Herring hopes for repeat performance, this time with Arkansas

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Posted 5:36PM on Friday, August 12, 2005

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) Razorback defensive coordinator says the players he's coaching at Arkansas have a familiar look they remind him of the group he coached last year at North Carolina State. That could be good news for Arkansas football fans because, in one season as defensive coordinator for the Wolfpack, Herring helped them improve from No. 89 in total defense in 2003 to No. 1 in the nation last year. ``The parallels are almost frightening,'' Herring said at Razorbacks media day this week. ``A defense that wasn't ranked very high, somewhat of a defense that has potential just needs a plan, needs direction.'' Arkansas' defense allowed 397.2 yards per game last season the most since 1990. Defensive coordinator Dave Wommack was fired in early December, and Herring left N.C. State to replace him a few days later. While implementing his 4-3 scheme, Herring has focused on improving the Razorbacks' defensive line. Arkansas had just 16 sacks last season. Wide receiver Anthony Brown and outside linebacker Desmond Sims have been converted to defensive end, and some of the returning linemen will look a little different this season. ``We've asked some d-linemen to get quicker, to lose some of the bulk because they weren't playing fast enough,'' Herring said. Herring doesn't plan to install a reckless, gambling scheme. Instead, he'll rely on the quickness of individual players to make his defense dangerous. ``I would hope that you will see a team that is a swarming, stunting, gang-tackling, swarm-tackling team that can play at a high level for four quarters,'' Herring said. ``It's calculated aggression. You're never going to see us in an all-out blitz unless they're inside our 10-yard line. We're built for aggression, but sound.'' Behind the new-look defensive line will be a linebacking corps anchored by returning starters Pierre Brown and Sam Olajubutu, and a deep secondary led by senior strong safety Vickiel Vaughn. Vaughn led Arkansas with 66 tackles last season. Kenoy Kennedy (1998-99) was the last player to lead the Razorbacks in tackles two straight seasons. ``Vaughn probably can read a quarterback's eyes better than anybody we've had in a long time,'' coach Houston Nutt said. With key players still learning new positions and the entire defense learning a new system Herring expects the adjustment to take time. Last season, Arkansas' defense became worse as the season progressed. The Razorbacks allowed 181 points in their five Southeastern Conference losses all in the last two months of the season. This year, Herring is hoping for the opposite. ``The jury's still out. I still say this is a defense that is not going to start the season at the top of our game,'' Herring said. ``As a defense, it should get better as the season goes along, as the schedule gets tougher. We should get better and better and keep improving.'' (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)