Clay Henry: Hogs' Defensive Front NFL-Worthy
By Clay Henry
How do you win football games at Arkansas? In the past, it’s a simple formula: play good defense with a great front four and field a great kicking game.
While everyone is trying to figure out how much better offensive coordinator Dan Enos will be at calling plays, let me tell you why this year’s Razorbacks will turn in a successful SEC season.
Yes, Enos has to improve the short-yardage and red zone offense. He’s going to do that partly because there will be some plays with KJ Jefferson under center. Hard charging off-tackle plays with the threat of the roll-out pass or a bootleg will pay big dividends.
But that’s not what I loved at practice Thursday morning. It was clear where two NFL scouts were spending time — with every move of the nine or 10 defensive linemen that all look like SEC studs.
While I waited for an interview with special teams coordinator Scott Fountain, I noticed the two NFL scouts had defensive line coach Deke Adams cornered under a tent. They had their notebooks open as they got the scoop on lots of players that looked fit for Sunday football.
If Arkansas has had success, it’s been because of defensive linemen like Loyd Phillips, Dan Hampton, Jimmy Walker, Billy Ray Smith, Jamaal Anderson, Wayne Martin, Trey Flowers and Darius Philon.
It’s hard to tell how ready the Hogs are at the two offensive tackle positions in August practices because of the havoc caused by defensive ends Landon Jackson, Trajan Jeffcoat, Zach Williams and Jashaud Stewart.
Most understand that Jackson is big time. The LSU transfer is upwards of 280 pounds and cat quick off the edge. It was no fluke that he joined KJ Jefferson and Raheim “Rocket” Sanders at SEC media days. He’s a wrecking machine.
If those are the best three players on this team, Jeffcoat might be next. The Missouri transfer is capable of staggering an SEC offensive tackle or dropping a shoulder and sliding past to run down a quarterback. It’s not clear whether Jackson or Jeffcoat start at the Jack position, the hybrid end or outside linebacker spot who is the featured player in scheme used by defensive coordinator Travis Williams.
This is a defensive line that appears to be two-deep at all four positions and possibly three-deep at a couple. They foam at the mouth as they put a hand in the dirt to rush the passer. They salivate as they tangle with offensive linemen as they track a deep running back group.
