STARKVILLE — With Mississippi State on a bye this week, Bulldogs head coach Zach Arnett compared the vibe at practice to that of a yoga studio.

“Very holistic this week,” Arnett said Wednesday. “It gives us a chance to spend more time with younger guys, more developmental guys who haven’t played a whole lot. We’ll get back to fundamentals and techniques.”

The university is on fall break Thursday and Friday with no classes scheduled, so MSU (3-3, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) will have Thursday through Saturday off from team activities before beginning formal preparation for its next game at Arkansas on Oct. 21. The coaching staff will be on the road recruiting — Arnett said the Bulldogs will be represented at every junior college game in the state on Thursday night as well as select high school games on Friday.

Meanwhile, MSU is using the time off to get as healthy as possible. Arnett did not provide definitive injury updates on quarterback Will Rogers (shoulder) or running back Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks (leg), who both left last Saturday’s game against Western Michigan early.

The head coach also had no updates to report on wide receiver Justin Robinson, running back Jeffery Pittman or defensive lineman De’Monte Russell, who all missed the Western Michigan game. Arnett said he has “every reason to believe” freshman kicker Kyle Ferrie, who injured his kicking leg when a Broncos player collided with him after a field goal attempt in the third quarter, will be available for the Arkansas game.

The defense remains the Bulldogs’ primary area of concern. All four of Western Michigan’s touchdown drives last Saturday were engineered by third-string quarterback Hayden Wolff, who had MSU on its heels as he led the Broncos’ no-huddle offense. MSU struggled to generate pressure with its depleted defensive front, putting even more stress on linebackers Jett Johnson and Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson.

Beyond being the Bulldogs’ leading tacklers — and two of the top three in the SEC — the veteran duo also tops the squad in sacks and tackles for loss. Watson had two sacks against Western Michigan to take the team lead with 5.5, while Johnson has recorded four through six games.

“A lot of times, it’s effort just as much as anything,” Johnson said. “They put in good calls, but it’s beating one-on-one blocks. (Defensive coordinator Matt) Brock always says it’s not necessarily the call every time that gets you free, but it’s your tenacity, effort, fundamentals.”

Even when MSU blitzed against the Broncos, Western Michigan’s offensive line usually picked it up and gave Wolff the time he needed to throw. And his receivers were able to find soft spots against the Bulldogs’ comparatively inexperienced secondary in zone coverage and win their one-on-one matchups in man coverage.

“There are drives, quarters or halves we can point to and say we’re executing at a pretty high level. We’re capable of playing good defense,” Arnett said. “And then there’s just the opposite of that. There are drives and halves we can point to where we don’t look like a very good defense. When you get an off week like this, you’re doing a lot of self-scouting, you’re being highly critical of yourselves as coaches. That’s what a bye week is used for.”

Parson ready if needed

If Rogers’ injury turns out to be serious enough for him to miss game action, Mike Wright would step into the starting role, likely elevating true freshman Chris Parson to backup duty. Parson has run the opponents’ offense each week in practice as the scout-team quarterback, which Arnett said is much better for his development than having him stand behind the offense and just watch.

Rated the No. 28 quarterback in his class by 247Sports’ composite rankings, Parson accounted for more than 3,000 total yards and 42 touchdowns as a junior at Ravenwood High School, in the Nashville, Tenn. metropolitan area. He chose MSU over the likes of Florida State, Arkansas, Kentucky and TCU.

“His arm is incredibly lively,” Arnett said. “He popped a couple runs on the defense a week or two ago. He’s mobile in the pocket. To know you have a young quarterback waiting in the wings who has a real strong, lively arm but also has some movement ability to make plays with his legs, that kind of excites you.”