Bulldog Defense Looks To Limit LSU
September 24, 2021 | Football, Joel Coleman
State has been stingy so far this year and will try to keep it up against the Tigers.
STARKVILLE – The goal is zero.
It was this past Wednesday when Mississippi State defensive coordinator Zach Arnett was asked if he was happy his defense allowed only 17 points to Memphis last weekend.
"No," Arnett said matter-of-factly, before affirming the intent is always to hold the opponent off the scoreboard completely.
Shutouts are rare in today's age of college football with offenses powered by so much speed and athleticism. That doesn't stop Arnett and the Bulldogs from aiming to blank the opposition. Come Saturday morning against LSU, that'll once again become MSU's intent. Might as well set high goals, right?
The fact of the matter is, to say the least, it'll be a challenge for the Bulldogs to post a goose egg. So far this year though, the defensive unit has flashed the ability to be incredibly stingy and they'll try to keep it up versus the Tigers.
MSU enters the LSU game among the best in the nation in several defensive categories.
- State has limited opponents to only 74 rushing yards a game on average. That ranks 15th in the FBS.
- The Bulldogs have forced six turnovers already this year, a total that stands at No. 22 in the FBS and second in the Southeastern Conference.
- MSU has held the opposition to just a 60 percent conversion rate in the red zone, which ranks ninth among Power Five programs and second in the SEC.
- Mississippi State's rushing defense is 16th-best in the country and fourth in the league.
The Bulldogs have shined the brightest on third downs. This season, through three games, MSU has the best third-down conversion percentage defense in the SEC and eighth-best in the nation. Opponents have converted on third down only 12 times on 47 attempts.
So, what makes State so good defensively on third down?
"Part of it is being good on the other downs," MSU head coach Mike Leach said. "We do a pretty good job on first and second down too, which typically helps on third down. I think Zach and that group does a really good job of adjusting to what a team tries to do. They don't give you the same look very many times. It is definitely tough to play against."
Arnett and his guys certainly hope to make life difficult on the Tigers Saturday. He knows it won't be easy.
"They have size, strength and athleticism," Arnett said of LSU. "They're really talented and they're executing at a really high level. You see the speed out at wide receiver and you see the size of their linemen and their ability to get off the ball and move people, it's a sight to behold."
No matter the challenge, the goal for the Bulldog defense remains the same. Keep the opponent's zero on the scoreboard for as long as possible.
"That's typically the goal for all of us defensive guys," Arnett said.
