What Sam Pittman said recapping Ole Miss game, looking ahead to Auburn

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman watches his players as they warmup prior to their NCAA college football game against Ole Miss on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

• Pittman said he is excited to play a home game after three straight games out of state.

• He said Auburn QB Bo Nix has the ability to make a lot of things happen. He said the Tigers are "really physical" and well coached. He said the defensive line is dominant again.

• Pittman made a plea for fans to show up for the early game. He said the home crowd was influential in the Razorbacks' win over Texas and loss at Georgia. "I'm just telling you the football team needs the fans. We need them here on Saturday."

• Without giving away details, Pittman said there will be changes on defense moving forward. He said the team did not get Ole Miss QB Matt Corral on the ground and the "secondary support was poor."

• Pittman said the edge support was not good defensively, and the defense had busted coverages at Ole Miss.

• Pittman said the team has to get better on both sides, but the "glaring deal" was on defense at Ole Miss.

• Pittman said he has gone back and forth on whether to try to use last year's ending at Auburn as motivation this week.

• Pittman said a motivation is to remain undefeated at home. He said it has been a long time since the Razorbacks did not lose a home game.

• Pittman said he is proud of where the Razorbacks are midway through the season, but said they would rather be better than 4-2.

• Pittman said Jalen Catalon has a broken hand. He said he thought Catalon would have been able to intercept a pass without the cast he is wearing. Pittman said he thinks there will be a cast on Catalon for the rest of the season.

• Pittman said Warren Thompson has to be better as a blocker and learning the offense, but credited Thompson for catching big passes in the past few games.

• Pittman said defensive back Trent Gordon is hurt but did not elaborate. Gordon has only played in two games this season. Pittman said he hopes Gordon can play this week against Auburn.

• Pittman called Auburn QB Bo Nix "incredible. He extends plays as well as anybody in the country." Pittman said the team will work on its scramble drill in practice this week to prepare for Nix. He said his ability to run the ball is a concern this week.

• Pittman indicated Auburn coach Bryan Harsin has done a good job of surrounding himself with strong coordinators, former Colorado State coach Mike Bobo on offense and former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason on defense.

• Pittman said Auburn wants to run a lot of inside zone plays. He said it reminds him of what Georgia ran during his time as an assistant coach there. He mentioned Bobo's ties to Georgia as a former quarterback and assistant, and said Bobo was often at Georgia's practices during Pittman's time there as an assistant.

• Tackle Dalton Wagner has an injured finger that "went out on him and they couldn't get it back in place." It required surgery and he is out "for a while." He indicated Wagner had played through the injury in previous games.

• Pittman said he was proud of the offensive line's play at Ole Miss. He said guards Brady Latham and Beaux Limmer responded well to being challenged in practice last week, and said Ty Clary played well at tackle. He said Luke Jones can "be a swing guy" and back up at tackle. He said Jones impressed during practice last week.

• Pittman said Catalon broke his hand at Texas A&M, but did not know which exact play.

• Pittman said he can't recall being part of so many consecutive 11 a.m. games (the UAPB game next week in Little Rock has been announced for that time — the Razorbacks' fourth straight morning start). Pittman indicated he likes the early games because it gives more time to evaluate what went right or wrong.

• Pittman said RB Dominique Johnson is the team's best pass protector. "He really likes to block....He really enjoys the physicality of the game. I've been really happy with him." Pittman said Johnson needs to carry the ball more, but there are so many deserving backs that "it's hard to pick and choose."

• Pittman praised the play of KJ Jefferson at Ole Miss. He said Jefferson "made some really nice throws" and is "coming into a well-rounded guy." He said Jefferson showed toughness during the game.

• Pittman said Jefferson is one of the most popular players on the team "because of the way he handles his business and what he does on the football field."

• Pittman said every receiver was covered on the two-point play at the end of the Ole Miss game. He said the play had worked well in practice during the week leading up to the game.

• Pittman said he wants to keep Ty'kieast Crawford and Jalen St. John at guard to work on their development there.

• Arkansas is a favorite. Pittman said, "I'd rather be favored than a 22-point underdog."

• Pittman was asked about Ole Miss possibly faking injuries on the defensive line. "The rule has to change. Right now there's no penalty. I'm not saying the guys weren't hurt....A lot of them cramped up or whatever happened to them. The rule committee has to look at that." He said an opposing team hasn't had so many injuries this year.