Mobile Edition
Print
Get the Mag
Weekly Updates[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Not once have the numbers come up in conversation.
Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson swears he's never made a point of discussing the statistics of how bad the Arkansas secondary was last season. He has avoided specific mentions of the Razorbacks' status as the nation's 93rd ranked scoring defense.
Furthermore Robinson has tried to avoid reminding his defensive backs they intercepted just 11 passes in 2008. He has not mentioned that the Razorbacks' pass efficiency defense ranked in the bottom half of Bowl Championship Subdivision teams.
No reminders are needed.
"I think they are aware of it without me bringing it up," Robinson said. "You try not to dwell on the past. Coaches look at it, but those players are trying to build confidence, so you try not to dwell on it. "
Robinson is right. Arkansas players know how bad things were without being told. They lived it.
Plenty of problems could be found on the defense last year, but the Razorbacks' secondary seemed to be the most glaring. Only two Southeastern Conference defenses gave up more passing yards per game. Nobody in the SEC gave up more touchdowns through the air.
So, anytime the team's defensive hacks needed extra motivation, they've had it. Whenever that last sprint in the summer heat seemed impossible, whenever the final set in the weight room became a struggle, senior free safety Matt Harris reminded himself it's the cost of much-needed improvement.
"It does give us a chip on our shoulder," said Harris, the son of Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Cliff Harris. "Now, if it consumes you, it can knock you off your game. Don't let it get to your head, but yeah, it can get you through that last sprint or that last rep when you're feeling tired."
Arkansas' safeties and cornerbacks are doing whatever they can this summer to avoid a repeat of 2008. Simply going through such a rocky season figures to help the Razorbacks, too.
Harris, listed at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, returns after making 57 tackles and intercepting a pass. Smallish junior cornerback Ramon Broadway (5-9, 191) recorded 52 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions, while sophomore Isaac Madison (5-10, 181) had 38 tackles and seven pass breakups at cornerback thanks more to athletic ability than solid technique.
Those guys went through their second consecutive spring practice under Robinson. They have seen significant game time, even if the results weren't always positive.
Safety Tramain Thomas (6-0, 183), who played as a true freshman, also saw significant time this spring and should help after recording 30 tackles last season. Redshirted junior cornerback Jerell Norton (6-foot, 200) should be back from injury and provide some additional athleticism, while Elton Ford (6-foot, 204) could he back from a serious neck injury that ended his freshman season after eight games and 42 tackles.
Arkansas should benefit greatly from an influx of talent in the secondary. If everybody gains eligibility as expected, the Razorbacks welcome what Rivals.com rated as the top class of defensive back recruits in the country.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Freshmen cornerbacks Darius Winston and David Gordon bring plenty of speed. Junior college transfers Rudell Crim and Anthony Leon are hard hitters who could see immediate playing time at the safety positions.
"I don't foresee four brand-new starters," Robinson said. "I can't tell you how fast those guys will pick it up. You really don't know what their learning curve is football-wise. We're anxious to find out. There should be some great competition."
Harris also has his doubts about how quickly the newcomers pick up Robinson's complex schemes that were developed through years coaching in the NFL. He welcomes the competition, something that figures to make the Razorbacks much, much better.
"His defense will consume your world," Harris said. "These freshmen have to understand there will be an unreal learning curve. It's a struggle to make the adjustment mentally. They're going to have to learn quick.
"It's sink or swim and there's no time for them to just wade around."
That same mentality should apply to the Razorbacks' experienced players. They have no choice but to improve.
And there's no need for a reminder.
SECONDARY BY THE NUMBERS
A LOOK AT ARKANSAS' 2008 SECONDARY PERFORMANCE STATISTICALLY:
1
Rivals.com rank of incoming defensive back recruits
11
Interceptions of opposing quarterbacks
22
SEC-high passing touchdowns surrendered
2
Teams in SEC ranked worse in pass defense
127.3
Pass efficiency defense rating, the SEC's worst
204.4
Passing yards allowed per game
HELP ON THE WAY
Frosh, Transfers
Arkansas gets a decided upgrade in athletic ability with its incoming defensive back class. Rivals.com ranked the group as the best in the country thanks to a good mixture of raw speed and hitting ability.
Who could help immediately? That depends on who gets eligible and how quickly they pick up a complicated system.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
DARIUS WINSTON
Pos. CB
Hr., Wt. 6-0, 180
Previously Helena Central
Breakdown Regarded as a true shutdown cornerback in high school, Winston has been clocked at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash. He has good instincts to go with his speed, recording 46 tackles and eight interceptions.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
DAVID GORDON
Pos. CB
Ht., Wt. 5-11,170
Previously Tulsa East Central High
Breakdown Gordon has speed to burn. He's regarded as one of the nation's best prep sprinters and used that to his advantage on the football field. Gordon recorded 56 tackles, 18 pass breakups and 4 interceptions.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
ANTHONY LEON
Pos. S
Ht., Wt. 6-4, 230
Previously College of the Sequoias/Florida State
Breakdown Find him on YouTube if you're not squeamish about contact. Leon is a hard-hitting safety who played eight games for Florida State in 2007 before transferring. He left high school as the nation's No. 10 safety.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
RUDELL CRIM
Pos. S/CB
Ht., Wt, 6-0, 190
Previously Butler Co. Community College
Breakdown Versatility is one of Crim's best assets. Crim, once a highly touted running back, could play either safety or cornerback for the Razorbacks. He started for a juco national champion, recording 36 tackles and three interceptions.
FEED