Like it is: Obviously, Hogs need big game from the defense

WALLY HALL
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

LAS VEGAS -- Perhaps it isn't politically correct to say it, but the Arkansas Razorbacks are here, in the Vegas Bowl, because of their defense.
Granted, the offense scored just enough points to knock off nationally ranked LSU and Mississippi State, but since giving up 63 points in three quarters against Tennessee, the defense has gone nine quarters without allowing a touchdown.
Besides, it is a given UNLV will be keying on freshman running back Brandon Holmes and wide receiver Boo Williams.
Stevie Wonder could have listened to the last two Razorbacks games on the radio and told you that.
So it may take the Razorbacks' defense keeping UNLV out of the end zone for the Hogs to have a shot at beating a team that took Ole Miss to overtime.
In the last two games, the defense had more looks than colors in a madras shirt.
There's no reason to believe it won't be more of the same Thursday night.
"They might see a one-man front," defensive line coach Bill Johnson said. "Or they might not. But if I were a betting man, I'd bet they would."
Former Razorback Owen Kelly (now a surgery resident at UAMS) said that, bar none, Johnson is the best coach he ever had.
Johnson left Texas A&M to come to Arkansas, then had to turn down the Green Bay Packers to stay there.
This is why.
Johnson is having more fun now than a busload of Phoenix grannies on the nickel slots.
Against MSU, he played Carlos Hall all over the field -- including outside linebacker -- and Hall had 12 tackles.
Which is why Johnson is considering letting him play there next season.
"He can drop back in coverage or go for the quarterback," Johnson said. "He's got that kind of speed and ability."
In fact, Johnson watched film of Hall all season. A guy with those tools should never be shut out, and he wanted to figure out what was going wrong.
Finally, a theory developed.
"I think, maybe, when we have Carlos get down in a stance on the tackle, we are taking away his vision and he needs to be able to see," Johnson said.
Johnson feels so good about his starters that he's promised the second unit it would play by the third series.
For the first time this season Randy Garner, the other defensive end, is 100 percent. Sacha Lancaster has dropped back down to about 272 pounds and has regained his quickness.
Curt Davis was a new player the last two games, making tough tackles in the middle.
But UNLV presents a different problem.
The Rebels love the option.
"Every defense we put in for this game has option defense," Johnson said. "Georgia ran some option on us, and they did it on possession downs [third down] and with success, but that was the only time this season we saw it.
"I think ... no, I believe we are ready for it."
Of course, there will be some cat-and-mouse on the first few possessions, a feeling out of what each team is going to do.
"John [Thompson, Arkansas' defensive coordinator] loves that," Johnson said.
No doubt one thing the Rebels have had drilled into their heads in their preparation for this game is they can expect one thing from the Arkansas defense -- the unexpected.
"We've drilled it into our kids' heads that if we get burned because we were in a junk defense, don't get down or frustrated," Johnson said. "That's going to happen from time to time.
"What they have to remember is we came to play 60 minutes."
The thing that has Johnson excited, the reason he is having so much fun, is that Thompson calls defensive plays like an offensive coordinator does offensive plays.
"Every down is a new situation and a new look," Johnson said. "We aren't going to let them dictate to us what defenses to call.
"We have to go with what will stop them, not fall into their traps."
Which means the Razorbacks will have to play with great discipline. That they can't take a series or two to adjust. That they have to fight through dry mouth that this arid air causes and go for blood on every snap.
Something they have done very well the last two games.
However, Johnson, a longtime veteran of coaching wars and bowl games, refused to say the defense won the last two games.
"We've been better, there's no doubt, but the offense hasn't turned the ball over and the kicking game has been great," he said.
Which is politically and factually correct, but the difference between the last two games and the first nine was obvious.

This article was published on Wednesday, December 20, 2000

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