Arkansas Razorbacks Looking to Add More Pass Rush in 2016
By Cory Thone
The Arkansas Razorbacks have made adjustments to the defensive line for spring practice in an attempt to develop a more consistent pass rush. The Hogs looked good against the run in 2015, but were unable to get pressure on QBs, particularly mobile QBs, in key moments during games last year.
The Arkansas Razorbacks defense in 2015 was a tale of two stat lines. The Hogs were 2nd in the SEC and 12th in the nation in run defense. Fans and the media were impressed by the Hogs defensive showings against Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee. All three of those teams lean on the run to score, and Arkansas won 2 of those 3 games, all of which were on the road.
Arkansas had, and still has, some big and beefy defensive lineman. They plug gaps and don’t get trapped, and they control the line of scrimmage. Add to that the great downhill play of linebackers like Brooks Ellis and Dre Greenlaw, and Arkansas was able to exert their will on opponents rushing attacks.
However, as impressive as their rush defense was, the Hogs pass defense was equally unimpressive. Arkansas finished dead last in the SEC and 117th out of 128 in overall pass defense in 2015. That is the worst performance by an Arkansas secondary in…well…maybe ever.
People were quick to blame the secondary for being unable to keep in proximity of the receivers. These people aren’t necessarily wrong, but there is more to the secondary’s scheming than just the amount of cushion they gave the offense.
The Arkansas Razorbacks finished 11th in the SEC last year in total sacks, barely averaging more than 1 sack a game. If you go back and watch the games against teams like Auburn, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State, the Hogs secondary gave up a lot of yards to these teams, for sure. But the secondary was completely limited in what kind of coverages they could run by the lack of pressure the defensive line was getting on the QB.
The Hogs were forced to give way more cushion to the receivers so that they wouldn’t get burned deep. A QB against Arkansas was able to sit back in the pocket and take his time finding an open man. The Arkansas secondary was left out to dry by the lack of sacks that the front 7 got in 2015.
That’s why Bret Bielema and Robb Smith have done some tweaking to the defensive line. Most notably, moving Jeremiah Ledbetter from defensive end to defensive tackle. Ledbetter was second on the team last year in sacks (with 2 total sacks) and has played tack before. The coaching staff was short on defensive ends when Ledbetter arrived in Fayetteville in 2015 from Hutchinson CC in Kansas, so they tried to slim him down and turn him into a pass rusher on the outside to compliment Deatrich Wise.
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The results weren’t quite what the staff was hoping for, so now that Arkansas has added some more meat to the defensive line in this most recent class, Ledbetter is being moved back to defensive tackle, where the Hogs staff is hoping his upgraded speed and strength will turn him into the next Darius Philon.
The defensive end position looks on paper to be as complete a unit as Bielema has had in his time at Arkansas. Anchored by Wise and JaMichael Winston, the addition of T.J Smith and 5 star freshman McTelvin Agim should (hopefully) give the Hogs a 2 unit rotation that can keep the line fresh and keep QBs off their game.
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Maybe if the defensive line can get a QB to roll out of the pocket more, then the secondary will have a chance to make some plays when the ball is in the air. At least, that’s what Hog fans are hoping to see more of now that Paul Rhoads is on staff.