Breaking: Sam Pittman discovering more about Arkansas team

The Arkansas football team has clearly adopted a more physical approach to its spring practice schedule than in previous years after 12 practices.

Tackles to the ground will be permitted for the fifth time since the team started workouts on March 7 at Razorback Stadium on Saturday. Sam Pittman, who is starting his fifth season as head coach, stated that this is “by far more” than what has ever been done.

Pittman stated, “We are a physical team and they are practicing physically,” and went on to say, “We’re learning a little bit more about our team, because of it.”

The Razorbacks may be practicing more physically in spring practice because of a number of issues from last season, including difficulties tackling and an inability to protect the quarterback.

Pittman stated, “We have to develop into a team that can pick up the blitz.” “Obviously, we feel like we need to get better at tackling, but we also need our running backs to become better blockers, because we weren’t last year at all.”

A large portion of 2023’s issues originated from the offensive line. Pittman has been the offensive line coach Eric Mateos’ “GA” during the unit’s individual drill work, spending particular attention with the tackles.

Pittman stated on Tuesday that he is pleased with the “competitiveness between the offensive and defensive line” and that the tackles have improved from the previous spring in terms of preventing penetration.

Pittman stated, “They’re seeing a lot of things from the defense as well.” Furthermore, I believe that our D-line does a decent job of attempting to get to the quarterback and other similar targets. Your tackles are the first line of defense, therefore you need to be strong in those positions. We have a good scenario with our tackles.

There are certainly some pitfalls to practicing with a more physical approach — a few players have missed some time this spring dealing with various minor injuries — but it does seem the coaching staff wanted to set a tone of physicality before the fall rolls around.

QB2

Taylen Green appears to be the clear favorite to be Arkansas’ starting quarterback, moving up to QB2. Pittman expressed the same opinions as Petrino did the previous week, stating that the Razorbacks still haven’t decided between redshirt senior Jacolby Criswell, redshirt freshman Malachi Singleton, and freshman KJ Jackson for the backup quarterback position.

“There are times when we believe we have everything figured out, but the next day we realize, ‘Well, [someone else] did better,'” Pittman said. “I believe there is a real dispute over who No. 2 is, and that dispute is based only on the facts.

“It will take more time throughout the summer to really figure out who that guy is,”

Spring game format

The Arkansas spring game will begin on Saturday at noon. The ones will be the red team, while the twos will be the white team.

Pittman stated, “The first half will just be a football game.” After that, we’ll probably take the ones and call it a day or two. The twos will then play against the remaining team, which will now be known as the red team.

“Cereal for the losers and a nice, hearty breakfast for the winners,”

Practice notes

• Receiver Tyrone Broden was absent for a second consecutive practice. Pittman said he is away dealing with a family issue, and he isn’t sure yet if Broden will be back for the spring game.

• Andrew Armstrong was more active in practice Tuesday after being limited due to a hamstring issue. Jaedon Wilson has also been working his way back from a hamstring injury, but Pittman was uncertain if he would be active for the spring game.

• Receiver Davion Dozier suffered a hand injury in practice Tuesday, the severity of which is not yet known.

• Cornerbacks Jaheim Singletary and Marquise Robinson are both out due to injury. Pittman said Robinson will miss the spring game, but that his injury does not require surgery. He said Singletary might be able to play Saturday.

• Defensive lineman Ian Geffrard was inactive for Tuesday’s practice due to a hamstring pull. Pittman said he anticipates Geffrard to be full speed by Thursday’s practice and be able to play in the spring game.

• Kickers Vito Calvaruso and Matthew Shipley each made a long field goal during the team’s two-minute drill near the end of practice. Calvaruso had a make from 50 yards out and Shipley split the uprights on a 57-yarder.

• There was a scuffle after a play near the end of practice. “We had a good talk with the team afterwards about what’s acceptable and what’s not,” Pittman said. “Two guys got tangled up on the sideline and I believe one side thought it was more than that, and it escalated into something it shouldn’t have. I think our team is a very together team. … We stopped it fairly fast.”