FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' defense got rolling this week on a few opponent looks for 2015, while the offense plans to filter in more scout team schemes in the final couple of days of spring drills next week prior to the Red-White game.
Because Arkansas' offense is a little different than the norm in the SEC these days, defensive coordinator Robb Smith said it's a good idea to break away normal spring work against the Razorbacks' offense to glance ahead and refresh players on annual opponents.
"Our offense does a great job of giving us pro-style looks," Smith said. "As you know, we play a lot of teams in our conference where the quarterback is a formidable runner. What we've done is taken plays from our SEC opponents where the quarterback is a running option and we can start getting those reads and keys and try to be a step ahead when we get to fall camp next year.
"Auburn obviously has that. Tennessee has a segment of that, and we haven't even seen Tennessee yet as an opponent. Any quarterback run plays that we saw during the season from our opponents, those are what we're kind of going back and brushing up on."
During those periods when the offensive scout team has been showing those looks to the defense this week, the offense has continued to install and rep its playbook.
"We'll get to that next week," offensive coordinator Dan Enos said. "We'll start working on some things that we haven't seen from our defense, some exotic fronts and different, odd things we may need to work on, especially in those first few games. But right now we're using that extra time to continue to build what we're doing."
Tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. said the brief amount of opponent work last spring came in handy.
"We always like to take a few days in the spring to get a head start on our first SEC opponent," he said. "We'll do that down the stretch a little bit too.
"I think it's always beneficial to get your mind off your own defense and get a fresh look, where you see different fronts and formations and schemes. It's good to educate yourself on how to run your base plays against those things."
Saturday's practice at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, which is open to Razorback Foundation members and season ticket holders, is not likely to have as much live scrimmaging as the past two Saturdays, Bielema suggested last week.
"I think he'll put us in a few situational things maybe," quarterback Brandon Allen said. "Maybe not as much full contact as we've had. Really just to tune up a lot of things we've got going on and have a great practice and get ready for the spring game."
Enos said Bielema had not given out the entire plan for Saturday as of Thursday's practice.
"I know it'll be a lot of situations because we've been really getting third downs and red zone and plus red zone and two-minute," Enos said. "We did two minute again today. It'll be a lot of situation work I think."
Smith said he expected Saturday's work to be largely situational.
"I think Coach B does a great job of stressing the importance of critical areas," Smith said "First and second down, third down, red zone, sudden change, two-minute, things of that nature. I think he's going to fire a lot of different situations at us and force our guys to not only play football but think and understand the situations as well."
Enos said taking advantage of the few remaining days of spring ball is critical.
"We still have things we want to look at this last week," he said. "We'll make sure here Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday that we get things on tape. Even if we only get it on tape a few times, get some things on tape that we want to work on."
Sports on 04/17/2015