Arkansas’ defensive line coaches are making their mission clear early in camp: build real depth, and make sure it shows up on the field.
That has been a sore spot for the Razorbacks in recent seasons, especially in the run game. Arkansas finished 15th against the run a year ago, allowing 185.9 yards per game on the ground. The pass rush wasn’t much better, with the Hogs ranking 13th in the league in sacks after posting just 22 in 12 games.
Now, in Year 1 under head coach Ryan Silverfield and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, Kynjee’ Cotton and Landius Wilkerson are pushing to change that by creating a defensive line that can keep fresh bodies rotating in without a drop-off.
“A lot of you guys know Quincy [Rhodes Jr.],” Wilkerson said Tuesday. “[David] Oke’s been around.
I think total, there’s 10 freshmen, sophomores in that room. Every D-line coach in America wants that rotation of 8-10 guys.
Our goal is to build depth in that room, give them all equal opportunity. All those guys are working on their weaknesses to earn a role.
I think they’re all competing for it, working for it.
“Our goal is to build depth and find it. So, you’ll see a strong rotation every day going through camp.”
Among the players expected to carry a heavy load up front this fall are Rhodes, Oke, Hunter Osborne and Charlie Collins. Behind them, Carlon Jones, Reginald Vaughn, Colton Yarbrough, Jamonta Waller and Steven Soles Jr. are among the group trying to force their way into the mix for reps in practice and snaps in games.
Tuesday brought the Razorbacks’ first practice in full pads, and Cotton said the staff wanted to see physical play and better tackling right away. Arkansas has Wednesday off before returning to the field Thursday.
“We got it in today,” Cotton said. “Oh yeah.
It was good. It was a good day.
Coaches always say, the best way to learn how to tackle is to tackle. That’s what we focused on today.
Go back to the film, clean up, and see what we can do to get better.”
Cotton said a couple of players flashed, but the overall standard still wasn’t where it needs to be.
“I think we got to get better as a group, honestly,” Cotton said. “Too many missed tackles.
It’s the first day. We joked today, ‘Coach, I would’ve made that play.
I would’ve got that.’ We found out today.
Some of you did, some of you didn’t. The ones that didn’t, now we have to go back and correct it.”
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