Arkansas Razorbacks defensive lineman Trajan Jeff and linebacker Jaheim Thomas after a disappointing 28-6 win over Kent State on Saturday at Razorback Stadium.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 - Trajan, I think Coach Pimment talked a little bit
00:03 during the week about wanting to get the pass rush
00:05 going this week.
00:07 Just what were your thoughts on that?
00:08 I know you had a 1.5, maybe two sacks.
00:11 I mean, how much of a good step in the right direction
00:14 was the pass rush this week?
00:15 - Oh, definitely a great step.
00:17 Coach gave us, tried to be hard on us
00:19 about the emphasis on the pass rush.
00:21 We took heed of that, and just grinded at practice
00:24 and took everything one day at a time.
00:26 No, we coming along for sure.
00:29 - Jaheim, real quick, can you kind of tell us
00:31 what you saw on Greer's interception return
00:34 for a touchdown?
00:35 How good of, that was his first snap
00:36 with the Arkansas defense in his career.
00:38 - Yeah, I was happy for him.
00:40 I was definitely excited for him.
00:42 So when I seen him just jump up and make the play
00:44 and run and score, I just ran over there
00:46 and just started celebrating with him,
00:47 'cause you know that's big for him.
00:48 First play as a Razorback, first snap,
00:51 and just having a big six, man, that's great.
00:53 I was excited.
00:54 - What'd you guys think of the goal line stand
00:56 at the end of the game, and maybe Landon Jackson's play
00:59 to kind of cap it?
01:00 - That was great.
01:01 That was great.
01:02 It was great physical defense.
01:03 That's what we stand for.
01:05 And we came together as a defense.
01:06 We already knew what the situation was,
01:09 and then we just triumphed, so.
01:11 - Figured back on what he said.
01:13 It was great, you know, physical defense.
01:15 That's what, you know, that's what they talk to us about.
01:17 That's what they pride us,
01:18 what we try to pride ourselves on.
01:19 So just being down there, knowing they had the momentum,
01:22 knowing we had the stop, and just kept playing.
01:25 So it was good for us.
01:27 - I'm trying to, as a team captain,
01:29 at halftime, Sam just seemed like he was really frustrated,
01:32 maybe, with what was going on.
01:33 What do you think maybe the mood of this team is now
01:37 through two games after maybe you didn't dominate
01:40 offensively like you wanted today?
01:42 - We definitely took a look at ourselves.
01:46 We were like, oh, we just got to play harder.
01:48 We got to grind out.
01:49 We got to keep going.
01:51 We got to take everything one day at a time.
01:53 We got to trust the system.
01:55 And we just looked at it as basically a wake-up call for us
02:00 just to play harder, just to go harder.
02:02 So we're going to come along.
02:03 - Both guys, maybe you can take it first, Naheem.
02:08 You know, the fourth down doesn't work for Arkansas,
02:12 and they got great field position.
02:14 You guys pushed them back to where they couldn't even
02:16 try a field goal.
02:17 What was the key to that sequence?
02:19 Just kind of what was the mindset
02:20 when y'all went in there?
02:21 I'm sure Kent State's thinking about tying it up,
02:23 and you guys kept them from even being able
02:27 to move the ball.
02:28 - Our whole motto was to dominate.
02:31 Dominate the line of scrimmage.
02:32 Dominate as a whole as a unit.
02:34 So we all had that in our minds.
02:36 We knew we had to do, so we did it.
02:38 - Just like he said, just being dominant,
02:43 just knowing that it was four for one,
02:45 knowing we had to make the play,
02:46 like somebody had to step up and make the play,
02:48 and then when the opportunity came, we capitalized on it.
02:52 - Were you guys fired up about that?
02:53 'Cause I thought she was showing,
02:54 I don't say I wanted to make the fourth down,
02:56 but that's showing confidence in the defense
02:58 to try that in your own territory like that.
03:01 I mean, what'd y'all think about that?
03:04 - We was just excited, man,
03:06 'cause we just had to make the play.
03:07 It was four for one.
03:08 We didn't want them in the end zone.
03:09 We didn't want them to score.
03:10 So just being down there, being able to play
03:12 our physical brand of football,
03:13 and just stay motivated and stay ready for it.
03:17 We had to make the play.
03:19 Yeah, like Jaheim said, the energy is contagious.
03:22 So we already knew what we had to do.
03:23 So we just piggyback on each one another
03:26 to show physical ball.
03:28 - Talk about how well you guys have,
03:37 Gerald, one touchdown in two weeks,
03:38 and so many, I mean, I think every transfer here
03:41 is playing a pretty clean throw,
03:43 whether they're starting or not.
03:44 - Just being able to just, you know,
03:47 everybody come in and work.
03:48 Like we've been working all camp, all summer for this.
03:50 So just being able to come in and gel together,
03:53 being able to push each other, push all of us, you know,
03:56 I feel like that's really helping us
03:57 and just really helping us continue to grow as a defense.
04:01 - Yeah, we're a family.
04:02 So when I came in, when Jaheim came in,
04:05 everybody working those open arms.
04:07 So when we have that companionship,
04:08 we just want to play hard for each other.
04:10 So that's definitely a big thing for everyone.
04:12 - We didn't get to play the first half
04:14 because of the call last week,
04:16 but he came in, well, I mean, he was in earlier,
04:18 but on that, when they got down inside of the red zone there,
04:21 he stopped that play on the first down there.
04:24 Talk about him coming in and making that play right there.
04:27 - Sure, he was ready.
04:28 'Cause you know, he got sat down all for his half.
04:30 So he just kept telling me like,
04:32 when he get in, he gonna make a play,
04:33 he gonna make a play.
04:34 And when this opportunity came for him,
04:36 he capitalized on it and I'm excited for him.
04:37 'Cause he got, he gonna keep going all season.
04:39 So it's beautiful.