FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith and defensive assistants Clay Jennings, Rory Segrest and Vernon Hargreaves aren't content with last year's achievements after the Razorbacks improved 66 places in the NCAA rankings to finish 10th in total defense in 2014.
Smith and his staff are open to new ideas and personnel adjustments, as evidenced by Tuesday's workout at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
In Arkansas' seventh of 15 spring practices, the defensive coaches tried a handful of players at new spots, re-adjusted the depth chart and kept looking for ways to improve.
"You're trying to build depth everywhere," Smith said. "You can never have enough, right?"
The linebacker spots provided the most stark example, as junior Josh Williams swapped his middle linebacker post to give the strong-side position a try, swapping spots with sophomore Khalia Hackett.
"At the end of the day, it's all about matchups and we've got to put these guys in positions to be successful, and we're moving guys around," Smith said.
"We switched some guys around, did some different things, and we weren't quite as good as we've been in the past," Hargreaves said. "It's a learning process, and I think what it'll do is it's going to help us down the road from a depth standpoint, for being able to shuffle guys around and play some different spots."
Hargreaves said he was very pleased with the linebacker play in last Saturday's scrimmage and the time was right to try to broaden the position group's versatility.
Smith said Hackett played at inside linebacker on first and second downs Tuesday.
"When we get to next Saturday, we might move him back out," he said. "A lot of it, we're trying to find the best spot. I think it's a credit to the job Vernon's done and their ability to learn."
Williams' strengths should give the coaches a chance to move him around.
"He's a great run stopper," Smith said. "The other thing we think he's really good at is rushing the passer. Some of our pressures that we can involve linebackers, we'll certainly look to do that. And he's such a smart guy. He understands coverages"
The starting point for the linebacker moves was junior Brooks Ellis' transition from middle (Mike) linebacker to the weak-side (Will) spot, where Martrell Spaight excelled last season.
"Brooks is our security blanket," Smith said. "We know what we have in him as a Mike, but we know what that will position can do for us. Brooks has really embraced that and has had a great spring to this point."
There were changes on all levels of the defense. On the line, Tevin Beanum took more snaps with the starters at the rush end spot after an efficient scrimmage, and Jeremiah Ledbetter worked more at end after opening spring as a tackle.
"Now's the time to experiment, get some guys in some different spots," defensive line coach Rory Segrest said. "Ledbetter's an athletic guy. We wanted to try to give him an opportunity to just pin it back off the edge and see what he could do. He looked good out there. He gives us some versatility because he can play a few different positions for us."
In the secondary, senior Rohan Gaines resumed working with the starting unit at strong safety after a few days in which sophomore De'Andre Coley saw significant work playing that spot next to sophomore free safety Josh Liddell.
"It felt great being out there with my brothers again," Gaines said. "There's a rotation back there. It's a competition. We've got young guys out there and competition brings out the best in people. That's what we want to bring around here. We want to earn everything."
Coaches seem eager to find a way to get Santos Ramirez in the two-deep, and right now that's at free safety behind Liddell. Ramirez practiced at cornerback and safety while redshirting last year. His work at both spots will add to his versatility, and Coley's time with the starters should prove helpful.
"We've got four guys that are competing, and we're trying to give everybody equal opportunities with the ones," Smith said.
The Razorbacks will conduct a closed practice today as the final tuneup before Saturday's scrimmage at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The 11 a.m. scrimmage will be the first spring workout open to the public.
Sports on 04/09/2015