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Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett is throwing out all he's heard about South Carolina's awful pass defense, no matter how bad the Gamecocks' stats look.
Mallett brings the country's second-best passing game into Williams-Brice Stadium when the 17th-ranked Razorbacks (6-2, 3-1 SEC) face No. 18 South Carolina (6-2, 4-2) on Saturday. The Gamecocks, dead last in Southeastern Conference pass defense, have given up more than 300 yards passing in three of their past four games.
''Obviously, their statistics aren't that great but they're going to come to play,'' said Mallett, who had a career high 409 yards passing in last week's 49-14 win over Vanderbilt.
''Knowing the guys we've got outside, I imagine they'll come with something different and try to get to our guys,'' he said. ''What we've got to do is focus on the gameplan and execute it.''
That plan won't include Arkansas leading receiver Greg Childs, who injured his knee and is out for the season. But Mallett has four other players with at least 25 receptions this year in D.J. Williams, Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Ronnie Wingo Jr.
It's a quick-strike style that South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier can't help but admire, since he did about the same thing during 12 seasons with Florida from 1990-2001.
''They will try and score in three plays if they can and tell their defense, 'Go stop them and get us back out there,''' Spurrier said.
Spurrier's group hasn't been successful at stopping much through the air recently. Tennessee completed passes of 60 and 62 yards last week to Denarius Moore - he finished with a career best 228 yards receiving - with Gamecocks defensive backs looking lost and out of position.
Can South Carolina get better so late in the season?
''Well, if we can teach our guys to stay in their position on the field and be a ballplayer, it can (improve). If not, then no it won't,'' Spurrier said. ''If we can smash a receiver or two while he is catching the ball instead of standing around and letting him catch it, it can get better. So we've got to be more aggressive back there.''
No one in the SEC has been more aggressive at the point of attack than the Gamecocks, who lead the league in sacks and run defense. They had seven sacks in their 35-21 stunner of then-No. 1 Alabama last month, and six in beating Tennessee 38-24.
South Carolina defensive tackle Ladi Ajiboye has watched Mallett and says his teammates are ready to make it hotter for him than anyone has before.
''He hasn't played against us yet,'' Ajiboye said, ''so I can't tell you about him until we put that pressure on him.''
There's a chance with a victory South Carolina could wrap up its first SEC East crown should Florida - a two-touchdown favorite - lose at Vanderbilt. A Florida win means the SEC title game spot will come down to a showdown at The Swamp on Nov. 13.
The Razorbacks are two games behind West leader Auburn and are hoping to improve their postseason chances. Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino knows to do that, his offensive line must give Mallett and the receivers the time to make plays.
''They do a really nice job of rushing the passer and hitting the quarterback and getting sacks, so we've got to do a good job in our protection,'' he said.
Then again, if the Gamecocks can't get things straight in the secondary, Mallett might not need a lot of time to connect with his wideouts.
Spurrier gave defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward the task of trying to straighten out the secondary the next couple of weeks. ''It's sort of like President Obama. 'Give me a little time, you know, to get this thing sorted out,''' Spurrier said with a smile. ''So we are going to give him a little time to get it sorted out.''
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AP Sports Writer Kurt Voigt in Fayetteville, Ark., contributed to this report.
