Page 2 - Arkansas Football Sept 2016

2K Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sunday, August 28, 2016
Fearsome foursomes
Hogs’ defensive line runs two-deep and beyond
TOM MURPHY ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
FAYETTEVILLE — One season in- to his tenure in the SEC, Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema came to un- derstand he had entered a league
where games were determined by the action in the trenches.
Beyond that observation, he said building a deep, talented and flexible de- fensive front was probably the most im- portant task he’d face in turning Arkansas into a contender in the SEC West, the nation’s toughest division.
Entering his fourth year in the SEC, Bielema said he believes the Razorbacks look loaded across their front four.
“We’ve got more depth on our defen- sive line than we’ve ever had since I’ve been here,” Bielema said at SEC media days.
“When somebody asks me the biggest difference between Big Ten and SEC play, I think it’s D-line depth. I should say more importantly the quality of your D-line depth. It’s important to have 10 guys that can play.”
The Razorbacks have that — and may- be more — in 2016.
“The depth that we have right now is crazy,” junior nose guard Bijhon Jackson said. “We have like a legit four-deep at defensive line.”
“It’s a great position to be in,” defen- sive line coach Rory Segrest said. “Not just the depth, but the quality of guys we have there who know what to do and how to do it.”
Arkansas ranked 58th nationally in total defense last year, but that middle-of- the-pack position was mostly due to its poor performance against the pass. The Razorbacks were the nation’s 12th-ranked run-stopping team in 2015, allowing 116.5 yards per game to rank behind only Ala- bama in the SEC. But the Hogs were 116th against the pass, allowing 275 yards per game.
Legitimate depth and experience give the Razorbacks reason to believe they can maintain quality run defense while making drastic improvements with their pass rush.
“It’s the same coaches, the same team- mates, the same team, but it will be much stronger than last year,” said senior end Deatrich Wise, who led the SEC with
NWA Democrat-Gazette/MICHAEL WOODS
Deatrich Wise (48) heads a solid roster of defensive linemen for Arkansas entering his senior season. Last year, he had eight sacks in SEC games, the most of any player in the conference.
eight sacks in league games last year. “We also believe the defensive line is the heart of the team, so when the offense is trying to find itself and get a rhythm, I believe our defense will step in.”
Arkansas has three seniors on its top unit with third-year starter Taiwan John- son, Jeremiah Ledbetter and Wise, who leaped into preseason all-SEC consid- eration with seven sacks in the last four games of 2015.
Another senior, 2015 team captain Ja- Michael Winston, is the top sub at Wise’s heavy-5 end position. Juniors Karl Roesler and Tevin Beanum have been comple- mented by blue chip freshman McTelvin Agim at the rush end position.
“Everybody talks about Deatrich Wise, and he’s amazing up front,” Ar- kansas center Frank Ragnow said. “But I don’t think enough people talk about Jeremiah Ledbetter and Taiwan John-
son. Those are talented guys. It’s crazy how much you can improve yourself going against guys like that, guys who will play on Sunday.”
Jackson and senior Brandon Lewis, who looks to be fully recovered from a knee injury, lead a pack of standout subs, which includes players with experience like former linebacker Randy Ramsey and tackle Armon Watts.
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