Opening statement:
After watching the film of the Georgia game, our players did some really good things in some tough circumstances, a tough situation relative to playing on the road in the weather. Certainly proud of sort of the statement they made in the game. They beat a good team. There's a lot of things we could do better and clean up, and that's certainly something that we need to be committed to.
But you beat a good team, it is what it is and that's it. I think we did that because we practiced well and prepared well all week. We had really good focus in the game on execution and people doing their job. The effort and the toughness was what we need to have success in our league. But we are what we are as an identity only if it happens as a continuum. So you always have the next challenge. You always have the next game. You can look at teams all over the country that have big wins and then two weeks later, they're not so happy again. So this is something we need to build on, we need to improve on. It's something that our players need to learn so that we can continue to improve as a team, because we have many challenges, including the game we have this week.
We have a couple of guys who are a little nicked up. At this time in the season, some of those guys may not be able to practice on a Monday, but we expect everybody to be able to come back and be able to practice tomorrow. So we don't have any big injuries to report.
Arkansas, to me, has a really, really good team. Everybody knows what a physical game it was last year. They've got a couple of receivers that are injured. But four of the offensive linemen (are back), a really good running back, Alex Collins. Quarterback Brandon Allen has been starting now for three years and is a very, very good player. Their defense is one of the tops against the run in the SEC. Overall, they have played better and better each week. Brett (Bielema) has done a really, really good job there creating toughness and a physical team that you really, really have to have your jaw set to play against the things that they do. They have been a very efficient, effective passing team to go with a great running game. This is going to be a real challenging game.
On the progress of freshman DL Daron Payne:
He's improving every week. You've got to keep in mind young players that have ability have to learn to play with consistency, make sure that they're doing their job each and every play. We were pleased with what Daron has done. There are obviously some things that he can improve on. We think Darren Lake is a good player. Those two guys have to do a good job. There will be a lot of regular people in the game this week as well, so those two guys will certainly have some challenges relative to one of the biggest, best offensive lines probably in the country.
On whether consistency can be coached or you trust players to bring it every game:
I think you do both. Consistency is a human behavior we all struggle with every day. Things don't go right and everybody gets all fired up about trying to get it right. Things go really well and everybody wants to relax and everybody is, 'I want a day off.' I think that consistency is an element of human nature that the individual has to challenge himself, as well as we have to coach and make our players aware of the things that they do well they have to build on, and that's what creates a continuum. Continuum is what creates consistency. That's what our focus is going to be.
On having success on third down defensively while struggling on third downs offensively:
I think what you say is true in previous games. But I think to make that kind of judgment in the kind of game it was on Saturday, we probably just ran the ball on five or six third downs toward the end of that game trying to take the air out of it and not throw it to try to get first downs. We actually went for it a few times on fourth down just trying to take the air out of it. I do think we need to make some improvements on third down and I think it's a total team thing. I think pass protection needs to be better. I think the route runners need to be more consistent. The receivers need to catch the ball, because we've had some drops. The quarterbacks have got to do what the design is to get the first down. Defensively, we have gotten off the field in the last couple of weeks, but it's always a challenge trying to do things to affect the quarterback on third down, as well get their good people covered relative to their system and scheme.
On rating the special teams:
I really don't rate anything at this point in the season. But we have made some improvement in the kicking game. We still need to get our specialists being very consistent. I think the kicking game was probably the best in the last game in some difficult circumstances. We had some positive punt returns. We blocked a punt. Scored on special teams. Kickoff coverage was good for the most part. Kickoff return was a little better. At least we had a chance to get the ball up in decent field position. We were close to making some positive plays there. These are all things that we need to continue to work on, improve on so that they become an actual asset to our team.
On Kenyan Drake's not being able to get going against Georgia:
Kenyan Drake has to focus on what he needs to do to be a good player in his preparation. Can't make a home run every time he gets the ball. He's got to trust and believe in the plays the way they're designed and go run those plays and understand that a three or four-yard gain is a good play. If you do that, you're going to have a chance to make big plays. He's a good player and we obviously need to get him to do those things so that he has a chance to have the kind of production he's capable of. There are some things that we've done in the past to try to utilize his skills. Obviously the situation in the game Saturday was not favorable to doing some of those things, but it's something that we will try to continue to do in the future.
On Jake Coker's playing his best in the big games:
I think that Jake has done a really good job. I think he's gotten better every week. I think he did do a good job in the Wisconsin game. I think that we probably ran the ball a little more effectively in those games, which helped with the play action passes, helps with the third down situations. I think in those two games (Wisconsin and Georgia) there was a reason the team played a certain way that helped Jake play a certain way that was very helpful to him being successful. I think we need to continue to do that, but I also think that we need to expand what we do and be able to execute more things so that we can be more effective in other situations in the game as well.
On Jarran Reed's playing better at a lighter body weight:
He's having a really good year. His production is up. His production points are up. He's shown a lot of leadership on our team this year. It's been very important to him. He's probably in better shape than he's been in the past. I think his quickness is better and I think that's what's been helpful to him in terms of production.
On Derrick Henry's getting stronger as the game goes on:
I think he does (get stronger). I think he has had a really good year so far. I think it's important to use him in a way that's most beneficial to him and us, which is sort of feed him the ball, and he does seem to get stronger as the game goes on. I think our offensive line can do a little bit better job from a consistency standpoint in finishing blocks. I think that would make us even more effective in how Derrick plays.
On being upset at the way the players responded to Georgia's pre-game taunting:
I thought I mentioned that one of the reasons we played well was because we were focused on the game. I think people have to be focused on doing their job. Doing other things, whether it's dancing on the field or talking to the opposition, we don't do that, because if you're doing that, you really can't focus on your job. I can't talk trash and focus on what I'm supposed to do. Maybe I'm just not a trash talker, I don't know. That's just the way I think and that's the way we've been. I'm not upset with our team. I just thought that was a good opportunity for me to give them the message that, 'Hey, we need to be focused on what we need to do in the game and execute in the game.' That misplaced emotion is something that we had earlier in the year and we didn't execute very well in the game and didn't play very well because of it. So let's make sure we're channeling our energy in the right direction so that we have a chance to be focused on the things we need to do to play well.
On what he says to his players to keep them even keeled after a big win:
I say the same thing as when y'all buried us last week. It really doesn't matter what you (the media) think. It really doesn't matter what you (media) say. And I hope that nobody on our team is playing for you. I hope they're playing for each other and their team and what they want to accomplish and not what you think, because that's certainly what I'm not doing. I'm coaching and working for our players and our team to be the best they can be. If that's not pleasing to somebody else, it's not pleasing to somebody else. I said before that I believe in our team. I do believe in our team. We're going to work hard to make our team better and I hope the players respond the right way. And it's not going to be for you. The fans? Yes. Because if it was up to you, we're six foot under already. We're dead and buried and gone. Gone. So if that was the case, we'd have to get some respirators down there to put some life back into people.
On Calvin Ridley's emerging as the playmaker at WR:
We hoped that role would happen with really three guys this year -- Robert Foster, ArDarius Stewart, and Calvin Ridley showed us enough in camp that we thought he could emerge as being one of those guys. With the circumstances as they are, he's gotten more opportunity and he's responded very well to it. We just need to get more guys at the receiver position to sort of have that kind of confidence, that kind of consistency, that kind of preparation, that kind of attention to detail that's going to help us have more players that can make explosive plays on the perimeter.
After watching the film of the Georgia game, our players did some really good things in some tough circumstances, a tough situation relative to playing on the road in the weather. Certainly proud of sort of the statement they made in the game. They beat a good team. There's a lot of things we could do better and clean up, and that's certainly something that we need to be committed to.
But you beat a good team, it is what it is and that's it. I think we did that because we practiced well and prepared well all week. We had really good focus in the game on execution and people doing their job. The effort and the toughness was what we need to have success in our league. But we are what we are as an identity only if it happens as a continuum. So you always have the next challenge. You always have the next game. You can look at teams all over the country that have big wins and then two weeks later, they're not so happy again. So this is something we need to build on, we need to improve on. It's something that our players need to learn so that we can continue to improve as a team, because we have many challenges, including the game we have this week.
We have a couple of guys who are a little nicked up. At this time in the season, some of those guys may not be able to practice on a Monday, but we expect everybody to be able to come back and be able to practice tomorrow. So we don't have any big injuries to report.
Arkansas, to me, has a really, really good team. Everybody knows what a physical game it was last year. They've got a couple of receivers that are injured. But four of the offensive linemen (are back), a really good running back, Alex Collins. Quarterback Brandon Allen has been starting now for three years and is a very, very good player. Their defense is one of the tops against the run in the SEC. Overall, they have played better and better each week. Brett (Bielema) has done a really, really good job there creating toughness and a physical team that you really, really have to have your jaw set to play against the things that they do. They have been a very efficient, effective passing team to go with a great running game. This is going to be a real challenging game.
On the progress of freshman DL Daron Payne:
He's improving every week. You've got to keep in mind young players that have ability have to learn to play with consistency, make sure that they're doing their job each and every play. We were pleased with what Daron has done. There are obviously some things that he can improve on. We think Darren Lake is a good player. Those two guys have to do a good job. There will be a lot of regular people in the game this week as well, so those two guys will certainly have some challenges relative to one of the biggest, best offensive lines probably in the country.
On whether consistency can be coached or you trust players to bring it every game:
I think you do both. Consistency is a human behavior we all struggle with every day. Things don't go right and everybody gets all fired up about trying to get it right. Things go really well and everybody wants to relax and everybody is, 'I want a day off.' I think that consistency is an element of human nature that the individual has to challenge himself, as well as we have to coach and make our players aware of the things that they do well they have to build on, and that's what creates a continuum. Continuum is what creates consistency. That's what our focus is going to be.
On having success on third down defensively while struggling on third downs offensively:
I think what you say is true in previous games. But I think to make that kind of judgment in the kind of game it was on Saturday, we probably just ran the ball on five or six third downs toward the end of that game trying to take the air out of it and not throw it to try to get first downs. We actually went for it a few times on fourth down just trying to take the air out of it. I do think we need to make some improvements on third down and I think it's a total team thing. I think pass protection needs to be better. I think the route runners need to be more consistent. The receivers need to catch the ball, because we've had some drops. The quarterbacks have got to do what the design is to get the first down. Defensively, we have gotten off the field in the last couple of weeks, but it's always a challenge trying to do things to affect the quarterback on third down, as well get their good people covered relative to their system and scheme.
On rating the special teams:
I really don't rate anything at this point in the season. But we have made some improvement in the kicking game. We still need to get our specialists being very consistent. I think the kicking game was probably the best in the last game in some difficult circumstances. We had some positive punt returns. We blocked a punt. Scored on special teams. Kickoff coverage was good for the most part. Kickoff return was a little better. At least we had a chance to get the ball up in decent field position. We were close to making some positive plays there. These are all things that we need to continue to work on, improve on so that they become an actual asset to our team.
On Kenyan Drake's not being able to get going against Georgia:
Kenyan Drake has to focus on what he needs to do to be a good player in his preparation. Can't make a home run every time he gets the ball. He's got to trust and believe in the plays the way they're designed and go run those plays and understand that a three or four-yard gain is a good play. If you do that, you're going to have a chance to make big plays. He's a good player and we obviously need to get him to do those things so that he has a chance to have the kind of production he's capable of. There are some things that we've done in the past to try to utilize his skills. Obviously the situation in the game Saturday was not favorable to doing some of those things, but it's something that we will try to continue to do in the future.
On Jake Coker's playing his best in the big games:
I think that Jake has done a really good job. I think he's gotten better every week. I think he did do a good job in the Wisconsin game. I think that we probably ran the ball a little more effectively in those games, which helped with the play action passes, helps with the third down situations. I think in those two games (Wisconsin and Georgia) there was a reason the team played a certain way that helped Jake play a certain way that was very helpful to him being successful. I think we need to continue to do that, but I also think that we need to expand what we do and be able to execute more things so that we can be more effective in other situations in the game as well.
On Jarran Reed's playing better at a lighter body weight:
He's having a really good year. His production is up. His production points are up. He's shown a lot of leadership on our team this year. It's been very important to him. He's probably in better shape than he's been in the past. I think his quickness is better and I think that's what's been helpful to him in terms of production.
On Derrick Henry's getting stronger as the game goes on:
I think he does (get stronger). I think he has had a really good year so far. I think it's important to use him in a way that's most beneficial to him and us, which is sort of feed him the ball, and he does seem to get stronger as the game goes on. I think our offensive line can do a little bit better job from a consistency standpoint in finishing blocks. I think that would make us even more effective in how Derrick plays.
On being upset at the way the players responded to Georgia's pre-game taunting:
I thought I mentioned that one of the reasons we played well was because we were focused on the game. I think people have to be focused on doing their job. Doing other things, whether it's dancing on the field or talking to the opposition, we don't do that, because if you're doing that, you really can't focus on your job. I can't talk trash and focus on what I'm supposed to do. Maybe I'm just not a trash talker, I don't know. That's just the way I think and that's the way we've been. I'm not upset with our team. I just thought that was a good opportunity for me to give them the message that, 'Hey, we need to be focused on what we need to do in the game and execute in the game.' That misplaced emotion is something that we had earlier in the year and we didn't execute very well in the game and didn't play very well because of it. So let's make sure we're channeling our energy in the right direction so that we have a chance to be focused on the things we need to do to play well.
On what he says to his players to keep them even keeled after a big win:
I say the same thing as when y'all buried us last week. It really doesn't matter what you (the media) think. It really doesn't matter what you (media) say. And I hope that nobody on our team is playing for you. I hope they're playing for each other and their team and what they want to accomplish and not what you think, because that's certainly what I'm not doing. I'm coaching and working for our players and our team to be the best they can be. If that's not pleasing to somebody else, it's not pleasing to somebody else. I said before that I believe in our team. I do believe in our team. We're going to work hard to make our team better and I hope the players respond the right way. And it's not going to be for you. The fans? Yes. Because if it was up to you, we're six foot under already. We're dead and buried and gone. Gone. So if that was the case, we'd have to get some respirators down there to put some life back into people.
On Calvin Ridley's emerging as the playmaker at WR:
We hoped that role would happen with really three guys this year -- Robert Foster, ArDarius Stewart, and Calvin Ridley showed us enough in camp that we thought he could emerge as being one of those guys. With the circumstances as they are, he's gotten more opportunity and he's responded very well to it. We just need to get more guys at the receiver position to sort of have that kind of confidence, that kind of consistency, that kind of preparation, that kind of attention to detail that's going to help us have more players that can make explosive plays on the perimeter.
