Arkansas Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman with the media after a 56-13 win over Western Carolina in Little Rock on Saturday afternoon.
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00:00 I want to start out by.
00:02 Thanking. Arkansas fans for coming out.
00:07 Today I thought the crowd was outstanding.
00:10 It was loud.
00:13 Very thankful.
00:14 Usually the folks that have the most
00:19 problems are the minority,
00:20 not the majority of people,
00:21 and that proved it today with the game
00:23 time change and all those things.
00:25 And so we're very,
00:27 very grateful for that.
00:29 Proud of the team.
00:31 We got to play a whole lot of people and
00:34 we haven't been able to do that much
00:37 since I've been here and the wonderful
00:39 thing about that is. The the second
00:42 team and some threes, you know,
00:44 picked a pass and scored basically
00:46 173 when they went in and the second
00:49 team offense went down and scored.
00:51 And you know, we've got gotten away from.
00:54 Did I get to play or not?
00:56 It's how well did you play and I
00:59 talked to the team at length afterwards
01:02 about got some things to clean up
01:05 with penalties. A run game was
01:07 not what we wanted to be.
01:09 But let's don't make a mountain out of
01:11 Moe Hill. The passing game was what we
01:13 wanted to be. The protections were
01:15 what we wanted to be,
01:16 so we've got a lot of work to do,
01:19 but I'm proud of the team and.
01:21 I take I take a 56 to 17 anytime
01:23 somebody wants to give it to us.
01:26 Where's it?
01:27 Don't you start out three because
01:29 the job for an energy player?
01:31 Yeah, you know, anytime you start fast,
01:34 you you know. You take a chance
01:37 stray on what you do.
01:39 You know we talked about physicality
01:42 right after stretch something,
01:44 whether it be bubble,
01:46 whether it be fastball,
01:48 starts, whether it be pods.
01:52 It worked now.
01:54 I don't know if it'll work every time,
01:57 but I thought we really started fast.
01:59 I think defense had two three,
02:01 maybe three,
02:02 but I think I know 23 and outs in a row
02:04 and then the offense went right
02:07 back and scored so.
02:10 Started the game was we had a little
02:12 low on the second half or second quarter,
02:15 and then scoring on the last play of the
02:18 half was a was a big momentum for us
02:21 as well to go up 35 and three.
02:23 Sometimes you see these things
02:24 they like try to win.
02:26 But some felt like maybe there was
02:28 just holding up against the blinds.
02:29 So that was well, we couldn't
02:31 get to their safeties.
02:32 You know we didn't get great
02:34 movement on our inside runs,
02:37 but we couldn't get to their safeties,
02:39 which was probably the reason why we're
02:41 making our lot of yards stolen the football.
02:44 I do think Dan probably could have
02:47 thrown it quite quite a bit more.
02:50 But we we also have have work to do
02:53 in the run game and and but.
02:56 I think you'll see a little bit
02:57 of combination of both tray.
02:58 I think you'll see that we didn't
03:00 block him as well as what we want to.
03:02 And safety is made a lot of tackles.
03:04 Hey, Jay, stay.
03:08 And really smart decision on that.
03:12 Yeah, I'm looking. I think he
03:17 threw three incompletions,
03:17 so he's gotta do or five.
03:19 He's what was the 1823?
03:21 Yeah, he's gotta get better than that,
03:23 you know, and only three
03:25 touchdowns and ran for one.
03:28 No, he you know,
03:30 I thought he played well.
03:32 He you know we're not asking him
03:36 at this point to run the ball as
03:39 much you know we didn't want to
03:41 run him today much to be perfectly
03:43 honest with you we weren't going
03:45 to advertise that you know,
03:47 but we wanted to see if we had
03:49 receivers what we thought we did
03:51 and things of that nature and.
03:53 And Luke has.
03:54 I think he caught maybe the
03:56 first ball of the game and.
03:58 And so yeah, I thought he was really poised.
04:00 You know, we made a lot about the new.
04:03 You know everybody did, including myself.
04:05 I wonder about it.
04:06 New coordinator, new coach,
04:07 all that kind of stuff and.
04:10 And.
04:12 I don't know if we've answered any questions,
04:14 but I thought he played really well today.
04:16 Wilson went from.
04:17 I get a thing that solar.
04:20 I told him I said if you don't want to
04:23 come out, don't get tackled, you know,
04:25 and he sure didn't.
04:26 I thought Tesla did a great job of
04:28 blocking outside for him as well,
04:30 but he showed some speed
04:31 going down the sideline.
04:33 I said I need a call back,
04:36 but you can just wear it.
04:39 Now we mentioned it.
04:40 We mentioned it.
04:43 After in the locker room,
04:45 we got a returner now.
04:47 I mean he's dangerous and.
04:51 You know we did have the
04:52 one block in the back.
04:54 But when he gets the ball in his hand,
04:57 he's he's dangerous now.
04:58 Now they can take it out of you know,
05:00 SEC kickers going to kick it out of
05:02 the back of the end zone most of time,
05:04 you know, but punting wise.
05:06 I mean he's dangerous and and
05:08 more confidence he gets the better
05:09 off the blockers for him are going
05:11 to become as well, but yeah,
05:13 I mean I I felt it and I think the
05:16 whole crowd felt it when he gets the
05:18 ball in the hands with some space.
05:20 He's he's dangerous.
05:21 Yeah.
05:24 Yeah.
05:28 Well, they're going to kick it
05:34 further than five or he gonna
05:36 bring it out. We do.
05:38 We think you know we think he's.
05:40 He can get it to 25.
05:42 We're pretty confident OK and he he
05:44 helped us to today in our confidence meter.
05:47 From moments last year.
05:53 I'm asking his progress.
05:59 You know he. He's.
06:08 He's done really well.
06:10 Ever since spring ball,
06:11 he's done really well.
06:13 He had to earn his spot.
06:17 I mean he did and he'll tell you.
06:19 But he did and he's playing really
06:22 good football very physical guy.
06:24 And I've called him out in front of the
06:27 team him and Jaden Wilson both about.
06:30 How they have changed.
06:31 They're the only ones that could change it.
06:33 You know in life you.
06:36 You wait for somebody else to change you.
06:38 You're going to be left out and.
06:41 They both changed their attitude
06:43 about what they wanted and what
06:45 they're willing to work for it.
06:46 And I'm proud of both of them
06:48 and proud all the kids.
06:49 But those two guys in particular
06:51 because they've come a long way.
06:53 Yeah.
07:00 Yeah, I thought he played really well.
07:02 You know he he was.
07:03 I don't know the stats on it and all that,
07:06 but from watching the game I thought
07:08 he was probably the most productive
07:10 linebacker we had.
07:11 Didn't see him miss many tackles.
07:13 I can't remember.
07:13 Maybe there was one on a running back outside,
07:16 but I don't know if that was him or not.
07:19 Maybe I don't think that was, but yeah,
07:21 I mean what a nice pickup for us,
07:23 you know, and just a wonderful kid.
07:25 Wonderful family, but you know again,
07:27 he's a guy who played at Cincinnati.
07:29 He played, you know,
07:30 so you can get him on the field
07:32 a little bit faster.
07:34 So yeah, I was really happy with him.
07:36 He was happy after the game,
07:38 so I imagine he played well.
07:39 The defense created by yeah,
07:43 that's something you've been
07:44 seeing in ball camp.
07:46 So no, I mean not as much because
07:49 you know KJ he now we did throw
07:53 a pick in two minutes. On Wednesday.
07:57 I think Jayden got it to Johnson.
08:01 But we have gotten a few turnovers,
08:04 but we've done a nice job of
08:06 holding on to the football.
08:08 You know on offense.
08:11 But we're preaching it, you know,
08:13 but to get five that's that's a lot.
08:15 You know, a whole lot and they did nice job.
08:18 Fred Spencer, no, he wouldn't do
08:22 a medical sale. Who?
08:24 Kelsey Weinberg.
08:27 Well, I imagine he can outrun
08:32 their office alignment too.
08:34 You know that was only people
08:35 that's left so he might be able to.
08:38 I don't know, maybe not, but.
08:41 Yeah, it's a lot of fun,
08:43 wasn't it? You know,
08:44 and and 'cause they were.
08:45 They had a drive going and I just
08:47 didn't want him to score.
08:49 You know I did not.
08:50 I wanted I wanted us to.
08:52 'cause last year when we put our
08:54 twos in at the team just went
08:56 funeral you know and.
08:57 That's not why you play.
08:58 You play to stop people.
08:59 He's played to score and but it
09:02 was really exciting to see him.
09:05 I was looking for flags, you know.
09:07 But there wasn't any,
09:08 but so I didn't see all the whole run.
09:11 I was looking behind him.
09:12 But great play.
09:14 KJ's first.
09:18 In KJ's first six passes,
09:20 like a different receiver.
09:21 Is that just him trying to get
09:23 everybody? Yeah, no, I think
09:25 it just played out, you know.
09:28 Man, our guys catch the ball well.
09:30 I mean they do in practice and no,
09:32 I just think that's that's what
09:34 I think Dan was trying to.
09:38 Target some different guys trying to
09:39 get everybody in the game. KJ hit him.
09:42 Want to get your thoughts on
09:45 specifically Armstrong's father?
09:47 First game and will affect the
09:48 inside split and get there.
09:50 I thought they I mean I don't.
09:54 I don't know. I thought Tesla,
09:56 you know Tesla.
09:57 He catches everything all the time
09:59 and Armstrong does too for them
10:01 guys to come from Division 2 and
10:03 come here and do that today.
10:05 I think. What is today?
10:07 Well, today is to see a little bit
10:09 where you're at, but don't get too
10:12 excited about it, you know.
10:14 But today's about building
10:15 confidence in the team.
10:17 That's what it is and and confidence
10:19 in yourself, but more importantly,
10:21 confidence in your teammate.
10:22 And I thought they are.
10:24 The team already had it,
10:25 but to go show it.
10:27 On a Saturday, I think that helps
10:29 everybody, but I'm proud of those guys.
10:32 Nothing.
10:32 Yeah, I think Brady will
10:37 probably ready on Monday.
10:40 I hope so, we'll see,
10:41 but he just wasn't ready.
10:43 Wasn't able to play,
10:44 so therefore we didn't bring in.
10:46 When I'd also.
10:51 Yeah, I mean, and that wasn't that
10:58 was going to the left and that
11:00 was an easy throw and he threw it to
11:03 who does you that was so awesome.
11:05 You know, I mean the young kid,
11:08 you know, come and be able to score
11:10 touchdown but he threw a dart out there and.
11:13 Yeah, I mean it's so it's huge for us,
11:16 you know to have a.
11:18 Have two, maybe three really,
11:20 really good quarterbacks and so
11:22 I was real proud of him again.
11:24 That's building confidence,
11:25 you know. And things of that nature.
11:29 And.
11:29 Yeah, I mean he could play safety.
11:39 You play hall.
11:40 You could depend on him.
11:44 He's so smart. He knows everything.
11:47 But he made nice little pick
11:50 today as well early and.
11:53 He's a guy that you can just count on.
11:54 You know you can count on him and
11:56 and I'm really proud he's on the
11:58 team and proud me is one of the
12:00 most popular guys on the team to kids.
12:02 Everybody loves him and you would 'cause
12:04 he does everything right all the time.
12:06 It seems like you got a little bit of break.
12:10 Yeah.
12:14 Convention.
12:16 Yeah, they're just air conditioned things.
12:24 Pop some cold air up behind.
12:29 Up your back a little bit.
12:31 I didn't get over there mass right?
12:32 We didn't want to help me.
12:34 I wasn't playing either,
12:35 but man got I got a little toasty down there.
12:39 I trade did you want to ask me something?
12:42 Alright.
12:42 I think we feel like we've got 9 or 10.
12:53 I mean we do and so we will go in
12:56 in a four or four format format
12:59 rotation of four plays and.
13:02 Well, I think we pretty much stuck to that.
13:04 And then of course then Nico.
13:06 He played a whole lot and in Quincy
13:08 and those guys got a lot of people in.
13:11 That's 'cause he's a good player.
13:20 We just started.
13:21 The opinion I think it's fine.
13:30 It was a back deal and I think he's fine.
13:34 Quincy Rhodes I think will be fine.
13:36 I think he.
13:38 He hit his head on the ground,
13:39 you know and.
13:41 But I think when I got out there he he was.
13:45 He was fine.
13:46 He wanted to get up the whole time.
13:48 Of course they were very cautious with him.
13:51 But he was in the locker room after the game.
13:53 I don't know.
14:02 I don't know what happened.
14:08 We're targeting they kick him out again.
14:12 Huh?
14:16 Robert Gardner.
14:17 I don't know.
14:23 I mean they review if they reviewed
14:25 them both then. I guess the booth
14:28 said that they did it, but.
14:30 I don't know man if it's targeting
14:35 that they it's targeting.
14:37 If it's not, is not.
14:38 I don't know they reviewed him so
14:40 they called him. I'm sure it was.