State of the Hogs: Technique improves with new assistants

Arkansas offensive line coach Kurt Anderson talks to reporters Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, at Fred W. Smith Center in Fayetteville.

— When a staff opening hits, Bret Bielema has an interesting theory about what to look for in an assistant coach: go the other way.

I had heard this theory years ago from someone when they looked for a head coach. If an athletics director was replacing a highly controlled coaching style (Eddie Sutton), perhaps it was best to look for something uptempo (Nolan Richardson).

Fans like that kind of a switch. They sometimes tire with one style. They look for something else. It can work the other way, too. I've seen it for years.

But I'd never really heard a head coach talk about how he goes about replacing an assistant coach until lately. Bielema has shared several stories on what he was looking for in some of his key hires.

“Yes, the opposite,” Bielema said.

That's what he said was the goal when Sam Pittman left as offensive line coach last winter to take the same job at Georgia. Bielema has never said Pittman wasn't a good coach. He successfully lobbied for a substantial raise when Nick Saban tried to hire him away to Alabama in Pittman's first season at Arkansas.

I recall the description Butch Davis gave of Pittman when Bielema first hired him from Tennessee. Davis, who hired him at North Carolina, called his former assistant “a pit bull of a recruiter.”

That was never disputed. But there was more from Bielema on Thursday during his radio show. Bielema said Pittman was “a great recruiter and great with relationships.” But what he said next has been talked about several times in the last few months. Pittman's detail to technique might have been lacking.

I wondered about that last year when the blocking was not crisp to start the season. The running game wasn't typical Bielema smash-mouth for the UTEP, Toledo and Texas Tech games. It did seem to improve a bit against Tech. But everyone runs the ball well against Tech and the Hogs were just good in that game, not great.

Some thought perhaps the attention given to the passing game in the spring and the fall under new coordinator Dan Enos was to blame. Perhaps there was too much time spent on improving the pass to the point the running game wasn't sharp early.

Clint Stoerner, SEC Network analyst, even told me that was his theory last season. But he also quickly added that the passing game had to be upgraded and it was OK in the long run. What had to be done had to be done.

I'm not sure Bielema agreed with that. His comments about the decision to hire Kurt Anderson as his new line coach suggests that is the case.

“I wanted someone who was great at teaching technique,” Bielema said. “I knew that was what Kurt did. He appealed to me because he was just about opposite of Sam. We needed that. And I do that a lot of times when I'm hiring assistants, look for something opposite.”

The attention to technique was obvious to every offensive lineman who I've talked to since Anderson's arrival. There are some definite changes in steps, focus on the hand placement and the way the kick-back starts in pass protection.

Anderson said the technique is so important in pass protection. But what he's done in changes to the technique in the running game is what I think will show up first. Pass protection is generally the slowest thing to perfect.

I was fascinated to hear Anderson talk about the rhythm and steps that he sees developing with the O-line. He said he had players watch tape of his lines with the Buffalo Bills (2013-15) and Eastern Michigan (2009-12).

“I ran the tape back over and over of the same plays,” Anderson said. “I asked our players what they saw. It was that every offensive linemen stepped the same. It was perfect unison. They moved as one.

“That's what we will have here at some point. I think you will see a difference from the way we stepped this fall from what we did in the spring. We are about ready to be an off Broadway show. Before we are done this year we will be ready for Broadway. We want to move in unison like the Rockettes at some point, without the high leg kicks.”

Anderson changed technique in special team protections for field goals and extra points. Offensive linemen now step for an interlocking mesh that eliminates gaps, especially through the middle. That's where protections broke down in Pittman's protections.

“We've worked five times more on (field goal) protections in this camp,” Bielema said. “We are much better.”

And it isn't just because of the extra work. It's because of the technique and the men Anderson picked for the job.

“I convinced them it was important,” Anderson said. “In the meeting room, I emphasized that it was points on the board. It's winning and losing games. I wanted the men that know they are putting three points on the scoreboard for their university. It's as simple as that. I wanted the men who wanted to do it. We got those and we then perfected the protections. It's winning and losing games.”

I'm not sure secondary coach Paul Rhoads is the opposite of Clay Jennings, the man who coached safeties and corners the last two seasons at Arkansas. But he's a technician to the highest level.

There were clear changes made when Rhoads arrived. Just like with Anderson, there was an immediate buy-in from players. The current defensive backs talk about Rhoads with extreme respect. They know they are better. They are confident they know their craft at a much higher level.

Bielema spoke on a major technique change this week. Rhoads has changed some basic things in stance that have given defensive backs a better chance to turn and chase receivers in pass routes. It's allowed for tighter coverage. I've seen it and know it to be true.

“Paul looked at our stance in the secondary and immediately said we were bent forward too much,” Bielema said. “Paul changed that. We are higher. We can turn and run much quicker. Our technique has improved with Paul and it's made our players more confident.”

I watched the changes in the spring. I noticed the way Rhoads taught technique in stance and first movement. It was clinical and full of expertise. And it was loud. He demonstrated and if it wasn't right, he fixed it.

There was intense coaching on how to judge the first step of a wide receiver, how to determine the strong lead foot. I never thought about this, but I know that you can over play the dominant hand of a ball handler in basketball. A wide receiver has a dominant foot, too.

I do know that when I step into a trout stream, it's always with the right foot first.

The way Rhoads teaches is going to help press coverage, something that seemed to disappear the last two years. I think it returns this year under Rhoads and that should help the defensive line get a little more pressure.

It still takes talent and experience to play football in the SEC West. But there is little doubt in my mind that it takes coaching, too. I've never known a team to win without good coaching. Without talent, you may not win. But talented players with substandard coaching can lose.

I'm comfortable in saying that this is an outstanding coaching staff. Bielema has replaced good coaches with better coaches. Running backs coach Reggie Mitchell is an outstanding coach, a veteran with expertise in handling the bell cows of the Bielema offense, the tailbacks that make it click.

I expect this offense to feature good running. I love Rawleigh Williams, Kody Walker, Devwah Whaley, Damon Mitchell and TJ Hammonds. Hammonds may be the surprise of all of them when he's completely healed from minor knee surgery during camp. He reminds me of Gary Anderson. He's got wiggle and a great competitive nature.

Williams has been a joy to be around as he's battled back from serious neck surgery. He looks ready for a breakout year. But because of great depth in the backfield, he won't have to do it all.

The fullbacks have dazzled at times. Reggie Mitchell has done a marvelous job with true freshman Hayden Johnson and sophomore Kendrick Jackson. As you watch them this fall, know that neither was with the running backs in the spring. So Mitchell has taught them the system in short time, although Jackson did play there last fall.

I'm still not ready to make my prediction for the fall. That's coming next week. However, there is nothing but optimism in my brain for this Arkansas football team.

There are a few concerns. I'm not ready to put a stamp of “SEC ready” on the right side of the offensive line where transfer Jake Raulerson (guard) and sophomore Colton Jackson (tackle) have to prove they are rock solid. I wouldn't be surprised if Jalen Merrick and Brian Wallace compete with those two until Anderson gets the desired look.

But there are few other areas of this team that give any worries at all. It's a good roster. It's a roster that looks like it's built for a nice run in the SEC West. I love the new coaches. There is a solid mesh with the rest of Bielema's staff.

I understand Bielema's thoughts on finding some opposite coaching styles to push his players to the next level. This Arkansas team may be close to stepping up to the top level. In the SEC West, that's the highest level in the country.

There is one more week to polish that technique. I know enough about these guys to know that's exactly what is happening. Great technique leads to great performance.

There is a great feeling it's exactly what is about to happen.