STARKVILLE — The equation for Chris Wilson is simple.
Better players equal better coaches and, therefore, a better football team.
Wilson believes his second season as the Mississippi State University football team’s defensive coordinator will be better than year one because there are better players in the program.
“The biggest thing when we came in here is Johnthan Banks was a sophomore, Corey Broomfield was a sophomore,” Wilson said as he enters his second season at the school. “Just the guys being in the same system for three years and knowing the ins and outs of it and the plusses and minuses (has) really made them confident, playing fast. Now you’re looking at your secondary as well as your front and you’ve got guys that have been in this system three or four years and are very confident in it, so that’s kind of fun.”
The “fun” Wilson describes for 2012 might feature a more aggressive defense if MSU’s linemen can rush the quarterback. Pressure up front would allow Wilson to dial up myriad forms of blitzes and attacking schemes.
A month into last season, Banks, a 185-pound cornerback, led the Bulldogs in sacks. The MSU coaches knew then they had to find dominant ends who could create havoc so the Bulldogs wouldn’t have to rely so much on the blitz to create pressure.
“You realize what you need and what you want more than anything,” Wilson said about his MSU’s defense is different in 2012. “You sit back and say, ‘These are must haves, and those are likes if you like them.’ The biggest thing, knowing who your guys are and knowing what they’re capable of doing and building a defense based off that.”
That’s not to say Banks won’t be used off the edge to rush the quarterback. Banks likely will continue to get sack opportunities because Wilson’s philosophy is similar to that of Manny Diaz, the man with whom he shared defensive coordinator duties. Diaz, who is the defensive coordinator at the University of Texas, worked with Wilson to create a culture where speed was an essential ingredient to handle the wide-open offenses in the Southeastern Conference
“I’d play my momma if she could get me a sack,” Wilson said. “I don’t care who it is. If I can find a guy who can get off the edge and get pressure and get the quarterback, we’ll use him.”
Enter Denico Autry. The highly coveted transfer from East Mississippi Community College was the second-best junior college transfer in the country. He picked MSU because of the opportunity to play right away.
Autry led EMCC defensive linemen with 81 tackles (54 solo, 27 assisted) last season, including a team-high 11 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. The Albemarle, N.C., native also was credited with 41 quarterback hurries, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
Without knowing it, Autry’s arrival motivated senior defensive end Shane McCardell. The converted receiver, who now weighs nearly 260 pounds, has been active in the spring and has impressed the coaches early in practice.
“I was kind of excited,” McCardell said Thursday when asked of the signing of Autry. “He’s probably the closest end to me in terms of speed and we’ll push each other to get better. We can always learn
from each other.”
Wilson hopes the success Autry had at EMCC upperclassmen like McCardell.
“I know it didn’t hurt,” Wilson said, “so from the standpoint of him looking over and seeing a guy as talented with a high motor, I think it really has helped Shane a lot. Denico has won a national championship, he’s been an All-American.”
Wilson has talked about the importance of the physical development of players since he came to MSU from his alma mater, the University of Oklahoma. He said the work the coaches have done with strength and conditioning coach Matt Balis has helped MSU put together a roster he feels can match other SEC teams.
“What you see is when they walk off the bus they look like a SEC football team,” Wilson said. “You look at Nick (James) and Josh (Boyd) and P.J. Jones, just to talk about some guys (and) they look like a SEC football team. Now it’s getting them to play that way on a consistent basis is the goal.”
Wilson has even silenced the critics in MSU’s meeting rooms. It seems the players doubted their coach really was a talented linebacker at Oklahoma. Wilson’s son, Caleb, who is a sophomore quarterback at Starkville High School, decided to give his dad some ammunition for his players by finding a highlight reel of him on YouTube he could show any players who still had lingering doubts.
“Give the credit or disservice to my son for showing the guys my film from my playing days,” Wilson said.
Wilson said Tuesday the tape of him wearing No. 30 and playing linebacker didn’t convince the doubters in the meeting rooms.
“I still think his blitz technique needed some serious work,” MSU linebacker Christian Holmes said with a laugh.
Wilson agreed with the assessment Holmes gave of Wilson at MSU’s media day.
“That’s why I’m not playing anymore,” Wilson said.
The one thing Wilson’s players can agree on is they’d rather not play for anybody else.
“The best thing that’s happened to my football career is playing for coach Wilson,” MSU linebacker Cam Lawrence said. “The one thing he makes sure of is by the time you’re a senior, which I am, you know what it means to be a complete football player.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.