Admittedly, the Arkansas Razorbacks defense started slow last Saturday night.

Western Illinois, mostly Herb Donaldson, ran right at the Hogs with some success, but it was primarily in the first half.

If you think about it, some jitters were to be expected.

Jerry Franklin, a redshirt freshman from Marion, was calling the defensive signals.

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Not only was it his first start, but he was responsible for making sure a defense that is light at linebacker was in the right formation.

Franklin, who did as well calling the defensive plays as he did at linebacker, where he started after moving from safety during his redshirt season a year ago, had 11 tackles.

As the game progressed, the jitters passed. Part of that was the authority with which Franklin called the plays, but he wasn’t the only first-time starter who stepped up on defense.

Junior strong safety Matt Harris, who moved from free safety where true freshman Elton Ford started, showed signs of being a vocal leader. And a hitter.

Both of which come naturally. Harris’ dad, Cliff Harris, was a six-time All-Pro safety for the Dallas Cowboys and played in five Super Bowls.

Cliff Harris was a free agent out of Ouachita Baptist University and one of the guys who helped create Gil Brandt’s reputation for finding unheralded players.

Cliff and his brother Tommy, who played for the Razorbacks, are originally from Des Arc, but both live in the Dallas area now.

Anyway, the Hogs defense played better against the run in the second half and, in fact, almost everyone on both sides of the ball was better after halftime adjustments were made.

This team is probably one of the youngest ever to take the field wearing the Razorbacks uniform — more on that later — and will most likely improve during the season.

That doesn’t mean they are going to be playing for a championship, partly because they are still adjusting to the Bobby Petrino offense and the Willy Robinson defense.

They will improve as they gain experience, but at the same time the Razorbacks have the second-toughest schedule in the nation, and maybe the most difficult now that Alabama has knocked off Clemson.

Louisiana-Monroe is not an automatic victory because its defense is pretty salty with seven starters back.

This is basically the same team that beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa last season, but also the one that lost to North Texas, and this year’s offense has been retooled, especially the offensive line.

After this Saturday, every weekend has the chance to be a migraine headache or a Ferris-wheel high for the Hogs.

Of their final 10 opponents, six are currently ranked in the Top 25 and two others, Ole Miss and Tulsa, will be highly emotional. The Rebels and Hurricane opened the season with victories.

So the Razorbacks need to improve, and quickly. But when you play as many freshmen and start only seven seniors, it is simply a rebuilding year.

A year that started with a narrow victory over Western Illinois in uniforms that were far from the norm for the Razorbacks.

The red jerseys with the white stripes were not too bad, but the red pants with a white stripe seemed a little off course for some, especially longtime fans.

However, if the players like them, that is really what matters the most.

If they take the field feeling good about themselves, it will only help their confidence, and that’s something they need to gain a boatload of in a hurry.

The first-game jitters should be gone. Experience was gained in the opener, and they improved as the game progressed.

And the offense was entertaining, especially in the second half.