SEC Country & Tom Murphy: Ark Def Switch Will Dominate Spring-Updated

[MuskogeeHogFan]

True enough but other questions linger.

"Arkansas still has a troubling lack of depth at linebacker".

18 on the roster as of now, 13 of which aren't walk-ons.

The Back-Up Battle: "Storey served as Allen's backup last season, but Kelley — even as a true freshman — pushed Storey during fall camp. There is a lot of buzz coming out of the program about Kelley, a lightly recruited 3-star prospect from Lafayette, La., with big size and a powerful arm".

Another development to watch.

WR's: "The Hogs added two junior college wideouts who are already on campus and will likely be instant contributors. Another guy to keep an eye on is redshirt freshman Jordan Jones, a Smackover, Ark., native who turned a lot of heads last fall on the scout team".

My guess, we will be better than expected in this area, even with those that we lost.

O-Line: "Entering Year 2, there will be an expectation for major improvement. But speaking to reporters last week, Bielema hinted that some of the returning starters may not be so safe".

I think we will be better here this year.

The rest of the article can be found inside:

https://www.seccountry.com/arkansas/arkansas-football-spring-2017-storylines

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Here is another article just put out today by Tom Murphy that is more detailed and discusses personnel as well.

The Razorbacks were thin at linebacker last season, and they lost senior Brooks Ellis -- a two-year team tackle leader -- and will not have Dre Greenlaw available for full-contact work through spring.

What that means is Dwayne Eugene, De'Jon Harris, Josh Harris, Alexy-Jean Baptiste, Dee Walker, Giovanni LaFrance, Karl Roesler, Randy Ramsey, Michael Taylor and early enrollee Kyrei Fisher will get lots of action in the implementation of the new sets.

The way Bielema has described it, Ramsey, Roesler, Taylor and Baptiste will be outside backers; Greenlaw, the two Harrises and LaFrance are targeted for the inside; and players such as Eugene and Walker could be trained at the inside and outside positions.

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/mar/26/switch-to-3-4-a-key-in-spring-practices/

[bennyl08]

Here is another article just put out today by Tom Murphy that is more detailed and discusses personnel as well.

The Razorbacks were thin at linebacker last season, and they lost senior Brooks Ellis -- a two-year team tackle leader -- and will not have Dre Greenlaw available for full-contact work through spring.

What that means is Dwayne Eugene, De'Jon Harris, Josh Harris, Alexy-Jean Baptiste, Dee Walker, Giovanni LaFrance, Karl Roesler, Randy Ramsey, Michael Taylor and early enrollee Kyrei Fisher will get lots of action in the implementation of the new sets.

The way Bielema has described it, Ramsey, Roesler, Taylor and Baptiste will be outside backers; Greenlaw, the two Harrises and LaFrance are targeted for the inside; and players such as Eugene and Walker could be trained at the inside and outside positions.

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/mar/26/switch-to-3-4-a-key-in-spring-practices/

Thought I read on here from a PC of CBB that as the base of the 3-4, he was going to have more of a pass rushing specialist such as the names you listed at one OLB, more of a pass coverage specialist at the other OLB with the likes of Greenlaw and AJB, with then the more balanced LB's in the middle such as Harris, Eugene, and LaFrance.

Am I misremembering that? Was thinking it was in the projected defensive depth chart threads, so back in Jan/Feb.

Granted, also have heard we are going for a multiple look, so it is possible that against passing teams, we will do what I described, but perhaps on passing downs, will have both OLBs be pass rushers, and that Bielema has probably described what the LB grouping would look like 3 different times with 3 very different answers.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Thought I read on here from a PC of CBB that as the base of the 3-4, he was going to have more of a pass rushing specialist such as the names you listed at one OLB, more of a pass coverage specialist at the other OLB with the likes of Greenlaw and AJB, with then the more balanced LB's in the middle such as Harris, Eugene, and LaFrance.

Am I misremembering that? Was thinking it was in the projected defensive depth chart threads, so back in Jan/Feb.

Granted, also have heard we are going for a multiple look, so it is possible that against passing teams, we will do what I described, but perhaps on passing downs, will have both OLBs be pass rushers, and that Bielema has probably described what the LB grouping would look like 3 different times with 3 very different answers.

This may be some of what you were thinking about although I don't think that I have heard Bielema describe the LB'er group three different ways on three occasions.

— Paul Rhoads converted to the 3-4 at Iowa State and wishes he'd have done it sooner. There will still be elements of a 4-down package. A lot of SEC teams run a 3-4 that looks like a 4-3 with an edge rusher standing to have his options. Will vary on how they set their formations more in the future.

— Randy Ramsey, Michael Taylor and Karl Roessler will be stand-up outside linebackers in the 3-4.

— The 3-4 allows Arkansas to get more undersized, underrecruited speed guys who play in space. The depth of defensive linemen across the country is the hardest to find.

— He and Paul Rhoads are trying to find where the best personnel fits. At times, they might be a 2-gap defense. At times, that's predicated by the call.

http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2017/jan/21/live-bret-bielema-paul-rhoads-press-conferences/

[DeltaBoy]

I can't wait to see it on the field in the fall.

[jgphillips3]

Other than Frank Ragnow, I hope every OL position is an open and contentious battle and we find 5 that can play as a true unit.  I do expect them to improve from "worst OL in 25 years" to at least good.  We'll be fine at WR.  We lost some possession guys but we literally have 3 deep threats and some true size there now.  It is all going to be about Paul Rhodes and the defense.  What Rhodes can, or can't, accomplish will literally be the difference in us being 6-6 or 9-3.  Heck, if he pulls a miracle, we could even see 10-2 but again, it will be the defense that will determine whether we are a weedeater bowl team or New Years Day team.  Enos is going to have us ready.

[SDZ_Hog]

With spread offenses, I invisioned a 3-4 with three linebackers and nickleback (DB). You keep the ussally 3 LBs on the field but you also keep the nickleback at the cost of DL. 

[bphi11ips]

I can't remember a time when there were more preseason question marks about an Arkansas defense.  Not sure we'll know much before TCU on September 9.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

I can't remember a time when there were more preseason question marks about an Arkansas defense.  Not sure we'll know much before TCU on September 9.

Well that is game #2 so that it pretty early but if they come out and completely shut down (not just out-score) Florida A&M and the staff finds that everyone is getting lined up and executing the calls properly, that will be a positive first step. TCU is obviously going to offer a different and more difficult challenge for a team with a new defensive philosophy and alignment, but the good news is that according to experts who have coached this type of defense, it is the simplicity of this defensive scheme that makes the chances of a quicker transition, more likely.

One of the major keys will be finding two guys who are big, strong and quick enough to play a two-gap technique at the NT.

[DeltaBoy]

Yes Patterson still smarting over the Hogs beating him in his house.