Notes and observations from Day 2 of the Razorbacks' fall football camp

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Published Saturday, August 5, 2023
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ football team held its second practice of the preseason Saturday around 9 a.m. on the fields outside Walker Pavilion.
Here are some notes, observations and takeaways from the open-viewing periods. Thunder and lightning forced the team indoors:
• The Razorbacks’ wide receivers on Day 1 won the sixth-period coverage drill, making a number of big catches, including a few for touchdowns. The defense bounced back Saturday.
Cornerback Lorando “Snaxx” Johnson had a pair of pass breakups on throws intended for receiver Andrew Armstrong, who was the opening day standout. Georgia transfer Jaheim Singletary broke up a pass on a ball over the middle of the field.
Baylor transfer Al Walcott and Jaylen Lewis forced a couple of incompletions during their reps. Overall, defensive backs were far more aggressive and physical Saturday than on Day 1.
Co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson was watching the WR/DB reps from the secondary and was vocal with his guys throughout the period.
• Receivers did have some success. Isaac TeSlaa caught a semi-contested ball down the left sideline and ran 10-15 yards in for a score. Safety Dylan Hasz was a split second late on the play and narrowly missed a PBU.
Chris Harris also caught a contested pass along the right sideline, and Kamron Bibby had a reception and scored. Freshman tight end Luke Hasz had a big catch down the seam during the team's Fastball Start on a throw from Jacolby Criswell.
When the team began its Fastball period, the energy was up from the day before on the defensive side. The group was vocal and had the upper hand on the offense during the segment.
Working with the third team, running back Rashod Dubinon made a nice cut into the secondary before the play was blown dead.
• After one possession of Fastball, a spirited Antonio Grier jogged off the field and smacked Johnson on the back of his helmet and shouted, “That’s how we start, baby! That’s how we start!”
• When the defense ran onto the field for Fastball, the size of the defensive line stood out, especially with Trajan Jeffcoat, Tank Booker and Cam Ball lined up next to one another.
Later, as the defensive tackles worked on their own at the five-man sleds, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman praised the quality of their work. "Really good, men," he said.
• Quarterback KJ Jefferson has had some good moments in the first two days of camp in terms of connecting with receivers for big plays. There have also been moments when he wasn't precise. A few balls have been off target and receivers haven’t had a great opportunity to make a play.
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dan Enos worked with the quarterbacks on footwork in the pocket and attention to those details. For example, during one teaching point Enos stressed to “get those feet high,” as quarterbacks emphasized footwork motions to help form habits.
• Enos also had the group working on upper body throwing fundamentals. They threw passes to each other roughly 10 yards apart while on their knees to hone in on using their arms and upper extremities.
• The linebackers spent time working on reading coverages and detailing when/how to pass off route runners to safeties. It was stressed to “not let guys get running vertically.”
• Pittman appeared to bark at the linemen on both sides during the team's inside run drill just before the end of the open period for media members. In some colorful terms, Pittman called a rep soft and reminded that the drill was meant to learn how to run the ball for tough yardage and to stop the run.
Moments later, Landon Jackson earned praise from defensive line coach Deke Adams for getting off the ball and disrupting a play.
Tight end Luke Hasz got the first rep with the first-team offensive line during the inside run work. Hasz and Nathan Bax later lined up with the first team when the formation changed to two tight ends.
• Defensive graduate assistant Tyrone Hopper stands out in his teaching time with defensive ends. He worked with the group early Saturday on eye progression — looking down the line after making initial contact with the offensive lineman.