STARKVILLE — Zach Arnett was honest when he was asked about Mississippi State’s safeties on Wednesday.
“They did some good things in the first game; they’ve got things showing up that opponents are now going to game plan for and try to exploit,” the third-year MSU defensive coordinator said.
It was, Arnett admitted, the “same answer” he would have given for any player or position on the Bulldogs’ defense. After one game, it was just too early for Arnett to make any other declarative statements.
Except at least one.
“We’ve got to get better in a lot of areas,” Arnett said.
Mississippi State (1-0) was strong through more than one half in Saturday’s 49-23 win over Memphis at Davis Wade Stadium. The Bulldogs limited the Tigers to just 29 total yards in the first two quarters.
Then Memphis scored 20 points in the game’s final 23 minutes, not enough to make an impact on the final score but certainly sufficient to worry Arnett and his players.
“I don’t think we played well,” nose tackle Cameron Young said, before realizing what that statement implied.
“I’m not going to say Memphis didn’t play well,” Young added, trailing off.
Whatever the case, Mississippi State expects a lot from Arizona (1-0) when the Bulldogs head to Tucson for a 10 p.m. Saturday matchup. The Wildcats opened the season by taking down San Diego State, 38-22.
This time, the Bulldogs can’t fail to “finish” as they did against Memphis.
“We’ve got our hands full, and we’re ready to go in on Saturday and have a good game with those guys,” Young said.
Cowing presents challenge for Bulldogs
While Mississippi State spread the football around to 12 different pass-catchers on Saturday, Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura had a clear favorite target.
That was Jacob Cowing, the UTEP transfer wide receiver who led Arizona — and finished seventh nationally — with 152 receiving yards. Cowing caught three touchdowns to boot.
The speedy slot wideout presents a challenge big enough that even MSU inside receivers coach Drew Hollingshead is well aware of Cowing’s skill.
“From an offensive perspective, I don’t get to watch a lot of the other team’s offense, but (from) just the little I saw, he can create some mismatches, and we’ve got to be good on him for sure,” Hollingshead said.
Hollingshead mentioned that Arizona is creative in using Cowing, from moving him around the field to putting him in motion to having him run various routes.
Arnett said it isn’t hard to see why Cowing racked up 2,595 yards in his three seasons with the Miners — and why the Wildcats sought him out.
“I can see why he was the leading receiver at his last school for three straight years. I can see why they recruited him and got him there,” Arnett said. “They’ve done a phenomenal job of rehauling their roster this offseason and using the transfer portal.”
Johnson adjusting to fatherhood
Running back Dillon Johnson typically gets home from practice as soon as he can.
Since early August, he’s had a good reason.
“I’ve got to be with my baby and his little crybaby self,” Johnson said. “I’m used to it now. I’ve gotten used to it.”
Johnson’s son D.J. was born toward the start of fall camp, and Johnson has had newfound “daddy strength” (according to linebacker Jett Johnson) since then.
The junior from Greenville had 14 carries for 67 yards in Saturday’s win over Memphis.
Playing for his son, apparently, has helped.
“I’ve got a chip on my shoulder,” Johnson said. “I’ve got to do it for my child, my family.”
Johnson said D.J. — wearing the tiny No. 23 jersey his father got him — will be making a trip to Davis Wade Stadium later in the season, although the infant won’t be in the open amid the clanging cowbells; he’ll be in an enclosed box with plenty of ear protection.
But for the next two weeks’ games at Arizona and at LSU, Johnson will have to get used to not having D.J. around.
“I always get sad when I’m away from my baby,” Johnson said. “I’m just so used to being with him. I’m so used to being around him.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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