College Football: Will the Arkansas Defense Dramatically Improve This Year?

Over the past three years, the players in Bobby Petrino's explosive offense have rewritten the record books at the University of Arkansas. The fans have not had much time to go to the refrigerator for a snack when the Hogs have had the ball for fear of missing a spectacular play. The disappointing trend for Razorback fans has been the inconsistency of the defense during this offensive renaissance.  They rose from a 2009 defensive national ranking of 89 to a respectable ranking of 36 in 2010.  But once again gave a  poor showing in 2011, finishing 51st overall only after a dominant performance in the Cotton Bowl bolstered the numbers.

The 2011 Arkansas defense gave up 457 yards against Sun Belt Conference foe Troy, 628 yards against Texas A&M, 462 against perennial SEC also ran Vanderbilt, and a deflating 494 yards against LSU in the battle for the Golden Boot. Running back Christine Michael of Texas A&M had a career day with 230 yards on the ground against the Hogs while Troy quarterback Corey Robinson blistered the Razorback secondary with 373 yards through air.

Most Razorback fans repeatedly threw up their hands in disgust as they watched the LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide run over, through, and around the defense in lopsided losses. Can new Defensive Coordinator Paul Haynes bring the Hog nation a dominating defense that is needed to run the table in the SEC west?

Here are the key components that he will have to work with in 2012:

The Last Line of Defense: The Secondary

Senior to be, Darius Winston, will be counted on to finally fulfill the promise that he showed as a five-star recruit out of Central High School in West Helena Arkansas. Winston has been solid in his three year career on the field at the University of Arkansas but has not been the lock-down corner that was expected after being a 2008 EA Sports second team High School All American. Tevin Mitchel was a terrific newcomer at cornerback last year, earning freshman all conference honors while appearing in all 13 games and finishing with 56 tackles.

The players listed on the spring depth chart at second team corner are big and fast but are very inexperienced. Kelvin Fisher Jr. was moved to halfback last year after it was clear that Knile Davis would not be back, but practiced at corner during Cotton Bowl practices. 

On the other side, Davyon McKinney was recruited as a receiver in 2011 but with the log jam at that position, the 6'3" McKinney will have an opportunity for playing time in the defensive backfield. Freshmen signees Ray Buchanan, Jr. , Jared Collins and Will Hines will get a look in the fall as well.

Senior Ross Rasner has been moved from outside linebacker to safety this spring in an apparent attempt to add experience to the position. Rasner has always shown that he is a willing tackler with sound fundamentals. At the other safety spot, Junior Eric Bennett brings speed and ball hawking ability and will give the Hogs someone to run with the opposing team's deep threat. Jerry Mitchell and Alan Turner round out the two deep chart. The coaches love newcomer DeFonta Lowe's size and speed as well

The 'Do It All' Position: The Linebackers

Alonzo Highsmith Jr. had an outstanding season for the Hogs last year after transferring in from junior college.  His progression will be delayed because of a torn pectoral muscle suffered the day before spring practice began. When he gets healthy, most believe he will be a starter at middle linebacker in the fall. Highsmith led all Hog defenders last year with 12.5 tackles for a loss. Robert Atiga, Terrell Williams, and freshman Brock Haman will battle it out for the right to start at MLB in the spring.

Senior Matt Marshall has surprised everyone but his teammates and coaches by being listed as the starter at outside linebacker. Head Coach Bobby Petrino has praised Marshall for his hard work in the off season. Jarrett Lake and Daunte Carr will be the main competition at that position for Marshall. Sophomore Braylon Mitchell has to hold off Tyler Gilbert and Austin Jones at the other OLB spot.

What almost no one has talked about is the size of the linebacking corps at Arkansas, now versus the size at those positions, when Petrino took the reins.  Most of the players who manned those roles were smaller players who also figured into coverage schemes in the nickel packages as safeties. The linebackers on the roster now are an average of 6'2" to 6'3" and weigh in the 230-to-240 pound range, which is typical of an NFL sized backer. Petrino has recruited the size without giving up speed and playmaking ability. 

Jerry Franklin, who led the team for four consecutive years in tackles, has moved on to the NFL. Now is the time for some of this current crop of linebackers to make a name for themselves. These players will have to prove that they can cover and plug the running lanes. They must "do it all" for the defense to have a chance to shine.

The Strength of the Defense: The Defensive Line

All SEC selection Jake Bequette will more than likely be drafted in the middle of this year's NFL draft in April.  Who will step up and become a force on the edge as Bequette proved to be last year?

Junior Chris Smith was a highly coveted Defensive End out of North Carolina in 2010 and has played extensively since first stepping on the U of A campus. Junior College transfer Austin Flynn , who coaches compare favorably to Jake Bequette, will be his main competition for the starting job this fall.

On the other side, Sophomore Trey Flowers will be in the mix to start.  It was thought that Tenarius "Tank" Wright had the position by default since he had started every game that he was healthy in, last year. But coaches have played with the idea of moving Wright to middle linebacker to take advantage of his playmaking and run tackling abilities. Behind Flowers, Smith and Flynn—there is a nice group of big bodied studs such as Colton Miles-Nash, Darrell Kelly-Thomas, Will Coleman, and  Devin Flowers that will provide depth and competition.

In the trenches, the defensive tackle position is deep, big, and athletic. Byran Jones and Robert Thomas are listed as starters down in the "Hog trough" between the defensive ends. There is a load of talent behind them starting with the experienced Seniors Alfred Davis, DaQuinta Jones and Lavunce Askew.  Newcomers DeMarcus Hodge and Horace Arkadie will more than likely play as Coach Petrino loves the idea of rotating fresh big men into the game.

The defensive line put up good numbers in pre-spring testing in the weight room, posting among the best scores on the team in the bench press and squat. If the players can translate that strength to the field of play, the Hog defense should put up a much more powerful front against the run in 2012.

Can the defense play their part in the 2012 pageant that is college football in the SEC? It remains to be seen. But if the Razorbacks are to remain an elite program, they must be able to keep the other team's offense on the sideline so that Petrino's high flying playmaker's can light up the scoreboard.