Arkansas Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman's final media briefing ahead of Saturday night's game at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. The game will start at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN and fuboTV.
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00:00 I had a couple questions about Judkins and rocket.
00:03 I don't think Judkins has missed any games, but his first four,
00:06 I think he didn't have more than 60 yards or 13 carries.
00:08 And last week he goes 33 for like 177.
00:12 What do you see from him leading into that game and
00:14 then how different he looked last week?
00:17 >> Well, he just hadn't had as many opportunities like you just spoke about.
00:21 Every time he runs a ball, he's really physical.
00:24 I do think 24, their other back is really good as well.
00:29 So I think they're sharing the load a little bit more.
00:33 Obviously, the carries that he had last week, big game for them and
00:38 they got him the football.
00:41 But he's still the same guy that I believe he led to SEC in Russia last year.
00:48 He's still the same guy.
00:50 He's incredible.
00:51 He's a really good player.
00:52 I think just the opportunities came to him a little bit more Saturday than what
00:56 they had previously.
00:58 >> And then Rocket, I think he was right there behind Judkins and
01:00 obviously they both had monster games last year when you all played.
01:05 With Rocket second week back, what do you see from him in practice?
01:08 Do you think he might be more ready to break out like himself?
01:12 >> We're hoping so, buddy.
01:13 I think he, anytime you're a little rusty,
01:18 which I felt like he probably was last week, and
01:23 you're not totally a 100%, you're not gonna be able to play as good as you
01:29 normally would, I believe that the knee is feeling much better than it did last week.
01:37 And then obviously he played and made a nice run on the screen and
01:42 things of that nature.
01:43 And anytime you have some problems and injury, a lot of times,
01:47 your confidence in your mind, it goes towards the injury more than
01:52 it goes towards the performance.
01:55 And I think by being hit and doing all those things,
01:58 I think he probably feels a lot better about it.
02:00 He's had a good week.
02:02 >> How big is that for you all if he can be the old Rocket, so to speak?
02:06 >> That'd be huge.
02:08 Obviously, we've got a block for him better up front than what we have and
02:12 all that.
02:13 But he's also in the past broke a lot of tackles.
02:16 And when he gets healthy, he'll do that again.
02:21 So we need some explosive plays.
02:24 And he's certainly one of the ones that can give it to us.
02:30 >> Thanks.
02:31 >> Jackson.
02:33 >> Yes, Sam, the second half, I know we've talked a little bit about the defense
02:40 against A&M, but I'm just curious after going back and watching the film,
02:44 what most stood out?
02:46 I mean, you guys didn't give a-
02:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:50 >> Well, the turnovers, we got turnovers, we scored, obviously.
02:53 I felt like we covered them a little bit better.
02:59 The first half, we had a couple of breakdowns and
03:03 they were wide open a couple of times.
03:06 I think that defensive staff did a great job of adjusting on that.
03:15 And I think we got a little more pressure on him.
03:18 So they've always played hard.
03:22 I think getting the turnovers, getting off the field certainly were big for us.
03:26 And the adjustments that they made, we just covered a little bit better,
03:31 I believe.
03:31 >> Hutch.
03:33 >> Yeah, Coach, we noticed Devin Manuel didn't do fastballs yesterday.
03:38 I know he's dealt with some injuries.
03:39 Is he dealing with something still or is he good to go?
03:43 >> Well, he'll be fine.
03:44 We're gonna rest him.
03:49 Yes, to answer your question, has he been dealing with injuries?
03:52 Yeah, all year.
03:53 But we're gonna rest him a little bit just to have him available for Saturday.
04:01 And we may rest him today and practice him tomorrow.
04:06 But we need him available.
04:09 And so we're gonna try to do the best we can to get him there.
04:13 >> And I know we asked you a couple of weeks ago, I think it was,
04:15 about Shamar Easter.
04:16 And he came in late and everything.
04:18 You mentioned he's gained some weight and getting some valuable time on scout team.
04:22 But with Luke's injury, could you foresee a scenario where maybe later in the year,
04:27 he could maybe help you all out on offense and everything?
04:29 >> Well, there's always a possibility.
04:32 But there's some other guys over there.
04:37 I like Maddox Lassiter.
04:39 I do, I like him a lot.
04:41 And Shamar's gonna be a really fine player for us.
04:46 He's just not ready today to do any of those things that you're talking about.
04:52 But he's gonna be a really good player for us in the future.
04:54 >> Tom.
04:56 >> Hey, Sam, you talked about how good Ole Miss is on offense.
05:01 What is it in particular they do that stresses a defense?
05:04 How are they attacking you?
05:08 >> Well, they're really good at protecting the quarterback, and
05:13 they're really good at run blocking.
05:14 I think those are where the two things start.
05:18 Obviously have a high powered running back, running backs.
05:22 But they're, as much as we talk about Ole Miss and their high power and
05:29 all that, they're a run football team.
05:32 They wanna run the football and they're really good at it because you have to get
05:36 out of the box to cover them and then once you do that,
05:40 then they're gonna run the football.
05:42 Really good at route running, attacking coverages.
05:49 In other words, flooding coverages.
05:50 You saw it against Alabama on tape.
05:53 You saw it obviously against LSU last week.
05:57 But Lane is really good about playing fast,
06:01 knowing what he thinks the defense is gonna line up in.
06:04 And then playing fast and then looking over and
06:08 then having the play answer off of what he sees on the field.
06:13 That's where they have such advantage because their speed, speed, speed, speed.
06:17 And then if he really wants to get a look at it, he'll just clap and hold and
06:22 get a look at it and then basically flood areas.
06:26 And they're really good at it and he's been throwing the ball really well.
06:32 >> Hey, is Dwight McLaughlin making good progress this week and
06:35 how important is he to have healthy for you to complete your secondary basically?
06:40 >> Not as great a progress I'd like for him to.
06:45 We still don't know if he'll be available on Saturday or not, but
06:50 I wish he was healing up a little bit faster than what he is.
06:55 >> Yeah, we didn't ask you about the final A&M series last week.
07:00 We couldn't really tell, it looks like they were trying to score on second,
07:03 third down, not sure about fourth, but you held them out.
07:06 What did you- >> They were definitely trying to score on
07:09 fourth down, there was no question about that.
07:12 >> What did you make of the series though,
07:16 the fact that at the end of the game, you didn't let them in?
07:19 >> I thought it was big again.
07:24 We need to have one of them and have more points than they do.
07:27 At the end of the game, we've had two of them this year.
07:29 And one of them, I guess, was we were ahead, but it was a non-factor in the game.
07:34 And certainly Saturday was the same way,
07:38 they were gonna win whether they scored or not.
07:41 But I thought it was big that we stopped them.
07:47 It just shows the character of the kids, that they want to,
07:50 the kids, that they care if they score or not.
07:54 So I thought that was good on our part.
07:58 To stop them there in that situation.
08:01 >> Dre.
08:04 >> Yeah, Coach, I was gonna ask you to just kind of expound a little bit more on
08:09 what you see with their offensive line.
08:10 With, I mean, Warren and James both have over 35 career starts.
08:15 Patrice is a returning starter.
08:16 And then the two transfers they got were starters at other spots.
08:19 Just speak to their experience a little bit and what they do.
08:22 >> Well, Jeremy James, he came over to Georgia.
08:28 I don't know, four or five times I worked him out.
08:31 Man, what a great kid and great family.
08:34 Then he goes over to Ole Miss.
08:35 I'm not positive.
08:36 I think he started ever since he's a freshman.
08:39 And well, if he's got 35 starts, he's- >> Yeah, 41.
08:43 >> Yeah, and so he's done such a really good job.
08:47 But those guys on that side, they got them a great big old tackle that's returning
08:52 over there, what, Petrus?
08:53 >> Yeah, 360.
08:56 >> Yeah, Petrus, yeah.
08:57 And I mean, they got size.
09:01 They're really good at pass protecting.
09:03 And then those two kids on the left side that came transferred in,
09:07 they're doing a magnificent job for them.
09:10 So they've gelled together.
09:11 Obviously, they had the three veterans.
09:13 I think it's big trade that they start with the center coming back.
09:17 I think that's so valuable.
09:19 But they've done a great job of protecting.
09:23 They run the little dark play well.
09:26 They run the counter play well.
09:29 And they run inside split zone outstanding.
09:33 Their coach, I don't know who their offensive line coach is, but
09:37 he's done a hell of a job with them.
09:39 And they can do everything well that they're asked to do.
09:42 And they're big, do a really good job with twist games.
09:46 But I think it starts with, like you said,
09:50 they have a lot of returning games up there on the front.
09:55 And even the guys that are new have played a lot of ball for somebody else.
09:59 Yeah, so they've done a nice job.
10:01 They're going to be a problem.
10:04 >> Yeah, John Garrison's first year there in offensive line.
10:07 That was going to be my next question if you had any relationship with him at all.
10:12 But I guess not.
10:12 >> Where'd he come from?
10:14 >> NC State.
10:15 >> NC State, yeah.
10:17 That's Dave Doerr, and that's a smash mouth, tough football program over there.
10:22 So, but no, I have a lot of respect for watching his tape and
10:27 what they've done, but I don't believe I know him well.
10:30 >> With the transfer portal, Lane is, I mean, he brought in 18 two years ago.
10:37 He brought in 23 last year, 41 the last two years.
10:40 What are your thoughts about the job that he's done in the portal,
10:42 the guys that he's got out of that?
10:44 And I mean, he's kind of been a bit of a trendsetter, I guess,
10:47 with bringing in such a high number early on.
10:49 >> Well, I think so, because you look at him and what he's done over there and
10:53 what he was, you have to allow yourself to do that.
10:59 In other words, you have to say, okay, this is what I'm going to do.
11:02 It's like, do you believe in the old days taking eight or
11:07 ten junior college players?
11:09 Because what message are you sending and all that kind of stuff?
11:13 And to the guys on your team, I think Lane was one of the first guys to do that.
11:20 And obviously, it's been successful for him.
11:23 We obviously did that more this year, but a lot of it was necessity,
11:30 because we had so many scholarships out there.
11:33 But I still believe, I'm a little different.
11:37 I still believe that you need to sign about 20 high school kids a year if you
11:42 can, and then go portal for portal with guys.
11:47 Obviously, each year is a little bit different because you've got some
11:51 positions where you go, man, we can't go through this again.
11:56 We have to change that.
11:59 And those guys obviously would be of high need.
12:01 But I think he's done a great job.
12:04 Even everybody's talking about what Coach Sanders did at Colorado,
12:10 but Lane's really done that for the last couple of years.
12:14 The numbers haven't been quite as big, obviously, but he's done that.
12:19 And it's a new trend in football.
12:21 >> Thanks, Coach.
12:24 >> Daniel.
12:25 >> Hi, Coach, how are you?
12:28 We've had five games under Coach Enos now.
12:31 I'm just wondering how it's been working with him.
12:33 And if there's anything different or different than what you remember from 2015.
12:39 >> No, I mean, obviously, we have to get better as a team and all those things.
12:45 But no, it's working with him has been enjoyable.
12:52 And I think we're all a little bit, including him,
12:57 we're frustrated that we're not having more explosive plays and
13:03 things of that nature.
13:05 But working with him has been fantastic and
13:08 we're continuing to try to improve every week and he knows we have to improve.
13:14 I know it, the kids know it, the rest of the staff knows it.
13:18 So but it's been enjoyable.
13:22 >> Thanks, Coach.
13:24 >> Represent, Bob.
13:28 >> Sam, I know it's still relatively early in the week or midweek or whatever.
13:33 But what's been your take on the shuffling you did on the offensive line?
13:36 I was looking at how that's working out.
13:37 >> [LAUGH] Well, yeah, well, Monday's spiders.
13:45 So you're worried about can we get to snap, make sure it's snap.
13:49 And Curtis has played football, he's played center here before.
13:53 So yesterday I really liked it.
14:00 Monday I liked it as well, but I really liked it.
14:03 And now you're always taking a chance, but
14:06 it's an educated chance when you make moves.
14:10 And so we obviously, we wanna win just like everybody else.
14:16 So we obviously took a calculated chance there,
14:22 that moving these guys would help us.
14:23 And they have performed pretty well, Bob, in the first two days.
14:30 >> And then going back to that last play against A&M,
14:33 you've had opportunities in several games to pop it, try to score there at the end.
14:38 When you're up big, and I know Texas in particular, I know you took a knee,
14:41 I think Rice, some other games.
14:43 You and Jimbo seem to get along fairly well.
14:45 What do you think of Jimbo doing that?
14:46 >> I don't know.
14:48 I mean, you'd have to ask him.
14:51 Each guy has his different reasons.
14:53 I really can't say for why they tried to score there at the end.
15:01 Maybe it's the rivalry.
15:03 I have no idea.
15:04 I believe Jimbo and I are friends.
15:07 That doesn't mean that he doesn't wanna beat me bad,
15:13 make it look worse than what it is.
15:15 But I don't know, that's probably a question you'd have to ask him.
15:20 That's not just because I take knees against those people,
15:25 Ole Miss, my first year, all that kind of stuff doesn't necessarily make it right for
15:30 everybody to do that.
15:31 So might just be a difference of philosophy or
15:34 trying to get in the rankings or whatever that may be.
15:38 >> He said he was just trying to run the clock out and they weren't gonna score
15:41 cuz they hadn't scored the previous three times.
15:42 But honestly, that didn't really wash with me, but whatever.
15:47 >> [LAUGH] >> Go hogs.
15:51 >> Last one, Ty.
15:54 >> Yo, what's going on, coach?
15:55 I just had a question about Dominic Johnson.
15:58 I know he was, obviously you guys moved him to tight end in 21 and
16:02 he's back there again.
16:03 I just kinda wanted to get your assessment so far on him this week.
16:06 >> Well, excuse me, he's not totally back there.
16:14 We have some 20 package where we can have
16:19 availability of him playing at the tight end position.
16:26 But you're right that we did experiments with it,
16:31 I think two or maybe three years ago and
16:35 then we got a running back hurt and then he came in and does such a wonderful job.
16:41 But we are looking at that in some situations.
16:46 I just wanna make sure that we all know that he hadn't moved to tight end
16:51 permanently, that we are looking at some 20 package where he
16:55 could be in a tight end position, if that makes sense.