BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Chris Wilson would love to take some credit for the resurgence of the Mississippi State defense.
Instead, MSU’s defensive coordinator admitted Saturday the success his unit had in a 21-3 victory against the University of Alabama at Birmingham was due to the fact the 11 players on the field are starting to figure things out.
“It’s the experience of guys being able to play and constantly get in there and learn things we can’t teach them unless they’re on the field,” Wilson said.
That experience has helped the Bulldogs extend their streak of not allowing an opponent score a touchdown to six quarters. During that stretch, the Bulldogs have given up two field goals.
“We feed off each other,” Wilson said. “That’s been the mentality of our team in all three units of football, to build up so much energy. With such a young team, there’s times we need that energy to carry us at points in the game.”
In MSU’s three wins this season, it has allowed three first-quarter points and 20 first-half points. In its three losses, it has given up 31 first-quarter points and 58 in the first 30 minutes.
“You have to follow what your plan is to win,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “We gave up, probably, too many yards that I want to give up, but
we didn’t give up any points — three points. That’s playing great defense.”
In a dominating first half, MSU forced four punts in six drives. The Blazers’ only drive that resulted in points was a 14-play drive that ended in a 37-yard field goal nine seconds before halftime.
“The guys played consistent, and, at times, I felt like we gave up cheap yards by being soft in run gaps at times,” Wilson said. “Those are the things we focus on more than anything. For us to win these next six games, we have to be on point with our execution.”
Junior defensive tackle Fletcher Cox also helped MSU’s front seven get a push into the backfield. The MSU coaches challenged the All-Southeastern Conference second-team selection to return to his devastating form of last year.
Cox had a game-high seven tackles and his inside play helped middle linebacker Brandon Wilson make a team-high nine tackles. Wilson also forced and recovered a third-quarter fumble by tailback Pat Shed.
“We made a big emphasis to (Cox) and he made a big commitment this week of being a more physical football player and focused football player,” Wilson said. “They’ve only given up four sacks this entire season, so they do a good job of protections, but we were still able to create knockouts and then, more importantly, urgency with their offense to something.”
Turnovers helped MSU finish off the second-half comeback. UAB had a fumble and an interception in back-to-back possessions to erase any hopes of a rally.
“Our guys have bought in to the disguises and giving quarterbacks different looks,” Wilson said. “We feel like once the quarterback starts trying to predict what we’re doing instead just trying to naturally play then we’ve got him. Our guys took advantage of some of those switches today and forced a couple key turnovers at critical times.”
Johnthan Banks moved into a tie for fourth in school history with his 11th career interception a pass by quarterback Jonathan Perry into double coverage. Banks has an interception in four of his past five games.
“I kind of knew he was going to come over toward me eventually, and it was my job to make the play when he did come at me,” Banks said. “This defense is all about creating turnovers. We have the talent to do it and we keep getting better.”
MSU is 15-0 under Mullen when they win the turnover battle. The Bulldogs are plus-6 in that category in victories and minus-1 in losses this season.
“Give credit to our defense,” Mullen said. “In the last six quarters we’ve given up six points and scored seven (on a interception return for a score at Georgia). That’s pretty good defense. If we give up a point a quarter, I’m going to feel pretty good about our chances the rest of the way.”
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