Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
Arnett, Bulldogs Seeking Defensive Excellence
August 07, 2021 | Football
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State fans fondly remember Joe Lee Dunn's aggressive and attacking defenses of the late 90's.
Last year, Zach Arnett brought that unique 3-3-5 scheme back and the Bulldogs finished in the top tier of the SEC in total defense despite the challenges of installing an entirely new playbook without the benefit of spring drills.
"Last year was a different year," Arnett said. "You didn't have spring practice and didn't have as many reps under your belt. We've got a lot of guys playing now with a full season of reps so we can throw pretty much anything at them."
MSU brings back a wealth of experience this fall with 25 lettermen and seven starters from a defense that ranked fourth in the SEC against the run in 2020.
The Bulldogs' secondary remains nearly intact highlighted by All-American cornerback Martin Emerson and Freshman All-SEC selection Emmanuel Forbes but did sustain some injury setbacks last season that left numbers thin at several spots.
The positive repercussion is that several players were forced up the depth chart and onto the field as a result and bring the benefits of that experience into camp now that they are all healthy.
"Last year we went from being one-deep at almost every position to now being three to four-deep in almost every position," said junior safety Collin Duncan. "I feel like you're going to see a lot of guys this year. We're going to be able to rotate because a lot of guys have proven themselves this fall. It's going to be tremendous."
In much the same vein Dunn did more than two decades prior, Arnett showcased last season that he was not shy about blitzing any player in any situation. The Bulldogs racked up 25 sacks and brought pressure which led to 18 takeaways, good enough to tie for fourth in the conference.
With a ball-hawking and experienced secondary returning on the back end, Arnett is optimistic about his chances to turn up the intensity against opposing offenses once again this year.
"I hope we're as good as we think we are so we can be really aggressive," Arnett said.
Historically, Mississippi State has earned a reputation for its defensive prowess. The 2021 defense is currently hard at work trying to live up to the precedence set in years past.
"I feel like we can be a great defense," Duncan said. "It's not necessarily a week-by-week thing, it's more of a day-by-day thing. Something I messed up on today, I can't mess up on tomorrow…I've got to make sure I correct it and come out the next day and perform."
Redshirt senior safety C.J. Morgan is one of the few remnants that remain from MSU's defense in 2018, which ranked No. 1 nationally and featured NFL first round picks Jeffery Simmons, Montez Sweat and Johnathan Abram. Morgan, who started three games in 2018, understands the commitment and sacrifices that still must be made if this defense can carry on that tradition.
"My standards are pretty high for our defense and what we have to do to accomplish the goals that we want to accomplish," Morgan said. "This defense has the capability to be really good. We can't take anything less than excellence."
Even as lofty as State's goals might be on defense this season, Arnett was quick to remind reporters following Saturday's second fall practice that the Bulldogs have only been in helmets and the real evaluation of his defense will not begin until they don pads next week.
"We need everyone to get better, no one is at their ceiling," Arnett said.
Last year, Zach Arnett brought that unique 3-3-5 scheme back and the Bulldogs finished in the top tier of the SEC in total defense despite the challenges of installing an entirely new playbook without the benefit of spring drills.
"Last year was a different year," Arnett said. "You didn't have spring practice and didn't have as many reps under your belt. We've got a lot of guys playing now with a full season of reps so we can throw pretty much anything at them."
MSU brings back a wealth of experience this fall with 25 lettermen and seven starters from a defense that ranked fourth in the SEC against the run in 2020.
The Bulldogs' secondary remains nearly intact highlighted by All-American cornerback Martin Emerson and Freshman All-SEC selection Emmanuel Forbes but did sustain some injury setbacks last season that left numbers thin at several spots.
The positive repercussion is that several players were forced up the depth chart and onto the field as a result and bring the benefits of that experience into camp now that they are all healthy.
"Last year we went from being one-deep at almost every position to now being three to four-deep in almost every position," said junior safety Collin Duncan. "I feel like you're going to see a lot of guys this year. We're going to be able to rotate because a lot of guys have proven themselves this fall. It's going to be tremendous."
In much the same vein Dunn did more than two decades prior, Arnett showcased last season that he was not shy about blitzing any player in any situation. The Bulldogs racked up 25 sacks and brought pressure which led to 18 takeaways, good enough to tie for fourth in the conference.
With a ball-hawking and experienced secondary returning on the back end, Arnett is optimistic about his chances to turn up the intensity against opposing offenses once again this year.
"I hope we're as good as we think we are so we can be really aggressive," Arnett said.
Historically, Mississippi State has earned a reputation for its defensive prowess. The 2021 defense is currently hard at work trying to live up to the precedence set in years past.
"I feel like we can be a great defense," Duncan said. "It's not necessarily a week-by-week thing, it's more of a day-by-day thing. Something I messed up on today, I can't mess up on tomorrow…I've got to make sure I correct it and come out the next day and perform."
Redshirt senior safety C.J. Morgan is one of the few remnants that remain from MSU's defense in 2018, which ranked No. 1 nationally and featured NFL first round picks Jeffery Simmons, Montez Sweat and Johnathan Abram. Morgan, who started three games in 2018, understands the commitment and sacrifices that still must be made if this defense can carry on that tradition.
"My standards are pretty high for our defense and what we have to do to accomplish the goals that we want to accomplish," Morgan said. "This defense has the capability to be really good. We can't take anything less than excellence."
Even as lofty as State's goals might be on defense this season, Arnett was quick to remind reporters following Saturday's second fall practice that the Bulldogs have only been in helmets and the real evaluation of his defense will not begin until they don pads next week.
"We need everyone to get better, no one is at their ceiling," Arnett said.
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