FAYETTEVILLE — Looking back, Arkansas third-year defensive coordinator Willy Robinson believes everyone so emphasized making the Razorbacks’ defense quicker that maybe it got overlooked that a defense still must throw its weight around.
So Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino, strength coach Jason Veltkamp and Robinson intend for this defense to weigh in this preseason with a little more to lose than the past two Arkansas Augusts.
“Coach and Jason took the approach we wanted to go into camp a little bit heavier but not losing speed,” Robinson said. “You know as well as I do that once we start camp we will be able to run some of that stuff off.”
If, through heavy lifting, they can maintain more muscle and more explosion while running off any excess, it’s worth the weight.
“They are also quicker,” Robinson said, “because they are stronger and more explosive. We seem to be in pretty good shape as far as body fat percentage. Coach Veltkamp does a tremendous job. We have gotten very little back negative. Everything has been positive.”
The defense hasn’t brimmed with positive vibes the past two years. They have suffered unflattering media and fan comparisons withthe explosive offense.
“We have heard that for a while,” Robinson said, “and I think the kids are tired of hearing it. We are not very consistent at times, but when we play to our ability, we are pretty darned good on defense. We need to do it week in and week out and see if we can sustain it. We have got to get consistent.”
Physically improved and two years experienced with the system, it’s presumed these Hogs should play better defense than their 2008 and ’09 predecessors.
“That’s kind of our thought process,” Robinson said, “but the thing we want to make sure of is not doing too much. Looking back over the last two years, we might have done too much. We want to make sure what we are doing we are going to do it right. Be fast, be aggressive and be physical by doing the things we have selected to do.”
Used to be a lot of great defenses, like the Darrell Royal-era Texas 4-3, just lined up in their base defense.
Their approach: “We’re not adapting to you - you better adapt to us.”
Is that possible to do now in this era of Spread offenses?
“If you have got guys who are better than their guys,” Robinson said, “I think you can get away with that.
“But how much separation is there anymore with everyone adding 25 scholarships a year ?”
Besides, even the best sometimes got one-upped off base relying too much on one base.
“When we were at Miami [under Dennis Erickson] and we were good, we played one defense,” Robinson said. “Then all of a sudden we were playing Nebraska for the national championship and they are running the freaking option at us and we weren’t very solid on that stuff. So you also have to work at outcoaching people and staying in your plan making sure what you do is in your structure.”
Sports, Pages 16 on 07/26/2010