STARKVILLE — “Put the ball down.”
That phrase has been uttered often by members of Mississippi State’s defense lately, the latest in a string of mottos meant to stir enthusiasm within the unit and to convey unity to outsiders.
In MSU’s 17-10 win over Arkansas last Saturday, the mentality behind “Put the ball down” was on full display. Five times MSU allowed the Arkansas offense to drive within the Bulldogs’ red zone. Only twice did the Razorbacks score, adding to the growing legend of MSU’s red zone defense, which currently ranks as the best in the Southeastern Conference and is ranked No. 1 nationally.
So what does “Put the ball down” mean?
Just ask MSU linebacker Christian Holmes, a senior who beams with pride when talking about MSU’s bend-but-don’t break defense.
“Hey, it’s what we live by,” said Holmes. “No matter where we are on the field, whether we are backed up to the goal line or we are on the 50, we just say ‘Put the ball down.’ That means whenever the referee puts the ball on the ground, no matter where we are, we are ready. In my mind, we are going to keep the team from scoring no matter what. So I’m thinking, no matter how well the offense is playing, just put the ball down and see what happens next.”
What happens next is usually a stop for the Bulldogs’ defense, which has emerged as the SEC’s best when the chips are down and points are on the line.
On the season, MSU has allowed teams to get within the Bulldogs’ 20-yard line 28 times, which has resulted in a score 57 percent of the time. That percentage is easily the best in the league, six points better than second-place Ole Miss. Narrow it down to touchdown percentage, MSU has allowed just nine in 28 trips, and that number drops to a miniscule 32 percent. Again, that total tops the SEC, and only Louisville is better nationally.
That resilience in the red zone, which has been a hallmark of defensive coordinator Geoff Collins’s Bulldogs throughout the season, was easily apparent against Arkansas.
On a night that the Razorbacks dominated time of possession – the Hogs had the ball nearly 40 minutes – there still seemed to be an invisible seal on the goal line. After Arkansas scored 10 points in the game’s first 20 minutes, the Razorbacks visited the Bulldogs’ red zone three more times and came away with zero points.
That included MU’s goal line stand with five minutes left in the game, a stand that saw Arkansas gain no more yards after setting up second-and-goal at the one-yard line.
“We made some big plays on defense and did not give up points,” said MSU head coach Dan Mullen, whose team has won 11 straight games. “In the end, that is the most important aspect of it. We had a goal line stand and an interception in the end zone. Statistically speaking, we would like to be a little different defensively but we are doing the things we have to do to win games.”
The stubbornness around the end zone has bailed MSU’s defense out consistently this season. Statistically, the Bulldogs are still giving up plenty of yards, as MSU ranks 13th in the SEC in total defense and dead last in passing yards allowed with 2,489. But despite those numbers, MSU is allowing just 20 points per game, good for fifth in the SEC.
And the reason for that disconnect is a defense that turns salty once the goal line comes into view.
“Coach Collins always tells us no matter how bad it looks, just make plays,” said MSU linebacker Beniquez Brown. “So we just say ‘put the ball down.’ When the official puts the ball down, we are going to make the play. And it doesn’t matter what happened to get there, all that matters is who can make the next play.”
The goal line stand against Arkansas has become a familiar image for the Bulldogs’ defense. MSU had a similar stand in the first half against LSU, a four-down uprising that held the Tigers out of the end zone and set up a 98-yard scoring drive for the MSU offense, a drive that turned MSU’s 7-0 lead into a 14-0 cushion in an eventual 34-29 win.
“We trust the defense will always have our back just like they trust us,” said MSU quarterback Dak Prescott in the wake of the win over Arkansas. “They did a great job, they always do.”
The Bulldogs also had a critical fourth-down stand against Texas A&M. In the first quarter, Brown stopped a fourth-and-2 run for the Aggies, setting up MSU’s go-ahead touchdown in the process.
For Brown, the Bulldogs’ cerebral sophomore linebacker, the huge stops in fourth down situations all emanate from MSU’s Collins-inspired mantra.
“He came up with that,” said Brown of Collins. “He wants us to always forget about the last lay and make the next one. That’s why we say ‘Put the ball down.’ It’s all about putting the ball down so we can get the next play started, that’s our mentality.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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