The “Three 2 Watch” are the most intriguing players and situations on offense and defense as the Razorbacks enter a pivotal spring.
The second-most intriguing story on defense this spring is the return of junior cornerback Isaac Madison.
THREE 2 WATCH: DEFENSE
No. 2 — CB ISAAC MADISON
The skinny
Isaac Madison
Junior cornerback Isaac Madison returns after tearing a ligament in his knee last pre-season. He starts the spring with a bit of a touch-and-go attitude from the coaches, just as they were last season when asked about the impact Madison’s injury had on the team.
Madison was expected to lead the Razorbacks’ thin and inexperienced secondary. He was their go-to guy, but when he crumpled to the ground in early August, you knew Arkansas’ defense was going to be dealt a huge blow.
As our man Tom Murphy pointed out this week in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and WholeHogSports.com, Arkansas’ defensive secondary struggled mightily as Madison was on the mend last season:
The Hogs ranked 99th nationally in pass defense, allowing 248.5 yards per game.
Arkansas gave up 14 touchdown passes of 20 yards or longer, including eight of 50 yards or longer. There was an unsightly stretch of four consecutive games late in the season when foes scored through the air from 77 yards (Florida), 64 yards (Ole Miss), 77 yards (Eastern Michigan) and 80 yards (South Carolina).
Yeah, the Hogs need Madison back in the fold.
“We tried to downplay it as much as we could last fall when it happened, simply because we had the whole season ahead of us,” Coach Bobby Petrino said earlier this month before speaking to a booster club in Harrison. “It was a big blow to us to lose his experience, his competitiveness and also his leadership.”
What 2 Watch
Arkansas cornerback Isaac Madison, pictured here against Tulsa in 2008, returns to action this spring after sitting out 2009 with a torn knee ligament. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MICHAEL WOODS)
The competition between sophomore Darius Winston and Madison will be one to watch at corner. Sure Rudell Crim and Ramon Broadway return as starters, but they figure to be challenged for playing time next season.
The Razorbacks may have missed Madison most last season during their 52-41 loss to Georgia. Tbe secondary was burned often, especially by A.J. Green and his 7 receptions for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Competition will be hot and heavy among this group in the spring, and with senior Andru Stewart — who some expected to be a playmaker last season — looking to overtake Broadway at the other corner spot, Madison may just be sneaking his way up the line on the other side.
Doctors have cleared Madison to return to drills, but Petrino remains cautious with his approach and just how much contact to allow Madison this spring. If he gets the chance, Madison may be one of the hardest workers on the field this spring. Don’t forget, he played nearly every snap as a sophomore in 2008.
“It’s really motivating. Coming from a starter my sophomore and going into the following season as a starter, I just see that as motivation,” Madison said. “I wouldn’t expect to come back as a starter, because obviously I didn’t play last season. So I’m just going to use that as motivation.
What 2 Expect
Look for Madison, if cleared by Petrino, to make his way back up the depth chart. A lot of that, though, depends on the development and improvement of Winston. The Helena-West Helena native drew high praise from defensive coordinator Willy Robinson during practices for the Liberty Bowl in December.
The only thing holding Winston back was experience and upper body strength.
The most important aspect of Winston’s return is the added depth and playing experience. That, along with competition, should help the Razorbacks more than anything this spring.
What 2 Say
It was tough seeing my guys that I had went through spring and summer and camp with out there without me. But I took I took that time to watch, to learn my team, to learn how I am as a player. … Although I wasn’t out there physically, I gained a lot mentally.
— Cornerback Isaac Madison
THREE 2 WATCH — OFFENSE
No. 1 — RB Ronnie Wingo
No. 2 — Wide receivers
No. 3 — TE Chris Gragg
THREE 2 WATCH — DEFENSE
No. 1 — Monday
No. 2 — Cornerback Isaac Madison
No. 3 — Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell
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Coming up Monday, the conclusion to the “Three 2 Watch” and the No. 1 player or situation to watch on Arkansas’ defense.
Make sure to check out WholeHogSports.com and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more coverage. You can also follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates with @bmarcello and @wholehogsports.
Broadway should not be a starter. He got burned too often and always was 2 steps behind.
Broadway recently ran a 4.28 40. He is a senior and has the most experience of anyone. The sad truth about your statement “He got burned too often and always was 2 steps behind,” could be applied to any one of these guys. I expect them to be much much improved this go around. We have 3 JUCO players that will make that remarkable improvement that they all make between JR and SR year. There is plenty of competition out there and plenty of speed. My only question about this secondary is Anthony Leon. I really expected him to play better last season. Maybe he was just lost and still learning the system, but he looked slow and skinny to me. I hope he has bulked up and is ready to lay a Tony Bua lick on people. For years we were known for our safeties, from atwater, ken hamlin, kennoy kennedy, tony bua….its time for another!
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