State of the Hogs: Linebackers draw praise

Arkansas linebacker Grant Morgan tackles New Mexico State running back Larry Rose III during a game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Fayetteville.

— There was enough coverage of Bret Bielema's Hokey Pokey dance in the locker room after Arkansas beat New Mexico State, 42-24, on Saturday. It was a topic again Monday as Bielema and his coordinators met the media.

Instead, I'll focus on the hocus-pocus act by the Arkansas defense: Making big-play back Larry Rose disappear from the NMSU offense.

Yes, the Razorbacks allowed Tyler Rogers to pass for 344 yards. That was not something defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads was proud to describe in his Monday visit with the media.

But there was positive news with the way the Arkansas linebackers shadowed Rose, a senior with positive reviews from NFL scouts and over 4,700 career yards in rushing and pass receptions. Rose had just 10 touches in the game. He made 25 yards on eight rushes and made 22 on his two catches.

New Mexico State coach Doug Martin raved about the UA inside linebackers after the game. The Hogs rotated De'Jon Harris, Dre Greenlaw and Grant Morgan at the two inside slots. Rose broke loose only once, on a 20-yard reception.

Martin said the Aggies have seen other SEC linebacker groups, but this was a step up.

“We played A&M and Kentucky last year and LSU the year before that,” Martin said, “and I think that is the best group of linebackers that we have played against in all the times that we have played these SEC teams.

“I think their linebackers are exceptional. They are big, first of all, but they can run. They can cover from sideline to sideline. They are exceptional.”

The tackle charts don't reveal a lot of stops for the inside linebackers, perhaps because the Aggies gave up attacking them early. Harris had four tackles, Morgan three and Greenlaw a season-low one.

They were ready to pounce on Rose when there were chances. Rhoads praised that group.

“The linebackers are improving,” Rhoads said. “(Harris) just gets better and better. As he gets more knowledge, he's going to continue to improve. You get more of an education on how teams are going to attack you and how to handle it as you play.

“Dre missed a lot of time (in the 3-4 installation) in the spring and in the fall. He's just behind in repetitions. It shows that he missed reps. He's still learning, but he has a high ceiling.

“Grant is playing well, but he has much more to give.”

The Hogs did shadow Rose. New Mexico State made just 11 yards on 14 runs.

“We captured (Rose),” Rhoads said. “That was an excellent job. We held them 120 yards below their season average. Are we satisfied with what we did in the passing game? No sir. But we did hold them equal to their season low point total.”

Morgan had two sensational plays. One of them was a tipped pass that led to Kevin Richardson's interception in the end zone. He also tackled Rose for a 2-yard gain on a reception on the last NMSU play of the game.

“The tipped pass in the red zone, not many are going to make that play,” Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said. “The open-field tackle he made at the end of the game was a very good play, too. I'm excited with what he brings.”

Linebackers have not been a team strength. Bielema said it's like offensive line, a position that is getting a rebuild, too.

“In my first year, I wish we had grabbed more linebackers and offensive linemen,” he said. “That's the positions we've been depleted at.”

There's more help on the way at linebacker. Morgan is the top backup at both middle and weakside linebacker behind Harris and Greenlaw. Derrick Munson came off the redshirt list this past week to play on kickoff coverage.

“I think he can help us at linebacker, but he was in on a lot of phases of the kicking game,” Bielema said. “He always seems to find the ball. He's fearless. On the fumble on the kickoff, Munson blew up the guy and kind of spun around the back before the fumble.”

Munson, a true freshman, joined Ouachita Baptist transfer Brenden Young as first-time players on special teams last week.

“Young and Munson made some notoriety on our scout team,” Bielema said. “They are very explosive.”

Rhoads said Munson might earn some time in some specific calls in his defense.

“Munson is a very aggressive player,” Rhoads said. “He does things fast and violent. We'll look at what we add him into our scheme.”

Bielema said true freshman Montaric “Buster” Brown is close to getting time on special teams. He didn't make it to campus until the start of school. Brown got practice time on kick coverage last week and could travel this week.

“He's a talented late arrival,” Rhoads said. “He has length, really runs and plays down hill. He's aggressive, ideal for special teams. Now that (Bielema) has given the green light, he's in position to play.”

There may be some chances to add a few blitz calls against South Carolina's offense, perhaps taking advantage of quarterback Jake Bentley's tendencies to stay in the pocket more than the last few opposing signal callers.

Bentley can run and “won't slide,” Bielema said. But he's at a net minus-5 yards on his 30 rushing plays. South Carolina's injury-plagued offensive line has given up 15 sacks.

“Just their personnel tendencies mean they keep more people around the ball,” Rhoads said. “I hope that means the opportunity (to blitz) is there more this week. When the quarterback doesn't run as much, it puts you in position to go after him more.

“Last week (against Rogers), he's sitting pretty deep. But we did get two sacks and more hits on him than any other team had made.”

South Carolina's tendencies do mean the Hogs will have to focus more on the tight end. Hayden Hurst made six catches for 76 yards against Texas A&M. He ranks tied for second on the school's all-time tight ends list with 73.

Bielema looks for the good tight ends around the league because he likes to feature that position in the UA offense.

“I'm an admirer (of Hurst's) play,” he said. “He's a very important part of their offense.”

The Hogs took away Rose last week. It will be up to the UA linebackers -- that might come down to Dwayne Eugene on the outside – to produce some more hocus-pocus and that might lead to some more dances in the locker room.