FAYETTEVILLE — Less-inhibited defense strikes back
Arkansas’ coaching staff still didn’t allow its defensive players to cut tackle, but they did open up the playbook a bit.
The defense blitzed, stunted and mixed up it looks rather than playing its base like it did a week ago in the first spring scrimmage. The result: much more pressure and a stingier run defense.
The defense was unofficially credited with 15 sacks in a more than 130-play scrimmage, 12 more than they had last week.
The offensive line was again without center Frank Ragnow and missing second-team left tackle Paul Ramirez, who was absent after his grandmother passed away this week. The mix-and-match units that took the field as a result were up-and-down.
Quarterbacks wore green non-contact jerseys and plays were blown dead when a pass rusher closed in. On some plays, that negated the quarterback’s ability to perhaps evade the rush or release a late pass, but the pass rush was still notably better with the expanded playbook.
The first-team offensive line, with Johnny Gibson re-inserted at right guard, gave up a few sacks. Three players were credited with multiple sacks: Backup end T.J. Smith had 4, backup end Briston Guidry 3 and outside linebacker Michael Taylor 3. Kevin Richardson had a sack on a nickel back blitz.
The first-team defense gave up a 51-yard run down the sideline to Devwah Whaley, which set up an 11-yard score by Rawleigh Williams. That was the lone big play and only scoring drive allowed in the move-the-ball segment of the scrimmage.
Whaley unofficially finished with 95 yards on 18 carries, but only 44 on 17, a 2.6 average, after taking away the big run. Williams had 79 on 17 attempts.
All in all, the defense won the day.
Martin shows off talent
Jordan Jones was the star receiver of the first scrimmage, catching 4 passes for 99 yards and a score. Brandon Martin earned that title Saturday.
Martin caught 6 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, producing 2 highlight plays in a solid day.
First, he caught a pass over the middle from Ty Storey and proceeded to truck safety De’Andre Coley, perhaps the biggest hitter on the team, on the way to a 21-yard gain.
Later, Cole Kelley rifled a high pass into the back of the end zone and Martin created separation with Josh Liddell before reaching up to reel in an 18-yard score.
Both plays showcased his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame, one that makes him a mismatch for most defensive backs. He definitely was Saturday.
Storey outperforms Kelley
Kelley’s touchdown throw to Martin was the highlight of his day, but the rest of his scrimmage was a struggle at times.
He unofficially finished 5 of 8 for 54 yards with the score and an interception, while taking 6 sacks. On his interception, he pump-faked and then threw off his back foot to tight end Jack Kraus. The ball was behind Kraus, bounced off his shoulders and was intercepted by Coley, who also recovered a fumble. Kelley was consistently hesitant, which led to defenders getting close enough for the play to be blown dead a number of times.
Storey, on the other hand, was solid, finishing 7 of 11 for 69 yards. He doesn’t have the arm strength or build Kelley does, but he appeared more comfortable in the pocket, surveying his options and picking up where he left off after finishing last week’s scrimmage in strong fashion.
The team won’t scrimmage next week, so the next time the 2 backups are in a live setting will be the April 29 spring game. It will be interesting to see how they perform and if one can assert themselves heading into the summer.
Richardson impacts at nickel
Richardson’s sack on a nickel blitz was 1 of a few impressive plays for the senior Saturday as the Hogs used him at nickel back after not going to the look a week ago.
He came off the edge to drop Whaley for a 7-yard loss to help shut down the offense’s first move-the-ball drive. He followed it up with a big pass breakup, laying a big hit on T.J. Hammonds on a quick swing pass at the line scrimmage to break it up.
Pulley has teaching moment but starting corners continue strong spring
Ryan Pulley was whistled for pass interference in the end zone when he failed to get his head around on a quick back-shoulder throw from Allen to Jones. Bret Bielema called it a teaching moment afterward.
But Pulley was impressive the rest of the scrimmage, his second straight good scrimmage. He broke up a pair of passes, flashing his ability to break on the ball and physically separate it from receivers. He let the offense (and everyone in the stadium) hear about it each time.
He also stopped Martin a yard short of the first down on a deep out on third down in situational work, prompting him to get up and raise his fist to indicate it was fourth down.
Henre’ Toliver was beaten by La’Michael Pettway for an 18-yard touchdown from Allen, but was otherwise solid. He broke up another Allen pass on the sideline a few minutes later. He received praise from Bielema after the scrimmage.
The strong play of the starting corners contributed to Allen finishing just 7 of 16 for 60 yards. Toliver, Richardson and especially Pulley have been impressive this spring.
Taylor more active in second scrimmage
Michael Taylor unofficially had 6 tackles in the first scrimmage last week, his first scrimmage in about 18 months.
He was much more active Saturday, recording 9 stops, including 4 tackles-for-loss and 3 sacks. With Karl Roesler sliding back from defensive end to the Hog linebacker spot, Taylor split time with the first-and second-team defense, but was markedly more active than he was a week ago.
Harris racks up tackles again
Sophomore mike linebacker De’Jon ‘Scoota’ Harris unofficially leads the team in tackles with 22 after 2 scrimmages.
He had a team-best 12 on Saturday, including one stop behind the line of scrimmage. He’s shown the ability to tackle with physicality both weeks. Saturday, he also got his hands on an Allen pass, batting it high in the air.