WATCH: Zach Arnett press conference - Auburn game week

On Monday afternoon Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett held his weekly press conference at Davis Wade Stadium. Arnett reflected on last weekend’s win at Arkansas while looking ahead to Saturday’s trip to Auburn among other topics:

Opening statement:
Arnett: It’s always tough to get a road win in the SEC. Very proud of the guys for their efforts. Road victories are difficult. We have another opportunity this week going down to Auburn. Very talented football team. They’ll be hungry to compete and get a win. It’s back to work for us, build on the good things we did in the game and clean up some things. I’ve said October is a critical month for us. We have one more opportunity. To get wins, you need players to step up and have big-time moments. Bookie Watson was just named SEC Defensive Player of the Week. It was one of the more impressive games I’ve seen a linebacker play. We need more guys to step up and have performances like that as we finish this season.

Q: Looking at your film review, there were some critical fourth-down plays against Arkansas. Your thoughts on those after you reviewed them?
Arnett: The (final) one was the shortest one of all. We were inside of a yard. Another was fourth-and-four after a scramble. Another was fourth-and-two or three. You’re constantly reviewing your game plan, our short-yardage call, how’s the flow of the game going. I made the decision several times that the defense was playing well. Their 3 points came off a turnover on the opening drive, where they started deep in our territory. They had not allowed the offense to march the length of the field and score points. So, you try to punt it in there and give them a long field. Sometimes, you feel you should get the yardage to win the game. We just had the touchdown called back, and we felt good about our play. Go try to take the game and fortunately, we didn’t execute the alignment.

Q: On the final play at Arkansas, is defending the Hail Mary pass something you practice?
Arnett: Every week. Every team works that every week.

Q: And the timeout you called before that Hail Mary attempt?
Arnett: You want to discuss their formation. Make sure it matches up with what you’ve seen on film. The defensive staff knew what was coming there. And you can get some final coaching points. You don’t get to take those timeouts into the next game. Just because of the situation and the adrenalin, the coaching points don’t always get executed. You have one primary ball guy, and every one else keeps a body on their man. You don’t want everyone playing the ball…that’s how you get a tipped ball. That’s when a trailer guy gets the opportunity to catch it and you give up a cheap touchdown to lose a game.

Q: An off-topic question but your thoughts on Michigan getting caught for stealing signals?
Arnett: Sign stealing is not illegal. There’s people on the sidelines or in the box always looking at your sideline. When I called defense, I think it’s the same now, we just have one primary signal caller. Depending on offensive tempo or your call, how realistic is it go get all that information processed. If you snap the ball every 10 seconds, you don’t have time for all that.

Q: Against Arkansas and Mike Wright making his first start for State, did you try to limit the offense with him?
Arnett: It was his first game playing that many snaps. He had some good plays and he had some he’s not going to be happy about. On his interception, the hole shot is there, but you can’t hesitate in that coverage. You have to trust your instinct and rip it in there or you give the safety the chance to make a play and he made a good play on it. One other pass he forced across the middle that could have been a turnover. He knows he has to get those corrected and eliminate. But he did some really good things for us too. The way the game was going, you’re going to be a little more conservative. You don’t want to make a mistake deep in your own territory and give the opponent some momentum.

Q: We saw more corner and safety blitzes against Arkansas. Was that something different compared to the first six games of the season?
Arnett: No, every pressure we brought had been called prior in the season. There was nothing that hadn’t shown up on film.

Q: Along those lines, was the play calling the same on defense, too?
Arnett: Same as it’s been all year.

Q: With the bye week, do you feel like there was a big change in the defensive game plan or was it more about the players?
Arnett: We got some guys healthy that made a difference. Russell wasn’t able to play two weeks before the bye week. You lose a starting D lineman, that makes a difference. A couple of other guys were healthy. The bye week came at a good time for us. The defensive coaches did a nice job of identifying the guys who were playing the best, what are we executing the best. It’s always about us. What can we control. The players went to work and they played and executed. It was players making plays. Bookie Watson’s performance says it all. Shawn Preston had an interception, knocked down the Hail Mary. You play better defense when your best players are excited, healthy, and playing well.

Q: What stands out to you about Auburn and what challenges do they present?
Arnett: Their size and athleticism. They play really good on defense. I’ve always admired Coach (Ron) Roberts’ scheme. Brilliant mind coordinating the defense. A couple of linebackers who run and hit. Coach Freeze has always been a great offensive mind. The athleticism at quarterback jumps off. Run game is very physical. Backs are quick and strong. Quarterbacks present problems when they pull it down and run it. Really deep tight end group. A couple of them run like receivers. It’s a big, strong, athletic football team. We’ll have to be on our game.

Q: What do you remember from your last trip to Auburn and that big comeback to get the win?
Arnett: I remember we didn’t play well the first half. We stunk it up. Halftime, something flipped, we made some plays on both sides of the ball, flipped the momentum, and it was a great comeback victory. It was a great environment though.

Q: With Auburn, is it difficult to play a team that is one-dimensional like their offense is?
Arnett: I don’t think that’s a correct statement. You have to account for different styles of quarterback. Both are very athletic. A bunch of personnel groupings and formations. That creates all sorts of issues for a defense. You have to make decisions on matching personnel. They have some really talented running backs. Hunter is electric. Big and physical, and they run it well. We’ll have our hands full to match the physicality.

Q: Obviously Auburn is different this year but your Oline coach Will Friend coached there recently. Can you use that to your advantage?
Arnett: I don’t think it’s as much of a factor because of the transfer portal. A lot of new faces playing in college football. The rosters aren’t close to being the same from year to year.

Q: Your players have talked about the message of going 3-0 in October. How did you get them to flush September and focus on that message?
Arnett: You control what you can control. Every week, that’s the most important game of the season, because it’s the only one you play that week. Can’t do anything before that week, nothing after that week. In September, the results aren’t exactly what we wanted. But we know what our goals are and what we want to achieve. The tradition we’d like to continue here.

Simply put, October is an important month. The players are competitors. They have pride. They want to have success and win. They know in order to do that, you have to go to work. I credit the leadership in the locker room. A lot of mature guys who have played a lot of football. They’ve been on winning teams. They know it’s hard in this league. You have to prepare to have success on Saturday. I credit those guys for leading the charge.

Q: Any update on Will Rogers?
Arnett: Every guy on our roster is a little banged up. Same ongoing evaluation, day to day. Will’s progressing just like we expect. If he’s able to go, he’ll go. If not, he’s not. And that goes for any other guy on the team. We have several days to evaluate, see his progress in practice, and make a determination then.

Q: How much has Shawn Preston taken advantage of that extra Covid year?
Arnett: I’m enjoying the way Shawn’s playing right now. He has three picks. I remember some tackles, one that forced a fumble. Great that he came back and is playing the position for us. You want to be strong down the middle of your defense. Pick (Nathan Pickering) and (Jaden) Crumedy, Bookie, and Shawn back there. You have age and experience. He’s made some good plays for us, plays that have changed games, a big pick in the last game. We’ll need him to play even better the final stretch of the season.

Q: Freshman Brice Pollock has played a lot more snaps the past two games. How much has he taken advantage of that opportunity?
Arnett: That’s why you see increased snaps. You take advantage of your opportunities, you play well when you are out there and you get to see more time on the field. We’re really happy with his development. Old guys play good and young guys who are getting increased reps have to step up and play even better. Happy for those guys.