Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Haynes is closing in on his first game with the Razorbacks.
The coach, who was hired last month to replace Willy Robinson, has been busy since his arrival. He has learned Arkansas’ defensive terminology. He has gotten to know players. And he has prepared the group for Kansas State’s offense in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.
Haynes met with the media during an interview session Tuesday afternoon. Here’s part of his conversation:
Q: Is it tough coaching one team during the season and being with another for a bowl?
A: “It’s been a challenge. Kind of just switching over, switching colors and everything else. When the game was on (Monday), watching Ohio State, it was tough just watching those guys because you know those guys, you’ve been with those guys for so long. But like I said, the assistant coaches, coach (Bobby) Petrino, and the players have made this an easy transition for me. It’s been a fun transition.”
Arkansas DC Paul Haynes
Q: What has been the toughest part?
A: “I think the toughest part, again, to me, I know relationships is a big part of the coaching profession. And kind of like this is in thrust mode. I don’t have the time to get to know these guys before we step out on the field. A lot of times in the offseason you’re around them. I have them over at my house. They get to know my family. They get to know me. I get to know them. I’m still trying to learn where they’re from. Do you have brothers and sisters? That type of thing. That to me is real important. When I start getting on them, they know it’s not just coming in one way. I really have their best interest in mind. But right now it’s all football. So I try to do my best of hanging out with them. I told them all the time, I need you guys to come to my office so we can just talk and communicate so we can speed this process up.”
Q: How much of this month has been spent evaluating personnel and how much of it has been spent watching game film and preparing for Kansas State?
A: “My focus right now is Kansas State. I owe it to these guys to put all of my effort towards Kansas State. Once we get done, then we’ll start talking about personnel and doing that stuff. But my main focus right now is making sure this football team, we send these seniors out with a win. And being able to win 11 games for the first time in awhile. That’s my main focus.”
Q: How much of what we see in the game is going to be what Arkansas ran during the regular season? And how much is going to be your vision of what you want this defense to be?
A: “I think it’s going to be a little of both. But, again, I think one of the reasons why I’m here is there is a little bit of similarity to what we did at Ohio State and what we do at Arkansas. It’s going to be a little bit of both. A little bit of a mixture. But, to me, football is football.”
