Razorback safeties: 'Doubt us all you want'

Arkansas defensive back Santos Ramirez (9) slips away from Alabama running back Derrick Henry (2) after intercepting a pass in the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas strong safety Santos Ramirez has a message for any nonbelievers in the Razorbacks' ability to defend the pass.

"To the people that's doubting us, I'd just say keep doubting us," Ramirez said. "It fuels the fire. It builds that monster inside. You can doubt us all you want."

Arkansas finished 14th in the SEC and 116th nationally last season in pass defense, allowing an average of 275.2 passing yards per game. Opponents threw 18 touchdown passes.

"Last year is last year," free safety Josh Liddell said. "What happened, happened.

"We're a new team. We're a new defense. We've got a lot of guys back that have experience. We've got a lot of guys that can play, a lot of guys that are talented.

"We've got a great coach, and we're looking to have a great year."

Paul Rhoads, Iowa State's head coach the previous seven seasons and an SEC defensive coordinator at Auburn, is the Razorbacks' new defensive backs coach.

Liddell and Ramirez are among the players with starting experience.

Liddell, a junior from Pine Bluff Dollarway, has played in 25 games, including 12 starts. He made 10 starts last season and had 52 tackles and tied for the team lead with two interceptions.

Ramirez, a redshirt sophomore from Shreveport, played in 12 games with three starts. He had 35 tackles and one interception.

Liddell and Ramirez have worked as the starting safeties throughout camp.

"I think they're going to be a big reason why we limit big plays this year," defensive coordinator Robb Smith said.

Sophomore linebacker Dre Greenlaw said Rhoads' impact on the safeties in pass coverage is evident.

"The windows the quarterback is trying to throw into are a lot tighter," Greenlaw said.

Liddell said it's important the safeties learn from mistakes made last season.

"We're working on our weaknesses and trying to make them our strengths now," Liddell said.

Rhoads said he's been pleased with the safeties, including second-teamers DeAndre Coley and Reid Miller, in camp.

"Safety play starts with intelligence, knowing what they're doing and I've got zero complaints with that group and how they handle that," Rhoads said. "I think their athleticism is plenty good enough.

"Then you go back to the techniques necessary to play, and there's some things we've got to fine tune, but we've got a good amount of time yet to do it."

Ramirez has been known as a big hitter who has had big misses too.

Smith said Ramirez has done the film study necessary to improve.

"He's in our building all the time," Smith said. "He understands where he's supposed to be, where his eyes are supposed to take him to, and I think as long as that's the first part of his process, when he gets there he's going to be able to finish plays."

One of the things Ramirez said he is working on is to make sure and bring his hips.

"As a safety, you've go to be a sure tackler," he said. "Last line of defense."

Not that Ramirez is going to be less physical.

"It's all about wrapping up, keeping your head up," he said. "Then it can be some chaos going on when I do that."

Rhoads said he has no doubt he's gotten through to Ramirez.

"He's a very conscientious kid and absolutely wants to please in how he plays the game," Rhoads said.

Smith said Liddell has as good a feel for the defense as any player and does a good job making the calls.

"Of the guys that come to my mind that understand exactly what we want to do in our system, Josh is towards the top of the list," Smith said. "He's a smart football player. He communicates well on the football field.

"He's spent a lot of time trying to improve his own game as far as playing some deep balls and different things we're going to ask him to do within the system. I'm a big Josh Liddell fan."

Rhoads said Liddell inspires confidence among his teammates..

"When you're at free safety you've got make the checks and everybody else has to count on you," Rhoads said. "The players want to feel that, and they feel that everywhere Josh is at, whether we're doing a walkthrough, we're out there playing or we're in the meeting room."

Ramirez said he and Liddell are ready to be impact players.

"Me and Josh will really come on the scene this year and be All-SEC caliber safeties," Ramirez said. "Knowing that we went through a lot of adversity, that helps us grow together.

"We're just ready to take it on. Any challenge that comes at us."

Sports on 08/16/2016