FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas has a pair of returning starters back at the cornerback positions in junior Tevin Mitchel and sophomore Will Hines, but to hear defensive coordinator Chris Ash tell it, the position is wide open.
Junior college transfer Carroll Washington came into spring with a solid background at corner, and a pair of redshirt freshmen, Ray Buchanan Jr. and Jared Collins, and walk-on Dakota Baggett are also trying to work into the action.
“To be honest with you, at the corner position we’re far from settled on who would be our starting corners, or who the No. 1s would be,” Ash said. “Right now, they’re all open.”
Taver Johnson, the only assistant coach retained by Bret Bielema off the 2012 staff, shared a little humor when asked how the transition has gone from linebackers to corners.
“Anytime you get back there, either your hair’s going to fall out or your eyebrows, so my eyebrows are starting to go,” said Johnson, who keeps a shaved head. “But it’s been good getting back there. We’ve got a good group, and I’m excited about those guys.”
Mitchel, a 14-game starter who bounced back from a concussion and gall bladder surgery last season, holds veteran’s status with the unit. While his run-forcing and tackling skills have been viewed as above-average for the position, his coverage skills are still evolving. Senior receiver Javontee Herndon beat him with a double move in the Hogs’ first scrimmage two weeks ago, and when safety Eric Bennett didn’t get over in time the pass from Brandon Allen went for a 65-yard score.
Demetrius Wilson ran a similar route in last week’s scrimmage at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, and this time Bennett glided into position and made an interception on Allen’s 37-yard throw into the end zone.
“We need to be more disciplined at the corners group,” said Mitchel. “Personally, I think that’s the hardest position on the field. You’re out there by yourself, and there’s a lot of technique and communication.”
The corners are learning the new defensive scheme like everyone else, but at least they have some continuity in Johnson.
“He worked with corners at Ohio State, so we’re lucky to have him with the corners,”Mitchel said.
“We’ve got Coach Johnson back there now and he brings excitement,” Buchanan said.
Johnson said he’s focused on the unit making daily improvement.
“We need a lot of fundamental work and that position is kind of like the defensive line, where your technique and fundamentals are everything,” Johnson said. “From your feet to your eyes to your hands, and sometimes we do that backwards. We go with our hands, our eyes and our feet. Just getting that to be a constant thing and getting it to be body memory on those things is just a daily, daily process.”
Hines was one of several true freshmen who was essentially forced into actionduring the dreary 4-8 season of 2012. Hines started the final nine games and wound up with 24 tackles and a key interception in the Hogs’ 24-7 victory at Auburn. He struggled against tall, physical receivers, like in the game against Rutgers.
The previous experience should help Arkansas’ veteran corners, but for now just making steady progress in the new system is the goal.
“They’re getting better,” Ash said. “They’ve got a long way to go. … It’s just understanding the details of their fundamentals, whether they’re playing off, playing press, playing cover two. The footwork, the alignments, their eyes, little things like that can either help them or get them in trouble.”
Sports, Pages 21 on 04/10/2013