Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Jaheim Thomas on defensive's play and quarterback KJ Jefferson recapping a solid performance to grab win in Little Rock over Western Carolina.
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00:00 I think we did a really good job.
00:01 I mean, I think we came out, we executed the game plan just from our preparation.
00:05 Just in the previous past, I mean, just like early games,
00:09 as an offense, we haven't been starting fast and kind of lingering around and
00:13 waiting.
00:14 So I think we came out this week just big emphasis on starting fast,
00:18 being urgent, making sure we know what we're doing.
00:21 So I feel like as a whole offense, I think we came out and executed the game plan.
00:26 >> You feel like you and Cookie were on the same page?
00:29 >> We was, I mean, I knew how he was gonna call the game and
00:32 just me and him just communicating on the sideline on the headsets.
00:35 I mean, I'm telling him what I see from on the field standpoint,
00:38 then he telling me what he sees from up in the box.
00:40 So I feel like it was great communication between the two of us and
00:43 we was on the same page.
00:43 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:46 >> You said you had five interconnections that you got to do better.
00:50 >> I do, I do, I do.
00:51 Once I came out, I'm like, perfect right now.
00:54 Let me see how long I keep, but I mean, things happen.
00:57 I mean, there's something I do wanna get better at.
00:58 I mean, just me just being hard on myself and
01:00 trying to push myself to limits and stuff like that.
01:03 So just me being able to just clean up some of my mistakes and
01:05 different reason for work as well.
01:08 I mean, it's always footwork, I mean, a big emphasis on my part.
01:11 So just me being able to get back, watch the film, know what drops,
01:14 go with plays and stuff like that.
01:15 So put a big emphasis on that this upcoming week.
01:18 >> You probably remember what spot I did.
01:20 >> I do, I do, I do, I do.
01:22 I remember, I know one of the posts with Andrew, I threw a short,
01:25 that kinda screwed me.
01:26 I knew that was gonna be a touchdown too.
01:27 So I came back and hit him next time.
01:29 So I mean, I corrected my mistake.
01:30 >> [INAUDIBLE]
01:36 >> We came out with a lot of juice.
01:38 We was hyped.
01:39 We set the pressure, made tackles, flew to the ball, flew around,
01:43 just like Coach T.
01:43 Will told us all week.
01:45 So just having that energy, having flying around guys, making plays,
01:48 having fun, dabbing each other.
01:49 I feel like that helped us going into the first game.
01:52 >> JJ, I think every takeaway they got, I think y'all turned it into a touchdown.
01:57 What made you think about that?
01:58 >> Just momentum, we just feeding off each other.
02:01 I mean, they create takeaways and then we just turn that takeaway into an explosive
02:04 on the offensive side of the ball.
02:05 So big shots out to the defense.
02:07 I mean, being able to create takeaways and also when the ball's in the air,
02:11 they're coming down with the ball.
02:12 And on the offensive side of us, taking advantage of that and
02:14 just trying to stay consistent and keep the momentum on our side.
02:17 So it was a good playing on both parts.
02:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:29 >> I feel like it was well and well.
02:31 There's a lot of things I gotta work on, but just being able to go out there and
02:35 have fun and ball with my teammates and make plays, I feel like that helped me a
02:38 lot.
02:38 I felt real comfortable, real comfortable with the defense and with my teammates.
02:44 So just being able to still bond and chill together,
02:47 continue to make plays with the team is gonna help us a lot.
02:50 >> [INAUDIBLE]
02:53 >> Yeah, last December.
02:54 >> [INAUDIBLE]
02:58 >> Yeah, most definitely,
02:59 it definitely was just being out there, flying around,
03:02 being able to just knock the rust off like you said, that helped me.
03:06 >> [INAUDIBLE]
03:14 >> Man, I was big, just fancy, he's a ball player,
03:17 he has a real bright future.
03:18 So just seeing him out there just make plays and take it back, it was big for him.
03:23 >> [INAUDIBLE]
03:33 >> I was extremely pleased with their
03:38 performance.
03:38 I mean, like I said, there's always room for improvement,
03:40 always room to get better.
03:42 So we all wanna go back to the drawing board and correct some mistakes and
03:45 different looks, throw different looks at us and try to build off that.
03:48 But their performance today was outstanding.
03:50 I mean, those guys being able to play fast and
03:53 understand what the defense is doing and taking easy access throws and
03:56 running great routes and stuff like this.
03:58 So I was extremely pleased with those guys.
03:59 I was extremely proud of both of them, both of them had the touchdown as well.
04:02 So just having those guys that consistently seeing them work over and
04:06 over and over again, come out here and showcase their talent and it pays off.
04:10 So extremely proud of them.
04:11 >> Jackson, your touchdown runs felt like you held on the floor forever on
04:16 that read option.
04:17 What did you see and how did you feel as long as it took to pass?
04:21 >> So actually Dominique didn't wanna let the ball go.
04:23 So I had to snatch it from him and then,
04:25 cuz I knew he was gonna get hit and it was fourth down too.
04:27 So great call we had on, the defense gave us the look that we wanted.
04:32 And like I said, it was just me and Domo back there just playing with the ball and
04:35 the O-line blocked it well and it was a big hole and I just had to take it in.
04:39 So shots out to the O-line and Dominique as well.
04:42 >> What did you see from the O-line?
04:43 [INAUDIBLE]
04:48 >> Man, really good.
04:48 I mean, they gel together.
04:49 I mean, all I was communicating with me on the sideline and
04:52 they always talking amongst each other and coaching each other.
04:55 While doing the play, well, not doing the play, but after the play was over,
04:58 they're telling each other what they seen and
04:59 how the backers were playing and stuff like that.
05:01 And the second that was on me, I had flip the protection and stuff like that.
05:04 So there's always room for improvement, get back to the draw, but
05:06 those guys did an outstanding job up front, communicating everything and
05:10 make sure we all on the same page.
05:11 >> [INAUDIBLE]
05:18 >> We knew we wasn't frustrated at all.
05:21 I mean, we were just basically trying to figure out which scheme that we had.
05:24 They can be able to run the ball or was it inside, was it outside,
05:28 was it getting on the perimeter and stuff like that.
05:30 So we were just kind of feeling that we knew that they kind of played a heavy box.
05:33 So that's why we did a lot of RPOs, throwing our bangs behind the backers and
05:38 stuff like that.
05:39 So new going into it, but I mean, as always,
05:41 you do want to establish the run in every game that you play in.
05:43 >> Wow.
05:45 >> What do you think about the defense portion by the turnovers that after
05:51 the end of the game, how good is it as an offense to get in the ball?
05:55 >> Coach T.
05:57 Will, he preached to us all week turnovers, turnovers, that was our game plan.
06:00 We just want to add turnovers, make plays.
06:02 So just having us out there just going around, flying around,
06:05 being able to make those plays and when opportunities came, that truly helped us.
06:11 >> Yeah, I mean, like you said, I mean, they create turnovers and
06:14 taking the ball away and giving it to the offense.
06:16 I mean, it's a big deal.
06:17 Like I said, it's a big momentum shift as well.
06:19 Like when things are not going good or we lose the momentum and
06:22 then they create a takeaway, then the momentum shifts again.
06:26 So we want to try to keep that momentum, keep going and
06:28 be in consistency as well.
06:29 >> Right.
06:31 >> Hey, J, Dave Wilson's dad took business out of locker room.
06:35 What's been different with him so far this year and
06:38 then how good was it to see him score the first touchdown of the year after
06:42 he missed a lot of time with that shoulder injury?
06:43 >> Proud of J Don, man.
06:45 He's came a long way.
06:46 I mean, just being able to just battle him with injuries and adversity.
06:49 I mean, he's always been there at work and put his head down at work and
06:53 always giving the young guys advice as well.
06:55 I mean, just telling them, I mean, just be patient, like your time coming in.
06:59 For him, his opportunity came today and he took full advantage of his opportunity
07:02 and made plays big for us in the passing game and blocking as well.
07:07 He did some great blocking as well.
07:08 So, I mean, I'm extremely proud of him just to see how his hard work paying off and
07:13 just to see that he's in the right frame of mindset as well.
07:15 >> [INAUDIBLE]
07:20 >> Extremely proud.
07:27 I mean, I told him once, Coach Enos told me that I was done.
07:29 So I went over there to him and told him, just, man, play your game.
07:32 I mean, what we've been prepping for this whole week, I mean,
07:35 they're doing the same thing.
07:36 So go out there, play off your instincts, trust yourself, have fun.
07:40 That's the main thing, having fun.
07:41 So once I did see him go out there, he went two for two and a touchdown.
07:45 So I mean, that's a great stat.
07:47 I mean, so I mean, just having him go out there and just build that confidence and
07:50 knowing that he's from Arkansas and it's a big deal playing for the Razorbacks.
07:54 And for him to go out there and throw a touchdown was big for him.
07:57 So I was proud of him.
07:58 >> Wow.
08:00 >> You and I met last year, but Sam Simmons talked a lot about
08:03 [INAUDIBLE] What have you seen from him and
08:07 him and then today and then after that, I think he's the first
08:12 [INAUDIBLE]
08:17 >> Well, he's a playmaker, man.
08:20 He always brings juice to practice every day.
08:22 So just seeing him out there fly around, he's a ball too.
08:26 So just watching him make plays and just stay consistent,
08:29 because consistency is the main thing.
08:31 So him being consistent and make plays, it was a big for him.
08:34 >> What's your question was, I forgot.
08:36 >> [INAUDIBLE]
08:40 >> Yeah.
08:40 >> What do you think about your start?
08:43 >> Like I said, I mean, a big emphasis was starting fast and
08:47 Coach Enos is real big on getting his quarterbacks in the rhythm early.
08:51 So once you get in the rhythm early, everything is so much smooth that you know
08:54 how the game is going to play out and
08:56 everybody on the offensive side is feeling good and good spirit.
08:58 So trying to get me in the rhythm early, I feel like we executed the game plan.
09:02 We went over a lot of plays prior to this game of what I have felt about the plays
09:06 and the start, so the openers of the game.
09:08 So we got into a rhythm early and it was good on both our part of just being able
09:13 to come together and get an understanding of what plays I wanted to run, so.
09:16 >> That's one, Sierra.
09:17 >> [INAUDIBLE]
09:27 >> That was a big deal,
09:28 I mean just being able to come down here and
09:30 just notice a lot of fans here that represent the halls and love the halls.
09:34 So being able to come down here and put on a show for
09:37 just because they don't have a chance to get up to Fayetteville and
09:40 watch the game up there.
09:41 So being able to come down here is extremely a blessing and
09:43 just honored to be able to come down here and showcase our tennis and
09:46 what we've been working so hard for.
09:48 >> Piggyback off what he said, it truly is a blessing and it's tradition.
09:51 So just having that atmosphere, having that electric atmosphere,
09:54 it was a great time, I enjoyed it.