By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ defense has earned its share of publicity in the offseason, touted as a veteran group ready to lead the Razorbacks in 2011.
The unit, led by seniors Jake Bequette, Jerry Franklin and Jerico Nelson, has looked the part on the practice field through one week of workouts. In fact, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino hasn’t hesitated to announce the veteran group is well ahead of his offense at this point in fall camp.
Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson sees it, too. But he also has a message for his group as it moves into the second week of practice.
“They still have to remember where they came from,” Robinson said. “They still have to remember what that was like to go through (2008 and 2009). Not just the practices and all the things we fought through, but the game situations. You hope like heck they still have a bitter taste in their mouth.”
It wasn’t long ago opponents were licking their lips at the thought of playing the Razorbacks. Week-in and week-out an undersized, undermanned and youthful defense gave up big plays and easy points.
Arkansas was last in the Southeastern Conference and 93rd in the NCAA in scoring in 2008, allowing 31.2 points. It also was last in the SEC and near the bottom of the nation in total defense in both 2008 and 2009, allowing 401.2 and 375.2 yards, respectively. There’s no doubt it was a rough time for the Hogs, which made last season’s breakthrough so rewarding.
“At that point we were out there raw just trying to make a play,” Arkansas safety Elton Ford said about the first two seasons. “Now we make plays and we know what to do when we make a play.”
But Arkansas also is determined not to relax now with what it believes is the best defense it has fielded under Petrino.
“We know we’re good,” Arkansas defensive tackle D.D. Jones said. “We just have to keep working hard and not just get on cruise control and get satisfied with ourselves. We’re going to keep working.”
Arkansas understands what continued improvement can mean. After all, the Razorbacks went from 89th in the nation in total defense in 2009 to 36th last year. And the good news: most of last season’s key contributors return.
It’s why Petrino to say he’s “very encouraged” about the potential of the group. Linebacker Ross Rasner said the Hogs understand the possibilities, too.
“We’ve come so far since we first came in and just made great strides,” said Rasner, who will play a role at linebacker behind Nelson. “We’re finally where we want to be and we’ve just got to maintain it and keep getting better.”
There have been good signs on the practice field, especially with Arkansas tapping into its depth on the defensive front. Arkansas’ weakness last season — allowing 162.6 rushing yards a game — is being addressed with as the Razorbacks tinker more with a five-man front that places Jones, Bequette, Wright, Byran Jones and Robert Thomas on the field together.
The Razorbacks haven’t done any official scrimmage work, yet, but the unit has made life difficult for an offense retooling its line last spring. There have been good moments on the field this preseason, too, with Robinson saying the first-team defense’s experience and continuity has been obvious.
“I think that’s where we’re going to make a bigger step at getting better on defense,” Robinson said. “Those kids have been working together now for the last … this will be going onto their fourth year.”
But coaches are quick to point out Arkansas is far from a finished product.
The interior of the line may have ample depth, but there’s questions at defensive end outside of Bequette, Wright and Chris Smith. The Hogs need to find confident backups at linebacker, too, and in a secondary that will lean on safety Tramain Thomas and cornerbacks Darius Winston and Isaac Madison.
Robinson said he wants to see more physicality from his defensive tackles as well. All are questions the Razorbacks plan to have answered before putting its veteran group out on the field for the season opener on Sept. 3.
There’s no doubt, however, Arkansas has improved immensely since that debut season in 2008. They haven’t forgotten it, either, saying the lessons learned have served as motivation throughout the past few years.
“A big difference than 2008,” Franklin said. “Now we now what we are doing.”
The Next Step?
Arkansas’ defense finally enjoyed success in 2010, bouncing back from two tough years in 2008 and 2009. Here’s a look at just how much the Razorbacks improved, statistically, as they plan for 2011:
Category Points(SEC/NCAA) Total Rush Pass
2008 31.2 (12/93) 375.2 (12/72) 170.8 (12/90) 204.4 (10/54)
2009 25.1 (9/58) 401.2 (12/89) 152.7 (9/73) 248.5 (12/99)
2010 23.4 (7/47) 347.9 (5/36) 162.6 (10/71) 185.3 (6/20)
