Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Morris’ whistle to direct practice
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Chad Morris wore a headset connected to loudspeakers so he could bark instructions during the team’s first practice of spring Thursday.
Today, it’s Morris’ whistle that could have the biggest effect on the workout for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
The Razorbacks will wear full pads this morning for a closed workout that will feature some live hitting periods, and Morris’ whistle will determine when a play ends.
“I’m anticipating probably about 20 minutes … maybe four or five periods of live work Saturday, just to see, kind of put them in some live situations,” Morris said.
On Thursday, Morris noticed some players pulling up when they felt plays were coming to an end during the shorts-and-helmets practice. There can be a difference between when players think a play is over and when the whistle blows, Morris suggested.
“One of the things we’ve got to get better at is understanding what tracking means, learning how to practice,” Morris said Thursday. “I thought today, I’ll be the one blowing the whistle and there’s guys letting up before the whistle is blown.
“That’s a loaf. We had a lot of loafs out there today. I want to see guys run through the whistle. That’s all about learning how to finish. But again, I expected that. I really did. I expected that today, because they don’t understand how we want them to practice all out. That’s just part of it.”
“[Today] will be better than [Thursday], and that’s all I ask. I will say this, we’re a better football team right now at whatever time it is … than we were when we stepped on the field at 4:30.”
The Razorbacks are adjusting to new systems and terminology on both sides of the ball in the first spring session under Morris, and members of the media are adjusting to his football language as well.
Morris and his staff use the term “tracking” to describe defensive pursuit in nontackling situations. They use the common football term “thud” to describe light contact in pads that does not include tackling to the ground.
Morris joked Thursday when asked how he’ll handle quarterbacks and contact situations during live periods.
“A lot of it depends on how they’re playing,” Morris cracked. “No, I’m just kidding. We have what we call quarterback rules. There are in-the-pocket rules and outof-pocket rules.
“If you’re in the pocket, you do not touch them. You break through, you keep going, you stay low and you get by them. Do not touch them, don’t disrupt them, run past them.”
Morris said he may blow his whistle to indicate a sack or whether he’ll want a play to carry on to its conclusion.
“The quarterback needs to play it like he’s escaped it,” Morris said. “Or I may give a quick whistle. Who knows?”
Called quarterback runs, which were relatively rare for the Razorbacks with Brandon Allen and Austin Allen under center and a little more common with 6-7 Cole Kelley playing quarterback, is another facet to
Morris’ offense.
Former offensive coordinator Dan Enos unleashed the “Steamboat” package with Kelley in short-yardage situations in last year’s 50-43 loss to Texas A&M.
Morris’ system supplies a higher percentage of quarterback runs, with run-pass options attached.
“If we choose to run the quarterback, which we will, then it’ll be a thud,” Morris said. “He’ll be thudded in the pocket or in the box.
“If it’s a quarterback power or quarterback zone, whatever it is, then just thud him up. Keep him off the ground, give him a good pop.”
If quarterbacks are running outside the pocket, the rules are modified.
“If he’s outside the pocket, he’s always, always a tracking,” Morris said. “Don’t touch him. Just touch off on him. That’s all we’ve got to do. A lot of times I’ll blow the whistle, a lot of times I won’t.
“I want to see this quarterback run and get down the field. Can he make somebody miss down the field?
“They all know. That was one of the first things we talked about was our quarterback rules. They’ll hear me constantly communicating, ‘Quarterback rules apply right here.’ ”
And Morris’ whistle will have the final say.