Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

News and notes from Wednesday’s Arkansas football media availability …

I. Favorable Matchup?
Passing has not been Auburn’s strength this year. In fact, the Tigers have been among the worst passing teams in the country.

Could this be a good matchup for Arkansas, which enters Saturday’s 11 a.m. game as one of the nation’s worst passing defenses? The Razorback secondary has been torched repeatedly the last several weeks.

Defensive coordinator Paul Haynes isn’t so sure that Auburn is a cure-all for the defense's woes.

”What do you think they’re going to do? They’re going to come in here and throw the ball around. You know, I would too,” Haynes said. “We have to prepare for the run. That is one thing we will always do, but we know they’re going to challenge us deep. They’re going to try to challenge us throwing the football, so we’ve got to be prepared for that also too.”

Auburn’s offense ranks No. 14 in the SEC in scoring (17.50 points a game), total offense (297.75 yards a game) and passing offense (144.75 yards a game). If there’s a thing the Tigers have done well so far it’s run the football. They’re averaging 153.0 rushing yards per game.

Linebacker Alonzo Highsmith said the numbers don't matter. It's all about how well the Razorbacks carry out their game plan.

"If we execute and make plays when it’s time to make plays, then any game can be a big game for us," Highsmith said. "Or vice versa, if we don’t make plays and don’t execute, then it will be a long day for us. So we’re going in there and I think it’s the same no matter who you play."

II. Getting Ready
Freshmen cornerbacks Will Hines and Davyon McKinney have practiced well this week and will likely be the starting corners, Haynes said.

“They’re fighters,” Haynes said. “They were very, very aggressive in practice. That was good to see.”

Hines will start a third consecutive game. McKinney, who played an extended number of snaps against Texas A&M, will be back in the lineup for injured Kaelon Kelleybrew.

Both have shown promise, but their limited scope of the playbook means further scaling things back on defense.

“We’ll narrow it down and make sure they know what they’re doing and play fast,” Haynes said.

III. New Opponent
Arkansas is scheduled to play Northern Illinois in 2014, the school’s athletic director said.

“It's always good to play elite schools from other conferences," NIU Athletic Director Jeff Compher said in a release. "This is a place we haven't been to for quite some time and provides a great opportunity to showcase our program in an SEC venue. It's a game our players and our fans will look forward to. I want to thank [Arkansas athletic director] Jeff Long and his staff for working with us to get this game on the 2014 schedule.”

NIU, which won last year’s GoDaddy.com Bowl against Arkansas State, and Arkansas have met once before in a 30-27 Razorback victory in 1994.

Speaking Out
“I have to give Dennis kudos, because the last couple weeks he has been so positive and upbeat and encouraging and trying to be a leader .... Just on the sideline, his whole demeanor has changed compared to what it was earlier. We talked about that, and Dennis took it to heart.”
—Arkansas Coach John L. Smith on the improved attitude of running back Dennis Johnson.