Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman touched on multiple topics during Wednesday’s weekly SEC Teleconference, including injury updates, the latest on a few rising youngsters and an in-depth preview of Saturday’s matchup against Ole Miss.
Here is everything the Head Hog had to say:
How To Handle the Tempo of Ole Miss
“Well, they can tempo and not, and they can do it as good as anybody in the country. We certainly have worked on it this week, and we also got a taste of it against Tennessee as well, which helped us prepare for this week as far as tempo goes. We know we’ll see it, and they’re excellent at it, and we are well aware of that and working very hard on it.”
Hudson Clark’s 3 Interception Game in 2020
“Yeah, he’s just a humble guy, and he knows what he did four years ago is a really great memory; however, it doesn’t have any impact on this game. I’m sure that’s what he is thinking of this particular game, and it’ll go down as a great memory for him, but obviously won’t have any impact on this game.”
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Ole Miss Transfer Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul Jr. and His Impact
“Well, we’ve always known he can run, and he’s running side to side and tackling very well. He looks like one of their leaders on defense and doing exactly what I thought he would do when he entered the portal and wherever he went and be a really fine player. He was a great player for us and doing the same thing at Ole Miss.”
Tight End Shamar Easter’s Development
“He probably won’t get any looks this season other than special teams, but we like where he is going and how he is developing. However, it’s going to take another year in the weight room and spring ball, but we feel like he is going to be a very fine player for us.”
Preparing for the Talented Ole Miss Defense
“You’re correct; they’re very good all over the place. They’re also very good at two deep at the defensive end position and they’re also very long and big. Obviously, we have a plan for them, and the problem is when you play teams like this, there isn’t just a guy. A lot of times, you’ll say we got to eliminate this guy where we can chip, keep the tight end in, run the tight end through him, keep our back in, and double him.
“But when both sides and the interior are as talented as Ole Miss, then you just have to play better, and you just got to stay out of third and long situations, and hopefully, we can do that. But they’re really talented and long, and it makes it difficult because they can run, their D-Tackles can run, and it’ll be a huge matchup for our offensive line against their very talented D-Line.”
Injury Update on Ja’Quinden Jackson and Rodney Hill
“Well, I think Rodney (Hill) will be available, and we will probably put his as probable, and JJ (Ja’Quinden Jackson) will be doubtful on that list today.”
The Value of Braylen Russell at Running Back
“He’s got a big body and physical. He also runs low to the ground. Obviously, he’s hard to stop for negative yards because he also has big legs. The offensive line seems like they are performing at their best when he is in there.
“I think it says a lot about how he ran in high school and that’s how he ran in the high school. Big runs come from running hard when you get the football and not from saying I will get a big run. It comes from breaking a tackle and hitting the hole on time, his timing, and all of those things. He’s been prepared for a long time and he’s continuing to do that here for us.”
Matthew Shipley’s Performance and New Confidence
“I think part of it last week was the field goal range was significantly shorter, and it was good because we needed to build confidence in Shipley. He’s had an outstanding wee. He went 4-4 yesterday at practice.
“I think it’s just the confidence kickers get from streaks sometimes, and unfortunately, he got in a bad one there in spring ball early in spring practice and has turned that around. A lot of that is consistent with the snapper and holder as well as keeping those same guys in there and that consistency and his confidence with him kicking the ball really well now.”
Depth and Quality of the Linebackers
“I like them. I like them a lot as they seem to get well. (Anthony) Switzer made a huge play on the goal line. Obviously, Stephen Dix is playing well, too. Those four guys, and to be honest with you, we’re planning on playing Bradley Shaw more.
“We have a lot of younger linebackers that are preparing to get ready, but those 5 guys we have a lot of confidence in are also physical, and they all can run. Both (Brad) Spence and (Xavien) Sorey are currently playing at a high level and tackling well.”
Bradley Shaw’s Development
“We’ve always felt like he was an outstanding player, but with being a freshman and having guys ahead of him. We knew we were going to go with the veterans. If we had played him at the beginning of the year, I think he would be in solid rotation right now.
“But that entire room besides Spence was new, so we went with the veterans. He’s always been able to play well, and now we feel like he knows the defense better, and he is able to play even a little bit faster, but he has always been a really good player.”