Should State Get Rid of the 1B Defense?
Oct 25, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Dorian Baker (2) runs the ball against Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker Zach Jackson (14) in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Mississippi State defeated Kentucky 45-31. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Mississippi State has been using a new defensive strategy this year designed to help keep players fresh for the 4th quarter. It’s all centered around the Bulldogs depth and experience on that side of the ball that allowed them to create a 1A team, and a 1B team. In every game Geoff Collins has instituted wholesale changes – subbing in an entirely new defense periodically.
Mullen admitted in his press conference on Monday that against Kentucky there were 50 plays by the 1A defense and 22 plays by the 1B defense, but the 1B gave up more yards and more points than the 1A.
Against the Wildcats this was okay – MSU’s offense was substantially better than UK’s defense, so even on a below average day they racked up five touchdowns and over 500 yards to make up for the defense allowing 31 points. But is this a strategy that should continue? When playing Arkansas, Alabama or Ole Miss could this cost State the game?
1A:
- Preston Smith
- Kaleb Eulls
- P.J. Jones
- Ryan Brown
- Matthew Wells
- Benardrick McKinney
- Beniquez Brown
- Jamerson Love
- Justin Cox
- Jay Hughes
- Taveze Calhoun
1B:
- Nelson Adams
- Chris Jones
- Nick James
- A.J. Jefferson
- Zach Jackson
- Richie Brown
- Christian Holmes
- Will Redmond
- Kivon Coman/Deontay Evans
- Kendrick Market
- Tolando Cleveland
That’s an impressive 23 players. I agree that there isn’t much drop-off in talent. There really hasn’t been too much drop-off in production either until the Kentucky game.
Mullen:
"We’re not going to change who we are. We’re going to rotate a lot of guys."
I’m fine with that sentiment. In fact, I embrace and support it; however, I’m not a big fan of the wholesale changes. There are a couple of areas where I think things drop off a good bit when the 1B comes in: linebackers, Free Safety and one corner spot. That’s five players, almost half the defense where the drop is significant enough it can make a big impact on the game.
I love Richie Brown but he’s not Benardrick McKinney – pretty much no one is. Matthew Wells is a freak, that’s hard for Zach Jackson to live up to. Turtle is a solid player, but Beni Brown is an emerging star.
Kivon Coman, Deontay Evans and Tolando Cleveland are just young, and don’t have the experience that Justin Cox or Taveze Calhoun have. That hurts us at times.
I want to give all these guys playing time. They deserve to be in games, but maybe not at the same time. Let Richie spell Benardrick, but he can do it while Beni and Cheetah are in the game too.
Wholesale changes on the defensive line are fine. Not only do those guys need to be rotated more often, but the 1B is literally just as good as the 1A. In the back seven, however, I’m not so sure a complete substitution is the right thing.
It will be interesting to see what happens on Saturday vs. Arkansas, and even more interesting to see what happens on November 15th in Tuscaloosa.