Hogs May Want Fast Start, but Those Have Popped Up

One of things Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson has to fix is getting things rolling fast

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — All you have to know about a big part of Arkansas' press conference with players after Tuesday afternoon's practice is a bit of history with quarterback KJ Jefferson. These slow starts began against Rice in 2021.

"It’s all going to be about us," Jefferson told the media. "We’ve got to focus on us and go out there and execute our game plan at a very high level," That opener with the Owls in his first season opener has probably been brought up a couple of times. He's very aware.

Last year had some issues with that. New offensive coordinator Dan Enos is certainly aware of it and his past history hasn't shown a lot of that. The guy who had the job before clearly had a problem with that a few times over the past couple of years. For a team with as many new faces as the Razorbacks have this year, digging an early hole probably isn't the best way to learn.

"Last year I feel like we weren’t a first quarter, first half type of team," Hogs running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders said. "Not playing down to the level and just worrying about ourself and executing as a team and just doing the things that we'll do against Alabama, LSU. Just coming out, just worrying about ourself and executing, that's going to get us to the dub (a win)."

In 12 regular season games last year, the Hogs scored only scored on their first possession one time, a touchdown in Week 2 against South Carolina. The Hogs finished in the Top 15 nationally in total offense per game, but that didn't have a whole lot to do with how those games started.

"The main thing is doing the little details right, lining up, executing the plays, understanding what’s going on, understanding the down and distance," Jefferson said. "Different intangibles that’s within the game that we’ve got to be able to focus on and worry about us. That’s what we mean when we say we’ve got to worry about Arkansas football."

The Razorbacks open the regular season Saturday against Western Carolina at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on Saturday. There will be no broadcast channel for the game and is only available on ESPN+.

HOGS FEED:

WATCH: HOGS PLAYERS AFTER TUESDAY AFTERNOON'S PRACTICE LOOKING AT LINEUP BEFORE WESTERN CAROLINA

RAZORBACKS' TWO-DEEP ROSTER HAS SOME POSSIBLE HIDDEN GEMS AHEAD OF OPENING GAME

ARKANSAS HISTORY HAS TAUGHT PITTMAN POWERFUL LESSON ABOUT TAKING SMALL SCHOOLS LIGHTLY

• Return to allHogs home page
• Subscribe and follow us on YouTube.
• Follow allHOGS on Twitter and Facebook.