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re: Looking for an honest critique of your defense for the upcoming season
Posted on 8/10/15 at 1:40 pm to WonderWartHawg
Posted on 8/10/15 at 1:40 pm to WonderWartHawg
Yea I think he was 292 to be exact....
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Posted on 8/10/15 at 1:44 pm to WonderWartHawg
Yep. Per the coaches, he's added weight but maintained his quickness off the ball. Here's a piece from last fall's camp talking about his surprising move from DE to NG:
LINK
LINK
quote:
1. Moving Up Inside:Taiwan Johnson came to Arkansas as a 235-pound defensive end.
Two years later, the redshirt sophomore is a first-team nose guard.
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said Sunday the 260-pound Johnson has been elevated to the starting unit in place of Demarcus Hodge after the Razorbacks’ first scrimmage. It’s an unlikely spot for Johnson in a conference that typically boasts big men who top the 300-pound mark. But defensive line coach Rory Segrest said Johnson has earned the promotion after one week of preseason camp.
“He’s quick, he’s explosive and he makes plays,” Segrest said. “We’re trying to get our best four guys on the field, our best four playmakers. As far as from a productive standpoint, he’s getting out there and doing what we ask him to do.”
Johnson said he never imagined playing on the interior of the defensive line when he came to Arkansas in 2012. He moved inside last preseason and it took him some time to adjust, but Johnson appeared in three games as a redshirt freshman.
“It was different. At first, I wouldn’t lie if I said it wasn’t challenging,” Johnson said. “And I mean, there’s time where it still is being a smaller guy. But I take that with pride. I’m a smaller guy weight wise, but I have the heart and I have the grit and I’m going to give it all I got to make sure I get my job done for my team.”
Johnson said sound technique is key to success at his size. Bielema said it was evident Saturday, when Johnson overpowered guard Denver Kirkland on one play.
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith said his work has been evident since the spring.
“He’s a guy that’s tried to do things the way we ask him to do it,” Smith said. “He’s gotten better and improved on a daily basis and really he’s merited it with his performance. At the end of the day, you’ve got to find the best 11 guys to get on the field. We’re going to try shuffling the deck a little bit and see how this mix looks.”
This post was edited on 8/10/15 at 1:44 pm
Posted on 8/10/15 at 1:51 pm to WonderWartHawg
Our d line is stacked, secondary confirmed and with bell at lb Arkansas' d will be a force to be reckoned with.
Against pass happy or big oline teams Arkansas will dominate. Teams that have me worried are a&m and auburn.
Either way this is the best dline and secondary Ive seen since watching the hogs.
Against pass happy or big oline teams Arkansas will dominate. Teams that have me worried are a&m and auburn.
Either way this is the best dline and secondary Ive seen since watching the hogs.
Posted on 8/10/15 at 1:56 pm to johnzorback
quote:
Either way this is the best dline and secondary Ive seen since watching the hogs.
Agreed. It always seemed like we'd get a great D-line that was kneecapped by a terrible back seven (practically the entire Petrino era) or a great secondary that was kneecapped by a weak front seven (the Richardson/Carroll/Hamlin years, 2006). We just couldn't ever seem have them in tandem.
This post was edited on 8/10/15 at 1:57 pm
Posted on 8/10/15 at 2:55 pm to Tornado Alley
quote:I don't expect it, but it wouldn't surprise me. We quietly were #1 in the SEC in total defense last year. We had a slow start but we straight up locked fools down at the end of the year.
So, basically, you'll have the best defense in the conference.
This post was edited on 8/10/15 at 2:55 pm
Posted on 8/10/15 at 5:26 pm to Drewbie
quote:
We quietly were #1 in the SEC in total defense last year.
Incorrect.
Ole Miss led the SEC (and the nation for that matter) and allowed 16.0 points per game.
LSU led the SEC and allowed 316.8 yards per game.
Posted on 8/10/15 at 5:41 pm to Tornado Alley
I'd expect a top 20 defense again. Top 10 again and this team is SEC title/Playoff team good.
I'm not sure we are that good. If the offense does its job, the defense should be well rested. Very deep on the Dline. Very deep in the secondary. Rather thin and young at LB. teams make it all the time thin at LB. those teams have great support at safety. This defense has that, great safety play.
Will this defense shut out two ranked opponents in a row this year? Doubt it. This could also be one of the lowest scoring defenses Arkansas has had in quite a while.
I'm not sure we are that good. If the offense does its job, the defense should be well rested. Very deep on the Dline. Very deep in the secondary. Rather thin and young at LB. teams make it all the time thin at LB. those teams have great support at safety. This defense has that, great safety play.
Will this defense shut out two ranked opponents in a row this year? Doubt it. This could also be one of the lowest scoring defenses Arkansas has had in quite a while.
Posted on 8/10/15 at 6:44 pm to Tornado Alley
quote:
Incorrect. Ole Miss led the SEC (and the nation for that matter) and allowed 16.0 points per game. LSU led the SEC and allowed 316.8 yards per game.
Man, I like you and your posting style. But I didn't watch any Ole Miss games last season except one. And let me say, LOLOLOL! That D was terrible, for one game bro.
Absolutely horrific!
Posted on 8/10/15 at 7:00 pm to Razorback Reverend
I've talked to 30 other people that have said the same thing
Posted on 8/10/15 at 7:13 pm to hawgfaninc
man for man we won't be better than bama or ole miss on defense, though i think we will be better than lsu
i think we will have better numbers than ole miss becuase we have a proven offense that will eat up clock.
the real key to our defense this year, is our offense. we don't have any "oh shite those aren't sec players lol" on our defense, no real gaping holes, but depth could be an issue. if we are allowed to have the ball 35-40 mins a game we'll have a top 3 defense
i think we will have better numbers than ole miss becuase we have a proven offense that will eat up clock.
the real key to our defense this year, is our offense. we don't have any "oh shite those aren't sec players lol" on our defense, no real gaping holes, but depth could be an issue. if we are allowed to have the ball 35-40 mins a game we'll have a top 3 defense
Posted on 8/10/15 at 9:34 pm to Tornado Alley
quote:LSU finished #9 in the nation in total defense. We finished #10. Alabama finished 12th and Ole Miss finished 13th. So you were 4th in the SEC at the end of the year in total defense. I did overlook LSU, though.
Incorrect.
LINK
This post was edited on 8/10/15 at 9:38 pm
Posted on 8/10/15 at 9:44 pm to Tornado Alley
quote:
So, basically, you'll have the best defense in the conference.
I think Arkansas will have one of the best defenses in the SEC, but it will be a side topic with a lot of "in-spite of" during the talk shows.
The defense doesn't have any "star" power going into the season, doesn't have a "big name" DC, so it isn't going to get the hype of other programs in the west. For much of the same reason, they did not receive the credit earned for their performance last season.
I'm not sure the offense will improve in terms of scoring, but I do feel it will improve in terms of efficiency and sustaining drives, which will aid in the defenses performance.
On the flip side, I think OM's expectations on D will not live up to the hype with their losses on the O side of the ball.
Auburn's staff doesn't feel like they are going to have a good enough running game to not have to air it out this season, lots of question marks at receiver with that strategy, end result is more of the same terrible D for them. You can add aggy to this issue as well.
LSU will be left with if they got the fired from Bama/boat raced by WVU Steele or the can hold his own against the bottom of the ACC Steele question.
Of course, LSU thought they were getting NFL quality OC not the fired shortly after the pre-season OC, the offense was more of the same for them.
Posted on 8/10/15 at 10:15 pm to DaleDenton
The defense may not be as 'talented' (going by stars) as two or three in the west, but they are a good bit more talented than they are getting credit for.
The big things are that Robb Smith has them playing sound, the players have a lot of confidence and Smith will have good schemes for each team they face. Having a little better depth will do nothing but help as well.
The big things are that Robb Smith has them playing sound, the players have a lot of confidence and Smith will have good schemes for each team they face. Having a little better depth will do nothing but help as well.
Posted on 8/10/15 at 11:32 pm to WonderWartHawg
At least GMAC gets it...but he's a QB and can see what Is happening on the field
Posted on 8/11/15 at 8:38 am to WonderWartHawg
quote:
The defense may not be as 'talented' (going by stars) as two or three in the west, but they are a good bit more talented than they are getting credit for.
I don't care if the defense is "flashy".
I just want them to play disciplined football like the end of last year and do their job.
I think that the biggest step forward last year was players not trying to do too much and not having to take too many risks or gambles. Just keep your man in front of you and make plays when you have help.
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