Bret Bielema: New DC Paul Rhoads Commands ‘Great Respect Within The Room’


The Arkansas defense struggled mightily last season, but head coach Bret Bielema has faith that new defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads will get it turned around.


To say that Arkansas’ defense struggled last season would be an understatement, especially against the run as the Razorbacks allowed 205.46 yards per game on the ground. This is not a normal thing for a Bret Bielema-coached team, as his defenses are normally sound tacklers who force you to make extraordinary plays to be them.

Now, with a new defensive coordinator in Paul Rhoads working for Bielema, the Hogs’ head coach is certain that his players can put last season behind them.

“Because it’s a total new scheme from a year ago, and a new way of doing things, it’s allowed our guys to remove the bad will from a year ago, focus on the good fortune of the opportunity we have in front of us, and set a new standard to be played defensively for us here at Arkansas,” Bielema told me in a recent interview.

That is easier said than done, especially in a conference and division that has running backs as talented as Auburn’s Kam Pettway, LSU’s Derrius Guice, and Alabama’s duo of Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris. Not helping the cause is the fact that only one starter returns along the defensive line.

For Bielema, the month of spring practice will focus on getting the inexperienced unit to communicate and focus on fundamentals.

“Obviously it’s a new system, so I want to see great communication. I wanna’ see guys get to the line well before the snap, be very efficient. And then after the snap, we want great post-snap production. Guys are reading what they’re supposed to read, getting where they need to get, playing efficiently in space and making the plays they should.”

Rhoads has years of experience coaching up defenses, including in the SEC where he served as the DC for Tommy Tuberville in 2008. Bielema said that history and Rhoads’ rapport with the players plays a large part of getting them to buy in.

“You know that he’s got great respect within the room. Kids really admire and respond to what he says, how he says it and their faith in him.”

With a talented offense returning, a step up in defense by Rhoads’ crew could take the Hogs from also-rans to contenders in the tough SEC West.

MORE: Rawleigh Williams III Rushing For 2,000 Yards Possible, But Difficult In Bret Bielema’s Offense