A not-so-fine line separates Arkansas’ 2007 defense from its 2006 predecessor.

Ever since would-be 2007 senior defensive end Jamaal Anderson declared himself early for the NFL, where he now plays as does 2006 Razorback senior defensive tackle Keith Jackson, Arkansas’ D-line has spun in a freefall.

That burdens a secondary already struggling with cornerback Chris Houston turned pro and 2006 starters Randy Kelly and Darius Vinnett graduated to the NFL.

It’s a patchwork Arkansas D-line that Alabama amassed 450 total offense yards on in last Saturday’s 41-38 Crimson Tide victory in Tuscaloosa.

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It’s an even more patchwork crew — with starting tackle Ernest Mitchell suspended — the Razorbacks present against Kentucky in Saturday’s 5 p. m. ESPN 2 televised SEC game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Sophomore defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard becomes the only Razorback in this front four to start all the three games when the 1-1 Hogs play Saturday.

Disciplinary suspensions have kept ends Antwain Robinson and Marcus Harrison and now tackle Mitchell from starting one game or another. Robinson ran afoul of the law on a shoplifting charge last spring. Harrison was charged with drug possession during a traffic stop the week before the Sept. 1 opener with Troy.

Mitchell has been suspended all of Saturday’s game by coach Houston Nutt. Mitchell retaliated to some poking in a pileup by striking Alabama offensive guard Justin Britt with his own dislodged helmet.

The self-inflicted wounds must gall defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, one of the most discipline-demanding old school coaches on this staff.

Though old school, Rocker also is a realist.

“ I’ll put it like this to you, ” Rocker said. “ You can watch TV late at night and they’ve got informercials how you can lose weight, and how you can do this and do that. But there isn’t one damn commercial on TV saying how to raise your children. ”

Especially “ children” you inherited at the legally adult age of 18 and above.

So Rocker says he just tries to do for them what his coaches from junior high through college at Auburn did for him. Praise at the right time, be tough at the right time and be demanding all the time.

Some of whom he was the toughest on thanked him later, Rocker said.

“ If I am a father figure to some, I’m proud of that because I’ve had great coaches who were father figures to me, ” Rocker said. “ I had my mom and dad at the house, but I respected those coaches, too. ”

One of the players with a disciplinary detoured past, senior Fred Bledsoe, now draws his first-ever Arkansas start replacing Mitchell alongside Sheppard while Robinson and Harrison finally start together on the flanks.

Bledsoe had a first-team fling when Harrison began the season as an injured tackle. That didn’t last, but Rocker kept after him on the second team.

“ That’s why we always try and develop twos and tell the twos, ‘ You never know when your chance is going to come, ’” Rocker said. “ Fred Bledsoe is a two. Now he’s a one today. That’s what we are preparing him for. ”

Rocker remains realistic, not opening Bledsoe to media this week. Mega hype when he was recruited out of Little Rock Central did Bledsoe no favors regarding expectations unfulfilled.

“ We’ll let him talk when there is something to talk about, ” Rocker said.

Has Rocker ever had just one of a front four start the first three games ?

“ I had never thought of that, ” Rocker said with a laugh. “ What I’ve got is what I’ve got. It’s not like the NFL where you go get somebody else. I’m trying to develop this talent to play as one. We’ll keep at it until it’s synchronized and everyone is playing with one heartbeat. ”

Old school defensive coordinator Reggie Herring doesn’t make excuses, either.

“ Our chemistry on the defensive line and our attitude is this, ‘ Hey, if a guy goes down or a guy’s not there, we’ve just got to tough and physical enough to overcome it as a group, ” Herring said.

And to put some passrush pressure on the quarterback’s heartbeat.

“ That’s one thing we haven’t been doing, ” Malcolm Sheppard said of games past, while noting the continued pass-rush emphasis in practice.

It’s hard for Sheppard to be the pass-rusher he was last spring moving from end inside to tackle.

“ You face a lot of doubleteams, but no matter what the circumstances, you have got to get pressure on the quarterback, ” Sheppard said. “ That’s your job. ”

Fullback Peyton Hillis returned to practice Wednesday after Tuesday’s slight knee injury.

Starting free safety Kevin Woods cramped at the close of Wednesday’s drills but apparently is OK.

Larry Beightol addressed the team after Wednesday’s practice. Beightol was Arkansas’ offensive line coach under Lou Holtz and has retired to Fayetteville after a long career coaching in the NFL.