Defense was at best optional for Mississippi State in 2016, as the Bulldogs defense ranked 13th in the SEC in scoring defense, last in passing defense and 12th in total defense. Following the unusual move of flipping defensive coordinators with Louisville, Todd Grantham comes to Starkville looking to revitalize his side of the ball in 2017.

Grantham won’t be the only new addition for MSU’s defense as safeties coach Ron English has also made the move to Starkville. Between them, the two coaches have 19 seasons of experience as either a defensive coordinator or head coach at the FBS or NFL level. That’s quite a contrast to last season’s defensive coordinator, Peter Sirmon – now at Louisville, who has one season under his belt as a DC.

Partial financial details have just been released for the two new Mississippi State coaches, and needless to say, MSU is putting forth a big commitment to turn around its struggling defense. According to an open records request done by Will Sammon of the Clarion-Ledger, Grantham will be paid $650,000 with English scheduled to make $300,000. Both coaches are capable of receiving private funds from the school, which are not subject to the open records request. Considering Grantham made $1.3 million last season at Louisville, it’s safe to assume he’s most definitely receiving funds from the private fund allocation.

While Mississippi State may have struggled at times last season, with these two experienced coaches joining the program and talented young players on the roster like Jeffery Simmons, Leo Lewis, Jamal Peters, Brandon Bryant, Dez Harris and junior college early enrollees Chauncey Rivers, Johnathan Abram, Cody Pope, Lee Autry, Brian Cole, Montez Sweat, and Jaquarius Landrews all already on campus, the Bulldog defense should be getting an immediate upgrade of both coaching and talent heading into the spring.

How soon it all pays off remains to be seen, but give credit to Mississippi State for identifying the issue and attempting to resolve it heading into the 2017 season.