FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman spoke with reporters following his team’s second practice of the spring Friday.
Here are three takeaways from Pittman’s question-and-answer session:
Offense
Pittman indicated some NCAA rule changes have helped teams by allowing more time for walkthroughs and meetings before the spring season.
Pittman said it has helped offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino install a new offense efficiently.
“We’ve got quite a bit in and you can tell by the speed,” Pittman said, referencing the lack of hesitation by players going through plays.
Pittman said Petrino has shown good teaching ability.
“He’s exceptional at that,” Pittman said. “And I believe so is [new receivers coach] Ronnie Fouch and [new offensive line coach] Eric [Mateos]. Those guys have done a really good job of buying into Coach Petrino’s system.”
Pittman said he is happy with the quarterback battle through two days that includes Boise State transfer Taylen Green, returners Jacolby Criswell and Malachi Singleton, and true freshman KJ Jackson.
“I like where we’re at with the quarterbacks,” Pittman said. “They’re battling in there.
“They like each other. They’re competing hard against each other. The one thing I’m seeing a little bit more out of them this year, they all seem to possess really good leadership qualities and take ownership of their own mistakes….That’s what you have to have at the quarterback position.”
Physicality
Pittman said the first two days were “very physical” for not having full pads.
“I really like the feel of practice, the enthusiasm of the football team,” Pittman said. “I’ve been proud of the first two days. We won’t go back-to-back [days] again until the practices right before the [April 13] spring game. I thought they fought through it very good. I was very pleased with the first two days.”
Arkansas players wore light-weight padding known as spider pads Thursday and Friday. Players will progress begin wearing full pads Sunday when they return for the third practice of the spring.
The team will pause for Spring Break following the fifth practice Thursday. Practices will begin again March 26 following a 12-day break.
Pittman indicated there was one injury during Friday’s practice when receiver Jaedon Wilson pulled a hamstring. Pittman said he was not sure of the severity.
Another scooter mishap
Arkansas tight end Andreas Paaske was injured in a scooter accident Thursday, Pittman said.
Paaske, a transfer from Eastern Michigan, was hit going across a crosswalk on his scooter, Pittman said, and had his foot ran over by a tire.
It is the second scooter incident involving an Arkansas player in about a week. Pittman said freshman offensive lineman Zuri Madison tore his ACL when he hit a curb before the start of spring practice.
“Scooters haven’t been good to us so far,” Pittman said. “I called [Paaske] last night [and he said], ‘Oh, I’ll be there coach,’ referencing Friday’s practice.
“He practiced the entire day,” Pittman said. “He’s something that we needed….He’s a tough guy that’s got a big frame and he can also catch the football. That’s something that we were lacking that we went out and got, and I’m very pleased with him.”