Green has presence on outside of Grantham’s defense

STARKVILLE — Todd Grantham’s defense gives two basic jobs to defenders on the line of scrimmage.

Defensive tackles are asked to, as Grantham likes to say,” build the wall,” which means preventing offensive

linemen from moving downfield to block linebackers. Anyone outside of them is asked to set the edge and to combat blocks to squeeze runs to the inside and take away secondary gaps for inside runs.

Mitchell joins MSU’s ‘scooter gang’

STARKVILLE — Comfort and style never weighed into the decision for Blake Mitchell. Convenience was the driving factor for the walk-on lineman with the Mississippi State football team.

Fitzgerald leads No. 17 MSU back to Georgia

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team’s pipeline to Georgia is strong.

MSU (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) has two assistant coaches — defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and tight ends coach D.J. Looney — and eight players with connections to Georgia. Those coaches and players will get a chance to renew those ties at 6 p.m. Saturday when No. 17 MSU takes on No. 11 Georgia (3-0) at Sanford Stadium. ESPN will broadcast the game live.

Christmann makes most of his opportunity vs. Tigers

STARKVILLE — The Tucker Day hype was more than just a creation of recruiting rankings and the musings of Mississippi State fans.

Kicker Jace Christmann saw Day, a freshman from Brentwood, Tennessee, impress in his first collegiate practices. Day’s performance left the rest of MSU’s kickers with one choice.

Rout helps MSU climb into national rankings

STARKVILLE — Jeffery Simmons proved the Mississippi State football team’s defense’s point with a tackle in the second quarter.

On the first play after then-No. 12 LSU pummeled MSU with an eight-play, 65-yard touchdown drive in which it didn’t attempt a pass, Marquiss Spencer took on an edge block and Simmons shed the LSU center, pursued across the formation and tackled running back Derrius Guice for a loss.

MSU punishes No. 12 LSU

STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen wasn’t going to hold any punches.

The Mississippi State football coach entered his team’s game against No. 12 LSU on Saturday night with one goal: run the football. To do that, Mullen was going to use everything in his playbook.

It all worked.

Mixon benefits from MSU’s ground assault

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team running for nearly 6 yards per carry Saturday night in a 37-7 victory against No. 12 LSU did plenty to set up its passing attack, but coach Dan Mullen was doing more, too.

“What we’re trying to do is get them back and forth,” Mullen said, “get them into nickel and out of base defenses to create mismatches.”

Starkville continues to grow with win vs. Meridian

STARKVILLE — Four weeks ago to the day Friday, Starkville High School football coach Chris Jones stood on the field at Noxubee County after a 40-point win. Jones had just watched his defense hold its first opponent to barely a yard per carry, but he said the younger players in key roles were only going to get better.

LSU offense sees changes under Canada

STARKVILLE — Change was inevitable for the LSU football team when coach Ed Orgeron hired offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

The extent of the changes was a mystery for an extended period, as Orgeron closed preseason practices to the media.

Two games into the Canada era, the most important adjustments come before every snap.

Hill hopes to grow into bigger role in MSU’s backfield

STARKVILLE — Kylin Hill knows his first career touchdown should have came a week earlier than it did.

The former Columbus High School standout had holes to run through in his debut with the Mississippi State, as he averaged more than 11 yards on his first three carries.

Story’s play gives MSU depth on offensive line

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team’s starting offensive line did nothing in its season opener against Charleston

Southern to suggest changes would come.

It wasn’t until the first half of the second game against Louisiana Tech that the changes started, but it was unexpected.

Brooks enjoys move to nickel back in Starkville defense

STARKVILLE — Natrone Brooks didn’t need a position change to attract attention from college coaches.

Brooks’ junior season as a cornerback was good enough to draw an offer from Memphis, which he committed to in June. Brooks’ decision meant Chris Jones had some selling to do.

Versatility, depth keys in MSU secondary’s performance vs. run

STARKVILLE — The classic dime package never was meant to be strong against the run.

With six defensive backs on the field with four defensive linemen and a linebacker or three defensive linemen and two linebackers, the weakness lies in the box.

The Mississippi State football team feels it has the players to neutralize that.

Pisacane brothers enjoyed year as walk-ons at MSU

STARKVILLE — Tristan and Peyton Pisacane shared the dream of playing college football.

Doing so together seemed almost impossible since Peyton had aspirations to attend the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York.

Notebook: Mullen takes slow start in stride

STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen knew he had to choose his moment carefully.

Balanced effort leads MSU’s ground attack

RUSTON, La. — Dan Mullen’s eyes dropped to the box score in his hands.

In addition to seeing two 100-yard rushers — Nick Fitzgerald and Aeris Williams — the Mississippi State football coach saw his team more than double Louisiana Tech in rushing yards (327-152).

Simmons fuels another dominating defensive effort

RUSTON, La. — As the midway point of the third quarter loomed, Gerri Green and Jeffery Simmons already had made an impact.

Green forced a fumble that led to a quick score, while Simmons scored a touchdown after he blocked a punt.

Green and Simmons then joined forces to put the game out of reach.

Story plays key role for MSU’s offensive line

RUSTON, La. — The Mississippi State football team hoped to get Daryl Williams some valuable experience on the offensive line Saturday night.

MSU defense faces different challenge vs. Louisiana Tech

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team defended eight pass attempts in its season-opening 49-0 victory against Charleston Southern last week in Starkville.

Meanwhile, in Ruston, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech threw the ball 10 times in the first quarter.

Beckom playing big role for Mississippi Gulf Coast

SCOOBA — Whether East Mississippi Community College quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. saw Derrick Beckom coming for him or felt him, there is no denying Beckom affected him.