STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen has been pleased with how his team has outscored South Alabama and South Carolina 41-0 in the first half in the first two games of the season.
But MSU has been outscored 35-6 in the third and fourth quarters in both games. The second-half letdown played an integral role in a 21-20 loss to the Jaguars.
Mullen hopes MSU (1-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) will be able to deliver four quarters of intense execution at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2) when it plays at No. 20 LSU (1-1, 0-0).
“Week one, we’ve got a lot of young players and we’re leading at halftime,” Mullen said Monday in his weekly news conference. “It’s hot, you come out, and the stadium is almost empty. In the second half, there’s just not a lot of intensity in there and young guys don’t know how to respond to that situation. They’ve got to learn.”
Mullen was disappointed in the effort and execution in the second half against the Jaguars. He took it upon himself to make sure practice was intense and his players understood what was expected of them, not only in the first half, but the entire game.
Even though the coaches tried to get the Bulldogs to play for four quarters against the Gamecocks, MSU was outscored 14-3 in the second half in a 27-14 win last week.
The Bulldogs didn’t have to shake off the effects of the heat and a nearly empty stadium against South Carolina. A 63-minute lightning delay kept the Bulldogs in the locker room longer than expected. Mullen said that was a big factor in his team’s play in the second half.
“You get yourself up to a certain level of intensity and you go play at a certain level of intensity and then go sit around for an hour and a half and then come back out and try to recreate that again, that’s hard to get yourself up at that level again,” Mullen said. “I don’t know if there’s an athlete in the world that can bring themselves back immediately to that level. If we knew halftime was an hour and a half, I bet we would have prepared for it a little bit better.”
Mullen said he will continue to push his players and provide an intense practice environment this week.
Jefferson earns honor
MSU senior defensive lineman A.J. Jefferson has played nearly perfect in the first two games.
After a dominating performance against South Carolina, Jefferson was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week.
The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Jefferson had five tackles (two for loss), one sack, and one quarterback hurry.
Jefferson ranks third in the nation and first in the SEC in tackles for loss (six). The Summit native has 12 tackles, three sacks, and two quarterback hurries.
Mullen said Jefferson has made significant progress from his redshirt season in 2012.
“His physical development in being a little bigger, faster and stronger — his technical development and being a better technique player — (are evident),” Mullen said. “(He understands) the game, so that allows him to use his technique in the scheme to make plays out there on the field.”
Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen was named Offensive Player of the Week, Tennessee defensive back Micah Abernathy Defensive Player of the Week, Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson and LSU defensive back/punt returner Tre’Davious White Special Teams Players of the Week, Missouri wide receiver/punt returner Johnathon Johnson Freshman of the Week and Arkansas’ Dan Skipper Offensive Lineman of the Week.
Coleman getting close
Mullen said senior defensive lineman Will Coleman is close to being ready.
Coleman missed the first two games with a lower back injury. In his absence, freshmen Jeffery Simmons and Marquiss Spencer have had to play.
Mullen said he was impressed with Simmons and Spencer in practice and their athletic ability and knowledge helped them earn playing time.
But getting Coleman back will make the defensive line that much better.
“Getting him back is going to add depth,” Mullen said. “Other guys have gotten to play and gotten experience. He’s going to add some depth to the defense.”
Coleman, who transferred from Tyler (Texas) Junior College played in all 13 games last season and had 15 tackles (two-and-a-half for loss).
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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