By Harry King
LITTLE ROCK — Scheming for Arkansas, Charlie Strong is two cornerbacks ahead of many other defensive coordinators.
At Florida, Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins can play man coverage on any two wide receivers, freeing Strong to devise a plan for the Gators’ other nine defenders.
Before so many schools began running the spread, a coordinator could incorporate a scheme to cover up the shortcomings of a cornerback. Against the spread, if a cornerback can’t cover a wide receiver on his own, the choices are to use a safety at the risk of weakening the run defense or chance a long pass completion.
Haden and Jenkins are a couple of 5-foot-11 guys who did a bang-up job on LSU’s tall and talented receivers Brandon LaFell and Terrance Tolliver last Saturday night in Baton Rouge. Supposedly bound for the NFL, the 6-foot-3 LaFell and 6-foot-5 Tolliver caught a total of six passes for 58 yards and the only big gainer occurred when Markihe Anderson was covering LaFell.
For Arkansas fans, the singular encouraging note is that Razorback quarterback Ryan Mallett is a far better passer than LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson.
More than one scouting service has identified Haden as the No. 1 cornerback available for the NFL draft. A junior, he has started since he was a true freshman. Jenkins made the freshman All-SEC team last year.
Both had three interceptions in ‘08, each has two picks this year. Coach Urban Meyer was quoted this week as saying that Haden and Jenkins are playing as well as any corners since he’s been at Florida.
Their prowess is reflected in the fact that Florida is the best in the country against the pass, allowing 115 yards per game. Even more definitive is the fact that the Gators have allowed 4.11 yards per pass attempt, a category in which only about a half-dozen other schools are under 5.0. Arkansas, for example, is allowing almost 8 yards per pass attempt.
Greg Childs and Jarius Wright are the logical choices to gain the attention of Haden and Jenkins. In Arkansas’ 3-2 start, Childs and Wright have caught 37 passes for 673 yards and six touchdowns.
Although the Razorbacks ran for a season-high 221 yards against Auburn last week, the pass is their best chance at a big play against the Gators. If Childs and Wright are shackled, Mallett may turn more and more to D.J. Williams or a running back. In all likelihood, he will not have the time to peruse his choices.
Williams has caught 14 this year, including six against Auburn. On several occasions, Williams has been open after Mallett rolled right on a bootleg away from the flow of the offense.
Michael Smith might be another viable option for Mallett, but the running back left the Auburn game with a hamstring problem. Although he has only caught 11 this year, Smith has good hands.
Often effective against very fast defenders, misdirection will be part of the package, promised offensive coordinator Paul Petrino. Rest assured that the Razorbacks will have well-designed and creative plays prepared for the Gators. Sometimes, that is not enough.
A breakdown of the 32 points allowed by Florida is even more daunting than the total. Tennessee ran for a touchdown in the fourth quarter while trailing 23-6; Kentucky threw for a TD in the second quarter while trailing 31-0. The other 18 points came on six field goals.
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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.
