Wednesday Practice Notes: Hogs defense growing up
After sitting out with hernia surgery, cornerback Jerell Norton figures to be apart of the Hogs’ cornerback mix this weekend against Louisiana-Monroe. Norton has been moving around pretty good in practice and will play some snaps this weekend in Little Rock, his defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said Wednesday.
Senior Jack linebacker Walner Leandre, who was unavailable for last week’s opener against Western Illinois, will start Saturday. Wendel Davis, who had been rehabbing a knee and hand injury, will also be back as a backup at Mike linebacker Saturday, Robinson said. Davis is listed as fourth-team on the depth chart as of right now.
“We’re actually getting deeper, which is kind of nice whether it’s a Jerell Norton, Elston Forte, Wendel Davis… we’re starting to get some of those guys back,” Robinson said.
Still, Arkansas’ young, inexperienced defense has some growing up to do this season if the Razorbacks expect to be successful this year. Four freshmen played every defensive snap against Western Illinois on Saturday.
“You hope they start growing whiskers because we’re young,” said Robinson, who shaved his own mustache before preseason began in early August. “But some of our freshmen played a lot of plays.”
Safeties Elton Ford and Jerico Nelson and linebacker Jelani Smith played all 72 defensive snaps against WIU. Freshman linebacker Jerry Franklin also played all the snaps and led the team with seven tackles against the Leathernecks.
“I think they got their jitters,” Robinson said. “It seemed as the game went on they got stronger and more disciplined.”
Norton will add some experience in the secondary this week, which figures to be tested more against ULM’s passing offense than it was against WIU’s running offense last week.
“If my number is called, I feel like I’m in good enough shape, I feel like I know the playbook, I feel like I know the offense we’re going into — the game and situation we’re going into — so I feel positive in myself,” Norton said. “The coaching staff feels the same.”
WIU went 10 of 26 in the passing game last week for 105 yards. Is Robinson happy with his young secondary, who all started their first collegiate game Saturday?
“I’m never happy with any of it, to be honest with you,” he said. “The thing is, passing game wise, I think we did our job for the most part. … I think our biggest disappointment was that we didn’t win third down.”
The Leathernecks converted 7 of 17 third downs against the Hogs and ULM will be testing the secondary much more this week with a diversified offense with three-year starter Kinsmon Lancaster at the quarterback controls.
“There’s no doubt,” Robinson said. “(The secondary) has got to be two-way players. They’ve got to be able to stop the run and the pass because this kid is very talented at both.”
The Hogs wrap up this week of practices Thursday before heading down to Little Rock on Friday.
Read tomorrow’s Northwest Arkansas Times and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more. Also check out our video section on WholeHogSports.com for more from this week in practice.
6 Responses to “Wednesday Practice Notes: Hogs defense growing up”
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Need to get rid of the red pants. I think they look better and probably would play better in white pants.
kansashog,
Bobby Petrino said Saturday after the WIU game that he was leaning toward the white pants.
I dunno, I liked the red pants. I think they’re fine to bust out from time to time for a football program. Alternative looks are always good for drawing recruits. But, for the fans’ sake, going back to white pants this week would probably be a good idea just because of the stigma associated with them — fairly or unfairly — right now.
[...] practice notes from Brandon Marcello over at wholehogsports.com. The main note seems to be that UA is about to get some help on the defensive side of the ball. Cornerback Jerrell Norton and linebackers Walner Leandre and [...]
the DEFENSE needs more help than the return of one player..
but thanks for the update…
[...] Blog & Razorbloggers). Here’s a look at Freshman WR Greg Childs. Willy Robinson says the Defense is growing up. The rain in Fayetteville (hello Gustav) hampers only the Special Teams Prep. [...]
[...] start with practice notes from Thursday. The young Razorbacks’ defense is gaining bodies and experience.Former Springdale High School (think Gus Malzahn and defections) wide receiver Andrew Norton will [...]