UA d-line outplanned, outmanned

SCOTT CAIN
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- Bill Johnson slept better Sunday than he did Saturday.
What Johnson, Arkansas' defensive line coach, saw in a 28-21 victory over Alabama was his players being pushed around a few times too many. A review of the game tape the next day eased his concerns.
Alabama rushed for 226 yards, the most allowed by Arkansas since South Carolina ran for 236 on Oct. 18, 1997.
"After the game was over and we got the 'W', I went home and was a little bit scared they blocked us real bad," Johnson said. "But after watching the tape, I think they had a good plan and the actual speed of the game and the intensity of the game is where we as defensive linemen have to improve.
"There were a lot of plays in there where I saw some great physicalness and there were some plays where we were a little soft."
When Arkansas plays 25th-ranked Georgia on Saturday, it can't afford to be soft.
The Bulldogs (2-1, 0-1 SEC) are best known for junior quarterback Quincy Carter, who throws to a talented group of receivers. But they also feature a deep and capable backfield led by 221-pound junior Jasper Sanks. The top four backs average at least 5.2 yards per carry.
While Georgia ranks 42nd nationally and sixth in SEC rushing yards per game (167.3), it is tied for the league's second-best per-rush average at 4.6 per carry.
Under Coach Jim Donnan, Georgia is 20-4 when its runs 40 times or more and 14-12 when its runs fewer than 40 times.
Watching tape of Arkansas' most recent game might be enough to persuade Donnan to emphasize the run more this week.
Alabama ran 57 times, the most by any SEC team this season, and averaged 4 yards per carry.
Keeping teams within a 3.3-yard run average gives Arkansas a better chance to win, Johnson said.
The defensive staff had prepared for Alabama to spread the field and throw because that's what it had done in its first three games, Johnson said. When the Tide came out running, it caught coaches and players off guard.
Alabama used an unbalanced formation featuring an extra tackle much of the game. The strong side of the line looked like this: center, guard, tackle, tackle, tight end. That created the majority of the defensive line's problem, Johnson said.
The other problem was Alabama snapped the ball on a quick count, not allowing Arkansas' front to make presnap movement and helping neutralize the blitz. Defenders didn't break the huddle and line up quick enough to try to minimize the quick snap.
"It was a great plan," Alabama quarterback Tyler Watts said. "We dominated. We did what we wanted. We just didn't make the plays at the end."
Coaches recognized the unbalanced line immediately but could not adjust the defensive alignment until they had the players on the sideline. By that time Alabama led 7-0 after pounding out a 17-play, 80-yard drive.
After that, Alabama still had success running but not as generously as it did on the opening drive. The Tide sustained drives of 8, 8, 10 and 11 plays among its nine remaining series.
"The good news is I think we took Alabama's best shot," Johnson said. "We've got some young guys up front who grew up a little bit. They saw a little bit different deal. The other good news is we got better as the game went on. We had a heck of a test and we were fortunate to come out winning."
Eight defensive linemen rotate among the four spots so they can stay as fresh as possible for four quarters. At times, that means playing three sophomores at once in end Raymond House, tackle Jermaine Brooks and nose guard Pervis Osborne.
House has played extensively because starter Randy Garner missed the first game serving a suspension and missed all but a few plays against Alabama with a sprained ankle.
Even though House is 13 pounds lighter and has two years less experience than Garner, he and nose guard Curt Davis have been playing better than anybody on the line, Johnson said. Rush end Carlos Hall hasn't made many tackles but he has delivered momentum-busting plays with sacks, pass breakups and a fumble recovery, Johnson said.
Defensive tackle Sacha Lancaster has been slowed by a sprained shoulder. He's a key component in clogging the inside run.
Garner missed practice most of last week and probably will this week because of the ankle sprain.
"Do I think we've got to get better up front? Yeah," Johnson said. "I didn't think we would have it all figured out by the fourth week of the season anyway. But after the game I was more disappointed than I was after watching the tape."

This article was published on Wednesday, September 27, 2000

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