Hog to Dog : Patton relying on Robinson's experience to guide FHS secondary

By Heath Allen

Posted: July 28, 2009 at 6:47 a.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas Razorback Lerinezo Robinson has seen his share of the bright lights and now he's teaching the Fayetteville secondary how to handle the glare.

Robinson was hired as Fayetteville's secondar y coach earlier this summer as part of several staff moves by Fayetteville head coach Daryl Patton to solidify a porous defense that finished near the bottom in multiple defensive categories, including pass defense.

"We know how they were last year and the result, and I don't think anyone wants a repeat of that," Robinson said. "I saw some film and Idon't think the secondary did bad. I saw some little things like where to have your eyes and your feet, your pre-snap reads and the details that can be corrected. I think I've got a good group of guys, some seniors mixed in with some juniors who can get it done."

Robinson, 26, a Mayflower native, isn't short on ideas on how to help his pupils accomplish that either. Robinson was a member of the Hogs' secondary from 2001-2005. He played free safety during most of his tenure and was a starter in both 2003 and 2004.

"He's still a pretty good athlete," Patton said. "He can still get out there and show the kids what he's talking about it, not just draw it up on a dry erase board. He can physically show them what he wants. I know if I tried to do that, the kids would laugh at me."

Before taking the job at Fayetteville, Robinson coached receivers and secondary at Pulaski Oak Grove High and coordinated the school's junior high defense as well. Robinson coached safeties and running backs in Greenbrier before taking some time off from coaching prior to his hiring on the FHS staff.

"It's a great opportunity to coach my specialty at the largest classification in Arkansas," Robinson said. "I think deep down every coach wants to coach what he played. You bring so much more knowledge and experience to the position, the ins and outs of execution. I think sometimes the players respect that more because they know you played there at that level."

While Patton said many players in the mix for snaps in the secondary were at first in awe of Robinson's stature as a former starter for the Hogs, that wore off quickly when it became apparent that Robinson wasn't the type to rest on his laurels.

"I think they thought it was cool at first," Robinsonsaid. "But once we got inside the white lines, the kids realized this isn't someone to just get an autograph from but someone we can learn a lot from. I think we've got a good plan with our new defensive coordinator on how to switch some things up."

Robinson went right to work coaching Fayetteville's secondary during its most successful 7-on-7 run in Patton's tenure. The Purple Dogs went 35-3-2, won two tournaments and netted runnerup finishes in two others.

Fayetteville most recently went 11-0 to win the Vype Select tourney title and earlier this summer won the Shootout of the South. While the offense received the bulk of the attention, Fayetteville's secondary was a key cog in that summer run.

"He brings a lot of experience playing the position at the D-I level," Patton said. "He's a very bright young man who has a lot of passion and vision. I think that really becomes contagious and the kids pick up on it and we hope it continues to rub off."

While the defense will remain a 4-3 base set, Patton said there will be modifications in the secondary's approach. Patton said the most notable changes will be in the secondary's philosophy. Patton said the Purple Dogs, who have traditionally lived and died with man coverage, will play more zone this fall.

"In man coverage it's feast or famine," Patton said. "Sometimes you look like a million bucks and sometimes you give up a huge play. We think playing more zone will help and we feel like he will be able to use his experience in college to help make us more fundamentally sound and make better reads and decisions."

Robinson said the Purple Dogs will focus on cover 2 and cover 4 in summer practices.

"That's really no secret," Robinson said. "But we're going to mix it up and throw some new things in there. I don't want to give too much away but we're making some changes."

Attitude will be one aspect of his secondary's personality he will vie to alter.

"To play on the defense, you have to play with a swagger, a confidence that you're going to hold a team to three and out every single time," Robinson said. "Right now, I think we've got some guys in the secondary who are just a little too nice. They don't have that mean streak in them that you need to play defense. We're going to change that."

Sports, Pages 9, 10 on 07/28/2009

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