FAYETTEVILLE — If we turn back the clock to this point last season and again to the spring, there was one constant: Deatrich Wise was a dominant football player who wrecked offenses.
Wise emerged in the middle of last season as a defensive end unable to be blocked - a big-play animal. He not only made sacks, but he caused fumbles and batted down passes.
Wise made plays with a burst off the edge aided by a quick first step. But it was also the length of his frame that seemed to present the most problems for blocking schemes. Listed at 6-5, 270 pounds, it was those long, strong arms that led to issues for opposing offensive tackles.
I remember sitting down with defensive end Karl Roesler in the spring. Among our topics was the way Wise performed.
“He's the strongest guy on the team as far as what he can do with his hands and arms,” Roesler said. “He throws guys and then closes with a burst.”
Wise was the best player on the field last spring. Some of that was the youth of the offensive tackles opposite him on the Arkansas team. But he also gave problems to Dan Skipper, who is no slouch of an offensive tackle.
It was about that time that Wise began to show up on NFL mock draft boards, sometimes in the first round. He's not on Mel Kiper's top 25, known as the "big board."
Part of the problem for Wise has always been health related. When he's injury free, he's a beast. He was full-go, 100 percent for the last half of last season. It was after the open date in game seven that he began to assert himself.
He's not 100 percent now. He's got a hand injury that's plagued him since the first game, perhaps robbing him of that ability that Roesler talked about. But there is more.
“He's got other (health) issues,” Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said Monday when he met with the media to preview the Florida game.
Those issues were not revealed. It's commonplace not to reveal injuries. It allows opponents to target players.
This is not to target Wise right now. He's not been bad. He's actually totaled more tackles through eight games than all of last season. He's got 36 after recording 31 last year.
It's the big plays that have been missing. He had eight sacks for 43 yards lost last year. He's got three for 20 yards lost this season. He had 10.5 tackles for 52 yards lost last year. He's got 4.5 for 24 this season.
It could be that JaMichael Winston takes his spot in the starting rotation for the Florida game. Wise sat out last week of practice, while Winston had one of his best weeks.
But it may be about Florida's scheme than Wise's health. The Gators like to use multiple tight ends. Winston is better against that kind of formation. He's an anchor point and generally plays gap sound.
There were questions about the way Wise – and Tevin Beanum, the other starter at end – played their gaps against Auburn's running game. Both ducked their nose inside and gave away the edge.
I listened closely as both Bielema and his defensive coordinator, Robb Smith, talked about the way the Hogs will line up this week against Florida. There were some hints, but nothing firm.
Bielema talked about the possibility of both Jeremiah Ledbetter and McTelvin Agim - listed one/two at the weakside tackle - lining up in the same front. Could Ledbetter or Agim slide to the outside on that weak side? Could Agim move to Beanum's side at end?
Something has to change to stop the running game. The Hogs have been among the nation's worst against the run with a school-record falling at Auburn. It's got to turn around.
Physically, the Hogs aren't the speediest team in the SEC West, but they are making the other teams look better than they should. Some of it may be mental. They may have players trying to do too much.
That seems to be the case with Wise. He's probably aware of the way his stock has fallen. If he isn't, he should be. He's got to get back to playing within the scheme. Making sacks shouldn't be the focus. It should be about playing gap sound and stopping the run.
Florida will try to run the ball. Why shouldn't they it? Everyone else has had success. And it's a sure thing the Gators will try to create gaps outside the end with movement and extra blockers, perhaps with two tight ends.
“They do like to create extra gaps on the perimeter,” Smith said.
The good news is that it is a scheme that Arkansas likes on offense. It's a pro tight end game.
I wondered aloud about leadership. Smith said those that have been the best leaders in the open week are nose tackle Taiwan Johnson, linebacker Brooks Ellis and cornerback Jared Collins. Wise, although elected captain, was not mentioned.
It's not that Wise is not liked by teammates. He is popular. It's just hard to be a great leader when you aren't being productive, or when you are injured.
I remember talking to Smith about Wise last winter. There was some important thoughts.
“He's been very productive when he's healthy,” Smith said. “When he had some nagging injuries, he didn't prepare as well, wasn't as productive. When he got healthy, the detail in his preparation really improved.”
The Hogs need a healthy Wise. They need him to be productive. They need to wreak some havoc at end, but do it within the scheme of the defense. That's the missing ingredient in this defense.
If they can't get it from Wise, where can they get it? Perhaps it's time to get more looks with Agim, the highest-rated recruit on the team. He was a true five star and listed No. 11 on ESPN's list of the best players in the nation.
Smith said Agim along with freshman linebacker De'Jon Harris, showed signs of becoming more consistent last week during the bye week. As they get more repetition they are more comfortable with assignments and recognize keys in the offensive fronts.
What's needed is simple: The Hogs need someone to “set the edge.” How do you do that? You play gap sound and make sure ends play their responsibility as the blocking schemes change with tight end movement and motion. That's what Florida will try to do with its scheme.
This is the time of year that it becomes mental as much as physical. Can you summon some motion after getting whipped at Auburn?
Bielema admitted that it can be a fragile time of year. How much did giving up 21 points in chunks of big plays hurt the entire mental approach of the team last week? Can they bounce back this week?
“When you are down 21-0 in the first quarter, it not only affects the defense, but it affects the whole team,” he said.
Bielema and Smith thought the practices have been good in the open week. Energy has been there.
“Our guys worked hard every day,” Smith said of the last week of practice during the open week.
“We worked on our tenants, set the edge and press the hip. Now we have to see if we can get it done.”
Earlier he said the plan against Florida's running game is to box them in on the perimeter, so help can arrive.
Does the plan include Wise?
“We will know Tuesday when we see Deatrich practice,” Smith said. “We need to get healthy bodies out there.”
Bielema thinks the team is “recharged” mentally and that was one of the biggest goals of the open week. Getting healthy is just as important.
How deep is the injury list? No one gives that out in detail, only when someone misses games. The ankle sprains, shoulder sprains and knee sprains are never revealed.
Yes, there was talk of Austin Allen's knee sprain last week and the fact the right knee was drained on Monday after an MRI revealed no major damage.
And there was talk of Allen's health Monday. He practiced Sunday after a week of rest and rehab. Bielema said the quarterback insists he's fine and ready to go.
That's what the coaches want to hear from Wise, too. If they get that guy healthy, this defense might be a step closer to being what most thought would be a decent unit in preseason.