Arkansas Razorbacks Defensive Outlook for the 2007 Season

The Arkansas Razorback defense was very solid during the 2006 season. Although the team lost four key starters,the defense has the potential to be equally as good during the 2007 season.It will be a tough task for the hogs to replace the production from the defensive starters that they will have to replace this season. The Razorbacks will have to replace the 'heart and soul' of the defense in linebacker Sam Olujubutu. Sam finished the season with a team high 115 tackles and also recorded 2.5 sacks. Another big loss for the defense is defensive end Jamaal Anderson, who was the first round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons. Jamaal had a spectacular season including 65 tackles and a league leading 13.5 sacks. The team also lost its best all around defensive back, Chris Houston. Houston recored 45 tackles and three interceptions. Houston's numbers are a little misleading because he shut down some of the nations leading receivers, including Dwayne Jarrett (USC), Robert Meachem (Tennessee) and Sidney Rice (South Carolina). Houston was also drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round. Kieth Jackson was also a key starter that will not return this season. K-Jack was fourth on the team with 79 tackles.He also had 2.5 sacks and 2 interceptions.He was selected in the seventh round by the St Louis Rams.

The Razorbacks finished the 2006 season with a record of 10-4 and could be better than that in 2007. The Hogs were in every game last season, with the exception of the season opener with USC, when they gave up 50 points.For the season the defense only allowed 18 points per contest. Even though the Hogs have lost nearly half of the starting defense, they have some very capable personnel that can step in and fill those spots.

The Razorbacks strongest position should be the defensive line. They have a good rotation of defensive tackles that include probable starters senior, Marcus Harrison and junior Ernest Mitchell. Harrison is still recovering from knee surgery and could miss the season opener against Troy but he should be ready to go soon after that game.Last season Harrison only started five games but still manage 42 tackles. Ernest Mitchell got significant playing time last season. He played in all 14 games, starting 9, and recorded 41 tackles. These two will be backed up by the trio of Fred Bledsoe, Cord Gray, and Marcus Shavers.All of these players have yet to prove themselves, but should be reliable back ups and get better as the season progresses. The Hogs are a little thin at defensive end. They do have a proven starter in junior Antwain Robinson.Robinson was second on the team with 8.5 sacks and a total of 68 tackles last season.Robinson is the most athletic of all of the defensive lineman and is very good against the run or the pass.Starting on the other side will be sophomore Malcolm Sheppard. Sheppard started 2 games last season and only recorded 12 tackles for the year. These two will be backed up by converted linebacker Adrian Davis, who has very good speed but is a little under sized.Davis had 19 tackles from the linebacker position last season. Chris Wade is another back up that should do a sufficient job. He did not start any games last season,but he did play in 13 and recorded 15 tackles and 1 sack.

The Hogs have a relatively young core of linebackers but should be able to step and have a great season.The linebackers are led by senior Weston Dacus,who finished third on the team in tackles with 95.He also had 3.5 sacks and 1 interception.Sophomore Freddie Fairchild is coming back from knee surgery and is expected to start alongside Dacus. Fairchild was injured in the second game of the 2006 season. He is a big physical player with good speed and should really make a difference in stopping the oppositions running game. Not hardly any experience at weak side linebacker for the Hogs, but expect freshman Ryan Powers to be the starter when the season opens. Powers played on special teams in the first two games of the 2006 campaign before suffering a season ending hamstring injury.He was granted a medical hardship and will still have four years of eligibility.He was a good running back in high school and should use his speed to make plays all over the field for the Razorbacks.Backing up at linebacker will be the trio of Chip Gregory, Desmond Williams, and Wendel Davis. Davis is the only reserve with much experience, he had 20 tackles is 2006. As long as this group can avoid injury they should be very good this season.

The cornerback position could be the Hogs weakest link on defense. After losing Chris Houston a year early to the NFL draft someone is going to have to step up big time at cornerback. Returning starter Matterral Richardson proved to be a good tackler but does not have the best hand. He did break up 10 passes but only came up with 1 interception.Projected to start opposite of Richardson will be Jerrel Norton. Norton played in 11 games last season and made 15 tackles and recovered two fumbles. Shedrick Johnson will be one of the backups and he has virtually no experience. Jamar Love did play in all 14 games last season as a reserve and recorded 16 tackles.It should be interesting to see how these players respond to the pressure that will be placed on them this season.

The Razorbacks have one of the best safeties in the SEC returning to the starting lineup this season, Michael Grant missed the last five games of last season. He tore his ACL and is expected to make a full recovery .Before the injury Grant had world class speed and could chase down anyone that got past the first two lines of the defense.It will be interesting to see if he still has the same speed after the injury.Starting at strong safety will be Matt Hewitt who came to Arkansas as a safety but moved to linebacker last season because of all of the injuries at that position. Hewitt recorded 63 tackles at linebacker last season. Senior Kevin Woods will be one of the backups at the safety position.He got some valuable playing time last season after the injury to Michael Grant.Woods ended the season with 1 interception, 45 tackles and a team leading 9 tackles on special teams.Also backing up at safety will be little used Matt Harris. Harris must show some consistency or could fall off the depth chart to an incoming freshman.

Even though the Hogs have lost some very good players on the defensive side of the ball, they have some good young players that can make big contributions this season.Look for the hogs to make another strong run at the SEC Western division title in 2007.