STARKVILLE — Cleaning up some defensive mistakes will be a top priority this week for Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen.
MSU allowed a season-high 627 yards of offense to Samford in a 56-41 victory on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.
Although there are several things he wants to correct, Mullen said poor tackling is the biggest issue. MSU (3-5, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) will need to improve in that area when it plays host to No. 7 Texas A&M (7-1, 4-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday (SEC Network).
“I think we had over 20-plus missed tackles in the game. You just can’t do that,” Mullen said at Monday at his weekly news conference. “That’s just guys trusting their base fundamentals and executing.
“We miss tackles high, we miss tackles low, we miss tackles inside, and we miss tackles outside. It’s guys having confidence, running to the ball, keep their heads up, and having good form tackling.”
MSU’s is ranked 10th in the SEC in scoring defense (30.0 points per game) and ninth in total defense (418.6 yards). Texas A&M is second in scoring offense (38.4 points) and total offense (498.8 yards). MSU is last in pass defense (263.9 yards), while Texas A&M is fourth in pass offense (249.6 yards).
Mullen said first-year defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon, who also serves as linebackers coach, has done a “decent” job of making adjustments and trying to put guys in the right position, but he said injuries on the defensive side have taken their toll.
“(It’s been) a lack of consistency for him. He’s trying to get a grasp on all these guys and it seems like every week we’re stuck with a different starting lineup,” Mullen said.
In eight games, MSU has started seven defensive lineups.
A lot of Mullen’s focus has been on the offense. Mullen, a former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, calls the plays, but he said he still interacts with the defensive players and defensive coaches on a regular basis.
“I’m involved in the game plan,” Mullen said. “I’m on the phone with them while we’re on defense. I’m constantly trying to go back and forth with everybody to get the next offensive series ready, be on the phone with the defensive guys and then vice versa.”
Offensive efficiency
While MSU’s defense struggled against Samford, the offense didn’t.
Not only did MSU breaks the school’s single-game record with 669 yards, but sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald also became the third SEC quarterback to pass for 400-yards plus (417) and run for 100-yards plus (119). Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel and Ole Miss’ Archie Manning did so in 2012 and 1969, respectively.
Fitzgerald also tied Dak Prescott’s school record with seven touchdowns responsible for (five passing and two rushing).
Mullen said he is fine with Fitzgerald putting the offense on his back.
“If your quarterback’s playing really well, you’ve got a chance to win,” Mullen said. “You go watch football on Friday nights, Saturday, or Sunday, that’s going to be the same deal. If your quarterback plays well, you’ve got a chance to win. Hopefully our quarterback continues to play well against everybody.”
Sophomore wide receiver Malik Dear had four catches for 61 yards 25-yard touchdown, while redshirt freshman wide receiver Keith Mixon had 38 yards rushing. Mixon also had a 73-yard touchdown called back on offensive pass interference.
Mullen said he wants to get the ball to Dear and Mixon.
“There’s lot of different ways you can do that, whether it’s in the run game or the throw game,” Mullen said. “You just want to make sure they get their hands on the ball. We go into game plan and we have a bunch of different ways to get them the ball, and we want to continue to do that whether it’s screens, passing game or running game.”
Even though the offense racked up impressive numbers, Mullen said there were times the unit made mistakes.
“It’s the mental toughness of making sure we’re executing every snap,” Mullen said. “There’s that mental toughness aspect of the game. If you just go out there and play, it’s not going to work for you. You’ve got to be mentally tough and disciplined every single snap.”
Injury update
Mullen expects everybody to play this week.
Senior defensive end A.J. Jefferson (elbow), sophomore cornerback Jamal Peters (ankle), redshirt offensive lineman Darryl Williams (neck), senior safety Kivon Coman, senior running back Brandon Holloway, and sophomore offensive lineman Deion Calhoun (ankle) missed the game against Samford.
Jefferson had elbow surgery Monday. Mullen hoped he would be able to play against Samford, but he learned Friday that Jefferson wasn’t going to play. Holloway and Coman have missed the last three games with undisclosed injuries.
Early kick
MSU’s game against Alabama on Nov. 12 will start at 11 a.m. at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the SEC announced Monday. ESPN will broadcast the game live.
It will be the fourth 11 a.m. kickoff for the Bulldogs.
Mullen is 0-7 against Alabama. The last win for MSU against Alabama was a 17-12 victory in 2007 at Davis Wade Stadium under former coach Sylvester Croom.
CBS has exercised a six-day option for Ole Miss’ game at Texas A&M. The game will be broadcast live on CBS, ESPN, or the SEC Network at 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m., or 6:30 p.m.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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