CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Woody Baron is not an imposing dude. The Virginia Tech nose guard is listed at 6-2, 280 pounds.
With players scattered around the room at Wednesday's media day for the Belk Bowl, Baron didn't look like the best bet to wreak havoc.
Baron looks like a regular guy, not the focal point of the Arkansas blocking schemes for the game at 4:30 p.m., Thursday at Bank of America Stadium.
Don't underestimate Baron, or the Virginia Tech defensive linemen. They are among the smallest the Razorbacks have seen in an SEC schedule full of dynamic pass rushers. I doubt Baron still weighs his listed weight.
Arkansas left tackle Dan Skipper might prefer that Baron and the rest of the Tech front is more his size. It's Baron's speed – and the sliding nature of the scheme – that will make it tough.
Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster doesn't mind giving up a little size for quickness and speed. Baron is a perfect fit in the middle of the defense. He plays low, with great technique and has the ability to slide through gaps with slants, stunts and stems.
It's the stems that have given the Arkansas trouble for most of the last four years. A stem is a quick move from one side to the other by the entire front to change gap assignments, usually executed just before the snap.
“We really had a lot of trouble with stems last year,” Skipper said. “We've gotten better with some techniques that (offensive line coach) Kurt Anderson brought us. That's where we've improved. We catch movement a little better with our footwork.
“There are a lot of teams in our league that stem. Texas A&M did some things that were different just before the snap. So did Florida and LSU. Florida probably did the most and we picked them up pretty well.”
Baron's ability to play low is impressive.
“In the SEC, we see a lot of 330-pounders at nose guard,” Skipper said. “Baron isn't that type guy. He's got the ability to start one place and then at the snap end up some place else. He's a tough one to block.”
The good news is that the Hogs have had three weeks to prepare for the Tech movement up-front.
“That makes it easier,” Skipper said. “We have some good young linemen with quickness who have done a nice job simulating Tech for our scout team. Guys like Michael Taylor, Briston Guidry and Jonathan Marshall have speed and quickness.
“If we have success in this game, it will be because of what those scout team guys in the defensive line have given us the past three weeks. Our success will be their success. And, those guys are going to be good players for us next year.”
They can all play, Skipper said. He's also excited about what he's seen from old friend Deatrich Wise in bowl prep. The 6-5, 270-pound Wise has been a handful in one-on-one drills the last three weeks.
“He's healthy,” Skipper said. “We have competed in the individual drills. From what I've seen, he's got his strength back in his arm and hand. That's always has been what makes him tough. He gets those long arms extended, gets his hands on you and he has the strength to throw you off balance and gain an edge. He has that back.”
Wise played through a broken hand and a shoulder joint injury, both sapping strength from his pass rush.
If there is anyone who knows Wise, it's Skipper. He's battled Wise for four years, getting a heavy dose in the spring when the Hogs go ones against ones for the bulk of team work. They have had some epic throw downs, literally ending up in heaps on the ground, sometimes punching and clawing at each other.
“Yeah, we've had some good ones,” Skipper said. “We like to compete against each other. You want to go against the best. I love Deatrich. Off the field, he's one of my favorite guys, one of our most likable guys and someone who has been a vocal leader for our team. But on the field, I like to get after him, get better. He does, too.”
Wise was the team's best player in the spring, but been far from that this fall as injuries robbed him of his abilities.
“I think he's back to where he was in the spring right now,” Skipper said. “I think you see that in our practices. He's looked good, like the true Deatrich.
“Battling in bowl prep has been tough with him. We haven't had any real fights because I think the coaches have had quick whistles when we have gone against each other. This time of year, you need to take care of each other and we've done that.”
Back to the Tech defense, the Hogs know they have to give quarterback Austin Allen time. Baron has 17 tackles for lost yardage, as does outside linebacker Tremain Edmunds. They'll have to account for both in their blocking schemes.
There were protection issues most of the season and there were clearly problems keeping Allen clean in the loss to Missouri in the regular season finale.
“Tech likes to pressure,” Skipper said. “So we've got to keep him from getting hit. We know that when we give him time, he's going to do damage to any defense we face. He's that good.”
Allen will try to help with those Tech stems. He can change the snap count and get the Hokies off rhythm.
“There are some things you can do when they stem at the snap,” he said. “They are going to try to move after the first 'hut' in the cadence. We can change that. They try to dictate with their movement. That will be a part of this game.”
Baron has been impressed with the Arkansas offensive line.
“They are massive, one of the bigger ones we've seen,” Baron said. “They are powerful. The center is a really good player.”
That's junior Frank Ragnow, committed to returning to Arkansas for his senior season in 2017. That's a decent matchup, Ragnow against Baron. However, Baron admits that he sometimes slides over the guard.
“I can move quite a bit in a stem,” he said. “I could be over either guard. What we've seen is that those guys are massive and physical.”
That's right guard Johnny Gibson (338) and left guard Hjalte Froholdt (330). Ragnow is listed at 319, but he's well above 320 now.
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema sounded relieved Wednesday as he talked about Ragnow's decision to return for his senior season. It sounded like Ragnow's draft grade was in the third round. Bielema admitted that if it had been a first-round grade, there would have been no decision.
“I would have kissed him good bye and helped him pack,” Bielema said. “But I do think he has a chance to be a first-rounder next year, or I wouldn't have told him to come back.
“Here's what our statistics have shown: the difference between the 18th pick of the first round and the 18th pick of the third round is $12 million. That's literally $1 million for every game he plays next year. I think it's an easy decision, but I know it was tough on him.
“Really, what we saw from the first two weeks of bowl practices until the last week – after the decision – Frank's been a different person. You just know he's been through so much this year with the loss of his dad. I can't imagine.
“But as soon as that decision was made, it was the old Frank back. His smile is back.”
The Hogs will be smiling if Ragnow and his teammates handle Baron on Thursday in the Belk Bowl. It will go a long way in deciding whether the Hogs bounce back from the Missouri loss. That might determine how fans look at Bielema in the offseason ahead of his fifth season.
“Winning is important,” Bielema said. “It's always important. As far as our team, right now I'm not worried because I've got their ear.
“Yes, this is a critical game, but all games are critical. I get it. It's the end of the year. It's significant. It's what you guys are going to write about.”
True, but the critical thing in the short term is for the Hogs to keep Woody Baron from hitting Austin Allen. That could make the long term a lot better.