STARKVILLE — Not many kind words have said in the past couple of days about the Mississippi State pass defense.
In the eyes of MSU’s coaching staff, they’re all accurate.
“We weren’t very good at all on pass defense,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “That’s a coaching issue. We’ll get that fixed. We have to make sure we have guys in position to make plays.”
University of Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson showcased his skills in a 44-17 blowout Saturday in Little Rock, Ark., by hitting a school-record 32 of 43 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns. Wilson’s record-setting performance earned him Southeastern Conference Player of the Week.
“It’s a collective problem because we knew what they did was throw the ball over your head,” MSU defensive coordinator Chris Wilson said. “What we wanted to do was able to stop deep balls or contain yards after the catch.”
Mullen didn’t mince words after the game that the Bulldogs delivered their worst performance in all phases (offense, defense and special teams) in his 26-game tenure.
“That falls on my shoulders,” said Mullen, who is in his third season. “We need to make sure we have a better performance out there on the field.
“It’s something we have to fix, and it’s a problem we’re not getting to the quarterback nearly enough and we’re too far away from the receivers.”
MSU has only 12 sacks in seven SEC games and is seventh in the league in third-down conversion defense. Defensive back Johnthan Banks is second on the team with three sacks — a point Wilson reminds his defensive lineman about every day.
MSU could improve those numbers at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU) when it plays host to the University of Mississippi (2-9, 0-7 SEC). The Rebels have has allowed the most sacks in the SEC this season (23).
“We point out guys like Cam Lawrence, John Banks, Charles Mitchell are playing at a high level,” Wilson said. “Play like him, eat what he eats, sit where he sits and do all those things.”
Opponents are completing two out of every three passes against the Bulldogs, but that’s not the statistic that pains the coaches the most. MSU has allowed 12 passing touchdowns and more than 100 yards after the catch against Arkansas.
Most of the passing styles MSU has faced this season have been quick, three-step drops for short, but efficient passes.
“People are too skilled and too good to say we’re going to stop them from catching balls,” Wilson said.
MSU won’t change its defensive philosophy before it plays Ole Miss. It will turn to veterans Banks, junior Corey Broomfield, and senior Charles Mitchell to help the defense play better.
“I always tell my guys great players make plays when they’re expected to make them, and I look at a play Charles Mitchell made to give them that picture of what to do,” Wilson said.
Playing a cover-two defense, MSU coaches know the defense is going to allow yards, but the coaches need the unit to stop teams in critical situations so it can get off the field.
“We play a base defense and you can’t have everything,” MSU cornerbacks coach Melvin Smith said. “We play our corners off because of what they read. They’re going to be soft. That’s how we play whether people like it or not.”
Wilson said Monday he has heard the frustration from fans when teams complete short passes, but he stresses his basic philosophy of ’80-20′ that allows his defense not to gamble too much and allow cheap points.
“Offensives are so sophisticated these days that they force you to cover the entire field,” Wilson said. “If you start trying to stop that extra 20 percent instead of focusing on that basic 80 percent of then you’re giving up a long touchdown.”
MSU (5-6, 1-6) may have to make an adjustment Saturday after junior defensive back Darius Slay suffered a foot injury against Arkansas.
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