Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman Joshau Braun with the media after Tuesday afternoon's practice outdoors at the practice center in Fayetteville, Ark., preparing for Saturday's game with Kent State at Razorbacks Stadium.
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00:00 Isaac, I want to talk about the past game,
00:02 what y'all got out of it the other night,
00:04 and maybe if you could just discuss your touchdown catch
00:07 and how that play went.
00:08 Yeah, I think as an offense, I feel
00:10 like we executed the past game extremely well.
00:12 And we went out there and I feel like we prepared really well.
00:15 We knew what they were going to give us.
00:17 And we just took advantage of what they were giving us
00:20 as a defense.
00:21 And then obviously, on that touchdown play,
00:24 it was just--
00:25 HUD set me up with the interception.
00:27 We got in short field position, and we just
00:29 had a play call that I basically knew I was going to score on
00:31 if we were able to execute it well.
00:33 And obviously, that wouldn't happen.
00:35 OK, and Josh, it looks like we saw Brady back at practice
00:39 today.
00:39 So I guess you go over to right guard.
00:41 I mean, just maybe what it's like having
00:43 Brady back in the lineup.
00:45 I mean, Brady is a captain.
00:47 And so him having that position on the team, just as a whole,
00:51 it's great to have him back.
00:52 We know how much he's given to this program
00:54 and how much he cares for it.
00:55 And so it's definitely just a benefit to have him.
00:58 But on an offensive line, I mean, he's captain of the team.
01:00 But on the offensive line, he's also our captain.
01:02 He's our head guy.
01:03 And so just having him there driving the bus,
01:06 it makes a whole world of difference.
01:08 Hey, Isaac, Sam Pittman said after the game
01:11 that our guys aren't dropping passes.
01:13 And he said it again on Monday.
01:14 And I don't think there was a drop in the game.
01:17 Can you maybe talk about what camp has looked like
01:19 and if y'all had zero drops on Saturday?
01:22 Yeah, we did have a total of zero drops on Saturday,
01:25 which we are extremely happy with.
01:27 We have drops here and there, obviously, in practice.
01:29 But I felt like when we got to game, it was time to execute.
01:32 And everyone was locked in,
01:34 making sure it was eyes to ball to hands.
01:36 So, yeah, obviously, that was something
01:38 we were really focused on.
01:39 And it was cool to see that we were able to execute
01:41 at such a high level.
01:42 Cool, thanks.
01:44 Trey.
01:46 Yeah, both you guys, Isaac, you mentioned having zero drops.
01:50 But another thing I thought that jumped out,
01:53 there's a lot of new guys.
01:54 Both you guys are new to the team.
01:57 No procedure penalties, no false starts,
02:01 none of the wide receivers are lining up
02:03 in the backfield accidentally,
02:04 five men in the backfield, none of that stuff.
02:05 What does that say about just the focus you had
02:08 with the game plan going in, both of you?
02:11 Yeah, I mean, I feel like that was something
02:13 we've kind of struggled with in our scrimmages.
02:15 So it's something that we really, you know,
02:17 Coach Pittman pounded into us,
02:19 was making sure that that was something we were going to fix.
02:22 Because most of the time, that first game
02:23 is when you kind of get the kinks out
02:25 and you're getting those penalties.
02:27 But it's good when you can start off the year
02:30 with almost no procedure penalties at all.
02:33 Yeah, it's definitely a testament to the coaching.
02:36 Just the coaches make sure we understand fully
02:38 our assignments and what we need to do so that we don't,
02:41 like as an offensive lineman, jumping off sides
02:43 typically stems from worrying about the play,
02:46 knowing you need to get off the ball and do a certain thing.
02:48 And so they've allowed us to be mentally free
02:52 and understand our role innately
02:55 so that we don't have to worry about jumping the snap count
02:58 because we know exactly what's going on.
03:01 Josh, I know that Western Carolina
03:05 was walking their safeties up, loading the box,
03:07 really kind of coming after the run game.
03:09 Coach Pittman also mentioned there was some technique stuff
03:11 that he wanted you guys to do a little bit differently.
03:14 How big a focus is that this week
03:15 to get the run game going after it was,
03:18 you know, a little subpar last week?
03:20 Yeah, I mean, definitely no matter
03:23 what offensive line is a technical position,
03:27 it's something that we're going to be focusing on every week,
03:29 no matter what the product on Saturday is.
03:32 You need to hit technique every day
03:33 or else before you know it, you'll lose it.
03:36 And so it's just going into every practice,
03:40 not falling for the monotony of technique work.
03:44 And so it's just something we focus on every day
03:47 and we need to get better at day in and day out.
03:50 Thanks, fellas.
03:53 -Bob. -Hey, Isaac.
03:56 I know obviously you want to catch passes
03:58 and you did a nice job of that,
03:59 but there's a lot of postgame talk
04:01 about that block you threw that helped spring
04:04 Jaden on his touchdown.
04:05 I was wondering if you could talk about that play
04:07 and maybe what you think about your blocking.
04:09 And then, Josh, you're obviously,
04:12 you block for a living.
04:13 What would you think of his block
04:16 and maybe seeing a wide receiver get out there and block it?
04:20 Yeah, I mean, that was something we knew
04:23 that they were going to do going into practice
04:24 was that corner was going to trigger really hard.
04:27 So I got off the ball and then immediately
04:29 that corner just triggered right into me.
04:31 So I had to just get low and get my hands into him.
04:35 And at that point, he kind of just fell to his knees.
04:37 So at that point, I just took him to the ground
04:39 and obviously Jaden read that
04:41 and he was able to just take it up the seam
04:42 and use his speed to his advantage.
04:43 So it was just something I was able to do
04:45 because I basically knew it was coming
04:47 just because of how many reps
04:49 all the scouts gave us in practice and everything.
04:52 And I've told Tesla this in person,
04:56 him and the wide receiver, wide receiving core as a whole,
04:59 is I have more confidence in them than I've ever had.
05:03 And so just knowing that they're going to catch the ball
05:05 and then seeing the effort they give in the run game blocking,
05:09 it's just reassuring to me that they understand
05:14 that what we do is important as offensive linemen
05:16 because that's all we do is block.
05:17 And so to see them get into it, it definitely makes me happy.
05:22 -Isaac, you obviously went against Nudy a lot in practice.
05:25 I guess you still do.
05:26 I think you guys probably do some good on good, I imagine.
05:29 But he had a pick and he's had five picks now
05:33 in two seasons at Arkansas, just a season and one game.
05:37 Well, what do you think makes him such a good cornerback?
05:40 And Sam was saying the other day
05:41 he's got a lot more physical with his tackling also.
05:44 -Yeah, I mean, I would attribute it to --
05:47 I mean, he's just a smart guy.
05:48 He knows football and he's very technically sound.
05:51 So he's going to be able to drive when he sees a receiver,
05:54 you know, give an indicator or something like that.
05:56 But he also watches a lot of film
05:57 and he's going to be studying those guys
05:59 so he can go and make a play
06:00 like he did against Western Carolina.
06:03 -And for both of y'all, you won your game by 50-plus.
06:05 The team you're playing, Kent State, lost their game by 50.
06:09 What's the key to not overlooking them
06:11 and maybe looking ahead to BYU?
06:15 -Last week is last week. Next week is next week.
06:17 This week, we play Kent State.
06:19 Our performance on Saturday won't do anything
06:21 for our performance on this Saturday.
06:23 Their performance last Saturday won't do anything
06:25 for their performance this Saturday.
06:27 Both teams are going after it in practice today.
06:28 We'll go after it in practice tomorrow
06:30 and then throughout the week.
06:31 And so you just got to take it one day at a time.
06:35 -Isaac, you got a thought on that?
06:37 -I would agree.
06:38 I mean, basically, you know, he wrapped it up well.
06:40 -Okay, thanks. I might have another question,
06:42 but I'll turn it back to Oliver.
06:44 Thank you. -All right.
06:45 -Thank you. -Next.
06:49 -Isaac, I think all camp coaches,
06:53 fellow teammates have just talked about how good of a --
06:55 how good you can catch the ball.
06:56 You catch contested passes.
06:59 Have you always been good, you know,
07:00 kind of going up, high-pointing, making contested catches?
07:03 And is there anything, like, specific drill-wise
07:05 or some weird practices that you do to kind of make sure
07:08 you're good in those traffic situations?
07:11 -I mean, I've been good at it
07:13 for as long as I've been playing receiver.
07:14 I mean, I don't know if you know I played quarterback
07:16 in high school, so I wasn't repping --
07:18 repping too much of, you know,
07:20 contested catches or anything like that.
07:21 But once I did move to receiver, man,
07:23 I would just do drills every day with my dad.
07:26 We would just -- we would just go to the gym
07:27 and just do ball drills for half an hour a day,
07:30 and I feel like that's honestly what helped me the most,
07:33 is just getting reps and just, you know,
07:35 seeing the ball going in my hands
07:36 and going up and getting the ball.
07:39 -So you never played receiver in, like,
07:41 youth football or anything?
07:42 The first time you did was when you got to college?
07:45 -That's right. -Cool.
07:47 And, Josh, you know, we talked about the run blocking,
07:49 but the pass blocking was pretty good on Saturday.
07:53 With Brady out, you know, four new starters
07:57 on that offensive line compared to last year,
07:59 is there maybe a little added confidence
08:01 coming into, you know, this week
08:03 after a pretty good start protecting the KJ?
08:07 -Yeah, I mean, we did a good job of it on Saturday.
08:11 It's definitely a confidence booster.
08:13 It's something that we'll need to constantly get better at
08:15 and just prove it week in and week out that we can do it.
08:19 -Thanks, guys. -Daniel.
08:24 -Hi, guys. Thanks.
08:25 Josh, specifically about Chambly making the spot
08:28 start with Brady not being there,
08:30 how was he kind of with the rest of the line
08:32 and communication and things like that?
08:35 -Yeah, he was great. He communicated very efficiently.
08:38 Me and him were on the same page.
08:41 Nothing comes to my mind of when we weren't on the same page,
08:44 so I believe we were on the same page every play.
08:46 And so it's definitely --
08:48 it was good to have him there next to me.
08:50 Me flipping sides, I relied on him early on in practices
08:54 to just make sure everything was smooth,
08:56 and it was a confidence booster having him next to me.
09:00 -And then quick word on the home opener for both of y'all,
09:03 since this will be your first time
09:05 playing in front of 70,000, hopefully,
09:07 or close there or thereabouts.
09:10 -You want to take it?
09:11 -Did he say a quick word about it?
09:13 -Yeah. -Yeah.
09:14 I mean, I'm just excited.
09:15 I'm just going out there to play football, you know,
09:17 excited that we're going to have so many people out there,
09:19 you know, supporting us.
09:21 I'm just excited to go play some football.
09:23 -Yeah, I'm excited to run through the A
09:24 and hear him call the hog, so it'll be a fun day.
09:28 -Thanks, guys. -Nice one, Bob.
09:32 -Okay.
09:33 Isaac, did Hillsdale recruit you as a receiver,
09:37 or you got there, and they said,
09:38 "Hey, you need to move to receiver"?
09:39 How'd that work?
09:41 -Yeah, no, they recruited me as a receiver.
09:43 Going in, like, going out, like, going into camps my senior year,
09:47 I figured my talents were more suited at receivers,
09:51 so I decided I was going to go to camps
09:53 and start working at receivers,
09:54 so I was being recruited as a receiver.
09:57 -And both of y'all, obviously, practiced with KJ a bunch,
10:01 but that was your first time playing a game with him,
10:03 and he started off 12-12, had a real good day.
10:05 What did y'all think of KJ's performance?
10:10 -Yeah, I mean, I wasn't surprised.
10:12 He's been doing it for however long now,
10:14 but it was cool to be able to see it in person.
10:18 That one play where, I mean, he made something out of nothing,
10:22 where he was about to get sacked, rolled out,
10:23 Andrew came back to the ball,
10:25 and then the one-two where he pulled the ball
10:28 from the running back and just went up to see him,
10:30 I think that's just a testament to the kind of player he is.
10:32 I mean, he's a freak.
10:33 I think it's summed up in the adage, "KJ lifts weights."
10:37 -Ha!
10:40 One more for Josh.
10:42 You know, you've played both guard spots, I guess, in camp,
10:45 and now you're going back to the other side.
10:48 I imagine that's harder than people would think.
10:50 I mean, what's that like, flipping,
10:51 and I guess what does that say about your preparedness,
10:54 that you could go left or right as needed?
10:58 -So, statistically, I have more experience at left guard.
11:02 Just on paper, I think I've started seven games at left
11:07 and two games at right,
11:09 but throughout all the three springs I've been a part of
11:16 and three fall camps, four fall camps --
11:18 I'm old. I don't really remember.
11:20 But I've never had a rep at left guard
11:24 and practice throughout spring and camps,
11:26 but I have the game experience at left,
11:28 so just being able to rely on that allows me to shift
11:32 and just move around the ball.
11:34 It just helps me out.