Tag: Zach Williams

Turnovers a focus for Arkansas defense this fall

Arkansas’ defense was tied for 117th out of 120 teams in FBS last year in fumbles recovered.

A big reason Arkansas went 9-4 last year, the team’s best record in a decade, was its ability to hold on to the ball.

Now the Razorbacks defense is focusing on making their turnover margin even higher.

In 2021, Arkansas’ offense gave the ball away just 11 times. The Hogs, on the other side of the ball, had more interceptions alone than that with 13. But when it comes to fumbles, Arkansas was a bit lacking. The Razorbacks recovered just three fumbles last year, tied for 117th in the country.

During Saturday’s second practice of fall camp, WholeHogSports reported defensive line coach Deke Adams was stressing strips to his unit.

“We’re not settling for sacks. We want the ball out. Do the little things,” Adams said, per reporter Scottie Bordelon.

Adams has a number of bodies on his front line with experience, but defensive line is a group where head coach Sam Pittman said the Hogs are seeking more stability and consistency.

Saturday’s first unit consisted of Isaiah Nichols and Eric Gregory on the inside and Zach Williams and Jashaud Stewart at end.

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Arkansas doesn’t scary anyone at getting to QB, so Pittman wants that to change

Arkansas has plenty of bodies on the defensive line, now the Hogs need someone to step up.

The Arkansas pass-rush has been subpar for a while now. But Arkansas coach Sam Pittman expects that to change in 2022.

The last time the Razorbacks defense finished in the top-half of the SEC in sacks was in 2013 when future NFLers Chris Smith and Trey Flowers were making waves at defensive end. Last year’s Arkansas team had just 25 sacks, the second worst mark in the league just in front of Vanderbilt’s nine.

And while the Hogs lost three starters off the front four in John Ridgeway, Tre Williams and Markell Utsey, they also have transfers in from LSU and Georgia Tech. Landon Jackson Jr. and Jordan Domineck should help alleviate that loss. Throw in Cam Ball and the return of Eric Gregory, Taurean Carter and Zach Williams and the Hogs should be at least as good.

Coach Sam Pittman is hoping they’ll be better.

“We need pass rushers. We’re over on our numbers at the position. We’re at 20 counting walk-ons. We need some elite pass rushers,” he said.

Zach Williams is the returning leader as his 3 1/2 sacks were third on last year’s team as a part-timer. If he can take one of the starting jobs and run with it, that total could be eclipsed. The other option is he continues as a specialist off the bench.

Either way, Pittman is right. It’s been a while since the Hogs scared anyone with their ability to get to the quarterback.

Arkansas D-line on the rise: these players will make a difference in 2022

Arkansas defensive line lost a lot from 2021, but these players should step into the fold nicely.

Sacks haven’t been a significant statistic for Arkansas football in a long time.

The Razorbacks have shown they can win without having a dynamic pass rush as a unit, even if they have had individual players who can rack up the numbers. McTelvin Agim, Armon Watts and Jeremiah Ledbetter were all those kind of players even during the down years of Arkansas football.

Heading into the 2022 season, though, there is reason to think the entire front seven (or six, as the Hogs more often play) can beat some of the team totals of recent years. Arkansas hasn’t finished higher than eighth in the SEC in sacks since 2013.

“The difference I see in our line is the explosion off the ball and that we are moving the line of scrimmage backward a lot of the time in our pass rush games,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. “We’re attacking the tackles more on the edge and making them move their feet. I think Deke has done a really good job and the kids have gotten close to his teaching and things he’s done.”

The Deke that Pittman mentioned is first-year defensive line coach Deke Adams, whose new approach suggests that Arkansas’ new-look front could turn heads.

The Hogs lost three starters up front in defensive tackle John Ridgeway, tackle/end Markell Utsey and end Tre Williams. These are the players Arkansas will rely on to replace them in the fall.DE

Next Hogs Up: Projecting Arkansas’ depth chart in 2022 – defensive line

Arkansas football has not been where it stands now in a decade. Freshmen who will join the team the next time the Razorbacks play a regular-season game would have been in kindergarten, or younger, the last time Arkansas was a national power. The …

Arkansas football has not been where it stands now in a decade. Freshmen who will join the team the next time the Razorbacks play a regular-season game would have been in kindergarten, or younger, the last time Arkansas was a national power.

The Hogs, regardless of the outcome in the Outback Bowl on January 1, have had a season that exceeded even the homers’ expectations. How much it continues into 2022 depends on a number of factors, including potential player and coach exits in the offseason.

For now, we don’t want to focus on such matters. Instead, let’s consider the players who are assured to be back, barring catastrophe.

In this series, Next Hogs Up, we take a shot at projecting Arkansas’ depth chart, position by position for the 2022 season. Take note, however, as certain positions will be kept broad, as opposed to specific. And we’re skipping quarterback because it’s KJ Jefferson No. 1 and Malik Hornsby No. 2 and there is no doubt about it.

We started with running backs, followed with wide receivers and tight ends and most recently looked at the offensive line. Now, we go opposite with the defensive line.

Note: This doesn’t include defensive tackle John Ridgeway, who has a year of eligibility remaining, but has not decided whether or not to use it.

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