UA ‘tweeners’ excel in Hogs’ 3-4 scheme
FAYETTEVILLE Coach Bret Bielema switching the Arkansas Razorbacks from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense was supposed to capitalize on those ‘tweener type players just a little too big for safety and a little too small for defensive end in the 4-3, but maybe fit to excel as outside linebackers in the 3-4.
At least against the outmanned Florida A&M Rattlers, ‘tweeners Randy Ramsey and Dwayne Eugene, junior and senior returnees obviously not recruited for the 3-4, , and junior college transfer Gabe Richardson recruited specifically for outside ‘backer in the 3-4, fit right into misfitting the Rattlers during Arkansas’ 49-7 season-opening victory last Thursday night at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Ramsey and Eugene each registered a quarterback sack among their two tackles each. Richardson impacted dislodging the forced FAMU fumble that Arkansas senior cornerback Henre Toliver scooped and scored with romping for an 18-yard touchdown.
Outside ‘backer fit Ramsey well in Arkansas’ first real game though obviously a far tougher one looms with the TCU Horned Frogs of the Big 12 invading Reynolds Razorback Stadium next Saturday in Fayetteville.
Eugene, the handyman used at both inside linebacker spots and the strongside one in the 4-3, never has looked so at home, Bielema said, since solely playing what Bielema calls “Hog” linebacker.
Ramsey plays both Razor, the more safety-linebacker hybrid, and Hog, more the defensive end-linebacker hybrid.
“I think in particular at outside ‘backer you had two guys, Randy Ramsey and Dwayne Eugene who have been kind of role players to this point,” Bielema said postgame in Little Rock. “I think it showed up today that those are two guys that belong at this
level.”
The do they come off the edge to do they drop in coverage nature of outside ‘backers springs surprises, Bielema said.
“You saw Dwayne Eugene get that sack late,” Bielema said. “I think they thought the rotation was going to be the other way and all of sudden here’s a guy they think is going to be dropping and he’s rushing and he causes some problems.”
Ramsey can excel all over, Bielema said.
“Randy has been a guy I’ve been really quiet about,” Bielema said. “But I think he has some special skills and is just starting to scratch the surface how good he can be.”
Bielema lauded JC transfer Richardson working in tandem with Toliver for cause the fumble scoop and score.
“That play was created by the leverage that Henre Toliver got and forced it in,” Bielema said. “We turned it into pursuit. Gabe got the strip and Henre got the fumble recovery for the touchdown. There was another play that (defensive end) Jake Hall got a sack because the quarterback (leveraged away from his preferred direction) turned into him.”
The Razorbacks needed all hands on deck help at the other corner with junior Ryan Pulley, Arkansas’ best cornerback last season, sidelined during the game by an injured pectoral muscle. Pulley reported Friday on social media that the injury will sideline him for the season’s duration. Pulley, two interceptions, 13 pass breakups and 47 tackles last season, has never redshirted so is eligible for a hardship restoring his junior eligibility in 2018.
True freshmen Kamren Curl and Chevin Calloway and junior college transfer Britto Tutt alternated in Pulley’s stead against FAMU.
“Because of Ryan’s situation, it’s really a 3-man rotation,” Bielema said after Thursday’s game. “Britto Tutt, Chevin Calloway and Kamren Curl we wanted to play all those guys equally. I think Kamren probably took the majority of the reps but Chevin the last two weeks has come on really, really good. Him and Kamren both are very mature beyond their years.”
Bielema also mentioned Kevin Richardson, the senior nickel back from Jacksonville who was last season’s starting cornerback in the season opener but lost for the 2016 tearing pectoral muscles in that game.
“There are a couple of options out there,” Bielema said. ‘You have the Swiss Army knife our defense - K. Rich (senior nickel back Kevin Richardson of Jacksonville) who can also play corner and do some good things. We’ll just step back and take a look at it and see Ryan’s situation and come up with our best personnel.”
Normally Richardson would play lots of nickel against TCU’s Spread, but free safety Josh Liddell of Pine Bluff Dollarway also can play nickel, and senior De’Andre Coley is an experienced free safety.