FAYETTEVILLE — Just a year after being one of the nation’s top 10 defenses, Arkansas found itself 58th in the country last season and giving up far too many big plays.
That included allowing 391.6 yards per game, 5,091 yards overall, a whopping 44 touchdowns and over 6 yards per play.
Contrast that with the 2014 Razorbacks defense that was ranked 10th nationally while allowing just 321 yards per game, 4,204 yards, 30 touchdowns and 5.1 yards per play.
“It was a matter of being too inconsistent and giving up far too many big plays,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith said. “We would make one good play and then give up a big one when we had one player break down.
“It wasn’t so much a lack of effort as it was doing the things that we are taught, making sure your eyes are in the right place at the right time.”
The five Arkansas defenders who met the media Friday afternoon before the Razorbacks’ second practice of training camp don’t believe those will be issues this season.
Junior safety Josh Liddell said his group is looking ahead and not behind.
“Last year was last year, what happened, happened,” Liddell said. “We are a new team. We are a new defense. We have a lot of guys coming back that have experience, a lot of guys that can play, a lot of guys that are talented, we have a great coach and we are looking forward to having a good year.”
Liddell believes the adversity of last season will make the defense better this season.
“It is extremely important,” Liddell said. “We know what happened, we know what didn’t go well and what we did wrong. That is what we are doing now, working on our weaknesses and trying to make those our strengths now. We are just working every day.”
Senior defensive end Deatrich Wise, projected as a 2017 first-round NFL choice by many, echoed that sentiment.
“Coach (Smith) tells us we are a talented team and I believe that we are a very talented team,” Wise said. “Everybody knows the defense. It’s the same coaches, the same teammates, the same team, but it will be much stronger than last year.
“We also believe the defensive line is the heart of the team so when the offense is trying to find itself and get a rhythm I believe our defense will step in.”
Wise believes this year’s defensive line is one of the best in school history with him and senior defensive tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter anchoring the group.
“Like Coach (Bret Bielema) said, that is extremely helpful when you have guys like Deatrich and (Jeremiah Ledbetter) getting to the quarterback,” Liddell said. “That just puts pressure on the offense. You have to get balls off faster and that allows DBs to break a lot easier on balls that are not maybe thrown as well.
“Having those guys up front, they are doing a great job this summer working hard and getting after it. The better they are, the better we will be.”
Ledbetter likes what he has seen from newcomers McTelvin Agim, Austin Capps, Briston Guidry and Jonathan Marshall, and sophomore Randy Ramsey, who has moved from linebacker to defensive end.
“They’re very mature for their ages, body wise and maturity wise,” Ledbetter said. “The young defensive linemen coming in, I think they'll be perfectly fine. They just have to pay attention to detail and I think they'll be OK.”
Senior linebacker Brooks Ellis sees a bright future for this defense as well.
“It's going to be huge,” Ellis said. “We have so many people coming back with experience. Lots of leadership they bring to the table. Just knowing what to do in different situations, through adversity, through tough times, just knowing how to handle that and push through it. That's going to be huge for our defense and our team.”
Cornerback Jared Collins loves the fact that the second has more depth to it.
“There are so many more people back there now,” Collins said. “There is no way anyone should get tired this season.”
Arkansas has added freshmen safeties Deon Edwards and Micahh Smith, as well as cornerback Britto Tutt.
“Deon is working at the free safety with me and Micahh is working at strong safety,” Liddell said. “They are just learning right now. They are smart and they work hard. During the June and July sessions, they were always texting me and trying to watch film and trying to learn our defense and this and that.
“They are smart, they are big, they are athletic so they are going to be big for us I believe.”
Tutt adds to a group of five defensive backs that have started games at Arkansas.
“He has some good quickness,” Liddell said. “He has good feet and is kind of long and kind of athletic. He will be good playing corner for us.”