Three keys to a Mississippi State win over Missouri

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No. 24 Mississippi State plays the first of five straight games versus ranked teams in the SEC this Saturday when it hosts No. 19 Missouri. Earning a win will take a lot, including these three keys.

MSU’s 3-3-5 vs. Mizzou’s outside zone

Missouri loves to pound the rock no matter who their starting running back is. This year they’ve run the ball 58.47% of the time, which is the 39th highest mark in the country and the fourth highest in the SEC. They do it with an outside zone that spreads out the opposing defense and creates multiple lanes for the ball carrier to choose from. Last year, it allowed the Tigers to run for 326 yards en route to a 49-27 over MSU win on their home turf. During the SEC’s coaches media teleconference on Wednesday, coach Jeff Lebby stressed the need to make the Tigers one-dimensional, win the edges and fly to the football.

Cleaning things up

The win over South Carolina did not come without its warts. On top of committing its first turnover of the season, the Bulldogs were penalized 14 times for 98 yards, and that doesn’t count other penalties that were declined. MSU is now averaging 78.7 penalty yards per game, which is the 12th worst mark in college football. Most of State’s penalties were holdings committed by the offensive line, so their technique will have to improve drastically. The offense must also have a cleaner pre-snap process, which in turn will set up the offense for the big plays it has become so well-known for this season.

Disrupt Austin Simmons

Whatever passes Austin Simmons has thrown this season have usually been thrown with a clean pocket. Simmons has been sacked just twice this season and, according to Pro Football Focus, has been kept clean on an overwhelming 89% of his dropbacks. If you are Mississippi State’s defense, you are looking for ways to make him uncomfortable by any means, which could come in a variety of different ways. One of them is, obviously, generating pressure, but it could also involve coverage sacks, containing him or some form of adjustment(s) made by Zach Arnett.

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