Defensive end Randy Ramsey isn’t exactly putting up eye-popping numbers for Arkansas’ rapidly-improving defense.
And, yes, that defense is improving. It’s rated 12th in the SEC this week. Vanderbilt is No. 11 and the numbers are very similar.
Ramsey has been a big part of that improvement.
“One guy that gets lost in the shuffle is what Randy Ramsey did for us,” defensive coordinator John Chavis said Monday of his play against Tulsa. “You aren’t going to see a tremendous amount of stats but he was, in my opinion, one of the more dominating players.”
Most 4-3 base defenses (like the Hogs) relies on certain players doing little more than tying up blockers and that’s what Ramsey did a lot of Saturday.
Dre Greenlaw and De’Jon Harris combined for 24 tackles (and Greenlaw had a sack) while McTelvin Agim is looking more and more like the five-star recruit ouf of Hope he was a few years ago when recruited.
“Since I’ve been here, he probably had his best game, there’s no question about that, and he’s got the potential to be even better,” Chavis said. “Not that he’s been loafing, but I think he played harder than he had all year, and that’s important to understand, that you’ve got to strain.”
And Agim is doing it all over the defensive line. At one point, he was lined up at noseguard and he was around the Tulsa center before he could even wave at him going by.
“I think Sosa’s taken on that role and has done a really good job of being able to play inside, play outside and just to play at a high level,” Morris said of Agim. “I really feel like his biggest and best years to come are going to be more on the inside, but he provides a threat on that outside for us.”
The defense has progressed every week. In a league where only Mississippi State is in the top 10 nationally, the Hogs aren’t close to reaching that level, yet, but the steady improvement has been noticeable in a lot of small ways.
Like cornerback Ryan Pulley, who was suspended for the first series after getting ejected against Ole Miss.
Pulley responded with his third interception of the season and another one he broke up and a couple of tackles.
“He responded well to everything that’s gone on,” Morris said. “For him to continue to improve says a lot about his talent, his ability. He’s got a great future in this game.”
Morris doesn’t put up with a lot of silly yapping and antics from his players.
Ask cornerback Nate Dalton, who’s major accomplishment this season has been as a cover guy on special teams, where he picked up a personal foul penalty and Morris sent him immediately to the dressing room.
“We’re not about that,” Morris said rather directly immediately after the game.
When asked on three separate occasions Monday, Morris, repeated, “he won’t be around this week.”
That’s a level of discipline that hasn’t been around in awhile.
“We’ve got a standard and I’m not going to deviate,” Morris said.
On a team where coaches preach improvement every single play, there was a big advancement Saturday that Chavis talked about.
In the third quarter, the Hogs allowed the Golden Hurricane just 12 net yards on 18 plays.
“That’s probably the best quarter of football that we have played,” Chavis said Monday.
He didn’t have to add that’s not the best he’s expecting this year.
If you’ve been paying attention, the expectation is always for more.
Which is why this defense is getting better each week.
