Razorbacks Report

Linemen: Hands off QB Allen

Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen throws a pass during practice Saturday, April 12, 2014 at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Offensive guard Denver Kirkland said he wants the offensive line to provide a "no sack zone'" this season.

Kirkland said it helps motivate him during practice to think about protecting quarterback Brandon Allen.

"Before a pass drill or a one-on-one drill, I always think, 'No sack zone,'" Kirkland said. "So we're going to try and give up no sacks this year."

Other linemen said they like Kirkland's thinking.

"That sounds like Denver," senior tackle Brey Cook said. " That's something we strive for every day. We've got to keep Brandon safe."

Arkansas held opponents to an SEC-low eight sacks last season.

"Which is eight too many as far as we're concerned," tackle Dan Skipper said. "Every time Brandon gets hit, that could be his last hit. It's not acceptable getting him hit.

"He's in there for a reason, he's our best QB. Any hit on him is too much. If it's the two or the three, or whoever they put back there, it doesn't matter. That one hit is too many for them."

Steel-toed

Cameron Jefferson showed up ready to work after transferring from UNLV for his senior season.

"He comes walking around and he's got his work steel-toed boots still on that he's painted gold, you know?" offensive line coach Sam Pittman said. "I think that's a Vegas thing, man, I don't know."

Pittman said the techniques he employs are different than what Jefferson was taught at UNLV, but he expects him to catch on quickly.

"He's very talented, very athletic, very smart," Pittman said. "We're really proud he's here."

Safety dance

Redshirt freshman De'Andre Coley is playing free safety behind Rohan Gaines after working mostly at strong safety in the spring.

Junior Davyon McKinney and freshman Josh Liddell are rotating at strong safety behind Alan Turner. McKinney and Liddell also have taken reps at free safety.

Coley said secondary coach Clay Jennings let him know that he hadn't been playing with enough urgency a couple of days ago and moved Liddell ahead of him.

"He put the freshman in front of me, and I didn't like that," Coley said. "So yesterday and today I showed him what I'm about. Now I've got to be consistent and go hard every day."

Settling in

TQ Coleman said he's feeling more comfortable playing weakside linebacker after moving from safety last spring.

"I'm pretty much getting it down pat and making way less mistakes than I did in the spring," Coleman said.

Coleman had an initial reluctance to make the move.

"I just want to get on the field," he said. "I want to try to make it to the NFL, at least get an opportunity. Whatever it takes for me to get on the field to put that film out there, that's what I've got to do. I've just got to kind of suck it up and do whatever's best for the team."

Coleman said his speed is an asset getting to the quarterback or the ball carrier, but that it's not fun to get blocked by offensive linemen.

"When you're 5-9, 200 pounds, it kind of sucks at times when a 330-pounder gets his hands on you because you ain't going nowhere," he said. "I get to run and use my speed, and they can't touch me sometimes, so that kind of throws them off. So it works both ways."

Henry heckle

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema got a kick out of describing how much deeper tight end Hunter Henry's cadence has gotten while calling out the count as the punt protector.

"It sounds silly... but last year he used to say 'Set! Hut!' " Bielema said, using a high-pitched voice for the call. "[Monday] it was like we had a new adult in the room. He sounded off, gave a loud cadence -- it was like, resonating -- and they all laughed because they knew what I was going to say.

"I mean, he hit puberty some time between last year and where we're at."

Henry took it all in stride.

"Yeah, he's liking that joke a lot," Henry said. "He's been saying that about every meeting that we have punt. ... I'm good now hopefully."

Bielema said he would have liked to redshirt Henry last season.

"He was so talented and gave us so much," Bielema said.

Wing man

Senior Braylon Mitchell has drawn praise from coaches for how he has worked with younger linebackers the past couple of years.

"When I was a young guy, I came in and I was lost and I didn't really have a lot of the older guys come and show me the way," Mitchell said. "So I kind of adopted the rule that when I have a younger guy, I'm going to adopt him, put him under my wing and show him how we do things here."

Green Mitchel

Defensive backs coach Clay Jennings said cornerback Tevin Mitchel is raring to go, despite wearing a green jersey that keeps him out of heavy contact work as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

"We're just treating him with kid gloves a little bit," Jennings said. "He's a little upset with me because he's chomping at the bit and he wants to be out there."

Dummy punch

Veteran tackle Brey Cook sees freshman Brian Wallace as a quick up-and-comer on the front line.

"He's incredibly quick, and his punch is strong," Cook said. "I've been out there being a dummy for him, and he's got a good punch. He's a very strong kid. ... I think once he gets the playbook down, he'll be on fire."

Face to face

Starting in late October, Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long will spend Mondays and Tuesdays each week in Dallas meeting with other members the College Football Playoff committee.

Long is chairman of the 13-member committee that will chose the four-team playoff and release its Top 25 poll on a weekly basis beginning Oct. 28.

"We will have only face-to-face meetings before we put out a ranking," Long said this week during an ESPN appearance. "We won't meet by teleconference."

Long said the committee will have plenty of data on teams, but that having a human element is what separates it from the old Bowl Championship Series format.

"There are going be 13 people in there debating these teams, comparing them side by side, week by week," Long said. "I think by the end of that process, there will be no more thorough investigation of every one of those teams to come up with that top four."

Sports on 08/09/2014