Emphasis on improving offensive line continues for Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE — The offensive line wasn’t up to Arkansas’ standards last season which matched pretty much that side of the ball.

Thus four new coaches on offense this year including Bobby Petrino, who is among the best offensive coordinators in college football. Eric Mateos is coaching the offensive line and Arkansas added help from the portal with four new players. Sam Pittman spent time in the spring and again on Wednesday working with that unit.

“I just feel like different coaches do it different ways,” Pittman said. “In other words when I was at Georgia, we watched — not during this time. Well, yeah, during camp — but we watched both offense and defense together. Everybody was in the same room, and we watched it. The coaches would say whatever they needed to say. I felt like that was always a good way for the head coach to learn offensive and defensive football as well. Learn how the coaches are teaching them, the techniques and all of that.

“A way for me to learn the offense is to sit in the offensive line meetings. I know it, but I can learn the details of everything. How we’re teaching it and what I should say. Good or bad. I’ve really enjoyed sitting in Coach Mateos’ meetings. Now everybody can coach. Sean Fogarty is another helper. We moved him to o-line from a GA spotter to an analyst because I was under the impression that they would be able to coach two years ago. Or a year and a half ago, I guess. The rule didn’t pass. So now we really have three of us. Today, Eric was coaching the way I used to do it in the first period or two. Then he split up the centers with me later in the practice. I’ve enjoyed it a lot. I’ve enjoyed sitting in the meetings. I’ll throw a few comments in every now and then.”

Pittman then went into more detail on the offensive line.

“I just like them,” Pittman said. “They play really hard. They’re athletic. We’ve got to improve on pass protection. I think we had some great – not breakdowns – defensive linemen. They’ve got some great players over there. That’s usually the slowest thing that comes in fall camp. Your protection. We’ve certainly got to continue to work there. They are willing and I think they are athletic enough to do what Bobby and Eric are asking of them to do.”

One of the key additions on that unit is left tackle Fernando Carmona. He arrived at Arkansas from San Jose State in the transfer portal. Carmona, right tackle Keyshawn Blackstock and center Addison Nichols are running first team.

“I think he’s better with his technique than what he was in the spring,” Pittman said of Carmona. “They worked on it all summer as well. I also think he has a lot more confidence. I think when you’re coming in, you’re having all of this to prove and your mind is going, ‘who’s my teammates?’ All these different things. Now he can kind of calm down a little bit and can get a little more detail-oriented. I felt like that’s what he has been doing. He has been going up against one of the best in the league every day with Landon Jackson. If you ask Landon about him, I think Landon thinks he’s one of the better tackles in the SEC. We certainly know that Landon is that way a defensive end. That competition has been really good. But I just feel like his confidence is coming and it comes to the weight room as well because he’s gotten a lot stronger.”

Ty’Kieast Crawford is pushing Joshua Braun at right guard. Pittman was asked about Crawford and Joe More, the other transfer, following practice?

“I can answer this one without coach-speaking you,” Pittman said. “I saw Ty’Kieast do some really good things today. I would have to watch the tape to tell you more about Joe. I didn’t feel a lot was flashing in the passing game or the run game with penetration or edge pressure and all that from him. To answer that question without BSing you, I’d have to watch the tape.”

Arkansas will hold practice No. 2 today beginning at 5 p.m.