FAYETTEVILLE — After reviewing Friday’s scrimmage tape, Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman felt the passing game was on target and productive, outside of a couple of third-down drops.
“I thought we threw and caught the ball well, and after watching the tape we did,” he said. “And we protected very, very well on the offensive line.”
However, that tune changed early this week, with various defensive linemen and occasional blitzing linebackers getting early pressure and notching some “sacks” of the untouchable quarterbacks.
“You go back to today’s practice, and the defense has gotten after us up front on the O-line two days in a row. So we’ve got to bring that intensity in practice on the D-line, linebackers to a game-type situation … and I think we will. I feel very confident we will. We just didn’t on Friday.”
Inside out
The Razorbacks conducted their first indoor workout at Walker Pavilion in practice No. 9 of camp on a rainy Tuesday. They are expected to return outside today if the weather allows and scrimmage on Friday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
“Today, to be honest with you, we were just changing up the atmosphere of practice,” Pittman said. “It was nice outside. A little earlier this morning, we were a little bit worried about the grass being slick and all those things.
“But by the time practice started, we could have went outside, but we just honestly wanted to give them a different change of pace. It was real cool in the indoor. We’re going three days in a row here, so it didn’t have anything to do with the tempo. We were flying around.”
Pittman said the day’s work included some one-on-one drills between the tight ends and linebackers.
Oglesby out
Tailback Josh Oglesby, an addition from the track team, had been looking good and showing toughness before an injury sidelined him in Friday’s scrimmage. Oglesby has been wearing a walking boot on his right foot this week.
“He got dinged up in the scrimmage, so I don’t know how long he’s gonna be out,” Pittman said. “But … he was a great addition and is a great addition to the team. Very tough and obviously very fast, but he’s a physical guy. Just a wonderful kid. We’ll have to wait and see how long this injury’s going to keep him out.”
‘Motivated’ QBs
Feleipe Franks, making his first Zoom appearance with reporters on Monday since April, talked up the other players at his position: KJ Jefferson, Malik Hornsby, John Stephen Jones and Jack Lindsey.
“I think the whole quarterback room is super motivated, and we’re all helping each other out,” he said. “Not one guy envies the next guy. KJ is doing a really good job executing the offense and continuing to learn, and so is Malik. He’s come a long way since he first got here, in my eyes.
“I think he’s picking the offense up, and he’s a really athletic guy. The other guys, Jack and John, they’re doing really good as well, and we’re all motivating each other. One of my favorite quotes is ‘iron sharpens iron,’ and I think that’s how you breed excellence, breed competition. Those guys are doing that not only for me, but I’m sure I’m helping KJ become a better quarterback, or at least I try to, and Malik is doing the same.”