News update:3 takeaways from Sam Pittman’s Friday Q&A

Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman spoke with reporters following his team’s second practice of the spring Friday.

Here are three takeaways from Pittman’s question-and-answer session

Pittman indicated some NCAA rule changes have helped teams by allowing more time for walkthroughs and meetings before the spring season.

We’ve got quite a bit in and you can tell by the speed,” Pittman said, referencing the lack of hesitation by players going through plays.

Pittman said Petrino has shown good teaching ability.

“He’s exceptional at that,” Pittman said. “And I believe so is [new receivers coach] Ronnie Fouch and [new offensive line coach] Eric [Mateos]. Those guys have done a really good job of buying into Coach Petrino’s system.”

Pittman said he is happy with the quarterback battle through two days that includes Boise State transfer Taylen Green, returners Jacolby Criswell and Malachi Singleton, and true freshman KJ Jackson.

“I like where we’re at with the quarterbacks,” Pittman said. “They’re battling in there

They like each other. They’re competing hard against each other. The one thing I’m seeing a little bit more out of them this year, they all seem to possess really good leadership qualities and take ownership of their own mistakes….That’s what you have to have at the quarterback position.”

Pittman said the first two days were “very physical” for not having full pads.

I really like the feel of practice, the enthusiasm of the football team,” Pittman said. “I’ve been proud of the first two days. We won’t go back-to-back [days] again until the practices right before the [April 13] spring game. I thought they fought through it very good. I was very pleased with the first two days

Arkansas players wore light-weight padding known as spider pads Thursday and Friday. Players will progress begin wearing full pads Sunday when they return for the third practice of the spring.