Arkansas Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman with the media Monday afternoon ahead of the season opener in Little Rock, which was moved earlier in the day to a noon kickoff to try and get a jump on really high temperatures.
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00:00 Well, game week, obviously, and we're excited to have an opportunity
00:04 to get over to Little Rock and play Western Carolina.
00:08 Kerwin and Cade Bell do a wonderful job with that team offensively.
00:14 I think they set records last year in touchdown passes,
00:17 records for total offense.
00:20 A lot of bubbles, a lot of things that are concerning to us
00:24 that we've been practicing on now going in today
00:27 would be day four for Western.
00:30 Defensively, have some really good pass rushers, good defensive ends.
00:35 Guys in the back here can run.
00:37 Offensively, forgot to mention their wide outs and their running back.
00:41 Very, very explosive guys.
00:44 Starting to have our work cut out for us.
00:46 Always first games are scary because of the unknown,
00:50 unknown about the opponent, unknown this year about our own team.
00:54 But we're really excited to get over there and play a fine Western Carolina team.
01:00 [Inaudible]
01:04 Are you worried that's going to impact tailgating at all
01:07 and what's your thoughts on moving it up?
01:09 No, I'm not worried about tailgating.
01:11 I can tell you that.
01:12 I know it's going to make people mad, but I don't care.
01:15 We're trying to do what's best for our team, what's best for the fans.
01:20 We're trying to.
01:22 I can't imagine tailgating if you're three hours before at 9 o'clock
01:26 when it's maybe 80-something degrees versus 96 or 95
01:32 or whatever it would be if you started at noon.
01:34 I would think it would be better for the fans.
01:37 Trey, we played five of our first eight games on the road.
01:41 And so when the heat came out, there was a decision to make
01:46 whether you're going to move it forward or move it backwards.
01:49 If it starts at 6 or 7, you're going to get the team home at 1.30
01:53 or 2.30 in the morning versus 7.30.
01:58 We don't have a break until after week eight.
02:01 Obviously, you guys know we have a four-game spread there on the road.
02:07 And five of our first eight, it just made no sense to me to move it back
02:12 and get our kids back here at 1.32, 2.30 in the morning for a game
02:17 where we could move it up.
02:20 Tailgating should be cooler.
02:22 The game should be cooler.
02:24 And as you well know, if the game starts at 6, you're out there at 4 o'clock
02:27 and it's 96 degrees out there for tailgaters, pregame, hog walk,
02:32 all those things.
02:33 I just thought it was the smartest thing for us once the heat became a factor
02:39 to move it up for the safety of our kids and for our fans.
02:45 I was wondering if you could comment on the captain selection.
02:48 Two defensive ends, a kicker, you don't see six often.
02:51 Just the decision to go with six and just on the guys that were selected.
02:55 Yeah, you know, the team selected them.
02:59 We don't have any influence on them.
03:02 We're not in the locker room with them.
03:04 We're not with them every day outside of football, the weight room,
03:10 how they work, the accountability.
03:13 So, what came -- there was a few that were certainly high in votes, a couple.
03:21 And then the rest of the guys were all about the same.
03:24 And so, we decided to go with six this year.
03:31 I think we've gone maybe five one year, I think, maybe.
03:34 But it was so close that I didn't want to have to be the guy who made the decision
03:40 on one vote here or there, whether you couldn't become a captain or not.
03:45 So, we decided to go with six.
03:47 I thought it was really good.
03:48 We have good leadership on our team, and that was basically because of the voting.
03:52 That's why we decided -- because of the closeness of the votes,
03:56 that's why we decided to go ahead and go with six.
03:59 Were you pleased with how everything went in the mock game on Friday?
04:03 Yeah, it was.
04:04 And, you know, it's really just a substitution
04:06 and then obviously how we do Fridays and Saturdays.
04:11 I thought it went well.
04:13 We caught balls.
04:15 We had a ten-minute period of pat and go with both DBs, linebackers,
04:20 and then, of course, the wideout, all skill position.
04:23 And then we stayed and caught kicks and punts.
04:27 Well, we kicked live.
04:29 We did not cover live, but we did kick live, kickoffs, punts,
04:33 and things during that time as well.
04:35 We punted the ball really well, kicked off field goals, kicked well.
04:39 So, I was really pleased with what we got accomplished, yes.
04:43 And a lot of oars here with the starters on the depth chart.
04:47 Maybe could you just walk through some of that?
04:49 Or you feel okay with all that?
04:51 I do.
04:52 I mean, there are oars because, in all honesty,
04:54 we really don't know who's going to run out with the ones.
04:57 If there are oars, we know they're going to play a lot of ball for us.
05:01 But, in all honesty, we haven't decided who's going to run out there.
05:06 Now, we've decided what positions and all that,
05:08 but there's a few of them that either by injury are they going to be back in
05:15 time for Saturday's game.
05:17 Maybe it is, you know, with moving some kids, you know,
05:22 like Snacks has moved from Hog to Corner to, you know,
05:27 where Jaden Johnson and Hudson Clark are.
05:30 Very, very close battle right there.
05:32 So, we really don't know today exactly in some of those positions who are going
05:39 to run out there with the ones yet.
05:41 But we know that group that if there are an oar, we trust them.
05:46 And they're going to play a lot of football.
05:48 Who runs out there first probably in most cases has been decided, not in all.
05:56 In a year you've become a head coach here, you had three things happen.
06:00 COVID, transfer portal, NIL all hit.
06:03 And I'm just wondering, how did you deal with all that, you know,
06:10 as a head coach when all three of those hit you in one short span
06:14 and there's no booklet on how to get prepared for that kind of stuff?
06:18 I rely on my staff, you know, until we talk it out.
06:21 I'm not quick with decisions.
06:23 You know, I try to take my time and think about it.
06:30 Always it's what's best for the kids.
06:34 But my biggest concern in all that was separation of the team, you know.
06:41 NIL was a separation of the team.
06:43 Portal, to be honest with you, was a separation of the team.
06:48 COVID, not necessarily, you know, but it did separate you from the team.
06:55 So, you know, culture to me is a big thing.
06:59 And the two hottest topics of separating the team, the culture is NIL
07:07 and certainly the portal.
07:08 So, I've changed.
07:11 I've made mistakes.
07:13 I've changed in the fact that, you know, we tell the kids
07:16 we don't want anybody to go in the portal.
07:18 And, you know, before we just never really addressed it
07:22 until they came into my office.
07:25 But now, you know, if we've signed them, we don't want them to leave.
07:29 And so I think that's helped our culture a little bit.
07:34 NIL is certainly something that, you know, if you pay --
07:38 if somebody making this much money and somebody else isn't, you know,
07:42 certainly there's a possibility of separation.
07:46 But we don't seem to have too big of a problem with it right now.
07:49 You mentioned that your transfer portal numbers going into the season
07:52 and how you felt like you really hit on transfer portal guys.
07:57 Do you have any worries that when you add that many that there could be issues
08:03 in the locker room or just anything like that when you're dealing with that many?
08:06 Yeah, I do, except for at our place, you know,
08:10 they have to earn everything they get.
08:12 They're just a part of the team and they're like everybody else.
08:15 You know, again, I think not that Jaden Hazelwood didn't deserve to start for us.
08:22 He didn't earn the right to start the first day of spring practice.
08:26 I made a mistake.
08:29 So I try to learn from those things,
08:32 and I think as long as the kids are earning what they get,
08:35 I think the entire team's fine with it.
08:39 But I made that mistake, and I love Hazelwood.
08:42 It's not his fault.
08:44 We put him with the ones the first day, and that was a mistake.
08:49 Coach, I saw where Chris Paul and Jaheim Thomas are –
08:53 is that because – one reason because Chris has missed so much time with the injury?
08:57 Yeah, he's been hurt.
08:59 It could be, in all honesty, it could be Thomas and Crook out there,
09:04 you know, when we run out there.
09:06 Excuse me, Thomas and Pooh.
09:10 I just don't know for sure who will run out there first,
09:14 but those three will play a lot of ball for us on Saturday.
09:18 You all compared Rocket and KJ to Alex and Brandon,
09:24 but does this team, other than maybe the experience of the offensive line,
09:28 remind you a lot of that 2015 team?
09:31 Well, we had good wide outs then, and I think we're pretty good there.
09:34 We had backs.
09:36 Yeah, I guess if you were looking at it offensively,
09:40 I do think I walked by a huddle.
09:43 You know what a huddle is.
09:45 Nobody does anymore, but it's where the 11 guys get around and they talk.
09:52 I think seven or nine, I can't remember that were in that huddle.
09:57 It's a picture of that team, '15 team, played in the NFL.
10:02 I'm not talking about scout team.
10:04 I'm talking about they got on an active roster, pretty dang good.
10:08 And probably the reason we're pretty good, you know, offensively.
10:13 I don't know if it's '13, '14, '15.
10:15 I'm going to say it was '15, the picture.
10:17 I think it was because Denver was in there.
10:19 But, yeah, I think if you look at it that way, they played well together.
10:24 That group played really well together.
10:27 Hopefully our team will do the same.
10:30 Coach, your jukebox is getting a good workout the last week or so.
10:33 I know you're happy about that.
10:35 Say again.
10:36 The jukebox is getting a good workout lately.
10:38 I know you're happy about that.
10:39 Yeah, I'll be happy.
10:42 Yeah.
10:44 I don't know what to say.
10:46 But, yeah, it's been a good few days there.
10:50 Coach, did you have an update on Jaden Wilson
10:52 and how confident are you that he might be able to play on Saturday?
10:54 I'm confident he'll play.
10:59 He's healing up.
11:00 I'm confident he'll play.
11:03 I know San Antonio Greer wasn't on the depth chart.
11:05 Is that a matter of his status?
11:06 Yeah, it's a matter of is he going to be healthy enough to play.
11:11 He did practice on Saturday.
11:14 Not necessarily physically, but he was out there
11:18 in some seven-on-seven and doing some things.
11:20 So, we'll see how he comes around today and tomorrow.
11:24 He's got to get going.
11:25 And it's not his fault.
11:27 If he gets healthy, obviously, he'll have some type of role on Saturday.
11:31 But we just don't know right now whether he'll be healthy enough to play or not.
11:38 The determining factor will be deciding between Chambly
11:41 and Manuel run out there first.
11:46 You know, Dev had that spot.
11:49 He just had -- he's been beat up just a little bit.
11:53 We haven't got him quite back to full speed.
11:56 It just depends, I think, on how long it goes before he can go full speed.
12:04 If it gets to midweek, you know, I don't think there is a decision.
12:08 I think Chambly's earned that right.
12:11 If it's today and things like that,
12:13 we'll just see who plays better over the next few days.
12:17 Hi, Coach.
12:18 I'm wondering if you've reflected at all on what your personal goals are
12:22 for this year and the season.
12:23 That's all.
12:26 Well, I want to play our best ball.
12:30 You know, there's some things that are concerning.
12:33 It's how we've played against non-Logo schools.
12:40 And I put us in that, too, whenever we start talking about the LSUs
12:45 and the Alabamas and all that.
12:47 We kind of -- obviously, we love the Razorback.
12:50 But, you know, the guys that, you know, are in the top ten every year
12:56 in recruiting.
13:00 So, we haven't played well.
13:01 We didn't play well against Missouri State last year, obviously, Liberty.
13:05 Even two years ago, Georgia Southern,
13:07 I think they had us on the ropes out here until we woke up a little bit.
13:12 Rice, excuse me, Rice, not Georgia Southern necessarily, but Rice.
13:16 So, that's a concern.
13:19 We've talked a lot about we're not playing opponents,
13:22 we're trying to play our best ball.
13:24 And we've got to get back to that physicality
13:26 and playing our hearts out every week, whomever we play.
13:32 Goal-wise, if we could do that,
13:34 I think wins and losses will take care of itself.
13:37 I do think we have a talented team.
13:40 Sam, Isaiah was the number one power turner and kick returner.
13:45 Just wondering what all went into that.
13:47 Well, I mean, he was the most consistent back there.
13:53 Obviously, we believe in Bryce, you know, and things of that nature.
13:56 But he was the most consistent catching the football on a kickoff.
14:02 You know, he returned one, I guess, Saturday ago for a touchdown on a kickoff.
14:10 So, we're going to let him have it and see what he does.
14:16 But he's very talented.
14:17 The other guys are, too, but, you know, you can only have one.
14:20 So, it's like a quarterback back there.
14:22 You can only have one.
14:23 You try to pick the best one and let it go.
14:26 So, that's why we decided to just consistency in practice.
14:30 Coach, you've got five tight ends listed on the depth chart.
14:33 Are you expecting, you know, all five of them
14:35 to play significant snaps on Saturday?
14:37 I think right now at least four of them will play significant minutes.
14:45 Has is, you know, he's probably number one on that list.
14:51 And then the other guys are really good players.
14:53 They exceed in different things.
14:56 Probably Has right now is probably the most, you know, run catching and blocking,
15:02 probably the most consistent there.
15:05 But we believe in, you know, four or five of them.
15:11 I expect them to play.
15:14 What's your plan on Friday?
15:16 You flying down or -- and your plan on coming back?
15:20 No, we're bussing down and back, you know,
15:23 especially with the game being moved up.
15:25 You know, we could get back by maybe 7, 730, which would be a good time.
15:31 Again, you know, I'm concerned about eight games in a row.
15:37 And I'll tell you this, too, you may or may not think about this,
15:42 but you do if you go out to practice every day.
15:45 This air conditioning getting fixed in the indoor was huge.
15:50 I mean huge because you get into week five and it's hot and, you know,
15:56 you've just played a pretty brutal schedule.
15:59 You're going through it.
16:00 And I remember when we won nine games, it was -- we had to cut some reps,
16:05 some different things like that.
16:07 And I don't think that's really good for anybody.
16:09 We had to do it because of the heat.
16:11 So, I hope that answers your question.
16:15 You finalized both coordinators in the booth?
16:17 They are, both of them, yeah.
16:19 What have you learned over the years from openers that maybe you, I don't know,
16:23 didn't expect or something that's changed your mindset?
16:25 The first year I was just trying to figure out how to use the headset,
16:29 to be honest with you.
16:30 I had worn it at practice.
16:32 But, I mean, I was so nervous, man.
16:34 You know, the year we played Georgia, I was over there.
16:37 Hey, are you guys here?
16:39 Are you on?
16:40 Oh, you're on defense.
16:41 Oh, I was trying to get to offense and stuff.
16:43 And, no, I make light about it.
16:45 But everything when you first get started is so brand new, you know.
16:50 You're concerned about, you know, penalties and do you take it, do you not,
16:55 two minute, all those type things.
16:57 And as you practice it more and you do it more,
17:00 you become hopefully a little better at it.
17:03 But, yeah, I've learned a lot of those type things.
17:09 And it takes the stress out of it a little bit now.
17:11 You know, I feel a little bit more confident about everything.
17:14 You referenced Kerwin Bell at the top.
17:16 Have you all crossed paths?
17:17 Do you know him much or anything?
17:19 I know of him, you know, because of his career playing, you know, everything.
17:24 But you throw on the tape now, they're scary on offense.
17:29 And they've got a really good defense as well.
17:32 I don't mean to slight that.
17:33 But offensively, you know, they've set records.
17:36 And I like to throw that bubble.
17:38 And I like to run that stretch play and they're good at it.
17:43 Is it important to get outside this week?
17:45 Because I think you were in all last week mostly.
17:47 We were until Friday night and Saturday we got out.
17:51 We're going to be out all week, probably until Thursday.
17:55 And we'll probably go in Thursday.
17:58 But other than that, I think with the weather, how it's been,
18:01 I think we can get outside.
18:02 We need to.
18:03 Who are their veteran returning guys?
18:05 And, like, have they added a lot through the portal too?
18:07 From what I understand, I think they've added about six in the portal,
18:10 a couple of D tackles.
18:12 I think they're from Akron.
18:15 There's a kid named Micah Nelson.
18:17 He's a boundary end.
18:18 That's a really good player.
18:20 He's number nine.
18:21 He's a really good player.
18:22 They've got a nickel.
18:24 That's a good player.
18:26 Defensively, they've got a couple of -- they've got a free safety that's returned.
18:29 And they've got six starters coming on defense and six on offense.
18:34 Offensively, they're talented at the skill, like I talked about, the running back.
18:39 One, nine played, I don't know,
18:43 maybe the last eight or nine games last year for them.
18:46 They had another guy and he got hurt, I believe.
18:48 But then nine came in and I think they won their last three games,
18:52 all really close games, did a good job in two minutes.
18:55 And then they're pretty big on the O line.
18:57 They probably average about .305 on the O line.
19:00 And so, two tight ends.
19:03 One of them they use a little bit more for blocking.
19:05 The other 11 they use for catching.
19:07 But, yeah, really good team.
19:10 Got a good field goal kicker.
19:13 And, yeah, good football team.
19:17 Sam, I know you can't talk specifics with recruiting,
19:19 but the last two guys you've landed are really, really young kids.
19:22 Yeah.
19:23 Do you think that's going to maybe become more of a trend
19:25 with recruiting younger, younger guys?
19:27 Or is it kind of a situational type thing with recruits?
19:35 I don't really know, you know, what would that be?
19:42 Yeah, I mean, they're young, aren't they?
19:47 I don't really know.
19:49 You know, you're so much further ahead in recruiting now
19:53 than you've ever been.
19:55 I mean, it's just like the second signing date, I don't know.
20:00 We have to look it up.
20:01 Fifty percent of the people probably don't sign anybody the second signing date.
20:05 You know, maybe they do one or two.
20:08 So, it's over.
20:09 You know, remember when we used to have the celebrations and all that,
20:12 you know, the first Wednesday in February and all that?
20:15 I mean, we didn't sign a player, you know, last year.
20:19 So, I think everything pushing up,
20:22 you'll start seeing that two and three years ahead,
20:26 guys trying to solidify their spot,
20:29 especially if they were able to go around the country and see what they like.
20:34 And then I guess a lot of it has to do with stability of coaches
20:37 and things of that nature, if you can sell that.
20:43 Wait, wait, wait, I'm sorry, I've got one.
20:45 I'm sorry.
20:48 What's a coach's biggest apprehension going into the season opening game?
20:54 And I think I answered that one with -- I think Trey, you asked that one.
21:00 A couple of games went, I think, three hours and 40 minutes, I noticed, on Saturday.
21:04 You know, I think there's supposed to be, what, 12 to 15 fewer plays.
21:07 Have you all talked about how that might affect your game management?
21:10 You know, you look at it different ways.
21:14 You know, everybody's got an opinion, you know.
21:16 And this is a fact.
21:18 Well, no, it ain't a fact.
21:19 It's just what they think is fact, you know.
21:22 But if you ask our officials, they're going to say that it's going to cost three
21:29 to four seconds on an inbounds after a first down inbound, three or four seconds.
21:38 So, you know, other than that, I don't know what will change.
21:44 But, no, we haven't -- you know, we obviously have talked to the team about it.
21:49 But as far as shorting the game, you know, I don't know that we've talked about that.