Arkansas secondary focuses on manhandling Manning

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - The Arkansas secondary was touted as possibly one of the best in the country at the start of the season, but a lack of concentration has hindered it from living up to that, Razorback Kenny Hamlin says. <br> <br> ``We have to be determined to know when the ball is up and we got to have it,&#39;&#39; the junior free safety said. ``Our linemen are doing a good job of stopping the run ... we just got to hold out on the defensive backfield.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Sophomore middle linebacker Jeb Huckeba said the defensive side has the focus, although sometimes the players go out on the field a little too relaxed. But that&#39;s going to change starting this weekend, he said. <br> <br> This Saturday, the Razorbacks (3-3, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) want to stop the run and the pass by Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, who the Hogs faced in a seven-overtime showdown last season and defeated 58-56. <br> <br> Manning has been generous with his receivers this year, averaging 255.6 passing yards a game, the second most in the SEC, and one more touchdown pass will put him on the top of the Rebels&#39; list. He is tied with Romaro Miller (1997-2000) with 43 touchdown passes. <br> <br> ``Eli Manning is a great player, just like Peyton (Manning&#39;s brother) and his father (Archie Manning),&#39;&#39; Huckeba said. ``He can read defenses and he&#39;s got a great arm. You don&#39;t expect much less from a Manning.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Sophomore Bill Flowers leads the Rebels (5-2, 2-1) in receptions, 29 for 341 yards. Flowers is tied for fourth in the SEC for receptions per game (4.14) and is 10th in the league for reception yards a game (48.7). <br> <br> ``We can always get better, especially in pass coverage,&#39;&#39; Hamlin said. ``That&#39;s one of the hardest things you can try to do. We&#39;ve put our cornerbacks on an island and they knew that, and that&#39;s a challenge ... and we&#39;re doing a pretty good job. We just have to keep with it.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> This season, the Arkansas secondary has allowed an average of 258.9 yards a game and nine touchdown passes. Last year, the Razorbacks allowed an average of 227.5 yards per game and 19 touchdowns in 11 games. <br> <br> The Rebels&#39; offense averages 391.6 yards a game in five wins this season, including 145.2 rushing yards. However, once you add in numbers from losses to Alabama and Texas Tech, those numbers fall to 375.9 overall and just 115.1 rushing. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re doing pretty good, defensively, except for one area we&#39;re giving up the big play, which is about the only thing that has hurt us so far,&#39;&#39; Huckeba said. ``If we can keep playing the way we are and keep treating every play like it&#39;s the most important, then we&#39;ll be fine.&#39;&#39;