Hog calls

Tough times for defensive coordinators

Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith watches from the sideline during a game against TCU on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, in Fort Worth, Texas.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Ken Hatfield can empathize with the plight of the men charged with coordinating defenses in college football these days.

That includes former Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith, now at Minnesota, as well as recently promoted Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads, and all other defensive coordinators.

Hatfield, Arkansas' head coach from 1984-1989, remarked in a recent conversation that it seems every recent rule change in college football benefits offense.

Allowing offensive linemen to be 3 yards down field, in particular, exploits defenses on run-pass options, Hatfield said.

So current defenses and their coordinators perhaps shouldn't be judged comparing their stats with defenses of the past.

Take these past two Alabama-Clemson national championship games.

"Those are two great defenses," Hatfield said.

Nearly all involved in college football surely would agree.

Yet look at the scores and yardage compiled in Alabama's 45-40 victory to decide the 2015 national championship and Clemson's 35-31 victory over Alabama on Jan. 9 to the 2016 national championship.

The firsts matchup combined 85 points and 1,023 yards.

Last week's game didn't match that output, but for a clash billed as a matchup of great defenses, the 66 points and 890 yards was more than one might have expected in the past.