New Faces Turns Green's Task with Razorbacks' Offense to Teaching

So many new faces means Arkansas' quarterback must figure out new group of receivers as spring practice starts

Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green at spring practice on outdoor practice fields in Fayetteville, Ark. / Andy Hodges-Hogs on SI Images

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fans and the media aren't the only ones trying to figure out Arkansas' new faces on offense.

Returning quarterback Taylen Green is the trigger man and he's learning all the new players, too. How he figures it out is probably the only one that really matters.

"Just seeing all new faces and trying to get chemistry with everybody," Green told the media Monday before the Razorbacks' first spring practice. "The different routes, and you know, really testing me on how much I know the offense."

There wasn't much to learn that can be counted on for the fall on opening day of spring. It was a lot of basic drills and some team work.

All of that is probably just so coaches can get some guys on film to look at and determine a plan. That will be the case Tuesday evening in the second practice of the spring.

To this point, nobody has really seen much of anything except running and jumping.

"Coaches aren’t out there when we’re throwing," Green said. "I’ve got to tell them the depth and when to cut, and even with the new quarterbacks.

"The tempo with three-step, five-step or anything that we do. Definitely testing me in my details in the offense, and me as a leader, too. All of them have really stuck out to me."

Even though Green is starting his fifth spring practice, this is like working with a completely new team. All of his best receivers either ran out of eligibility or left for another team.

"We have a lot of transfers and just the energy that they bring," Green said. "I’m coming back for my second year, so just applying what I did last year to this year. I’m excited to see everybody. It’s going to be a little different seeing different numbers and different faces on the field."

He's also had to take on a leadership role with the quarterbacks. KJ Jackson is the projected No. 2 quarterback, but nobody really knows what he can do in an SEC game.

Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Madden Imaleava at spring practice on outdoor practice fields in Fayetteville, Ark. / Andy Hodges-Hogs on SI Images

Behind him is freshman Madden Imaleava, Grayson Wilson and Austin Ledbetter. Green is having to do a lot of teaching, but saw first-hand last year the importance of the top back-up who may have to come in at critical times.

It was back-up Malachi Singleton who directed the game-winning drive in a 19-14 win over Tennessee. That ended up being the difference in the Hogs playing Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl.

"Just the details that we’ve been having in our meetings, on and off the field having questions," Green said. "We just had quarterback dinner and that just really speaks to me, especially KJ’s been stepping up in the role that he has."

Arkansas Razorbacks offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino at spring practice talking to quarterback Taylen Green on outdoor practice fields in Fayetteville, Ark. / Andy Hodges-Hogs on SI Images

Green knows his expectations. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino has probably pointed it out to him a couple of time.

"I have to do my part, being my last year," he said, "I have to make sure that anybody is after me that’s going to take the ropes, that’s what I’m really big on, just leaving this place better than what I found it."

Petrino has also spent a lot of time working with Green. That's not unusual.

Coaching the quarterbacks is probably Petrino's happy place in life and that involves a lot of detail. He's doing that Green in great detail.

"Really just going through the games last year and just my decision-making," Green said. "He  grades on two things, decision-making and execution. We have a full Excel grades sheet."

Listening to Green makes it clear it's not the first time he's heard some of those things.

"Of course, we went through it right after the game or the day after the game," he said, "but going through it again and just taking time to ask what he was going through and why he called a certain play, what he wanted me to do and things like that.

"Just taking time with that and of course limiting the turnovers and taking care of the ball. Because we have a great defense and great special teams, I've got to do my job. Ttake care of the ball and to put points on the board any way, whether that's me running or me throwing the ball, just doing whatever I have to do."

That's what everybody expects from a guy coming back.

The Hogs will continue spring practice drills Tuesday afternoon, then take Wednesday off. They will resume practices Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

HOGS FEED:

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• Hogs find potential go-to receiver from unexpected source

• Pittman needs edge rushers to pop in Hogs' spring practice

• Green looking to help build future of Arkansas Razorbacks at quarterback

• Numbers have taken wild swing since last time Hogs faced Gamecocks

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