Defense needs to win numbers game
FAYETTEVILLE — Back in August, Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and defensive coordinator Robb Smith explained their Razorbacks defense could lose its Bermuda Triangle yet not disappear.
In 2014 senior defensive end Trey Flowers, third-year sophomore defensive tackle Darius Philon and senior weakside linebacker Martrell Spaight so excelled they came to be called the Bermuda Triangle. It seemed ball-carriers who ventured into their area vanished with few traceable gains in three of the last four games last season, SEC shutouts over LSU and Ole Miss and a 31-7 bowl victory over Texas.
The NFL drafted them all. Arkansas would carry on, Bielema and Smith asserted. Junior Brooks Ellis would move from middle linebacker (mike) to weakside linebacker (will) and resume where Spaight, the SEC’s leading tackler, left off.
Acknowledging individually that they had no defensive lineman up to Flowers and Philon standards, Bielema and Smith alleged the Razorbacks boasted better defensive line depth. Sheer numbers rotating fresh players in would compensate.
It has not worked as originally planned. Likely it never will.
Because after two games they learned Ellis is too valuable at middle linebacker to play weakside linebacker.
They also learned it takes awhile for defensive line numbers to cover the star power lost.
However, it all added up better in Arkansas’ 2-2 SEC start than it did in its 1-2 record in the team’s three nonconference games.
Arkansas plays its final nonconference game today when it hosts the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks before finishing the regular season with four SEC games in November.
Today marks the fifth game that Fayetteville High graduates Ellis, a two-year starter, and true freshman Dre Greenlaw will start together as the middle and weakside linebackers.
In the 27-14 loss Oct. 24 at Alabama, Ellis played sensationally with 15 official tackles.
“I had him for 20,” linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves said after reviewing the game film.
The defensive scheme met plans mostly in last Saturday’s 5446 four-overtime victory over Auburn that was tied 24-24 at the end of regulation.
If Ellis (nine tackles against Auburn) and the defensive linemen aren’t in position to make the tackles themselves, they are supposed to funnel the ball-carrier to Greenlaw on the weak side like they funneled to Spaight last year.
Against Auburn, Greenlaw responded with 16 tackles and a pass breakup.
“With our defense, everything flows to the will and he did a great job,” Ellis said.
Greenlaw received funneling help from his friends up front. They also made key tackles themselves.
Defensive linemen Jeremiah Ledbetter, Taiwan Johnson, DeMarcus Hodge, JaMichael Winston, Bijhon Jackson, Tevin Beanum, Deatrich Wise, Karl Roesler and Mitch Loewen collectively amassed 27 tackles, including 6 for lost yardage, and 3 quarterback hurries against Auburn.
Other than the first overtime when Auburn ran through Arkansas three times like a sieve, the defensive line depth served Arkansas well.
“I think there were points in that game where it certainly did help us,” Smith said. “Collectively, we have got to understand how to finish out games a little bit better. That’s going to be a big focus for us down the stretch.”