Mississippi State's De'Monte Russell wants to see fast start from defense against Texas A&M
Although the final results haven’t changed, Mississippi State’s defense has been a bit more consistent over the past few weeks, particularly the run defense. After practice earlier this week, senior defensive lineman De’Monte Russell met with the media to talk about the recent improvements and Saturday’s upcoming visit to Texas A&M:
Q: How are you guys preparing for Texas A&M and how has practice been so far this week?
Russell: I think practice has gone well. We are starting to communicate and get back to our old ways and how we are supposed to do. I feel great about it and seeing everything come together.
Q: What have you seen from Texas A&M so far?
Russell: They’ve got a good team. We just have to come out there and play to the best of our ability.
Q: You didn’t get the result you wanted against Kentucky but it seemed like the defense communicated better and attacked the way you wanted to.
Russell: We saw pieces and we just tried to play to the best of our abilities that game. We made a couple of mistakes here and there. We just have to get back in the lab, fix it and come out better this week.
Q: The defense has been better against the run lately and that was the case last week against Kentucky’s Ray Davis. Anything changed there?
Russell: Just a mindset, that’s all. We have to carry over to week after week. We came in and prepared real well for it and we just have to continue keep stacking on it.
Q: How do you prepare for playing in front of a large and loud crowd this weekend?
Russell: Feels the same. We get the same energy here at Davis Wade and I feel like it just carries on to the next day.
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Q: Do you feel like your return after injury has helped with the improvement of the defense lately?
Russell: Of course (laughing). But we got other guys on the inside and guys setting the edge. We preach about setting the edges and doing your job and everything falls into place.
Q: Since returning you have played inside and outside. How is that transition going?
Russell: Pretty well. I just go wherever my best fit is for the team. I’m a team player so I do my best of it.
Q: The second half of the games lately have been good for the defense. What do you contribute that to?
Russell: I feel like the way we play the second half we have to do it for the full game.
Q: Are there things the defense is working on to stop allowing points right before halftime?
Russell: Just go and start fast. That’s really it. Like I said, there are some mistakes here and there but those are easy to fix.
Q: We talked about it some last week but how is it playing beside your brother out there on defense?
Russell: It feels great. Every chance and snap I get to, I try to tell him what he’s got and make sure he is in the right state of mind. There are also things that he has brought out in me.
