FAYETTEVILLE — Speed is the cornerstone of the Chad Morris blueprint as he settles in as the new Arkansas football coach. His first staff has embraced that model.
In fact, new defensive coordinator John Chavis knows that's what is on the way. That's why they agreed to come together at Arkansas.
Chavis has 29 years of experience in the SEC, the last 23 as a coordinator. He knows that's what it takes to win in the best conference in America. There may be some speed in the defense Chavis inherits at Arkansas, but more is needed.
“Is there talent to win 14 games here?” Chavis said at his introductory media briefing. “Not last year. But eventually, there will be."
Just before Morris introduced offensive coordinator Joe Craddock, strength coach Trumain Carroll and Chavis was a reinforcement of previous media visits.
There's been references to putting the hammer down, full-tilt boogie and getting in the left lane in other interviews. The latest reference to speed was the ultimate Morris goal: finding players fast enough to “run a hole in the wind.”
Morris said in watching tape and discussing the current talent with coaches he's retained (tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. and defensive tackles coach John Scott Jr.) that the Hogs have "a couple that are pretty fast.”
How fast is fast enough? Is it 4.2 in the 40-yard dash?
“Oh, no,” he said. “But we gotta find more. It's not just straight line track speed. It's guys when you put on shoulder pads, they can get from here to there (and he pointed a distance of less than 5 yards). You gotta have what it takes to make a tackle in a hiccup.”
Chavis had been in Fayetteville for most of the last week, but it was still too early to discuss the holdover talent, although it may be better than some think.
“There is some here,” he said. “We will evaluate and know more in the offseason and then in the spring. I do know that we need to add (defensive talent) in the last half (of recruiting).”
There have been critics that Arkansas played a bend but don't break defense over the last several seasons. Chavis won't do that, but he understands that talent often dictates what can be called as far as blitzes.
“I don't care how good you are, there are times you are covering up issues,” he said. “Maybe it's talent, maybe it's lack of depth.”
Chavis will return the Hogs to a 4-3 base, back to what they played most of the Bret Bielema's five years. They went to a 3-4 base last season, with no better results.
“It's hard to evaluate (last year's tape) because it was in a different scheme,” Chavis said. “But I do think there are pieces here.”
Regardless, the goal is to charge off the edge and pressure the quarterback with “fire zone” blitzes.
“There have been a lot of changes in football over the last 25 years, but I take a lot of pride that you should play great pressure on defense and affect the quarterback," Chavis said. "There are two things that don't ever change: win the line of scrimmage and affect the quarterback.
“You need to change it up based on personnel and I have had to change the last couple of years (at Texas A&M). You don't need to try to put a square peg into a round hole. But I have been running the fire zone (blitzes) forever and causing problems with them forever.”
Chavis said his “multiple” front would be based with four down linemen.
“You have to recruit the right speed to come off the edge,” he said. “If you do, you can affect the quarterback. We led the SEC in sacks last year and we did it with hard-working players, not elite talent.”
Morris said football continues to evolve. Chavis mentioned that, too. The run-pass options (RPO) in the offense with linemen down field has given defenses fits. That's part of the Morris offense, which is as innovative as they come.
Does that challenge defensive coordinators that want a physical style of play? Does Chavis worry about what practices will be like while working against a Morris offense?
“Yes, it's changed a lot with the RPO,” Chavis said. “But it's still football. You have got to block and you have to get off blocks and tackle.
“Our defensive goal board has changed some. We've always kept up there holding the offense under 300 yards. We've just tried to build other things into the board, like getting off the field on third down. We are still about playing tight zone defense and getting off the field. We have always been a zone blitz team.”
Chavis knows the way the Hogs will play offense won't be “throwing three downs and a punt. They are going to run the football. They will throw it, too, but they are going to run it. I know that our offense is going to help us be physical. That's who will be.”
As far as practice, Chavis said he knows it “won't be T-shirts and shorts. We know how to win in the SEC.”
That hasn't changed. It's part of the reason Chavis wanted the Arkansas defensive coordinator job. Coaching in the SEC was an attractive part of joining Morris.
“I may be the longest tenured coach in the SEC,” Chavis said. “Yes, it was important.”
Chavis does have tenure, but he assured that does not mean his fire is fading. He said he's always strived to be at the top of the SEC.
“If I can't be at the top, then I need to step aside,” he said. “It's still burning. I know I can coach, I know I can recruit, I know I can motivate and I know I can develop players.
“It's not time. I love it. It's what I enjoy. I'm not going to cheat the game or cheat the players.”
Without question, that's never happened with Chavis. The son of sharecroppers from Dillon, S.C., Chavis has championed hard work. His players have always obliged.
But it's his innovation and creativity in the zone blitzes that drew Morris to Chavis, not just that his players always gave effort.
“What you are looking for is someone who disrupts the quarterback,” Morris said. “I wanted someone who played aggressive and attacked and was multiple. I wanted someone who could tie the back end to the front.”
Morris has long been a fan of Chavis. Morris studied his Tennessee and LSU defenses, where from 1995-2014 he had 12 teams finish in the top 15 nationally. In 2011, Chavis was named winner of the Broyles Award as the nation's best assistant coach.
“All the way back to when I was coaching high school, I watched them,” Morris said. “We played against John when I was at Clemson in the Chick-fil-a Bowl and he was at LSU. What he does gave us problems. That's why I started talking to him when I first got the job. I know what I wanted. The list was short. I wanted someone who caused us problems.”
The visits concerned more than football. Morris said his goals in putting together a staff had to fit his blue print that included family.
“We talked and sometimes it wasn't just football,” he said. “He loves to hunt, loves being outside. He fits because he's a great person.
“He's had 81 draft picks. That's what I'm after, someone who develops. It's about that and retention. That's how our relationship grew.”
Morris said it was about hiring someone who fits in the family atmosphere, something Chavis does with wife Diane.
“It was about the total fit,” Morris said. “That's what I was looking at with Barry Lunney and John Scott. Do they fit? Who are they as people. Yes, they do (fit).”
There were lots of things Chavis saw that was a fit about Arkansas. Some of it was the chance to be a part of a national contender again. Chavis was on the Phil Fulmer staff at Tennessee that won the 1998 national championship.
“I looked at the whole thing,” Chavis said. “I think Coach Morris has a great model. I understand the model. It's full worth gives us an opportunity to be successful.
“When I looked at it, I have to ask the question: Can I solve all the problems? No, but I can be a part of this model.”
Arkansas has not been on a roll of late, but Chavis has coached against successful Arkansas teams.
“I've seen Arkansas from the other side,” he said. “I was on the other side in '98 when both teams were undefeated. We played terrible defense in the first half and came back and had a break.”
That was the Clint Stoerner fumble that helped Tennessee rally for a 28-24 victory in the final two minutes.
“I remember 2011 when Arkansas had as fine a team as I've ever seen,” Chavis said, referencing the No. 1 Tigers' win over the No. 3 Razorbacks in the regular season finale. “That was a No. 3 ranked team. It wasn't just the SEC West, but in the nation.
“So I've seen the type of teams Arkansas can field. It is possible to win the national championship – not tomorrow, I know. But, I'm excited to be on Coach Morris' staff and be part of what Arkansas needs to be.”
Morris emphasized that Craddock is his play caller. They worked together at Clemson, then at SMU, when he turned over the keys to a high octane offense for the last two years.
“Joe and I work really good together,” Morris said. “He's got a sharp mind. I learned that when he was a GA with me at Clemson. We worked hand in hand at SMU. It's unfair to say I turned it all over to him, because we work together as a staff. But he's taken over more and more.
“I do tell him when I think it's time to take a (deep) shot, or run the football with split personnel. We make the game plan together.
“I knew I had to do it to be 100 percent the head coach. I couldn't be the play caller. It's important for the defense to see as more than just the offensive coach. I have to make head coach decisions. The longer Joe and I have been together, the more I give him. It's progressed each year.”
Whether Craddock will be in the press box has not been decided, but that's been his place at SMU. There are more important issues to discuss right now, like getting the Hogs into better shape.
“I know Coach Carroll is going to run these guys a lot more,” Craddock said. “They've got to lose weight.”
It's already begun. Quarterback Cole Kelley was at over 270 pounds at times last year.
“Cole has to drop weight,” Craddock said. “Our quarterback last year had to drop 15 to 20 pounds. I talked to Cole today. He's already dropped some.
“As far as who plays, I don't want to judge anyone yet. Let's see who fits. We are looking for winners. That's what we want to see in the spring.”
The message of what fits is there for everyone to hear so far. Craddock, the quarterbacks coach, said it's real with Morris.
“That's what I know is big with Coach Morris, family and what fits,” Craddock said. “Coach Morris talked about our wives. That's what we are truly about. You see that with who came with him. I heard Coach Chavis talk about continuity. I know that is big.”
So is speed.