ARKANSAS SPRING FOOTBALL

Taking old approach

Razorbacks’ defensive line has 2014 feel to it

Arkansas defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter (55) works through a drill Thursday, March 31, 2016, during practice at the university's practice field on campus in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- If the Arkansas defensive front looks more comparable this fall to how it did in 2014, why shouldn't its results be more like that productive season from the front four two years ago?

That's the thinking of Coach Bret Bielema, defensive coordinator Robb Smith and defensive line coach Rory Segrest, who elected to shuffle personnel on the front to open spring practices.

Tweaks to the old look will move Taiwan Johnson, a breakout nose guard in 2014, back to his old spot, albeit 18 pounds heavier at 280 pounds.

Jeremiah Ledbetter, who played end most of 2015, will play the defensive tackle spot -- called the 3 technique -- manned mostly by Johnson last season. Bielema said he pitched the position to Ledbetter as the place where Darius Philon made his name, doing enough good work to declare for the NFL Draft after his redshirt sophomore season in 2014.

"They want a speed person at the 3 technique," Ledbetter said. "They feel like they lost that last year, so they're putting me there to add some explosion to the position."

Ledbetter said he weighs 275 pounds now, about 5 pounds less than what he weighed as a junior college transfer entering last season.

"Taking on that defensive tackle position, you know you're going to get double teams, scoop blocks, all that stuff," Ledbetter said. "It's just me handling my responsibility and doing it to the best of my ability."

Johnson, one of the surprises of fall camp in 2014 when he won the starting nose guard job as a 262-pound sophomore, backed up Bielema's belief in him with a big start that included 3½ sacks and a fumble recovery in the first three games playing beside Philon. Johnson finished with 26 tackles, including 4½ sacks, and a fumble recovery touchdown in Arkansas' 31-7 victory over Texas in the Texas Bowl.

The Manvel, Texas, native registered 28 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 1 sack last season at defensive tackle.

"I'm always excited just to be on the field, so whatever position I'm at, I'm good and I'm ready to go," Johnson said. "The only thing that's different is I've added weight. I feel like I'll have more power. I'll still try to do things like the last time I was there, make plays to help the defense."

Moving Ledbetter was an easier decision for the coaches for a couple of reasons, the first being Ledbetter and other ends such as Deatrich Wise Jr. and JaMichael Winston played inside in some instances last year when the staff liked matchups against certain guards.

Additionally, the Razorbacks appear to have plenty of depth at end to make up for his lost reps from a group led by seniors Wise and Winston and junior Tevin Beanum, and also including junior Karl Roesler, and freshmen McTelvin Agim, Jamario Bell and Derrick Graham.

"It's great having Ledbetter on the inside as it gives us more of a speed advantage," Wise said. "He'll be a good asset on the inside."

Segrest asked Ledbetter to watch tape of Philon from 2014 to get a good idea of how the Razorbacks want to employ him.

"At the 3 tech position, things happen faster, so to play that position you have to come off fast and play faster is the main thing," Ledbetter said.

Senior linebacker Brooks Ellis said Ledbetter is a "beast" who could play anywhere, and he and Johnson are already adapting to the change.

"They're doing a great job," Ellis said. "It's fun to be behind them and be able to move around, because they're taking up so much space and making plays."

Safety Josh Liddell said the movements should make the defense better.

"It's going to be big for Led because he's very explosive," Liddell said. "That 3 technique is really made right for him, and also Taiwan getting back to what he played two years ago, he's familiar with that. We're looking forward to that change."

Sports on 04/01/2016