FAYETTEVILLE -- University of Arkansas defensive coordinator Travis Williams and defensive backs coaches Marcus Woodson and Deron Wilson held auditions for starting jobs in the secondary for the past several practices.
That checks out.
After the Razorbacks' defense was blistered for 562 yards and 7 touchdowns through the air by Ole Miss in a 63-31 rout two weeks ago, the position groups at safety, cornerback and nickel back needed a shakeup or at least a second look.
The starting lineup on defense for Arkansas (5-4, 3-3 SEC) for its 11 a.m. game Saturday against No. 3 Texas (8-1, 4-1) remains a mystery. Yet Coach Sam Pittman said he wanted the group to understand the coaching staff examined their calls, alignment, pre-snap movement and personnel heading into the final three-game push against Texas, Louisiana Tech and Missouri.
"We have had really good competition back there," Pittman said on Wednesday's SEC coaches teleconference. "I'm not ready to say publicly who we're going to start, but we have had a wonderful week of preparation."
"Certainly have done a lot more against the pass. We needed that work. But as far as who starts, I'd rather keep that until the game time."
Pittman said the attitudes among players in the secondary in the face of a potential shakeup has been solid.
"We haven't had any sulking, any pouting, any of that," he said. "We've had guys trying to -- if they have lost their job, or were playing two when they were one -- they certainly been trying to get their job back. I've been real proud with the attitude of the team with all the changes that we've been looking at."
Arkansas used a starting lineup of cornerbacks Marquise Robinson and Jaheim Singletary, nickel back Doneiko Slaughter and safeties Jayden Johnson and TJ Metcalf against the Rebels.
Robinson, Johnson and senior Hudson Clark all gave up 60-plus yard touchdown passes to the Jaxson Dart-Jordan Watkins combo. Tight end Dae'Quan Wright also had a huge day with 9 catches for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Rebels shredded the middle of the field as well.
"They've been coached up all week," sophomore linebacker Brad Spence said of the defensive backs. "They know their stuff. They're looking for some space to fix up. Going into this week, they're getting their minds right and responding. Coach always talks about responding, so it's up to the secondary to respond this week."
None of the Arkansas defensive backs excelled against Ole Miss, plus the pass rush didn't hit home enough as the Rebels capitalized with matchups and execution by a veteran quarterback.
The Arkansas defense has played its best games against younger quarterbacks like Auburn's Hank Brown, Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava and Mississippi State's Michael Van Buren. Veterans like LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, Dart and even Alabama-Birmingham's Jacob Zeno have given the Hogs some problems.
Texas junior Quinn Ewers would fit into that latter category. Since missing wins over Louisiana-Monroe (51-3) and Mississippi State (35-13) in Games 4 and 5 with an oblique muscle issue, Ewers has steadily improved. In victories over Vanderbilt and Florida in the past two games, Ewers is 46 of 64 (71.9%) for 621 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
"I think he's got the confidence of a Jaxson Dart, you know that type of confidence," Pittman said. "I think he has a great belief in his O-line."
Arkansas' self-study the past two weeks has also included an examination of whether they have been tipping schemes with pre-snap calls or adjustments.
Spence said Williams has worked on those items.
"We're just trusting T-Will's game plan for the game, so whatever he wants us to do, we'll do it," Spence said. "If that means disguising the coverages, that'll be that."
Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian said the Longhorns, who have seven plays of 50-plus yards this season to tie for 21st in the FBS, cannot just assume they'll have the same deep-ball success Ole Miss had against the Razorbacks.
"I think they're a talented defense," he said. "They've had two weeks to kind of get some things shored up and cleaned up. I know we're going to get a great version of them defensively.
"They've got some really good coaches over there so I don't think we can just assume that we're going to have that same luxury. We're going to have to play really good football offensively, but we're going to need to be balanced. And that's a challenge because they're very good up front."
Texas ranks ninth nationally with 465.2 yards per game and 10th with 38.9 points per game, presenting a formidable challenge. The Longhorns have one of the most veteran offensive lines in all of college football, which was listed among 10 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award this week.
Ewers has skill athletes all around him, many with track speed, such as backs Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner and wideouts Isaiah Bond, Ryan Wingo and others. While the Longhorns will throw deep on occasion, their specialty is motions, misdirection and winning on the edges.
"They throw a lot to the perimeter, try to get guys open in space," Arkansas defensive tackle Eric Gregory said. "They've got a lot of screens and stuff like that, so we've got to really run and crowd the ball.
"They've got a lot of great weapons at receiver and they've got great running backs. I mean, the line is probably going to be one of the best lines we've played so far. So they've got a great group over there."
Pittman said Ewers' quick release and belief in the system creates issues.
"So what are you going to do? You're going to try and cover?" Pittman asked. "Obviously. You're going to try to get to him. You're going to try and move the point. They're good enough offensive line-wise, you're going to have to send some guys to get to him because he has such a quick release.
"Therefore, when you do, you're going to have to be in some type of zone 3 or man-to-man. So we'll have to pick and choose our times there, but we have to mix it up on him and we have to disguise better than we have."
Pittman said the defense is trying to not repeat the end of 2023, when the unit was ravaged in games against Auburn and Missouri down the stretch.
However, three of the four highest total offense games against Arkansas this season have come in their past three outings: 393 yards allowed to LSU, 471 to Mississippi State and 694 to Ole Miss.
That trend will have to reverse if the Hogs hope to slow Texas on Saturday.
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