FAYETTEVILLE -- They say one can't teach old dogs new tricks but it seems one can teach old Hogs a new scheme.
For senior three-year lettermen Bijohn Jackson and Josh Liddell profess they are learning and loving the new 3-4 defensive alignment that Arkansas coach Bret Bielema and first-year defensive coordinator and second-year defensive backfield coach invoked this spring.
Jackson, a defensive tackle converted to nose guard, and Liddell, a free safety, along with the rest of the Razorbacks started spring practice Tuesday, the first of two drills in helmets and shorts before full pads are donned Saturday.
"It gives us more flexibility," Liddell said after Tuesday's practice. "We can be more dynamic in how we bring pass-rushers in and stop their run. I think it's going to be a great run-stopper for us. I think we'll be a better defense this year."
Both have greater freedom in the 3-4, Jackson and Liddell say, than the base 4-3 that Arkansas played previously under Bielema and former Razorback defensive coordinators Chris Ash and Robb Smith.
"I'm playing more of a centerfielder in the 3-4.," Liddell said. "It's not more like the cover six where I'm on one side of the field. I'm more in the middle so I can help on both sides. It's just different."
Deliciously different to Jackson.
"I love it," Jackson said Tuesday. "It's a lot different from the last defense. I've got a lot more freedom. I just don't have much to worry about. I can just come off and play. Last year was just kind of come off and hold the gap or whatever. Now I can just come off and play and not worry about what gap I come out in. They go to pass, I pass rush. I'm really excited about the opportunity."
Jackson reads avidly for his classes -- without redshirting he's on course to graduate a semester ahead of schedule in December with a degree in sports management -- but says for football he wants to react.
"Just being lined up on the center and mainly playing the backside A gap I really don't have to worry about getting reads like I did last year," Jackson said. It will be easier to come off and make some plays I believe."
Although with three letters in three years Jackson has done fine, he knows it hasn't been the career many envisioned when he came out of El Dorado all-everything as a nationally sought recruit.
"I'm not really worried about that," Jackson said. "It kind of bothered me early. I mean I haven't done some of the things I'm probably capable of doing, but I know what I'm capable of. I know this defense is gonna help me showcase some of the things that I'm better at doing. I'm really excited."
So excited he cut short his El Dorado home time for last week's spring break to return to Fayetteville and continue rehabbing the quadriceps he "tweaked" during the winter offseason.
"That was spring break so it shows me the commitment level of where he's at," Bielema said. "You are always defined by a senior that kind of maybe goes beyond where he's ever been before and I think he's my leading candidate."
Jackson worked first-team Tuesday between ends Karl Roesler and Hope's McTelvin "Sosa" Agim while Rhoads returns a veteran secondary with Liddell and senior De'Andre Coley as the safeties and Ryan Pulley and Henre Toliver at the corners.
Sports on 03/29/2017