Razorbacks' experienced DBs focus on technique

Arkansas defensive backs Henre' Toliver (5) and Kevin Richardson (30) go through practice Thursday, April 21, 2016, in Fayetteville.
Arkansas defensive backs Henre' Toliver (5) and Kevin Richardson (30) go through practice Thursday, April 21, 2016, in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas has no shortage of experienced players roaming its defensive backfield.

The goal of defensive coordinator Robb Smith and first-year secondary coach Paul Rhoads is to have those veterans, such as returning starters Jared Collins, D.J. Dean, Josh Liddell and Henre Toliver, playing better in 2015.

Defensive backs position glance

RETURNING STARTERS CB Jared Collins (13 starts in 2015), CB D.J. Dean (8), NB Henre’ Toliver (9), FS Josh Liddell (9)

KEY LOSSES CB Rohan Gaines

WHO’S BACK NB Kevin Richardson (4 starts in 2015), SS Santos Ramirez (3), SS De’Andre Coley, CB Ryan Pulley, S Nate Dalton, CB Willie Sykes

WALK-ONS Matt Dodson, Byron Keaton, Ryder Lucas, Reid Miller

WHO’S NEW Signees S Deon Edwards, S Micahh Smith, CB Britto Tutt

ANALYSIS The Arkansas coaches have stressed sound alignment and eye progression from the secondary, and they are excited about the strides made this spring. D.J. Dean’s return after a turf toe slowed him late last year will give the Razorbacks four cornerbacks with a large amount of experience. Richardson and Toliver have shown the ability to play multiple positions, and Pulley, a sophomore, is advancing in the same mode. Ramirez, who played well enough to earn a few starts last season, and Coley are big hitters at strong safety. Coley, a junior, is blossoming under secondary coach Paul Rhoads’ guidance and could earn key playing time.

The Razorbacks were victimized by long passes in many games last season, which led to a national defensive passing efficiency ranking of No. 103, last in the SEC. Arkansas allowed 267.8 passing yards per game, which also was last in the SEC and 116th in the country.

Arkansas hopes to get more clutch plays, such as Liddell's diving breakup of a fourth-down pass on the final play of the Hogs' 54-46 four-overtime victory over Auburn, rather than allowing big pass plays, such as the ones that helped the Tigers drive for a field goal in the closing seconds to force overtime.

The coupling of a stronger pass rush with improved coverage technique is Arkansas' aim.

"I think we were hesitant some times," Collins said. "As the season went on, we got better with that. We just had to go out and play fast. We needed more confidence in what we were doing. We needed to believe in our coaching, believe in our technique, and go out and do what they asked us to do."

Coach Bret Bielema and Smith stressed three key things for the defense this spring.

"We talked about aligning correctly on every play, and then our eyes and our progression," Smith said. "I think that's one group that has really made a stride forward."

Junior Kevin Richardson said Rhoads has hammered home those points.

"Everything that Coach Rhoads wants us to improve on, I feel like we've done," he said. "Getting our eyes better, that's the big jump that I feel like everybody's doing, exactly what he wants us to do. And we're growing in depth because we have a lot of veteran players."

With Dean, an eight-game starter at cornerback last year, rehabbing from foot surgery, Toliver has taken more pure cornerback reps this spring opposite Collins after starting as the nickel back last year. Richardson is working with the ones at the nickel, while Santos Ramirez has risen to a starting position at strong safety opposite Liddell.

"The biggest change is that everybody knows what they're doing now," Ramirez said. "Everybody is able to go out there and know their assignment, and everybody has chemistry together."

De'Andre Coley, Ryan Pulley, Nate Dalton and Willie Sykes also are angling for playing time.

"I think we have a number of guys in the secondary that can play," Rhoads said. "I think we have a number of guys in the secondary that will play.

"I'm a big believer in if you've got a two-deep that can be productive and help you win, get them on the field. You stay fresher, your morale stays higher, and at the end of the half and the end of the game, you're playing a faster level of football."

Rhoads said he walked into a well-coached secondary.

"Their knowledge base of what Coach Smith expects out of this defense was very high," he said. "I had to catch up to that to be quite honest. The tweaks and the subtle changes that we've made from a technique and a fundamental standpoint was where we needed to see daily improvement. I've seen that take place over these four weeks.

"I'm very pleased through 13 practices where we've climbed to."

Sports on 04/22/2016

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