Camp Bielema is in Session
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Updated: March 17, 2013
"I really believe that first impressions last a lifetime," Bielema told a house full of reporters following Arkansas' first week of spring practice. "I'm a big believer in that saying, I didn't want my first impression to be anything other than the truth."
The lasting impression Arkansas left with fans in 2013 is one of disappointment, now Bret Bielema is in charge of rebuilding a 4-8 team that's waving goodbye to its best playmakers from a year ago.
"Everybody wants to jump to the end of spring but I got to work on getting better everyday and if our players buy into that then we're going to be okay, Obviously I'd like to have a first team SEC QB, lineman, linebacker and DB but the reality is you have to work with what you have and I'm not saying that someone won't emerge from that group," Bielema said.
The Razorbacks must replace the only 1st team all-SEC QB in program history with the departure of Tyler Wilson, sophomore Brandon Allen and dynamic senior Brandon Mitchell are left to battle for the team's top spot.
"There is no doubt on offense the key is who is going to be trigger puller, a quarterback needs to be triumphant in the most difficult times, if you want a championship team he's got to be at his best when everyone else is at their worst, that truly defines a quarterback," Bielema added.
The quarterback may be the key but the focus of a Bielema offense is all about running the football, sophomore Jonathan Williams is poised for a breakout year in a run first system that should also benefit from the return of Kiero Small.
"If there is one guy who has been a champion for me is Kiero Small, a physical specimen that transformed his body lost almost 20 pounds. Jonathan Williams has been very impressive, one of the first guys who came into my office to visit really like the way he approaches the game his mentality and everything else."
The lasting impression Arkansas left with fans in 2013 is one of disappointment, now Bret Bielema is in charge of rebuilding a 4-8 team that's waving goodbye to its best playmakers from a year ago.
"Everybody wants to jump to the end of spring but I got to work on getting better everyday and if our players buy into that then we're going to be okay, Obviously I'd like to have a first team SEC QB, lineman, linebacker and DB but the reality is you have to work with what you have and I'm not saying that someone won't emerge from that group," Bielema said.
The Razorbacks must replace the only 1st team all-SEC QB in program history with the departure of Tyler Wilson, sophomore Brandon Allen and dynamic senior Brandon Mitchell are left to battle for the team's top spot.
"There is no doubt on offense the key is who is going to be trigger puller, a quarterback needs to be triumphant in the most difficult times, if you want a championship team he's got to be at his best when everyone else is at their worst, that truly defines a quarterback," Bielema added.
The quarterback may be the key but the focus of a Bielema offense is all about running the football, sophomore Jonathan Williams is poised for a breakout year in a run first system that should also benefit from the return of Kiero Small.
"If there is one guy who has been a champion for me is Kiero Small, a physical specimen that transformed his body lost almost 20 pounds. Jonathan Williams has been very impressive, one of the first guys who came into my office to visit really like the way he approaches the game his mentality and everything else."
