FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas ’ defense has had just five players start at the same position in the first three games this season.

Seven defensive linemen have started at least one game.

Senior Michael Grant has started at free safety and cornerback. Senior Marcus Harrison has gone from starting end to backup tackle. Sophomore Adrian Davis is back in the starting lineup at end after being a backup last week.

Junior weakside linebacker Elston Forte has moved up to the first team this week.

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Overall, 16 players have started at least one game on defense.

Some of that is reflective of one-game disciplinary suspensions served by Harrison and junior tackle Ernest Mitchell, and because Arkansas opened in a nickel package with five defensive backs against Troy.

But a lot of the moves have to do with the Razorbacks ranking 81 st nationally in total defense (420. 3 yards per game ), 97 th in passing defense (268. 7 yards ), 65 th in rushing defense (151. 7 yards ) and 104 th in scoring defense (36. 3 points ) and starting 0-2 in SEC play after losing at Alabama 41-38 and to Kentucky 42-29.

“We’ve tinkered and tinkered and moved guys and moved guys and moved guys trying to get this thing right,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said. “We’ve looked spectacular at times and we’ve looked awful at times.”

In Arkansas’ season-opening 46-26 victory over Troy, quarterback Omar Haugabook completed 6 of 24 passes for 40 yards combined in the first, third and fourth quarters against the Razorbacks, but completed 9 of 19 for 164 in the second quarter.

In the final 8: 08 at Alabama, the Crimson Tide scored 10 points, including a 73-yard game-winning touchdown drive that started with 2: 13 left.

Kentucky scored three touchdowns in the final 11: 40, including an 80-yard touchdown drive kept alive by a personal-foul penalty on a missed field goal, a 68-yard drive and a 24-yard drive after Arkansas turned the ball over on downs.

Kentucky also scored a touchdown on a 66-yard fumble return and two of Alabama’s touchdown drives covered 9 and 2 yards after an interception and long punt return.

As Herring noted, those circumstances help make Arkansas ’ scoring defense “horrendous” and “pathetic” statistically.

But the stats also show the Razorbacks have given up long drives when they were attempting to protect a lead in the final minutes.

“We’ve given up some big plays in the three games in the passing game, big chunks of yardage, that we haven’t in the past,” Herring said. “The reason for that is either a breakdown or lack of competing on the ball.”

On many of the opponents ’ big passing gains, Arkansas defensive backs were in position to make a play on the ball, but didn’t.

“They’re chaperoning the girl to the dance, but nobody’s dancing,” Herring said. “We’ve got to learn to go make plays.”

Arkansas had to rebuild its defense after losing six starters, including end Jamaal Anderson, now starting for the Atlanta Falcons; cornerback Chris Houston, a second-teamer for the Falcons; tackle Keith Jackson Jr., on the St. Louis Rams’ practice squad, and linebacker Sam Olajubutu, on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ’ injured reserve list.

Senior middle linebacker Weston Dacus is among the five Razorbacks to start the first three games on defense at the same position, along with senior strong safety Matt Hewitt, senior cornerback Matterral Richardson, sophomore tackle Malcolm Sheppard and redshirt sophomore strongside linebacker Freddie Fairchild.

“It’s clear we’re not getting it done in the second half,” Dacus said. “The coaches are calling plays that are designed to work and it’s up to the players to execute them.

“ It’s not the coaches losing these games, it’s us who are not executing the play calls and getting it done.”

Herring said lack of consistency is the biggest problem.

“We’re very, very inconsistent, so to me at the end of the day we’re not very good, because I hate the word inconsistent,” Herring said. “That spells trouble, and that’s the difference between us being 3-0 and 1-2 right now.

“ When are we going to get consistent and play four quarters and learn to finish ?”

The Razorbacks hope that time will come Saturday night when they play North Texas.

“We can’t coil up and just give up,” Dacus said. “We’ve got to come out here and get mad about it and work harder in practice. That’s the only way we’re going to get better.”

Herring said he’s expecting improvement in a lot of areas.

“I’m going to look for our guys making plays on the ball, I’m going to look for better pressure up front and I’m going to look for more sound and smarter defense,” Herring said. “And we’ve had way too many foolish penalties.”

Richardson said the Razorbacks are staying confident and not giving up on each other.

“There’s always going to be adversity in a season. Not every game is going to go your way,” Richardson said. “We just have to keep listening to the coaches and keep getting better.”

Herring has been pleased by the players’ attitude and work ethic in practice this week.

“There’s a lot of fight left in these guys’ tanks, I promise you,” Herring said. “I’ll let you know when I think they’ve quit. That’s when I resign.

“ As long as they’re fighting, we’ve got a chance and that’s all you can ask for... that the players keep fighting and everybody stays together and keeps believing.”