Mississippi State is currently on one of the most remarkable streaks in the SEC as the program has experienced turnover at the defensive coordinator position for five consecutive offseasons. While that’s obviously not the best recipe for success, Mississippi State has featured some dynamic defenses during that time and may have found one of the few assistants that best understands how to best handle that level of turnover.

While defensive coordinators in Starkville may be required to wear name tags on the practice field to be identified, Bob Shoop won’t be using that as an excuse this season. The way the Hail State coordinator tells it, his defenders are the key to the unit’s success and already possess the work ethic to be great this season.

“The blue-collar work ethic of our team is really true. The kids on our roster are tough, both mentally and physically, they are smart,” Shoop said during his recent media availability. “They are smart, tough football players but have great work ethic and that lends itself to success in the SEC, in the Big Ten or whatever conference.”

Some may point to the annual turnover and expect a regression from the defense in Starkville. However, that’s not the way Shoop sees it playing out. In fact, MSU’s DC shared that he’s been in a similar situation in his career and that unit not only improved, but become one of the best in the nation in a crucial category.

“The one (defense) I did inherit that is very similar to this was my first defense at Penn State in 2014,” Shoop commented. “They encountered a little bit of the same situation in that the continuity — because Coach Paterno had been there so long, then Bill O’Brien then Coach Franklin, so there hadn’t been a lot of head coaches but the players for me had been there for four defensive coordinators. They had Tom Bradley, then they had Ted Roof, then they had John Bulter and then they had me, so it was sorta that same situation.

“Those guys could talk the game a little bit and many of those players that were upperclassmen were really mature and you could have that type of discussions with they went on to success at the next level. Maybe that is a good thing because that defense went on to No. 1 defense in the country in run defense.”

To be completely accurate, that Penn State defense actually finished No. 3 in the nation in rush defense after allowing 100.46 rushing yards per game but the point remains the same. While turnover at the top can be a negative, Shoop sees the positives when many veteran players return as they have the knowledge and experience of many defenses under their belt.

The Mississippi State defense returns enough talent and experience to be an elite SEC unit in the coming season now it’s up to Shoop to work his magic and get the results he was brought in to bring to Starkville.