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Joe Moorhead breaks down what makes Mississippi State’s third-down defense so successful
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A large part of Mississippi State’s defensive dominance stems from the team’s success on third downs.
The Bulldogs are eighth nationally in third down defense, allowing opponents to convert just 29.5 percent of the time. During the SEC Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday, Mississippi State’s Joe Moorhead explained what makes his team so hard to beat on third downs, mostly pointing to a variety of looks in those situations.
That area of the Bulldogs’ defense will be tested this week against high-flying Ole Miss (5-6, 1-6 SEC), which hosts No. 18 Mississippi State (7-4, 3-4) at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. Moorhead also touched on the challenge presented by the Rebels’ receiving corps, and you can read everything he said on the teleconference below.
On third down opponent ratio, how has Mississippi State been so successful?
- Coach (Bob) Shoop and I discussed that this offseason. It’s important in this day and age. Mixing up the looks on third downs, that helps us get off the field.
On facing Ole Miss’ receivers:
- Incredible challenge. Coach (Matt) Luke, Coach (Phil) Longo do a great job. (Quarterback) Jordan Ta’amu has nearly 4,000 yards this season. They do a great job trying to exploit and create mismatches for their guys.
On what you have developed:
- We will review heading into the bowl game, but what you want to see is the culture change. Making sure you are playing your best ball heading into the end of the season, I think that’s important.
On LSU DC Dave Aranda:
- They were running that defense at Wisconsin when we played them. He deserves his recognition as a great coach. He mixes up his fronts and coverages, and allows his guys to make plays.
What did LSU do to Nick Fitzgerald?
- They forced us to be one-dimensional. They eliminate easy-access throws. They really force you to make tough throws. With the players they have and the execution, it’s a challenge.
On DL Jeffery Simmons:
- He does things on the field that people his size shouldn’t be able to do. He has had a ton of production. He has been a great member of our program in my time here.
On the incident in Simmons’ background:
- I would have never known that about him. I can only judge him on what I’ve seen. He has great grades, (and) he participates in almost all the community efforts we have here.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
