Sorting Through Sam Pittman's Talk to Find Biggest Concerns

Couple of position groups still have his attention early in fall camp for Razorbacks

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Aug 11, 2023 2:10 PM EDT
Original:
Aug 10, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It was interesting listening to Arkansas coach Sam Pittman with the media Thursday afternoon because we finally found out what his biggest concerns still are early in fall camp.

Upon early listen, it sounded like just two, but ended up being three position groups. It was one of his Pittmanese explanations that actually is great, but you really have to listen a couple of times to figure out he's not just talking about one or two until he adds the third. None of it matters, but it is entertaining.

"With [Brad Spence] and [Alex Sanford] coming on, along with Mani Powell, we’re going to be fine at linebacker," he said after Thursday morning's practice. "With what we had at tight end and the additions we had come in, we’re going to be just fine there too. Those are my two biggest concerns, along with are our tackles good enough to win offensively games in the SEC?"

To put all of that simply, he was concerned about linebacker and tight end, but those two positions at least have him comfortable in the first week of fall camp. The ongoing worry about the offensive tackles will continue until they go to Baton Rouge for the fourth game of the year to kick off an entire month away from Fayetteville.

It just goes back to what we've been saying all along. There is no question a lot of players on the Razorbacks' roster have talent, but until they start doing it in SEC games, there's probably going to be questions.

There's also no easy or obvious answers and Pittman knows that better than anyone else. How they do in league games and getting wins is the overall determining factor and that's the big picture concern. That depends on the answers to those questions he still has.