Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast — Arkansas players drafted, Travis Swanson joins and more!
Tye & Tommy on the Razorback players signing NFL deals, Travis Swanson joins the show and more!
Softness of past couple of seasons will change quick for Hogs, Swanson says
One of the biggest accusations against Arkansas the past couple of season by media and fans or anyone else paying attention was just an overall softness that seemed to filter down from the top.
Former Razorback All-American center Travis Swanson noticed it, too. It was a process that started when Sam Pittman left Bret Bielema’s staff to join Kirby Smart with Georgia.
That led to two seasons with the equivalent of an NFL grad assistant followed by a good guy who didn’t have a clue how to coach SEC-caliber linemen.
That will all change with Pittman, Swanson feels … and already has started. The Hogs may not win the West, but they probably won’t be called soft.
“That’s not going to be tolerated,” he told Tye Richardson and Tommy Craft (The Morning Rush) on ESPN Arkansas Monday morning. “A couple of guys on the team, talking to them, that message has been received.”
Swanson only had one season with Pittman (2013), but “I wish he’d been around for all my time.”
With his academics at the point he only had to take one class his final season, he spent a lot of time at the football center working out and just talking with Pittman about life, football and throwing out ideas.
“I remember being at the facility three to four hours before I needed to,” Swanson said. “Going up to his office and talking about life, things not related to football, things he picked up, ideas I had picked up. Gee, honestly, it feels like last week.”
It’s all part of getting players, which is not exactly the biggest thing, either.
“When they come out of high school just a shell of what you’re going to be,” Swanson said. “It’s up to the coaches. There’s really two sides to this whole thing. Recruiting is only half of the battle. It means nothing if you can’t develop them.
“It goes back to what I’ve said — it’s development, the personal side with you. He knows how to recruit. He knows what he’s doing and how to tie it all together. You can sense how genuine coaches are. You’re going to do anything to not let him down. It’s one of the biggest factors with him.”
At least through an unprecedented amount of chaos since taking the job last December, Pittman appears to be making strides in the recruiting area.
When Swanson watched the Hogs stumble through another disastrous season last year and Chad Morris was finally kicked to the curb in November, he had an idea. He got some other former players on board and a letter was sent supporting Pittman.
“When I saw the news, read headlines, I sat back in my chair and thought about what does Arkansas need?” he said. “You need somebody to recruit … all the other resources are here. It made a bunch of sense to me and others guys I knew. Initially it was something we believed he deserved and got fans talking about something and believe in it.”
It made a difference as athletics director Hunter Yurachek actually read the letter and was smart enough to be impressed with it.
At that point, Arkansas had reportedly been rebuffed by some names that would produce bigger headlines, but maybe not bring what is actually needed with the program.
“I know what this guy can do and excited to see how they do,” Swanson said. “Whenever this storm does pass excited for the Hogs to get back out there.”
Which really should be a shot of good news to start the week for Razorback fans.
Elite 8 voting now open in the Broyles Region of greatest Razorback football game bracket
Elite 8 voting kicks off today in the Greatest Razorback Football Game of all-time bracket! Now your votes count more than ever, because these Elite 8 match-ups are tough, and feature some of the greatest games in Arkansas football history. But which one is the greatest? Voting in the Ken Hatfield Region is now open! Make sure to submit your votes below!
Click here to view the full bracket!
Tomorrow (Tuesday), Elite 8 voting will be opened up for the Paul Eells Region! Get out there and vote on what you think the Greatest Razorback Football Game of All Time!
Defense, quarterback obviously biggest keys to Hogs making improvement
In all the analysis without spring practice surrounding Arkansas during this health crisis, it’s not that difficult to lose focus of the two biggest areas that have to improve for anything to get better.
Folks, it’s going to be the defense and settling things at quarterback. Feleipe Franks didn’t come here to help some of the youngsters figure things out. He’s wanting to hear his name called at next year’s NFL Draft.
On the other side it’s a little more cloudy.
It helps on defense the new guy in charge probably has a little extra motivation he probably won’t admit for awhile.
Barry Odom was fired at Missouri after beating the Razorbacks in Little Rock in November. Eli Drinkwitz replaced him after one year as a college head coach and they paid him $1 million a year more.
No coach will acknowledge something like that but you can bet they won’t forget.
The guess is the defense will not just be better — admittedly not exactly a high bar — but dramatically different and improved.
“You could play really good defense … say you play 75 snaps, you could play really good defense for 68 of those 75 plays, but on those seven remaining plays if you give up chunk yardage or explosive plays then it’s not a very good day,” Odom said over a week ago in a teleconference.
That was the biggest problem with the defense the last couple of years. It wasn’t that hard for teams to figure out what they were going to be doing.
“We’re very multiple and we’re doing some things that I really like,” linebacker Bumper Pool said this past week. “I kind of think that with any scheme it’s just kind of about how hard you play.”
Which is why Odom is changing the scheme, but he’s more interested in changing the effort, which appeared questionable too often over the past couple of years.
“It’s going to be an effort based defense that plays with tremendous speed,” Odom said. “Those things, if you get and train and have the habits of playing collectively together, but also playing hard, understanding your assignment.”
That’s everybody, by the way.
“It’s not just on the defensive line, it’s not just on the secondary, it’s all of them collectively together,” Odom said.
Like we said earlier, it’s not just a scheme, It’s a mind-set. Odom has said putting together a depth chart is going to be a little difficult because there may be six defensive backs starting, five or four … it will change a lot.
Everybody has said that. What the players seem to think is they are going to be expected to play better.
“We find ways to create turnovers and give the ball back to our offense,” Odom said about what he wants to do. “Give them another possession and continue to find ways effectively to get off the field on third down.
“If you can do those and focus on those elements, then you’re numbers start to decrease defensively. You have got to be a really good tackling team.
“All of those components go into playing good defense and ultimately that’s not giving up big plays.”
Pool may have summed up the biggest change without realizing it.
“You can just see coach Odom has a fire in his eyes,” Pool said. “He’s determined to be the best and it shows in everything he does. He’s strict and he’s so fired up about it.
“You can see his passion. And that passion spreads out to the whole defense.”
Which will also spread to the fans quickly … if it improves.
Harris, Smith, Whaley, Capps, Harrell sign with teams, but nothing for O’Grady
Maybe everything you need to know about how NFL teams are evaluating players these days is lightly-used tight end Chase Harrell got a deal with a team after the draft while Cheyenne O’Grady is still waiting.
That has little to do with talent and how the league takes into account a lot more than how fast, strong and well you play football these days.
NFL teams don’t take as many chances if there is a hint of off-field questions these days. It’s not substance abuse these days as much as it is simply getting to meetings on time, not missing classes and nothing to do with what’s on the tape.
Here’s a list of the Razorbacks who have signed undrafted free agent deals (and it may be updated):
• T.J. Smith, Los Angeles Chargers
• Chase Harrell, San Francisco 49ers
• De’Jon Harris, New England Patriots
• Devwah Whaley, Cincinnati Bengals
• Austin Capps, Atlanta Falcons
By the numbers, the odds are actually better taking the free agency route than getting picked after the third round.
Last year in the NFL on opening day, over 30 percent of team rosters were made up undrafted free agents … in other words, about 16 players per team on average.
2019 NFL Rosters by Original Draft Slot
UDFA- 30.9%
Rd 1- 14.3%
Rd 2- 11.0%
Rd 3- 11.1%
Rd 4- 9.9%
Rd 5- 8.6%
Rd 6- 8.4%
Rd 7- 5.7%— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) September 3, 2019
As I learned covering the NFL years ago if you aren’t going in the first three rounds it’s better to be an undrafted free agent. It’s in the numbers.
If you’re a free agent and have multiple offers, you can pick the team where you have the best shot of making the roster.
And you can rest assured teams ask as many questions about free agents these days as they do players they are drafting … only they avoid problems. The last thing they’re interested in doing is having to babysit a free agent.
O’Grady’s problems, ultimately, were of his own doing and they’ve been well-chronicled over the last five years. Getting kicked off the team midway through last season near the end of Chad Morris’ time probably shouldn’t have been too surprising.
He’s got the talent. There’s no question about that.
It’s the other things that count for just as much these days. Instead of being picked by a team he’s in the position now of having to hope for a chance.
Which will be slim, at best.
ICYMI: Boozman praises Hutchinson on handling health crisis in state
U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas) was with Tye Richardson and Tommy Craft (The Morning Rush) on ESPN Arkansas last week with the latest on the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Going 4-20 over couple of years won’t produce lot of draft excitement
Arkansas fans knew going into the three days of the NFL Draft late this week it was going to be mostly for enjoyment because there weren’t going to be a whole lot of their heroes getting picked.
McTelvin Agim went in the third round to Denver late Friday night, then Kamren Curl was chosen in the seventh round by Washington on Saturday afternoon.
C.J. O’Grady is going to have to hope somebody will give him a shot after watching his enormous potential squandered on some immature mistakes. According to multiple NFL people I’ve spoken to his mistakes were red flags none were willing to gamble on.
Maybe the biggest thing about all of it is the lack of recruiting plus development the Hogs have endured over the last four years coming back to haunt them. Few players are drafted based on what they did in high school which is why I keep mentioning development.
While Agim will get a legit shot at making the final 53-man roster, Curl is going to have to prove his worth on special teams, which he is completely possible.
Here’s Curl’s evaluation from ESPN.com’s John Keim:
Once more there’s positional versatility, as Curl began his college career as a corner. He said it helped him with coverage while playing strong safety. Curl said he’s one of the “most versatile corners in the draft.” The Redskins don’t have a great safety group, but they do have numbers with starters Landon Collins and Sean Davis and backups Troy Apke and Deshazor Everett. The latter two made it the same way Curl will have to — as special teamers. Curl isn’t a burner (4.6 in the 40) so he’ll have to be disciplined in other areas.
O’Grady, though, might be better positioned.
For all the years I was covering NFL teams, there’s always been a break point where being a free agent is far better than being drafted late. Those deals are all negotiable.
Draft selections’ salaries and signing bonuses are pre-determined within a few dollars by the players’ association and the league in collective bargaining.
He is the 16th Razorback taken by the Redskins and the 273rd Arkansas football player drafted. At least one Razorback has been picked in each of the last 25 years of the NFL Draft, which ranks fourth in the SEC.
Curl is the first Arkansas DB taken in the NFL Draft since Tevin Mitchel (Washington Redskins) in 2015.
Curl also becomes the first Razorback underclassman to be picked in the draft since Hunter Henry and Alex Collins in 2016, which is when most of the players rounded up when current coach Sam Pittman was an assistant under Bret Bielema (2013-15).
Curl started 33 of the 34 games he played in while donning the cardinal & white recording 175 total tackles over his three years as a Razorback, with two sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Curl began the 2019 season as a Preseason All-SEC Third Team member by the league’s coaches, one of three Hogs to earn the distinction.
He finished fourth on the team with 76 tackles, 46 solo, which ranked second on the squad. He had four tackles for loss, including two sacks, with two pass breakups, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
Curl became the first player in the NCAA in 2019 to record a sack, an interception and score a touchdown on a fumble recovery, doing so over the first two games of the year.
He made the move to strong safety in 2018 after spending most of his time as a freshman at cornerback. He tallied 53 total tackles, with 27 solo stops, breaking up five passes. Curl also forced a fumble in the second game of the year against North Texas, while recording at least three tackles in every game he played.
As a freshman, Curl quickly jumped into the starting role after an injury to a teammate, resulting in the second-most snaps among all SEC true freshman cornerbacks at 690.
He finished sixth on the team and tied for fourth among SEC freshmen in tackles with 46 and tied for the team lead in pass breakups at eight. His eight PBUs were the most by an Arkansas freshman since Lawrence Richardson (17) in 2001, while his 46 stops were the most by a Razorback freshman DB since 2012.
Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.
Agim projected as development pick in third round choice by Denver
Former Arkansas defensive tackle McTelvin “Sosa” Agim got his name called on the second day of the NFL Draft on Friday night going in the third round with the 95th pick in the draft to Denver.
According to evaluations, Agim is projected as a development player with a huge upside.
A five-star prospect from Hope who enrolled a semester early, then played in all 13 games his freshman season with the Razorbacks, starting the final five (27 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks) to land on the SEC All-Freshman squad.
Agim started 11 of 12 games played as a sophomore (37 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles).
He led Arkansas with 10 tackles for loss in 12 starts in 2018, racking up 45 stops, 4.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.
Agim topped his squad with 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in 2019, posting 39 total tackles and forcing a fumble in 12 starts.
Here is the analysis of him at NFL.com, the league’s official website:
Agim is a work in progress with only one season as a full-time defensive tackle after playing defensive end previously. While his technique and fundamentals are still in a developmental stage as an interior defender, elements like hand placement and ball awareness are expected at defensive end, so it is a little disappointing they are behind. He has snap quickness to become a better one-gap penetrator and rush talent to build upon if he can attack with a better plan and more urgency. He’s not strong enough to withstand NFL power at the point of attack so development of strength and technique will be critical if he is to become a rotational 4-3 defensive tackle.
He is the seventh Razorback taken by the Broncos and the 272nd Arkansas football player drafted. The last Arkansas played selected by Denver was David Williams in 2018 (226th). At least one Razorback has been picked in each of the last 25 years of the NFL Draft, which ranks fourth in the SEC.
It also marks back-to-back years a Razorback defensive tackle has gone in the draft, as Armon Watts was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2019 NFL Draft.
With rookie salaries pre-determined in agreement with the players’ association, Agim will make approximately $825,000 as a rookie after making the team roster after training camp with a signing bonus that usually runs just under that amount.
Franks may be welcoming challenge of turning things around quick for Hogs
If you want a clearer picture of the difference between this Arkansas football staff and the last one all you really have to do is look at the graduate transfer quarterback each landed.
Kendal Briles and Sam Pittman landed a starter from an SEC team that has had success in the league and actually sounds enthusiastic about landing in Fayetteville.
The guys before brought in their previous quarterback who had never really won that much against Group of 5 teams and never over the big boys. We’re not even going to discuss letting a quarterback get away who then came back to town and embarrassed them with a Conference USA supporting cast.
Feleipe Franks sounded Friday like he’s glad to be in Fayetteville. The last quarterback sounded bored.
And it was clear pretty quick Briles’ track record at Baylor, Houston and Florida Atlantic got Franks’ attention.
“I’ve seen it work before,” Franks said of the Briles offense. “It’s been proven to work before.”
The Razorbacks’ current chaos is probably worse than things were with the Gators in 2017 when Jim McElwain stepped down as the coach as the team slipped to a 4-7 record and the coach left in the middle of the season.
Coming off a 9-4 record in 2016 and an SEC Championship game appearance that was a complete disaster in Gainesville.
But Franks was a part of how quickly things turned around.
“I’ve seen teams turn around in a year,” he said. “Just the motivation and stuff. We’re on the right track. If we approach it the right way it’ll be a blessing in the end.”
Listening to him Friday he almost seemed attracted to the challenge of turning around a team that has lost the same number of games each of the last two seasons as he won in his full season as the starter at Florida.
“It would have been easy for me to go to a top program where it’s already good, but who am I really helping there?” he said. “When I was at Florida we went 4-7 and the next we year we go and win 10 games and a New Year’s Six bowl.
“It’s about the motivation and we have that on this team. It just takes that one spark to start the turnaround, maybe a different coaching staff, a change.”
That’s what happened with the Gators as Dan Mullen came in, named Franks the starter and they made a drastic improvement.
Franks completed 58.4 percent of his passes in 2018 with 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions out of 322 attempts.
“I love being the underdog,” he said. “That’s what makes me go harder each and every day to just prove more and more people wrong. That’s a good mentality for this team … just prove people wrong.
“All it takes is a flip of a switch and it turns around quick.”
Which is exactly what the Hogs’ fans are hoping happens.
