The “Three 2 Watch” are the most intriguing players and situations on offense and defense as the Razorbacks enter a pivotal spring. Practices start Tuesday at 4 p.m., giving us our first look at a team still looking to answer a few questions.
The most intriguing story on defense this spring is the battle at linebacker and the need for a player to step up in the middle of the field.
THREE 2 WATCH: DEFENSE
No. 1 — LINEBACKERS
The skinny
Jermaine Love
Jermaine Love
It’s the biggest question mark for the Razorbacks’ defense, which still is home to plenty of unanswered questions. The linebackers, now without stalwart inside linebacker Wendel Davis, will be tested early and often this spring.
Depth is an issue and it’s up to players to step up into big-time roles. Now is the time, Coach Bobby Petrino says, for sophomores to make their names known after a productive offseason.
Too often teams with weak linebacker corps give up big yards in the running game. The middle of the defense is key against some of the SEC’s biggest hitters — Alabama and LSU. It will especially be key with teams with speed on the outside, as Arkansas’ linebackers will be counted on tremendously.
If Petrino truly wants a “Top 20″ defense as he’s said while touring the club circuit this winter, the linebackers hold the key.
What 2 Watch
Arkansas linebacker Bret Harris has proved himself off the field in testing and strength, but can he make some headway at linebacker on the field this spring? (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JASON IVESTER)
It’s time to step up.
That’s the message from Petrino to his linebackers, especially to the youngest at middle linebacker — sophomores Terrell Williams (6-3, 237) and Austin Moss (6-3, 227). They have the size, the speed and the strength after a productive season off the field, but can they step up and push starting senior Jermaine Love (5-11, 230) at the position?
And, for that matter, can Love finally prove himself to be a reliable linebacker?
“Jermaine Love is a guy I think we need to step up and be a player now,” Petrino said. “It’s time for that. He’s off the charts in all the testing: strength, speed, quickness. He’s not the tallest guy we have at linebacker, but he’s one of the strongest and fastest guys we have out there. He’s a really willing hitter. He likes contact. And we’re going to give him a really good look here in spring and see how he does.”
Petrino called Love’s measureables “unbelievable.” He was the only non-lineman to bench more than 400 pounds during pre-spring testing.
Love played in only three games and accounted for two tackles, but figures to be one of Arkansas’ top 10 in tackles this fall. He may just be the key to the success or failure of this season’s linebacker corps.
And don’t forget about junior outside linebacker Bret Harris. Harris “had as good an offseason as anybody,” Petrino said.
Then there are the guys on the outside like returning juniors Jerry Franklin (6-1, 241) and Jerico Nelson (5-10, 205). Nelson was third on the team in tackles (74) last season.
What 2 Expect
Harris, Moss and Love will get the most attention this spring. And don’t be surprised to see the depth chart to be as fluid as it was last season, when Harris even overtook Wendel Davis in the depth chart at times as a motivating factor to the upperclassmen.
The measureables, as Petrino said, are there for results on the field. But can this group at middle linebacker finally put it altogether and find some consistency? We’ll see in the fall, but this spring is as important as any for the underclassmen to prove their worth in an area that is very thin and would be hurt tremendously with a downfall or injury from one or two players.
The big question is this: Who comes out on top the depth chart after the spring? Does Harris, who made the transition from safety to linebacker last season, make the big stride and overtake Nelson at outside linebacker?
Keep your eyes open on this one, just as Love must be doing with one eye over his shoulder at the underclassmen attempting to take his new-found role as a starter.
And don’t forget about Ryan Powers, who has had his ups and downs. He’s consistent on special teams, but can he add some much needed depth at linebacker?
What 2 Say
“Terrell Williams and Austin Moss need to make that jump from their freshman to sophomore year. And if they can do that like (wide receivers) Jarius Wright, Greg Childs did, that helps us a lot. They’re going to get a bunch of reps in spring to find out.”
— Coach Bobby Petrino
THREE 2 WATCH — OFFENSE
No. 1 — RB Ronnie Wingo
No. 2 — Wide receivers
No. 3 — TE Chris Gragg
THREE 2 WATCH — DEFENSE
No. 1 — Linebackers
No. 2 — Cornerback Isaac Madison
No. 3 — Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell
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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.
Brandon,
With the lack of depth at LB, and since there are only 1 or 2 freshmen LB’s coming in this fall, what are the chances of seeing Anthony Leon moved to OLB to shore up the ranks?
I would think that Leon’s size and speed would be more suited to that position than at SS. Then again, I think Jerico Nelson is playing out of position too, and he and Leon should switch.
I am not as worried about the LB’s as I am the secondary. Way too many big plays were given up by those guys in “09, and the man-to-man coverage was lacking.
Holy Hog!!!! You mean I was the first?!
I’m actually really interested in what Courtney Gaston is doing–from what I understand he’s a 6’5 linebacker (not 6’3″) with (approximately) 4.4 speed…now that’s what I call a headhunter of a LB–Could you fill us in Brandon?
GO HOGS!
I’ve got nothing new on Gaston. He’s obviously still in high school and won’t be here this spring, but if he makes it to campus, he’ll certainly be one to watch. His size (6-5) catches your eye right away.
With Ronnie Wingo starting 1st on depth chart nowing he will get his reps in spring would u think he would have a 1,000 yard season, although he got carries late last year he look productive, what u think brandon?
Anthony Leon i still believe he could be a good FS back there for us with a year of the playbook under his belt even though he looked lost last year i think Bobby should give him another look and don’t forget about Tremain Thomas he looked good at times.
I would not mind playing a guy like Jermaine Love, or even Jerico Nelson at MLB….It is nice to have a big guy in there, but linebacker is more about instinct, playing full speed, and reaction to the football….Think…Sam Olajabutu…Not so much in the NFL, but an undersized LB can succeed in college football.
I think that between Freddy Burton, Jerry Franklin, Bret Harris, Jermaine Love, Jerico Nelson, Terrell Williams, Austin Moss, and Ryan Powers we should be able to find a solid group of starters. Thats 8 players competing for 3 spots….6 for the 2 deep. I’m hopeful that we will be just fine there.
Win…if there was ever a time not to be worried about our secondary it is this year. We have an experienced group back there with SRs Rudell Crim, Ramon Broadway, and Anthony Leon…along with JR Tramin Thomas listed as starters. Backing up the corners is Darius Winston, David Gordon, Isaac Madison, and Andru Stewert…all of which should be very good this year. Backing up the safeties we have Elton Ford, Seth Ambrust, and Jerry Mitchell. Add to this group our 2010 class of CBs Eric Bennett, Jay Herndon…and safety Daunte Carr; We should be solid in the secondary.
The LBs coming in the summer could step up and compete for a spot as well. You mentioned Courney Gaston but we also have Jarrett Lake coming in that will most likely play LB. Braylon Mitchell also will compete for a spot at LB. If nothing else at least we will have competition.
HogHotSprings,
I listed Ronnie Wingo No. 1 on my “Three 2 Watch” on offense last week. I think he definitely has a chance to solidify himself atop the depth chart and make a move to being counted on tremendously in the fall.
You can read more about that here: http://blogs.nwaonline.com/slophouse/2010/03/three-2-watch-no-1-%e2%80%94-ronnie-wingo-offense/
That MLB spot is key to stopping the run game between the tackles and to keep from getting beat up the middle with the pass to the TE. We had long TD scored on us in the Bama, GA and LSU games with the MLB or ILB getting hosed by the TE in the endzone.
I am ready to see a Bama MLB type guy wearing Razorback red soon. One of those 6-4/245/4.6 angry guys that can cover the whole field.