WATCH: Mississippi State defensive coordinator Matt Brock reviews Auburn loss, previews Kentucky matchup

Last Saturday on the road at Auburn, it was the tale of two halves for Mississippi State’s defense. After getting shredded for 24 points and allowing over 300 yards in the first half, the Bulldogs managed to limit the Tigers to just three points and less than 150 yards of offense in the second half.

Following practice on Monday, defensive coordinator Matt Brock met with the local media to discuss his group while also looking ahead to the Kentucky offense:

Q: What were you seeing in the first half against Auburn and what did you correct at halftime?
Brock: First thing I thought when you look at the film is a distinct difference with the edge we played with in the second half versus the first half. We were more aggressive and I probably called it more aggressive, honestly, in the second half, as well. So that was the biggest thing that I noticed and that is what we addressed with the players. You got to put four quarters together and as coaches, we have that responsibility. We have to give that edge to them when they come out of that locker room. It starts with us and that was the biggest thing I saw.

Q: Not having that intensity in the eighth game of the season, how big of a concern is that?
Brock: I don’t care if it eight games in or the first game, there’s an edge you have to play this game with. So it’s always concerning when you do that and you got to learn from it and can’t let it happen. It’s as simple as that.

Q: How do you coach that out of them?
Brock: If I had that answer at the moment I would have used it awhile ago. The first thing you do is make sure you go through the leadership of the team and they understand. Hey, what can we do better? How can we do this better? Then show them and show them this is the same play, same call and what we did, they did. Here’s us executing well, here’s us (playing with) edge and being successful and here’s us not using an edge. So hopefully that gets through but ultimately, it’s our job to push the right buttons and find that. So that’s what we’re working through.

Q: Your thoughts on the play of defensive end Deonte Anderson lately?
Brock: I think he’s improving. I think he is improving. There was a play there, I think in the second half, ball goes down the line, he shuffles, the quarterback pulls it and hands off, he accelerates and launches his body, kind of like he did against Western Michigan on that third or fourth down. So he’s definitely getting better.

Q: Your thoughts on freshman Brice Pollock getting beat on that touchdown pass?
Brock: Those are ones I can live with a little bit. Nobody wants to hear that or hear just live with it but that’s just the fact. Man coverage, you play man coverage and the guy goes up and makes a play. That is the risk of playing man coverage at times. So I’m not going to beat up Brice on that at all. He’ll learn from it and he’ll get better.

Q: You faced Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary when he played at N.C. State. Any carryover from what you saw of him before?
Brock: He’s got an unbelievable arm. I remember the N.C. State game and he threw that one shot. He didn’t complete it but it sailed forever it felt like. If you watch him right now, some of his incompletions are not missed throws. He throws it so hard that guys can’t catch it at times. You look at what he did against Tennessee and he was on fire. He’s a great quarterback and he has mobility, which is always a fear. But he has obviously progressed, as well.

Q: You were able to get pressure against Arkansas but not Auburn. What was the difference?
Brock: Part of it is on my shoulders, probably not calling it aggressive enough, especially on that two-minute drill. Some of that is on me, be more aggressive. But other times we get stuck on blocks and we dip inside when we shouldn’t. Things like that we have to correct.

Q: Kentucky has a good rushing attack again this year. What makes it so tough to slow them down?
Brock: I think No. 1 that is the identity of their program. It has been ever since I’ve been here. To me that is Coach (Mark) Stoops and that is the entire organization’s philosophy is to be tough, to be physical. I think they did a great job with it and I think they are extremely well-coached in the front, offensively. They do a great job understanding movement, where it’s coming from and where it’s going and all that. And their backs run extremely hard, as well.

Q: Offensive coordinator Liam Cohen has been back and forth with Kentucky. What makes him different?
Brock: I think you see a truly, pro feel to it. Formations, personnel groups, motions, cut splits, red-zone specific routes. There’s an NFL flavor to it, no question about it.