STARKVILLE — Wearing a Mississippi State sweat shirt and shorts Tuesday afternoon, Peter Sirmon talked bluntly about his defense.
He didn’t make excuses for the poor play or single out a player. Instead, he put the blame squarely on his shoulders and said he needs to do a better job in practice and on game days.
“It goes back to me doing a better job of coaching and communicating what we need to happen defensively,” the first-year MSU football defensive coordinator said. “Ultimately it’s my responsibility of getting those guys to do exactly what we’re asking them to do in terms of preparation, what I’m calling, what I’m practicing and who we’re putting in the game.
“We’re going to put the best 11 out there every single snap. I need to do a better job of finding the best 11 and doing a better job of calling the game.”
The Bulldogs are allowing 371.4 yards and 26.2 points per game in the first five games. Sirmon and the defense look to get back on track as MSU (2-3) plays at BYU (3-3) at 9:15 p.m. Friday (ESPN) at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.
In a 38-14 loss to Auburn at home last Saturday, MSU gave up 432 yards of total offense (228 rushing and 204 passing). Tiger backup running back Kamyrn Pettway had 169 yards on 39 carries and three touchdowns. He helped the Tigers build a 35-0 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs began the game with a Kivon Coman interception, but Westin Graves missed a 28-yard field goal. The Tigers scored on the next three possessions to take a 21-0 lead.
Sirmon, who came to MSU after serving two seasons as an associate head coach and linebackers coach at Southern California, said the biggest takeaway from the Auburn game was he has to do a better job of play calling.
“When things aren’t as effective as I need them to be, I need to look at what I’m calling, look at what I’m asking our players to do and do a better job of putting them in position to do what they can do best,” Sirmon said.
He didn’t go into detail about how he would address bettering his play calling and getting his players better prepared in practice.
Sirmon said he has to consider overthinking play calling, but he said being a wise or thoughtful play caller can be a good thing.
“I don’t think you can have necessarily a renegade, ‘Hey, we’re going to throw it out there, I’m not going to over think and it whatever works, works,'” Sirmon said. “We spend a significant amount of time and hours in film study and preparation and down and distances and personnel groupings to put forth a plan of getting the right call at the right time.”
After a 23-20 loss at LSU, MSU allowed 411 yards (138 rushing and 273 passing) to UMass in a 47-35 win Sept. 24 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. However, the Bulldogs had three interceptions, including 38-yard Jamoral Graham pick-six.
Senior defensive lineman A.J. Jefferson, who has 23 tackles (9.0 for loss) 3.0 sacks and two quarterback hurries, said the blame is not all on Sirmon, the players share in it.
“He can’t just put all the blame on him because he’s not on the field actually playing,” Jefferson said. “As far as play calling, it’s not like he knows what exact play the offense is going to run.”
In the last two games, BYU has scored 86 points and had 984 yards (55-53 win over Toledo and 31-14 road win over Michigan State). Fifth-year starting quarterback Taysom Hill is 120 of 198 for 1,255 yards. He has thrown six touchdowns and six interceptions. He has 275 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Senior running back Jamaal Williams had 163 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan State. He has 866 yards on 139 carries and 10 touchdowns.
“I think they’re finding their true identity, but they’re playing well right now,” Sirmon said. “To go on the road, going back to Michigan State and play as well as they did, they’re getting better as the season goes.”
The Bulldogs are allowing opponents to convert 39 percent of third downs (28 of 72). Opponents are 8 of 10 on fourth down and have scored 13 touchdowns in 19 red zone trips. Opponents have two field goals in the red zone.
“It’s a big task and I have to do a better job for the players, I have to do a better job for the university and do a better job for myself,” Sirmon said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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