Improved offensive line play helping Taylen Green in hot start to season
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green is off to a scorching hot start to the 2025 season, and a big reason for that is the play of the Hogs up front on the offensive line.
The Razorbacks’ protectors up front have done a complete 180 from last season, and have given Green ample time in the pocket to go through progressions and make things happen, and they’ve kept him upright through three games with only two sacks this season and none in the last two weeks.
“I think has a lot to do with it,” head coach Sam Pittman said Monday. “I think he’s really confident in E’Marion (Harris) and Corey (Robinson II). He should be. Those guys are doing a really good job. We had a couple of bull (rushes), one early on E that got tipped early, but after that, really good by the offensive line.”
Green currently ranks fourth in the SEC in passing with 866 yards through three games and is third in the SEC in rushing with 307 yards. The only two players in front of him are Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy and Auburn running back Jeremiah Cobb.
Pittman said where he sees the most improvement with Green is in the rushing department. The redshirt senior has registered over 100 rushing yards in each of the last two weeks.
“To me, where he’s a lot better this year is running the football,” Pittman said. “He feels good, and I think with Mike (Washington Jr.) back there, broke some long runs, they’re running to him a little bit more, because of his speed and Braylen’s done a nice job. I think all that around him and another year with Bobby, but I think the line has a lot to do with how he’s playing.”
Pittman said the Razorbacks’ strong pass protection leads directly into the ability to rush the football, but he’d like to see more efficiency on first down run plays.
“We’re throwing it so well and we’re protecting pretty good, you know. So right now we’re — I mean, you’ve seen the first three games,” Pittman said. “We’re doing basically what we want to do offensively. So I think we’re fine in there and the run game, we’ve got to feel a little bit better on first down, especially in the second half of last week’s game.”
The Razorbacks are in the middle of prep for their second road game of the season and will travel to Memphis to play the Tigers this Saturday. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. and the game will air on ABC.
