Morris seeks speed in spring game
Today’s Red-White intrasquad spring game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock will be the fastest ever for the Arkansas Razorbacks if coach Chad Morris’ no-huddle spread offense operates as fast as he aspires.
“Offensively, you are going to see us playing fast Saturday,” Morris said. “Heck, I’m going to try and set a record in the most plays you can possibly run in a spring game. We’re going to play fast. We’re going to have fun.”
The spring game was moved to Little Rock as renovations continue in the north end zone of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. Renovations are expected to be completed in time for the
2018 season opener on Sept. 1 against Eastern Illinois.
The spring game is scheduled to begin today at 1 p.m. Admission is free. The game will be televised on the SEC Network (Resort Channel 79).
Morris said he wants to cater to the fan base as much as he can. He emphasized spring football is about getting better, which starts with evaluating and improving on the basics.
“We’re going to be very, very vanilla,” Morris said. “We’re going to be very generic. We’re going to do what these guys we feel have gotten good at. People have asked me, ‘How much of the playbook will be in?’ Not much.
“I do know that what we’re going to do is our base offense. We’re excited to see these guys play fast without coaching because the coaches will be off the field.”
Defensive coordinator John Chavis will lead his new defense in a game setting for the first time.
“Defensively, you’re going to see these guys, as we have all spring, taking the reins off them and letting them be very physical,” Morris said. “You all have been out at practice. You’ve seen the energy level and bringing pressure. You’re going to see that Saturday.”
Arkansas could have two additional spring football practices under the NCAA’s allotted 15 dates, but the spring game will mark the last major film to evaluate the team.
Morris said he will not name a starting quarterback until further evaluations in preseason in August, the Red-White game presents an opportunity for the candidates to get a leg up. Third-year sophomore Cole Kelley and fourth-year junior Ty Storey are reportedly dead even in the contest to succeed two-year starter Austin Allen.
“I think it’s a tight race,” said junior Jonathan Nance, last season’s leading receiver with 539 yards and five touchdowns. “You never know who is going to go in with you. We just all are trying to get chemistry between the quarterbacks. That’s why we’re doing a good job. They both are making good reads and good throws.”
Rather than drafting squads or matching the first offense vs. the second defense and vice-versa, Morris said it will be strictly offense as white and defense as red, including “good on good” during the first half with the No. 1 offense facing the No. 1 defense.
“That’s what we want,” Morris said. “That’s what we’ve done all spring. We’re not going to change it up.”
The defense will be awarded points for sacks and plays for a loss, three-and-out possessions, fourth downs stopped and turnovers.