Bobby Petrino: Arkansas is working on cutting down interceptions every day

In the 2023 campaign at Boise State, quarterback Taylen Green threw 11 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions. After the season, Green transferred to Arkansas. On Tuesday, Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino discussed Green’s past turnover issues.

“We’re working on it every day,” Petrino said. “We’ve done a pretty good job throughout camp taking care of the ball. Yesterday, we turned it over a number of times. Tip passes always result in interceptions in the SEC because everyone’s so fast. They close in and make the plays on the ball. They weren’t Taylen’s yesterday, though, but they were tipped interceptions.

“But that’s a big part of playing quarterback — especially in practice — because you gotta challenge yourself enough to see if I can stick that post, if I can make that throw. Then you have to be smart enough to dump the ball off and take your check downs.”

Evidently, Green is showing off those smarts at practices. Earlier this summer, Petrino revealed Green has received more reps with the first team than any other Arkansas quarterback.

Although Green threw nine interceptions last season, it was far from a disappointing campaign. Despite splitting playing time with Broncos freshman Maddox Madsen, Green tallied 1,752 yards in the air, 436 yards on the ground and 20 total scores.

Obviously, Green’s ground game is already superior to most opposing quarterbacks. Now, he’s seemingly determined to make his passing attack equally dangerous. Petrino is happy with the redshirt junior’s progress.

“I err in this part of camp of being aggressive and challenging him to make the throw… because I think they need to see if they can stick that post for a touchdown or they can’t,” Petrino said. “So, I like his mindset. I think he’s been very aggressive, and there’s a certain route that we’ve been working on that he’s been awful at.

“I asked him, ‘Hey, give me a list of plays that you would like to run in practice tomorrow.’ That was the No. 1 play on the list, which was great to see because he wasn’t shying away from it. He was aggressively trying to attack it so he could make the throw for a touchdown.”

In only two weeks, Taylen Green will have a chance to throw touchdowns in front of thousands of roaring fans. On Aug. 29, Arkansas will kick off its 2024 campaign against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.