South Carolina preparing for unique challenge of Mississippi State defense

Stone Blanton during the recruitment process saw it up close and personal before coming to South Carolina. A Mississippi native and four-star linebacker, Blanton watched Zach Arnett’s 3-3-5 defense while being recruited by the Bulldogs. 

Which is why he–and the Gamecocks’ offense–know the uniqueness of going against Mississippi State’s defense. 

“They mix it up a lot when they’re bringing pressure and cross dogs with their linebackers. Their linebackers are phenomenal,” Blanton said. “I know they do a lot of sideline to sideline, they blitz a lot, pressure the quarterback and stop the run. They’re just very active.”

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State runs a 3-3-5 defense with three down linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs. It’s something not a lot of defenses in the SEC run nowadays with most the Alabama style of defense with a four-man MINT (over) front. 

What that 3-3-5 defense is designed to do is allow Arnett to mix up different blitzes and apply pressure against opposing offenses. 

The Gamecocks have to prepare for a different mix of blitzes and pressure applied by the Bulldogs. It’s different than what they’ll normally see against SEC defenses. 

“It’s a defense that’s definitely different it’s different than any structure. And hard to mimic that in practice with scout looks. Even when you get scout looks, it’s hard to mimic the full speed and the way they attack,” Dowell Loggains said. “They’re a good team and they have good players. The front’s good, the two linebackers are really good players. It’s a scheme that’s unique. They’re going to attack and be aggressive.” 

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Loggains wasn’t the offensive coordinator but was on an Arkansas staff that faced Mississippi State twice–one win and a loss. The loss was without starting quarterback KJ Jefferson. 

In those games, Arkansas scored 48 total points, averaged 6.4 yards per play, nine yards per pass and a sack-adjusted 5.6 yards per rush. The Razorbacks had a success rate of 47.4 percent combined in those two games. 

Spencer Rattler is more used to playing these defenses in the Big 12 where they’re more prevalent but played a variation of it last season against that same Razorback team. 

Arkansas played more of a 3-2-6 but that was one of Rattler’s better early-season games in a 44-30 loss. Rattler finished 24-for-39 (61.5 percent) while averaging 9.7 yards per attempt with one touchdown and a pick. 

“I played against that in the Big 12 a little bit. I don’t think we’ve seen it here–maybe Arkansas last year–but they do a lot of different exotic single dogs or crossfires, different coverage and mix-in stuff,” Rattler said. “But we can’t make it easy for them to get to the quarterback and stop our run game. We have to be efficient throwing and running the ball. I’m confident we’ll be fine going into the game. We just have to keep working this week.”

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The defense has been the strong suit of this Mississippi State team, a test for the Gamecocks trying to run the ball especially. 

According to Statsowar, State ranks No. 41 nationally in defensive success rate (34.4 percent) and No. 45 in opponent rushing success rate (36.8). The pass defense has struggled at No. 67 nationally in opponent passing success rate at 34.9 percent. 

It’s a veteran group that’s played in the system before and can present a ton of challenges for this South Carolina offense. 

“These guys have years and years of being in this system. They’re veteran guys who know what they’re doing. It’s a disruptive D-line and arguably the best linebacker tandem in the SEC,” Shane Beamer said. “Look at their secondary, it’s a good-looking team. They have length in the secondary, they don’t have 5-foot-8, 5-foot-9 DBs running out there. They have 6-foot-2, long corners as well.”

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