MSU defense believes it turned corner vs. BYU
STARKVILLE - Mississippi State’s defense performed to its preseason expectations through regulation against BYU.
The Bulldogs created turnovers. They limited the Cougars to a season-low 14 points. A pass defense that struggled throughout the first five weeks limited BYU to 140 yards through regulation.
“I was pleased,” defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon said. “I thought the guys really came out with a good purpose, a good focus. They started fast. They came out and played very physical.”
Mississippi State (2-4, 1-2 SEC) allowed a season low in total yards and passing yards last week, which it hopes to continue Saturday against Kentucky (6:30 p.m., SEC Network). The two overtime periods overshadowed the fourquarter performance.
The defense allowed two touchdowns, including the decisive 25-yard score on the first play of the second overtime period. It mirrored the results from MSU's first five games.
“The result is the result. I’d call the gosh darn defense again,” Sirmon said. “I mean to bring two off an edge into a naked (bootleg), I just have to coach it up better. I have to coach it up better. We have to get him on the ground.”
The game ended when MSU’s offense couldn’t respond in the second overtime. But the defense provided the Bulldogs with a chance to win in regulation.
The 14 points were the fewest allowed by MSU in nine games, a span going back to the Missouri game last season. The 140 passing yards were the fewest since MSU’s win against Northwestern State last year.
“I think guys were a little bit upset with themselves from the Auburn game,” senior linebacker Richie Brown said. “We didn’t play very physical that game. A lot of guys felt disappointed with their performance and just how hard we went. It’s just not Mississippi State football.”
The Bulldogs allowed 35 points to Auburn in the first half, the most by an opponent in the first two quarters since 2006.
“I think everybody just kinda wanted to prove that’s not us,” Brown said.
There were areas that needed improvement, specifically tackling.
Sirmon watched his defenders bounce off ball carriers while trying to bring them down. The issues jumped out even more after Sirmon watched game film.
“We need to do a better job of finishing on those plays. I think we left a pretty significant amount of yards on the field,” Sirmon said. “Some missed tackles are going to be great plays, but tackles when we’re body on a body and I have both my feet in the ground and I’m wrapped up, those plays gotta be knocked down.”
The Bulldogs also made plays but didn’t capitalize.
The defense forced a fumble on the final play of regulation. The bouncing ball prevented A.J. Jefferson from scooping and scoring, which would have handed MSU a thrilling victory.
In the first overtime, MSU failed to pounce on a fumble that also would have sealed a victory.
“That’s when you need that oblong ball to bounce the right way,” Sirmon said. “...But you’ve gotta play to make the play. You just gotta keep going. Usually, football is an honest sport. The harder you play and the more effort you give, the more those things bounce your way.”
Football hasn’t lied to Mississippi State’s defense this season. Balls haven’t bounced in favor of MSU because it hasn’t played well.
But it may have turned a corner against BYU.
“We just kept fighting and fighting, and we always kind of expected to make the play,” Brown said. “So it was a game where we felt like we took a step forward even though we lost.”