
09:32 You control your effort.
09:33 You control a stupid penalty, being off sides, holding or something like that.
09:37 But we want to see that effort.
09:39 So when you're watching the defense, you're watching like, man,
09:43 golly, they played hard.
09:45 Now we want to execute, and execution was there as well.
09:49 But we really wanted to make sure they're playing fast and they're playing physical.
09:52 Now this scrimmage, the second scrimmage, now, okay, we're playing fast,
09:55 playing physical.
09:56 Let's make sure we execute at a high rate.
09:58 >> I mentioned Deacon, man,
10:00 it kind of spikes together about being an old guy, having a girl,
10:03 a big boy, you know what I'm talking about?
10:06 But he's in his second year here now with a lot of new guys.
10:11 Just wondering what your take is on Deacon,
10:13 having some continuity there with the blue line.
10:15 So that's been a run, you said a lot of things.
10:18 >> Right, man, it starts off with Coach Adams and
10:22 just, again, his relationship with the guys.
10:25 And Deacon, Coach Adams is a good coach, he's loyal, he's a pro.
10:32 So I remember meeting Coach Adams years ago when he was at South Carolina.
10:38 So we ran into each other there, but he does it the right way.
10:41 He coaches his guys the right way.
10:43 He's a leader with his guys.
10:45 He's loyal in the room, whatever, whatever, T, what you want me to do,
10:49 let's go Weston Mission.
10:50 And that's the same thing with Coach Woodson and Coach Wilson.
10:53 So again, we got a great room.
10:55 We don't go in there like we don't do bad energy.
10:57 I told him, we don't do bad energy.
10:59 And nobody comes in there with bad energy.
11:00 We don't want any energy vampires.
11:02 And Coach Adams is like that older statesman in there with a lot of wisdom.
11:06 So we're blessed to have him.
11:08 >> I think you mentioned Jamie Thomas before that earlier.
11:11 Just what kind of a skill set does he bring to the table?
11:14 And what's it been like working with him behind the scenes?
11:16 >> He's been walking in the room, so I can't really say to now.
11:18 But no, really good skill set, smart, can change direction,
11:23 he brings length to the room.
11:24 He can cover out the backfield.
11:26 He's doing a really good job for us.
11:27 Quiet, quiet, like you see him in the back right now.
11:33 He's not saying, he don't say anything in the meeting.
11:34 He'll ask questions, but quiet and very detailed approach, take notes.
11:40 And he'll come talk to you one on one and ask questions.
11:42 So he's one of those guys that just love balls and always taking notes down and
11:46 want to get the fine details of everything.
11:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]
11:54 >> Those players that are improving and can eventually maybe have to program.
11:59 >> Yeah, all of those guys are improving.
12:00 Donovan just got here.
12:02 Kayden is improving, Brooks both is improving.
12:05 Brooks both, he gets a lot of reps for us on special team and defense.
12:09 He's very valuable to our team.
12:11 I'm sure I'm happy they're on the team and
12:13 all of them gonna have a chance to help us.
12:14 >> Well, I think he's gonna be somebody who probably seeks action on special teams.
12:22 >> Yeah, no, probably he is.
12:23 Coach Fountain loves him cuz he does a great job.
12:25 He does a good job and come to work every day.
12:28 And we're proud that he's on our team and he really, really helps us out a lot.
12:32 >> Danny, I was in here with him yesterday and
12:35 he was very complimentary of what y'all are running.
12:38 And he said that they're challenging our rules.
12:40 And I just wonder what you think of the interaction you're having with him on that.
12:45 >> Coach Eno, he's making me better.
12:48 He does so many different things that make us have rules.
12:52 So many different formations and it's not one of those just line up and go fast.
12:57 It's like you gotta get down there and you gotta process what they're doing and
13:01 different things, different shifts and motions.
13:03 And again, you hear Coach Pittman say that all the time,
13:06 he's one of the best play callers he's ever been around.
13:08 And I've experienced that in six months.
13:10 I've been around him, very, very smart.
13:12 There are some things that can really, really hurt defenses.
13:15 So you gotta have some things as far as rules.
13:17 So they do things to make us better and in return,
13:20 we do things to make them better.
13:22 >> Today we saw a lot of the fastballs and stuff where you guys were breaking up a lot
13:26 of pass, I mean, winning the day so to speak.
13:28 What have you thought of maybe the start you're out to in those terms?
13:32 >> Yeah, we wanna start fast.
13:33 That's the thing, we wanna start fast.
13:35 And our emphasis today as a team, Coach Pittman wanted the offense to give us more
13:39 tempo and they came out today and they gave us the tempo and
13:42 they got some yardage on us.
13:43 They were doing some really, really good things and Coach Enos, like I said,
13:47 he does a great job.
13:48 But we need that tempo because we'll see it during the season.
13:52 >> Coach Woodson about this the other day, but
13:54 you're leading an all African American staff on defense.
13:57 I don't know if it's been done in the SEC or anywhere.
14:00 What's just your thoughts about maybe the historic nature of that?
14:03 >> Yeah, first I would say this because that was brought up to me.
14:09 First of all, we wanna hire good people, right?
14:11 We wanna hire good people.
14:12 When the players look at us, what a husband look like,
14:15 what a father look like, and what a great coach and a great teacher,
14:19 great recruiter, all of that stuff, right?
14:22 I also understand the responsibility.
14:24 I get it, representation means a lot.
14:28 Representation means a lot.
14:29 So for people to see that, I get that also.
14:32 But I'm deep in my faith as well and
14:33 I understand the representation that I gotta have.
14:35 I gotta represent God as well.
14:37 So when I'm out here, when I'm talking to the players and when I'm coaching,
14:41 I know I got an audience of one as well that I have to make sure I hold the standard.
14:46 So I get the representation, I get the responsibility.
14:51 We're not gonna shy away from that.
14:52 I'm also not gonna shy away from make sure I'm representing my faith the right way.
14:57 >> Talk to me about defensive staff, that's where you guys are all from.
15:02 You're from South Carolina, Flighted, Auburn,
15:04 I think it's Mississippi, Mark from Mississippi, Darren from-
15:08 >> Louisiana.
15:09 >> SEC players generally come from SEC states and recruiting.
15:13 How important is that to have all those connections for you guys?
15:15 And what is your philosophy?
15:19 >> You know what, it's good to have those relationships,
15:21 cuz I mean, you go to these homes and you go to these towns,
15:25 you gotta just know who that champion is and have the people to get you into homes.
15:30 And relationships is big, but our philosophy is this, right?
15:34 We got a great product here.
15:36 We got a great product, we got great facilities, we got great coaches, and
15:39 we got great players.
15:40 When they come in, they can get around our players.
15:42 So we don't like five star, no star,
15:45 we're going after the person that we think can help us win games.
15:50 So we don't shy away from anybody, we don't look at them, man,
15:53 that's a long shot.
15:55 We look at it like we get them on campus, we got a chance to get them.
15:58 So just that mindset of, no, we're not just taking just anybody,
16:02 we wanna take the best that's on our board.
16:05 So that's our philosophy and our mentality.
16:08 >> Looking at personnel on defense, sometimes the defense
16:12 is wearing the short size and the linebacker is a slightly too big.
16:16 Is that based on the boundary, is that based on the strong side,
16:20 is that something that you even do game to game?
16:22 >> It's different game to game.
16:23 We have a formational defense where we gotta line up formationally,
16:27 and we have just a defense where you get lined up to the boundary.
16:30 Nobody moves, we just let the offense get set and we can adjust from there,
16:35 especially with a lot of these fast paced teams that we'll play.
16:37 So you have different philosophies of who you're playing and
16:41 you have to just have a game plan as far as the tempo that you're facing.
16:44 >> [INAUDIBLE] on the scrimmage the other day and I think Mark said first time and
16:49 first time for him down, how did it go and what do you think about moving forward?
16:54 >> It was, to be honest with you, you can see everything from up there.
16:56 I like to be on the sideline cuz my energy and
16:58 I think the players like my energy cuz just, I'm like that parent, right?
17:03 I'm in the stands, a lot of parents in the stands and
17:04 they saw me make a tackle or whatever.
17:07 I'm the same way as a coordinator, I'm happy to see them make a tackle.
17:10 But at times you wanna have that poise and get the next call out.
17:13 So when you're in the booth, you can get to the next call really quickly.
17:17 But when the players make a tackle, I may be jumping up or
17:20 whatever on the sideline, so it was different.
17:23 This scrimmage, I go back up again and just get a feel for it and
17:27 we'll kinda make a decision from there.
17:28 >> You've been a couple times, what is it specifically about Brad that's allowed him
17:32 to do all the things you taught him?
17:33 >> Yeah, he has a physical presence.
17:36 He comes in and you can see him, he's like he's a sophomore junior in college and
17:40 he has heavy hands and does a really good job striking,
17:43 has really good change of direction, has really good speed.
17:46 He's learning the system, so the sky's the limit for him.
17:50 He has a bright future.
17:51 Awesome, next up, y'all see them three guys back there?
17:57 proof, hey, poof, you know.
18:00 Thank y'all guys.