FAYETTEVILLE — What seemed like an obvious move last week became reality Wednesday.
Austin Capps left a logjam at defensive tackle to step in as an immediate backup at left guard.
With heavy numbers at the two defensive tackle spots, Arkansas coach Chad Morris went to Capps about making the switch to the injury-riddled and undermanned offensive line.
I'm always counting the number of lines on the lines, offensive and defensive. There was a day this week when there were 16 at the four D-line spots. There were only nine on the O-line, not counting those on either side of the ball wearing yellow or green injury jerseys.
When you look at the commitment list, there are seven D-linemen and two set to play in the O-line. The O-line numbers will probably grow, but the Capps move didn't seem like a surprise Saturday.
“He told me he'd do anything to help us win,” Arkansas coach Chad Morris said Saturday afternoon while announcing the first major move of fall camp.
That was the big news from the first-year UA coach after the first major scrimmage of August camp. Capps was given thumbs up from everyone who came into the interview room, including offensive coordinator Joe Craddock and center Hjalte Froholdt.
Craddock calls Froholdt the pulse of the offense and one of the clear leaders of the team. Froholdt is also a former defensive tackle turned offensive lineman. He started at left guard the last two seasons, but has moved to center with projected starter Dylan Hays struggling with a back strain.
Hays was back at practice for the first time in five days, but it's not clear how that back is going to hold up. Froholdt may stick at center.
No one is saying what the offensive line is going to look like when the Hogs get to the season opener against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 1. It will probably be a fluid situation over the next week as line coach Dustin Fry looks at almost every possible combination.
“We are trying to find our best five,” Morris said.
Asked about a timeline, Morris smiled a bit before falling into what's been the standard line when asked about when things will shake out in the battle for the starting quarterback job. That battle is being split six ways. A new name came up Saturday when Morris mentioned Jack Lindsey as one of the quarterbacks that did not get “live” work.
Quarterbacks John Stephen Jones, Connor Noland and Daulton Hyatt were tackled to the ground in the scrimmage. Ty Storey, Cole Kelley and Lindsey were not tackled.
I was more interested in the progress in the offensive line than at quarterback. Froholdt gave a report that has to be labeled as promising when asked about his group's overall play.
“We didn't give up many pressures,” he said of pass protection. “We moved the ball on the ground. We didn't have many missed assignments.
“I think we did pretty well. It's tough (in a long scrimmage) because we have only two lines. It's like the second straight year for that. So there is not much rest. You'd like to sub in a third line to get some rest on a day like this. So we've had a couple of years doing this.”
That's a true statement. Morris said the scrimmage lasted well above 140 snaps.
Capps has always looked like an offensive guard to some coaches. He's been asked before about his thoughts on moving to the offensive line. That was in the Bret Bielema days. And, he played in all but one game in the last two seasons, logging time in a three-man rotation at nose tackle as a true freshman.
At 6-4, 211 pounds, the junior from Star City fits the mold on the offensive line. Capps played both ways at tackle in high school when every major recruiting service listed him as a four-star prospect. But he wasn't able to practice much in the spring as the Hogs installed a new scheme once again. He was out after winter surgery because of a sports hernia.
Froholdt knows what Capps faces and thinks it's not only going well, but it's going to be a major success.
“I'm not worried about Cappsie making the transition one bit,” Froholdt said. “He has played in the offensive line before. He knows how to pull. He knows pass sets. So he's ahead of where I was when I moved. He's mature. He is taking to it.
“He's played in the SEC. He is ready for what we do. And, I don't think he's surprised by anything the defense is going to do. He knows the trigger points and where the blitzes are going to hit and where they are coming from.”
Morris and Craddock caught enough glimpses of Capps in the scrimmage to believe Froholdt is exactly right.
“I saw him some,” Craddock said. “I've seen it done before at Clemson with a guy who is now playing in the NFL.”
Morris didn't just brag on Capps, but he said the entire offensive line had good moments and was solid in the run blocking. That's what the scrimmage was designed to showcase.
“Our first scrimmage is always heavy on the run (plays),” Morris said. “It was a much needed day for our offensive line. We've had a lot of moving parts.”
Clearly, that's true. The seven days of August camp has seen the youngest offensive linemen – three redshirt freshmen and two true freshmen – trying different slots in hopes of finding a left side with Froholdt moved from left guard.
Shane Clenin, Dalton Wagner and Kirby Adcock are the second-year players. Noah Gatlin and Silas Robinson are the newcomers. Clenin has played center and both spots on the left side. Gatlin seems to be the challenger to Wagner at left tackle.
Everything is written in pencil. The only thing in ink seems to be Brian Wallace at right tackle and Johnny Gibson at right guard.
Offensive line coach Dustin Fry stayed near Capps out of the huddle to emphasis the play call on Saturday, just like he's done the last two days.
“Fry has been behind him on everything,” Morris said. “He's helped him out.
“We are moving guys around. For today, it was the first time for Gatlin at left tackle. I've bragged on Noah and Silas. Sure, they've made some mistakes, but they are doing good things for freshmen.”
Craddock said the O-line as a group “is coming together. We just had to move some guys around and put some of them in new spots to see what can work. We've got those redshirt freshmen and all of them played well.”
As for a more detailed thought on Capps, Craddock said, “When I've watched him, he's done well. I paid attention to him some today and we will see the tape in a little bit. He's picked up a lot of the offense in a couple of days.”
Froholdt is learning on the fly, just like Capps. He did snap the ball some in the spring and a lot more in the summer when coaches advised center might be in his future.
“It's different,” he said. “I'd say the defensive linemen is a little closer. There's more to think about. Getting the snap off knowing that as soon as that right hand releases the ball, you've got to get that hand over to handle a guy.
“I'm not saying I'm perfect, but I'm better. I've got more to think about.”
Froholdt's best friend is Frank Ragnow, the center the last two years. Asked if he's reached out to Ragnow for help, Froholdt just laughed. Ragnow is in an NFL training camp with the Lions and has enough on his hands. That's not fair, Froholdt said.
“I'm getting there,” he said. “We never talked about center in the last two years. I was learning guard. That's where he helped me. It's not like what Frank did. We are in the shotgun all of the time so it's not so bad as far as the snap.”
Now it's Froholdt helping Capps.
“He'll come to me if he needs something,” Froholdt said. “But he's not a greenie. He knows more than I knew when I made that move. He's smart and he will be fine. He's patient and will stay with it.”
That's what Morris said needs to be the focus all the way around as the team builds towards the opener.
Morris said both sides of the ball have a lot of the playbook installed, but it's not about how much can be called but how much can be done correctly.
“We've got enough in,” he said. “Now we have to figure out what we can handle.”
Capps is a work in progress for a few weeks. Maybe at some point this season there will be some magic in the way the Hogs play. It's a fluid situation.
“We will see where we are in another week,” Morris said. “We've got a long ways to go.”
But some of the moving parts may be settling into their new homes. Depth seemed like it might be better in the offensive line with Hays back at practice and Capps the latest convert. There seems to be more balance in the roster.