FAYETTEVILLE — There are a lot of returning parts for the Arkansas football team, but someone new will execute the first snap and someone new will be ready to catch it. And, it's going to be in the shotgun.
That's for sure with quarterback Austin Allen and center Frank Ragnow, the starters for much of the last two seasons, both at the NFL Combine as new coach Chad Morris conducts his first practice at Arkansas on Thursday. So as Morris worked his way through Thursday's preview of spring drills, I wanted to know the center.
The depth chart is fluid, but two former walk-ons, Dylan Hays and Ty Clary, will be the first out of the chute at center and Cole Kelley and Daulton Hyatt will be the first two at quarterback.
Using his catch phrase "hammer down" at several points, Morris provided a glimpse of some of the focus points as he takes the Razorbacks through 15 scheduled workouts that include a spring game on April 7 in Little Rock followed by two workouts in Fayetteville. He specified that the 15th and final workout will be Wednesday, April 11 and only about 45 minutes.
“That Wednesday, we'll show them how we want them to practice for the summer, give them a guideline of how we want them to work,” Morris said. “It won't last long.”
There were no promises about anything easy otherwise. He said it was about creating a "hammer down" lifestyle.
His core principles include something that hits every letter in hammer, starting with H for "Hogs first, Hogs last, being accountable. Our first quarter the last six or seven weeks was about the accountability we require."
Morris says the last six or seven weeks with strength and conditioning coach Trumain Carroll has produced a lean and hungry Arkansas team.
“Someone who sees our team regularly – maybe once a week – has told me that this week,” Morris said. “I was told our overall flexibility has dramatically improved. They've leaned up. Some have lost 12 to 14 pounds.
“If you look at our weigh in lists, a lot of guys have cut significant weights. Part of it was improving their eating habits. You will get a chance to talk to some of our players in the next few days and you should ask them, but I think they'll say they are in good shape.
“The ones I've talked to – and I've talked to most of them – say they are in the best shape they've ever been in.”
After Morris' talk with the media on the way to the door, he did answer one specific question about Kelley, the 6-7 sophomore-to-be signal caller.
"He's definitely dropped some weight," Morris said. "He's down to 260. He'll keep dropping, I think. I think you'll see him in the 250s (this spring). That will help him."
Kelley was listed at 268 on last year's roster, but he was above that by the end of the year, in the 275-range.
There was one other roster mention at the end. Defensive back Kevin Richardson might be back for a sixth year. A school spokesman said a full roster might be available in the next 24 hours.
Media will be allowed to watch the first four periods of the practices scheduled Thursday and Saturday this week. Morris said he hopes it looks like the hammer is down, his motto. He's challenged the team to finish better, something they didn't do well to start conditioning drills in January.
“We wanted them to learn what it was like to finish,” he said. “Early they would start strong and some days were decent in the middle, but they were unable to finish drills.
“It's a focus every time we are on the field. You are done when you sprint off the field. I don't mean you let off at the line on the sideline, but not until you are through that line. I believe I can get about anyone to finish for a quarter of a game. The question is can they finish a game.
“We concluded our (winter program) with a team competition yesterday. I watched them finish and it was their best day.”
Morris said not to pay much attention to the depth chart or order of who plays first in the early drills of spring.
“It's based more off seniority than anything,” he said. “We'll work towards our first major scrimmage on (March 10) and by then we'll have a pretty good idea of a (depth chart). We'll know more after the spring game. We'll have enough repetitions to know, but not now.”
Everything is wide open. And, the offense will be wide open and fast paced.
“Offensively, we want two things. First, we want to play razor fast. When you see that first period tomorrow, I don't think you will see us waste zero seconds. Two, I want them to understand the basic concepts of the offense. We will put it in and see what they can retain.”
There's no thought on how much of the total offensive package the Hogs will use this spring or next season.
“It might be that they can retain 20 percent,” Morris said. “Maybe it's 50 percent. It might take two years to get to 100 percent.”
Defensively, it will all about “playing aggressive. We will be an attacking style, but there is technique to do it in. I want a great tackling defense. When teams play us, I want them to finish the game thinking we were great tacklers.”
There wasn't a lot of talk about personnel. He did mention that defensive linemen Austin Capps and Briston Guidry are out for the start of spring drills. He said Capps had a minor surgery. Cornerback Ryan Pulley, who is coming back from pectoral surgery, will practice, but on a limited basis.
This is earlier than usual for the start of Arkansas spring practices. Past coaches have been wary of the possibility of winter weather in early March in the Ozarks. Of course, the Hogs have a great indoor facility.
"We wanted (an early start) to finish early," Morris said, concurring with a reporter that it would provide an early start to recruiting and also allow plenty of one-on-one meeting time after spring drills between players and assistant coaches, coordinators and the head coach.
"It will also give players a chance for more healing time if there are injuries."