Zach Arnett gives honest take on current state of Mississippi State defense

Mississippi State should look a lot different this fall on the football field. After three seasons under an offensive guru in the late great Mike Leach, the baton has now been passed to former DC Zach Arnett. Still, given where they are right now, Arnett says the Bulldogs have a long way to go before they’re where he expects them to be defensively.

Arnett shared his thoughts on where his new team is on that side of the ball during media a few days ago. He says things have looked fine at times on the field but that the staff’s main concern with the unit is their physicality considering what they’re going to face next year.

“We made a few plays. I think there was an interception or two today by them. I can remember two. So we made a few plays, we flashed,” started Arnett. “I think I probably speak for the defensive coaches but we think we’re athletic enough. I sometimes worry if we’re ready for the week-in and week-out physicality that we’re gonna have to be ready for.”

Arnett knows exactly what he’s doing on defense to make that a strength for the Bulldogs moving forward. In his three years as defensive coordinator, Mississippi State has produced three defenses in the Top-65 nationally. That includes this past season, which was their best under Arnett, as they only gave up 23.1 points a game. Of those three seasons, two of them saw Arnett be nominated for the Broyles Award.

With all that defensive knowledge behind him, Arnett wants to make himself clear about how things are going to look in Starkville. He says they’re searching for 11 defenders who are ready to go all out and make an impact. From there, he’ll worry about schemes and a playbook that can suit that group specifically.

“I’ve said this, probably many times before, but we’re gonna figure out who our best 11 are and get them on the field. Whether that makes us a 4-2-5 on defense because we’ve got some really good D-lineman. Whether that makes us a 4-3 because we got to get a safety off the field,” Arnett said. “We’re gonna figure out who our best 11 are and get them on the field. I can guarantee you we have enough flexibility within our scheme to do just that.”

That would be Arnett throwing down the gauntlet to his defense this spring. It sounds as though it’s time for some members of the Bulldog defense to make themselves known to Arnett. If not, they might be spending more time on the sideline with him than they hope.

“It’s kind of the message to all position groups,” said Arnett. “Unless you prove you’re good enough to make us better and maximize our ability? We’re gonna find a way to get other guys on the field.”