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re: PC Thread... News, etc.
Posted on 8/23/17 at 12:39 am to Razorback Reverend
Posted on 8/23/17 at 12:39 am to Razorback Reverend
1
Posted on 8/23/17 at 12:40 am to Razorback Reverend
Posted on 8/23/17 at 12:41 am to Razorback Reverend
Posted on 8/23/17 at 12:42 am to Razorback Reverend
Posted on 8/23/17 at 1:29 am to Razorback Reverend
SET THE EDGE!!!
LINK
Arkansas' new outside linebackers coach Chad Walker wants his players to "find the ball" but in practice each day their first task is to find him.
"He'll be running around and we're looking for him through the individual groups," sophomore Gabe Richardson said of Walker. "He'll be like, 'With your position groups. With your position groups,' and he'll be flying across the field. You gotta look for a little head."
Richardson's "little head" description of his position coach might be debatable but it's easy to see why Walker would be hard to spot with over a hundred players on the practice fields. Walker is in near perpetual motion from the beginning to the end of each two hour workout. He's been known to continue that movement in post practice interviews with the media. Spend some time with Walker and it's clear that he's sending a message to his players with the nonstop energy he displays on the practice field.
"You have to be a relentless competitor," Walker answered when asked for the key to understanding the mission of the outside linebackers in Arkansas' 3-4 defense. "The first thing we have to do is set the edge of our defense and the second thing we have to do is hunt the football."
A failure to "set the edge" is something head coach Bret Bielema mentioned following Arkansas 56-3 loss to Auburn on October 2 of 2016. On the Tigers' first play from scrimmage receiver Eli Stove took the ball from quarterback Sean White and made like a running back, cutting to the outside and racing 78 yards for a touchdown. Bielema laid down a mandate from the start of Arkansas' winter conditioning program this past January that the outside linebackers would set that edge from the beginning to the end of the coming season. It is the number one priority for his defense.
"We're the edge setters," Walker declared. "We've got to be stout on the outside, play with great leverage and be able to turn the ball back inside."
Priority number two is so important to Walker that he set up a football on a string just inside the outside linebackers' meeting room in the football complex.
"A ball on a string that we hit every day to just make sure that we emphasize, Hunt the ball. Hunt the ball," senior Dwayne Eugene explained. "That's something that can make a difference this season with us making turnovers."
"Punching the ball, ripping the ball out, anything that we can do to get the ball out in a game situation," junior Randy Ramsey added.
"Sometimes we've got to be able to spill the football," Walker acknowledged, "but the next thing we have to do is affect the quarterback. Whether you get the quarterback off the spot, whether it's batted balls, when our number is called in the pass game we've got to go after it."
Walker is intense and expects it from his players but he's quick to point out that football should be fun.
"It's been a lot of fun getting to know these guys. I think they gotten to know me," Walker said of his first several months on the job. "The guys are great. They can come to me with anything. We have the ability to talk and relate. Have conversations about life."
"He brings brotherhood," Eugene emphasized. "I've never been this close with a group of linebackers. It's just really cool how he bonds us together. He always finds a way to tie us all in."
"He'll play a lot of funny videos before we go out," sophomore Tyler Phillips revealed. "He played this Will Ferrell video that pretty much said, Don't make anything a bigger deal than it really is. So he's good at keeping us loose when it's actually time to go out there and play."
And when it's actually time to go out and play this season Walker knows that his boss, the head coach, expects one thing above all else from the outside linebackers.
Set the edge.
LINK
Arkansas' new outside linebackers coach Chad Walker wants his players to "find the ball" but in practice each day their first task is to find him.
"He'll be running around and we're looking for him through the individual groups," sophomore Gabe Richardson said of Walker. "He'll be like, 'With your position groups. With your position groups,' and he'll be flying across the field. You gotta look for a little head."
Richardson's "little head" description of his position coach might be debatable but it's easy to see why Walker would be hard to spot with over a hundred players on the practice fields. Walker is in near perpetual motion from the beginning to the end of each two hour workout. He's been known to continue that movement in post practice interviews with the media. Spend some time with Walker and it's clear that he's sending a message to his players with the nonstop energy he displays on the practice field.
"You have to be a relentless competitor," Walker answered when asked for the key to understanding the mission of the outside linebackers in Arkansas' 3-4 defense. "The first thing we have to do is set the edge of our defense and the second thing we have to do is hunt the football."
A failure to "set the edge" is something head coach Bret Bielema mentioned following Arkansas 56-3 loss to Auburn on October 2 of 2016. On the Tigers' first play from scrimmage receiver Eli Stove took the ball from quarterback Sean White and made like a running back, cutting to the outside and racing 78 yards for a touchdown. Bielema laid down a mandate from the start of Arkansas' winter conditioning program this past January that the outside linebackers would set that edge from the beginning to the end of the coming season. It is the number one priority for his defense.
"We're the edge setters," Walker declared. "We've got to be stout on the outside, play with great leverage and be able to turn the ball back inside."
Priority number two is so important to Walker that he set up a football on a string just inside the outside linebackers' meeting room in the football complex.
"A ball on a string that we hit every day to just make sure that we emphasize, Hunt the ball. Hunt the ball," senior Dwayne Eugene explained. "That's something that can make a difference this season with us making turnovers."
"Punching the ball, ripping the ball out, anything that we can do to get the ball out in a game situation," junior Randy Ramsey added.
"Sometimes we've got to be able to spill the football," Walker acknowledged, "but the next thing we have to do is affect the quarterback. Whether you get the quarterback off the spot, whether it's batted balls, when our number is called in the pass game we've got to go after it."
Walker is intense and expects it from his players but he's quick to point out that football should be fun.
"It's been a lot of fun getting to know these guys. I think they gotten to know me," Walker said of his first several months on the job. "The guys are great. They can come to me with anything. We have the ability to talk and relate. Have conversations about life."
"He brings brotherhood," Eugene emphasized. "I've never been this close with a group of linebackers. It's just really cool how he bonds us together. He always finds a way to tie us all in."
"He'll play a lot of funny videos before we go out," sophomore Tyler Phillips revealed. "He played this Will Ferrell video that pretty much said, Don't make anything a bigger deal than it really is. So he's good at keeping us loose when it's actually time to go out there and play."
And when it's actually time to go out and play this season Walker knows that his boss, the head coach, expects one thing above all else from the outside linebackers.
Set the edge.
Posted on 8/23/17 at 11:45 am to Razorback Reverend
If we played tomorrow...Kelley is the backup
Posted on 8/23/17 at 2:20 pm to sugatowng
TJ Hammonds will be full go by weekend. Jred not healed yet.
Posted on 8/24/17 at 12:38 am to russellvillehog
Good read, I know he is hard to handle with some of the coaching at times, but the dude definitely has a personality that is hilarious. the part about breastfeeding is spot on. NWA TD Club notebook: Bielema's dad moment, more
Bret Bielema talked about being a dad and much more at Wednesday's NWA Touchdown Club meeting.
by Andrew Hutchinson
6h ago • 6 min read Update 6h ago
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FAYETTEVILLE – The biggest difference in Bret Bielema’s life as he enters his fifth season at Arkansas is that he became a father last month.
He and his wife, Jen, welcomed daughter Briella into the world on July 8. Six and a half weeks later, he is still adjusting to being a dad.
While he has joked about his lack of sleep in the past, Bielema revealed another change Briella has caused during Wednesday’s Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club.
“Make the most of your weekend.”
A new level of crossover performance - the John Deere Gator™ XUV Utility Vehicles.
Following one of the Razorbacks’ fall camp scrimmages, Bielema was at home and had just made Jen an omelet around 9 p.m.
His plan was to relax and watch the Pro Football Hall of Fame speeches, which included Arkansas graduate Jerry Jones. It didn’t quite unfold the way Bielema had hoped, though.
“I went to the adult refrigerator and got an adult beverage and I’m walking back,” Bielema said. “All of a sudden, that got removed from my hand and replaced by a bottle.”
Bielema didn’t mind feeding his daughter, but it caught him off guard.
“When I left the day before, we were breastfeeding,” Bielema said. “When I came back, we must have changed gears. I kinda liked it when it was the other way. I could just sit in there and watch. I could coach it up a little bit.”
That story drew the biggest laugh from the record crowd of 250-plus fans, but he also touched on several other topics during a 10-minute interview with the media before the event and during his 30-minute talk with the fans.
Here are a few other tidbits from Wednesday’s meeting…
***
Although Hugh Freeze has become the butt of many jokes across the country, especially in the SEC, Bielema chose not to pile on. He had a good laugh after Bo Mattingly showed the clip of “Being Bret Bielema” when Siri on Bielema’s iPhone tried calling Freeze instead of Arkansas recruiting coordinator E.K. Franks, but then expressed sympathy for the former Ole Miss coach.
“Hugh is actually a pretty good friend,” Bielema said. “I think we should also keep in mind that he’s a human being. He has a family. He’s a good guy that’s going through some problems, some issues.”
***
Bielema broke the news that Frank Ragnow was selected as the coaches’ first-team All-SEC center, a couple hours before the entire team was announced. It is another accolade to add to his ever-growing list of awards and Bielema reiterated that he is the best lineman he’s ever coached.
“I’ve had a couple first-rounders and a second-rounder and he’s by far the best one I’ve had,” Bielema said. “He’s a really good player. Everything he went through a year ago, he’s a great person. Just a shooting star. He’s never redshirted either, so his best football is in front of him.”
***
True freshman running back Chase Hayden burst onto the scene during fall camp and is expected to make an immediate impact this season. Bielema discussed his solid bloodlines when heaping praise on him once again.
“His dad played at Tennessee,” Bielema said. “Thankfully his son saw the light and came here to Arkansas. His dad also played in the NFL with the Packers. His dad’s a big dude. Chase is a little bit smaller in stature, but he’s really quick. He’s a very shifty, very explosive player.”
***
Another 2017 signee Bielema talked about was junior college transfer Jeremy Patton. Despite the Razorbacks’ deep tight end room, he will contribute this year.
However, Bielema was bewildered by Patton wearing down near the end of Tuesday’s practice and couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t running around as fast as he was earlier in the day. He got his answer the next day.
“Well, today he’s in there watching film with Coach Lunney right before I came over here and he’s got a box of 12 fried chicken wings,” Bielema said. “I’m like, ‘Bro, that’s how I eat. That’s not how you eat. We have this dining hall over here with all this healthy food, why don’t you go experience it?’”
***
That’s the opposite of what freshman safety Montaric Brown needs to do, though. A late arrival on campus, he is listed at 175 pounds on Arkansas’ roster – making him one of the 10 lightest players on the team.
“I don’t care what he eats,” Bielema said. “He can eat the wings. He needs to eat something. When he turns sideways, you can’t see him. He can beef up a little bit.”
Brown began practicing Monday, but had to go helmet-only for his first two days. He gets to add shoulder pads Wednesday before going full pads on Friday.
***
Bielema seemed to indicate that Dwayne Eugene is the first-team Hog outside linebacker now, as he mentioned him and Randy Ramsey at outside linebacker when going through the starting lineup.
Eugene had been playing Razor, but Hayden Henry revealed Tuesday that he moved over to Hog. Senior Karl Roesler and junior college transfer Gabe Richardson were competing for that spot before Eugene’s arrival.
***
While sharing a story about keeping gum in his office desk and how T.J. Hammonds comes to his office every day to get some, Bielema revealed an unusual fact about himself.
“Little kids, big kids, everybody likes gum,” Bielema said. “I’ve never chewed gum in my life, actually.”
***
Of the 120 players on Arkansas’ roster, 79 percent of them had over a 3.0 GPA during summer school, Bielema said.
***
Jordan Jones will be Arkansas’ main kickoff returner, with Deon Stewart likely the “off returner,” Bielema said. True freshmen Koilan Jackson, Jarrod Barnes, De’Vion Warren and Chevin Calloway are also in the conversation to be back there with Jones.
***
While Florida A&M is Arkansas’ first opponent of 2017, the Rattlers actually open their season Saturday against Texas Southern. The game kicks off at 11 a.m. and is televised on ESPNU.
Bielema said the offense and defense will watch at least the first half of the game live and in their respective meeting rooms following an early morning weight lifting session.
With the Razorbacks playing on Thursday, they’ll be able to do the same thing with TCU next week, as well.
***
Bielema also named the backup quarterback - which can be read about here - and gave an update on injured receivers T.J. Hammonds and Jared Cornelius - which can be read about here.
Posted on 8/24/17 at 12:43 am to Razorback Reverend
LINK
FAYETTEVILLE – Cole Kelley will be Arkansas’ backup quarterback for its season-opener against Florida A&M, head coach Bret Bielema announced Wednesday.
Although the redshirt freshman from Louisiana beat out incumbent second-stringer and third-year sophomore Ty Storey, his job as the No. 2 quarterback is not set in stone for the entire 2017 season.
Bielema broke the news to both quarterbacks Tuesday, revealing that Kelley would be the next quarterback in the game after Austin Allen, but their names would be listed with a slash when the depth chart is released Friday.
“The best thing they’ve got going is competition amongst themselves,” Bielema said. “So Cole may be the guy this week and Ty could be the guy next week and, to be quite honest, depending on game situations, it might determine who goes into the game overall.”
Kelley had the strongest arm on the team as soon as he stepped on campus last year, but that sometimes got him into trouble. His gunslinger mentality caused him to try to make throws that weren’t there, leading to interceptions.
That was his main area of focus this offseason as he battled Storey for the backup job and he seems to have improved enough to gain the confidence of the coaches.
In one and a half scrimmages open to the media during fall camp, Kelley completed 10 of 17 passes for 86 yards and showed a willingness to check down on throws when nothing was open downfield.
Bielema acknowledged that Storey was actually the leader in the competition through the first two weeks of camp before Kelley came on strong and won the job for Week 1.
“When we started holding Austin out a little bit so those two could work with our ones, I thought Cole made a couple more plays,” Bielema said. “That’s when Cole really flourished.”
Storey, who appeared in three games as Allen’s backup last season, completed 12 of 20 passes for 79 yards in the scrimmages. He also threw an interception.
His improved throwing motion helped him push Kelley throughout the offseason and made the backup quarterback decision difficult for the coaches.
“I think it’s better than any situation I’ve ever had,” Bielema said. “You actually have two guys who are in that spot and have performed very, very well.”
Arkansas is scheduled to release a complete depth chart – its first since the Belk Bowl – at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
FAYETTEVILLE – Cole Kelley will be Arkansas’ backup quarterback for its season-opener against Florida A&M, head coach Bret Bielema announced Wednesday.
Although the redshirt freshman from Louisiana beat out incumbent second-stringer and third-year sophomore Ty Storey, his job as the No. 2 quarterback is not set in stone for the entire 2017 season.
Bielema broke the news to both quarterbacks Tuesday, revealing that Kelley would be the next quarterback in the game after Austin Allen, but their names would be listed with a slash when the depth chart is released Friday.
“The best thing they’ve got going is competition amongst themselves,” Bielema said. “So Cole may be the guy this week and Ty could be the guy next week and, to be quite honest, depending on game situations, it might determine who goes into the game overall.”
Kelley had the strongest arm on the team as soon as he stepped on campus last year, but that sometimes got him into trouble. His gunslinger mentality caused him to try to make throws that weren’t there, leading to interceptions.
That was his main area of focus this offseason as he battled Storey for the backup job and he seems to have improved enough to gain the confidence of the coaches.
In one and a half scrimmages open to the media during fall camp, Kelley completed 10 of 17 passes for 86 yards and showed a willingness to check down on throws when nothing was open downfield.
Bielema acknowledged that Storey was actually the leader in the competition through the first two weeks of camp before Kelley came on strong and won the job for Week 1.
“When we started holding Austin out a little bit so those two could work with our ones, I thought Cole made a couple more plays,” Bielema said. “That’s when Cole really flourished.”
Storey, who appeared in three games as Allen’s backup last season, completed 12 of 20 passes for 79 yards in the scrimmages. He also threw an interception.
His improved throwing motion helped him push Kelley throughout the offseason and made the backup quarterback decision difficult for the coaches.
“I think it’s better than any situation I’ve ever had,” Bielema said. “You actually have two guys who are in that spot and have performed very, very well.”
Arkansas is scheduled to release a complete depth chart – its first since the Belk Bowl – at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Posted on 8/24/17 at 1:23 am to Razorback Reverend
Paul Rhoads.. a few days back I responded that Paul Rhoads was a very involved coach, who definitely tells it like it is. Love his demeanor as a coach. And now this.. LINK /
FAYETTEVILLE — Safety Santos Ramirez and cornerback Henre’ Toliver have seen new Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads get fired up numerous times over the course of the last 2 years.
Rhoads has been the duo’s position coach since he arrived on campus last year, so they’ve seen their fair share of emotion from the 50-year-old during practices.
“He’s crazy,” Toliver said.
They’ve also seen video clips from when Rhoads was the roaming the sidelines as Iowa State’s head coach. There are some memorable outbursts.
ADVERTISING
Paul Rhoads was in the coaches box on game days last year. Hopefully he'll be down on the sidelines now that he's the defensive coordinator. pic.twitter.com/fCjeY1hVCD
— Jimmy Carter (@NWAJimmy) January 22, 2017
Part 2. This is fantastic. pic.twitter.com/6ZHM94D7lN
— Jimmy Carter (@NWAJimmy) January 22, 2017
“I just want to see that on game day,” Toliver said.
That wish will come true this fall, with Rhoads set to coordinate the defense from the sideline. He worked from the press box during games last season, but the transition to the field follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, Robb Smith.
Rhoads’ players are expecting no shortage of fiery moments.
“I already know it’s going to come,” Ramirez said. “Coach Rhoads is a very passionate, intense guy. I know there’s going to be times where things, he may disagree with them. All I can say is I’m anxious to see coach Rhoads on the sideline. No matter what, we ride behind our coach.”
That emotion and direct nature is what has drawn the players to Rhoads. They’ve made no secret of their appreciation for his demeanor since he was promoted in January and tasked with installing a new 3-4 scheme in order to bounce back from a subpar defensive performance in 2016.
“He’s just a great coach, man,” Toliver said. “He really cares about us. He knows what he wants. He’s watched previous years and knows what not to do. He’s just enthusiastic, he knows what to do, he knows what he wants with this defense.
“He knows the holes of the defense, so us as a defense, we don’t panic. He empowers this defense, so that’s what I think the biggest difference is.”
In addition to being excited about witnessing Rhoads’ potential sideline antics, both players prefer having the defensive coordinator on the field.
“He knows everything,” Toliver said. “He’s the dictator of the defense. He’ll sit here and tell me specific things he sees from the sideline.”
“That can really help us if we have any confusion on the field,” Ramirez said. “He can get us back right and get our minds back right.”
Posted on 8/24/17 at 11:29 am to Razorback Reverend
While I wish we had the wins to go along with it 79% over a 3.0 GPA is nothing to sneer at.
Posted on 8/24/17 at 3:36 pm to Razorback Reverend
The part I like about Rhodes is we should be fundamentally sound and good tacklers. That will be his foxus and make more of a difference than any fancy blitz packages. Although he can draw those too
Posted on 8/25/17 at 6:09 am to oklahogjr
Think Hurricane Harvey will make it a down pour on Thursday night in Little Rock?
Posted on 8/25/17 at 10:02 am to oklahogjr
quote:
The part I like about Rhodes is we should be fundamentally sound and good tacklers.
That was one thing that bothered me bigly about our defense. We couldn't tackle for shite, and it's one of the reasons we gave out rushing TDs like they were Christmas presents.
Another thing that aggravated me is that we simply could not consistently get lined up properly or on time on crucial downs.
Here's hoping that Rhoads can course correct on those failpoints from last year.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 10:11 am to Feral
Cole Kelley named backup QB
Posted on 8/25/17 at 10:21 am to Pygthagorean Theorem
Depth chart
Posted on 8/25/17 at 10:37 am to BarkRuffalo
Thought Jordan Jones was going to be primary KR?
Posted on 8/25/17 at 10:54 am to BarkRuffalo
De'vion Warren that high is probably the most surprising to me
Posted on 8/25/17 at 11:51 am to gohogs141
Jake Hall is surprising to me. I haven't heard a single word said about him this fall, I don't believe.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 12:07 pm to TheCheshireHog
Patton must be making moves to already be 2 on the depth chart. Surprised to seeing Brandon Martin up there in the 2 deep for recievers
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