FAYETTEVILLE - Chris Smith and Trey Flowers have watched film throughout their Arkansas careers, but not like they have been this spring under new defensive line coach Charlie Partridge.
“Coach Partridge is a film junkie, and that’s one thing we’re all turning into,” said Smith, a senior with 84 career tackles. “We’re all film junkies now. I think that’s going to help make us all better.”
Flowers said Partridge has encouraged the defensive linemen to watch film in his office.
“He says his office is our office,” said Flowers, a junior with 78 career tackles. ‘We’re welcome to come by any time. He coaches being football smart, so I come in and watch film and understand the game more.”
The players review film of themselves in practice and watch other college players and NFL players, including Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, the 2012 NFL Defensive Player of the Year who played for Partridge at Wisconsin.
“It’s nice playing for Coach Partridge,” Smith said. “He coached the best, J.J. Watt. Need I say more?”
Partridge has stressed to players the importance of film study in improving their technique.
“One of the first things I told them was, I’d be disappointed if I came up from a meeting downstairs and don’t see one of you guys in my office,” Partridge said. “One of the transitions here has just been getting guys comfortable coming in, then making them realize that my office is for their use.”
“The only thing I ask is that they try and see their practice film before we meet because we’re not going to get to see it all together. I think they’re seeing the advantage of all that work.”
Smith and Flowers each started all 12 games at defensive end last season. They have a combined 30 career starts in 56 games with 37.5 tackles for lost yards, including 16½ sacks.
“To have some guys that understand what it’s like when the bullets are flying is huge,” Partridge said. “You get into a scrimmage situation and the offense makes a play, there’s no panic. They’re able to come back and regroup the guys on the next play.”
Last season Smith had 52 tackles and 9½ sacks and Flowers had 50 tackles and 7 sacks.
“One thing I tell Trey is try to beat the numbers from last year,” Smith said. “We did have a good year, but one thing we’re trying to do is just have consistent pressure on the quarterback every time.”
Flowers said he and Smith welcome the pressure that comes with being among the team’s most experienced players and want to set the tone in a new coaching staff’s first spring.
“We just embrace the fact everybody is looking at us to step up, everybody is looking at us to make plays and be great,” Flowers said. “We practice on being great. Don’t let a day slip by.”
Practices have been more physical with Coach Bret Bielema stressing a power run game as opposed to the more pass-oriented offense the Razorbacks ran previously.
“One thing about Coach B, he’s going to run the ball,” Smith said. “That’s one thing we had to get used to as a defense, transitioning from a coach that loves to pass to almost 30 minutes of inside run every day.
“Our offensive line is getting better. They’re loving it.”
Smith said the emphasis on the running game also is helping the defense.
“That’s one thing we need,” he said. “If you can stop the run in the SEC, you can win games and go bowling.”
Having a lengthy period devoted to inside running was a bit of a culture shock for the defensive linemen.
“Oh man, it was rough,” Smith said. “We were kind of looking around like, ‘Man, are we still going?’ They said, ‘Guys, you’ve got to get used to us.’”
Partridge praised the leadership Smith and Flowers have shown, which helps the younger players grasp what the coaching staff is teaching.
“They’re really working hard every single day, and I’m excited about how they’ve bought into the fundamental teaching that I believe in,” Partridge said.
Chris Ash is Arkansas’ third defensive coordinator in three years, following Willy Robinson and Paul Haynes.
“The thing I didn’t realize is that this is really their third defensive coordinator for some of these older guys, so they’ve been through a lot of different philosophies,” Partridge said. “Our focus right now is on base defense and how to play in a certain technique and respond to all different blocks, and I think they’re getting better because of it.”
Sports, Pages 19 on 04/12/2013