FAYETTEVILLE — The question was simple to Robb Smith on his lone media opportunity this week. Do you like your defense?
“I like this group a lot,” said Smith, Arkansas' third-year defensive coordinator. “We've had an awesome camp.”
Smith was smiling from ear to ear. There was no trying to cover up his excitement as the Hogs began getting into the intimate details of the game plan against Louisiana Tech, the season opener just over one week away.
“I'm extremely pleased with where we are and what we've added as far as our freshmen with what I thought was a good defense in the spring,” Smith said. “I'm extremely pleased.”
OK, I got it. Extremely pleased twice in one paragraph is pleased.
Bret Bielema can read excitement, too. His media opportunity Thursday produced some highly interesting thoughts on Smith's defense. It's the kind of defense which could dictate how offensive coordinator Dan Enos calls plays.
“I like the way our defense can possibly feed our offense,” Bielema said. “I think we can produce some turnovers.”
Bielema pointed to the chances the Hogs took with an experienced quarterback last year in Brandon Allen. They may not feel a need to take as many chances with Austin Allen, starting for the first time.
“Maybe we don't take as many risks,” Bielema said. “But I do think we can be productive offensively. Austin's numbers in camp have been comparable to Brandon's last year.”
Then, there was some specifics on why he likes Smith's defense.
“I grabbed Dre Greenlaw after practice yesterday,” Bielema said. “He and Martrell Spaight may be as gifted at the will linebacker as I've ever coached. He definitely has some ability.
“I told Dre if he lines up right, and listens to (linebackers coach) Vernon Hargreaves, he might have a big, big year.”
There were more ifs.
“If Dre plays well, we'll play well,” Bielema said. “If our defensive backs don't let the ball go over their heads – and I don't see them doing that now – I think we'll get pressure on the quarterback.”
The depth on defense is the reason Smith is so excited. Bielema echoed the thoughts of his coordinator.
“We've got depth in the back end, possibly with three maybe four safeties,” he said. “Josh Liddell, Santos Ramirez and De'Andre Coley are playing well. De'Andre maybe playing the best of anyone.
“We have four, possibly five corners when we add DJ Dean. At linebacker, we've got Dre, Brooks (Ellis), Scoota (De'Jon Harris), Khalia (Hackett), Dwayne (Eugene) and Josh (Williams). It's well documented what we've got in the defensive line.
“Robb Smith is a very smart man. He doesn't want failure. He'll minimize failure. Then you add Paul Rhoads to the mix with Vernon (Hargreaves) and Rory (Segrest) and I think we are going to have a very good defense. We'll play defense and the kicking game. I think we'll be good in both.”
The big key is improvement against the spread. It's the flexibility Smith has in the way he can attack quarterbacks with pressure and cover in the secondary that makes me feel much better about this team and lean to picking them to win more games than anyone suggests so far.
I love the improvement I've seen at safety. Rhoads has coached them in his way, but within Smith's scheme. The confidence in the secondary room has grown in a huge amount since the former Iowa State head coach arrived on campus.
I think they were fired up from the first day when Rhoads told them he would ride to work on a Harley Davidson. Yes, he may be older, but he's young in the way players view their new coach.
I've been waiting for youngsters like Ryan Pulley to explode at cornerback. It's happening. It takes confidence to roll into the interview room in a Batman T-shirt. Pulley is a little like his bike-riding coach. He's ready to roll.
“He's one of our best in man coverage,” Bielema said of Pulley. “He was undervalued in recruiting, but we thought he was pretty good.”
There has been a big buzz about the freshmen showing up on the depth chart like McTelvin “Sosa” Agim, De'Jon Harris and Austin Capps. But it's those veterans who have not contributed much who will make the difference this season.
It's clear that Hackett has blossomed in camp. He was supposed to be the middle linebacker last season, allowing Ellis to move to the weakside. That flopped and Hackett was relegated to special teams cover units.
“Khalia has learned all three of our linebacker positions,” Smith said. “He's been consistent and also flashed at times. He had a good spring, but he's been even better this fall. He's earned the trust of his coaches and his teammates. He's going to play.”
It goes on and on with this defense. Just look at the rush end position where four players are in position to contribute: Tevin Beanum, Karl Roesler, Randy Ramsey, JaMichael Winston and Sosa. Don't put them in any special order. They all have roles to play and might each be a starter within a package.
It's on Smith to dial up the right combinations. I think he can.
Defense wins championships. I think it's that kind of a unit. I'm not ready to give a number for my win total, but it's going up. When the coaches are excited about defense, there is nowhere to go but up.