WholeHogSports
Jacked up : Hogs look to shore up thin linebacker corps with hybrid position
Posted on Friday, August 8, 2008
URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/67906/
Willy Robinson’s new hybrid position at the outside linebacker slot is nothing new on the collegiate level.
It’s not innovative. It’s not even the first time it’s been run at the University of Arkansas. In fact, the inclusion of the hybrid linebacker / strong safety position this season — labeled as a “ Jack” linebacker by Robinson — is an act more out of necessity for the linebacker-thin Razorbacks this year than a creative sleight of hand.
But the players, mostly the safeties who will move into the position, are still excited about the opportunity to confuse defenses in the box in a rover-type position.
“ The coaches were really excited about it and I was excited about it because they felt like we had depth back there to play this position, ” said senior Walner Leandre, currently the team’s first-team player at the “ Jack” position. “ We had a lot of safeties. ”
The position replaces an outside linebacker and will require a lot of quick decisions from the player in the slot, which will most likely be filled by a strong safety, Robinson said. The look will be used quite a bit in the Hogs’ 4-3 base defense, even though the hybrid addition feels more like a 4-2-5 at times as plays develop.
“ We’re looking for a hybrid, speed-efficient, connect-the-dot kind of player, ” Robinson said.
The player also has to take on blocks, and read tight ends and offensive tackles quickly to understand their keys.
“ You’ve got to bring it when you’re taking on blocks, because it’s linemen, ” Leandre said. “ You can’t be too small and play this position. ”
Leandre, 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds, is one of the bigger players at the position. The safeties being looked at to fill the slot range in weight from 200 to 215 pounds and in height from 6-0 to 6-3. But the position won’t just need size and toughness, Robinson said.
“ We’re looking for an intelligent football player where the game is a lot quicker down in the box than it is on the back end, ” Robinson said.
Robinson first picked up the rover-type look at Fresno State, where he started his coaching career in 1978 as a graduate assistant before coaching outside linebackers in 1987.
And it isn’t like Robinson is the only Razorbacks assistant familiar with the “ Jack ” linebacker.
“ We all have experience with it, ” Robinson said.
Secondary coach Lorenzo Ward saw it as an assistant at Virginia Tech for seven years, defensive ends coach Kirk Botkin has experience with the hybrid spot as a coach at Louisiana-Monroe and long-time Arkansas assistant Bobby Allen ran it in 1998 as a co-defensive coordinator for the Hogs.
“ So having the ability and the background from all those guys, it was easy to [implement ], ” Robinson explained.
Under Allen, the Razorbacks used the services of former cornerback Zac Painter, who found success in the rover position and led the Southeastern Conference in interceptions with five in 1998.
Today, strong safeties Dallas Washington, Bret Harris, Khiry Battle and Leandre are getting looks at the similar “ Jack” position. Coaches also recently moved freshman strong safety Jerico Nelson into mix during fall drills.
“... I think he’s going to be a nice fit there. He’s really sneaky, ” Robinson said of Nelson. “ He has a little shake on him and he’s really smart. ”
“ It brings a lot more speed and versatility to the defense, ” Washington said. “ It’s all just a matter of learning the position and getting comfortable with it. ”
Washington has filled most of his practice time this preseason as the Razorbacks’ No. 1 at tight safety — yet another name change, which replaces the typical label of strong safety. Washington, along with several of the strong safeties, though, will see some time in the outside linebacker spot.
Leandre, who played linebacker and safety at Blinn (Texas ) Junior College, said the look will also cut down on substitutions and worries when an opposing offense enters a spread offense. The reason ? He, along with several of the “ Jack” backups, can play as a defensive back if the need arises, too.
“ I can play man-free and all that, ” Leandre explained.
In addition to shoring up a thin linebacker corps after graduation and the booting of linebacker Freddie Fairchild from the team in June, the “ Jack ” position also has the possibility of confusing SEC offenses that aren’t accustomed to seeing a quick-thinking inside-outside defender. Leandre said he’s seen a similar type of position work well at West Virginia in the Big East conference.
“ I think it’s a very good position, a very exciting position, ” Leandre said. “ We have several players with the body and the talent to play there. And if everyone plays their technique right, it will give the offenses trouble. ”