Arkansas Razorbacks Football: Defense Continues to Improve

The Arkansas Razorbacksdefense over the past three seasons has been a maligned group, but the past few scrimmages have flashed improvement on the defensive side of the ball.

The one thing that coaches never do, but fans will do before is a season is look at the schedule that will be played and attempt to figure out where the wins come from. However, the 2020 season has thrown every college football a curve ball. Arkansas football faces a unique challenge, the Razorbacks must improve this season, but the toughest schedule in school history will not make it easy. Arkansas’ defense is going to be leaned on heavily to keep the opposition out of the end zone.

For the SEC schedule makers to give Georgia to open the season and Alabama to close the season, the makers must have a unique sense of humor. The Georgia Bulldogs have questions at quarterback, but that does not mean that they do not have a talented roster. The defenses for both Arkansas and Georgia are going to be leaned on heavily in the season opener. With Georgia shifting toward more of an Air Raid type of a system the Arkansas secondary is going to be leaned on heavily in the first game of the season.

Over the past few seasons, Ashdown native Montaric Brown has displayed flashes of being an impact player. Last season, Brown had 39 tackles, one interception, three pass break ups, and a fumble recovery. Brown has the opportunity to take charge of the secondary and improve the level of play that fans have seen out of that unit over the past five years. Under defensive coordinator Barry Odoom, fans can expect to see a more aggressive defense, as well as a more opportunistic defense.

The challenge has been laid before the Razorbacks. With the first game a little over two weeks away, fans will get a chance to see if improvement will follow what has been a disastrous three seasons. Arkansas has nowhere to go but up.