NWADG College Football

2017

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Junior Randy Ramsey, who primar- ily plays the "Razor" outside lineback- er spot, is viewed as the prototypical athlete at 6-4, 228 pounds, to unleash in a 3-4 scheme. Ramsey combines a pass-rushing skill set with good hip turn and agility that will allow him to track running backs in space in the passing game. "I'm able to play faster than I was last year," Ramsey said. "It's a great fit. I think the whole defense is able to play way faster." Arkansas defensive back Kevin Rich- ardson, a team captain, said success in a 3-4 begins in the trenches. "It involves guys up front being phys- ical and being able to dictate things, con- trol gaps and be able to make plays in those holes that are going to be there," Richardson said. Quality play from the nose guard in the 3-4 scheme, manned by 6-1, 339-pound senior Bijhon Jackson, 6-4, 300-pound Austin Capps and 6-3, 298-pound redshirt freshman Dylan Hays, is crucial to the operation. "The main thing for us is just keeping the center from climbing up on the line- backers and stretching the zone plays," Jackson said. "Other than that, we just try and dominate the center. Try to dom- inate him every play." Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos has had to do plenty of scheming against 3-4 defenses, run by some of the top units in the country like Alabama and LSU. "The thing about the three down is where are they aligned?" Enos said, ref- erencing the various spots the defen- sive lineman can take or shift into. "I think that creates the most communi- cation and the most issues for offenses. … Whether it's protections and/or the running game, it makes you have to talk more. You can't just assume. "The other thing it does is they create four potential rushers very close to the ball any time, and that becomes a situ- ation where you have to identify who their rushers are. You've got to try to get keys, and our defense has been doing a good job. They're bringing [blitzes] from a lot of different places." Bielema and Enos have seen a lot of 3-4 schemes on opposing defenses the last few years. "Being on the other side of the ball, offensively, watching 3-4 schemes, the unknown of their pre-snap keys is one of the bigger things," Bielema said. "The ability to get lined up in a quicker fash- ion, too. You can't put a price tag on that." Arkansas center Frank Ragnow knows the best way to attack a 3-4 since the Razorbacks have seen it more often. "We need to get to the second lev- el," Ragnow said. "I think that's the key, See DEFENSE, Page 22 WESTWOOD G A R D E N S for more information, visit: www.westwoodgardens.com Decorate and Plant for Fall Trees for Fall Color • Pumpkins & Gourds • Giant Mums Fruits & Vegetables %HHI3RUN3RXOWU\ Fresh Fresh Cut No Solution Injected No Sodium Added HARPS H O M E T O W N F R E S H TM Sunday, August 27, 2017 11 NWA Democrat-Gazette College Football Preview v Continued from preceding page

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