Page 5 - Arkansas Football Sept 2016

Sunday, August 28, 2016 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 5K
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“We’ve got a lot of quality. Just having McTelvin Agim in spring football makes a big difference in depth.”
Roesler slotted in well with the first defense in camp while Beanum tended to personal issues.
“One of the things about Karl, looking back to last year and all the reps that he took, I mean, he’s always in the right spot,” Segrest said. “He’s always doing what you ask him to do and he’s physically talented. So I feel 100 percent comfortable with him.”
The defensive line, which got off to
a slow start last year, is expected to be a tone setter early this fall while the transi- tioning offense finds its stride.
“It’s got to make a difference for us,” Smith said. “There’s been a lot of positives there with the depth. I think the group understands the potential they have, but until you go out and work hard and take advantage of those opportunities, it’s only potential.”
Wise, who led the SEC with eight sacks in conference games last year despite not making a start, said the Razorbacks have the strongest defense he’s played on since he signed and redshirted in 2012.
“In the past it was just one or two guys that were big and that were good,” Wise said. “But we have several guys now. We have Jeremiah Ledbetter, who has first three rounds [of the NFL Draft] talent. We have Taiwan Johnson, who I’m telling you is top four talent. Bijhon Jackson, although he’s not coming out this year, when he puts his mind to it, he can definitely do good.
“Not only Karl Roesler, but Tevin Beanum, those two speed demons off the edge, it’s a force to reckon with. Then with JaMichael Winston, his run-stopping abili- ty is like none I’ve ever seen.”
Other SEC coaches at media days dis- cussed the importance of being able to play 10 or more players on the defensive line.
First-year Georgia Coach Kirby Smart said he went for years thinking experience
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Karl Roesler recorded 15 tackles and three sacks for Arkansas last season.
at quarterback was the most important factor in winning titles.
“You look at the last 10 years, the SEC champions, and it’s not necessarily se- nior quarterbacks,” said Smart, the long- time defensive coordinator at Alabama. “There’s a lot of athletic quarterbacks in those 10 years, but the biggest thing is defensive line and dominating the line of scrimmage, stopping people from running the ball.
“In my history I’ve found it’s important to sign enough big bodies to dominate the line of scrimmage, and those are the hard- est positions to come by now. ... Those big guys don’t grow on trees. There’s not enough of them out there to supply the entire SEC.”
The Razorbacks hope that by subbing early and often they can stay fresh while not losing much quality, and have their top players in peak condition at winning time in games.
“I believe we can compete with the best of the best D-lines in the SEC and in the nation,” Wise said.
“Coach Segrest has his hands full try- ing to figure out who’s going to play right now,” Jackson said. “I kind of feel bad for him.”
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