Zach Arnett stresses execution, playing with fire against Aggies

As Zach Arnett and the Mississippi State football team try to salvage this season, the Bulldogs go to College Station to meet up with the Texas A&M Aggies.

Following a rough 24-3 loss to Kentucky, first year Mississippi State football head coach Zach Arnett and the Mississippi State Bulldogs are trying to find a way to get into a bowl game this season. And if that’s going to happen, they need to win on the road against Jimbo Fisher and the Texas A&M Aggies.

If that’s to happen, then Arnett’s team will need to execute at a high level at Kyle Field. And that’s easier said than done for this team, that hasn’t really executed cleanly or played with maximum competitiveness for all four quarters.

Mississippi State football: Zach Arnett and MSU Bulldogs hit the road for challenging road game at Texas A&M

Despite the disappointing final result against Kentucky, Arnett took some time to highlight the positives he found against the Wildcats.

“I thought we competed very hard, played with great effort, intensity, passion,” Arnett stated. “We just need to execute a little better and make a few more plays.”

That might be a bit of a stretch when looking at a 21-point game, but he does have a point in acknowledging that the Bulldogs did try to compete in a chippy, tough game against Kentucky. Mistakes and the subsequent consequences just kinda piled up and prevented the Bulldogs from having a chance at winning.

Now, if MSU is going to get a road win, they’re going to have to play better. Arnett thinks that’s possible.

“That is the difference between winning and losing,” said Arnett. “If we can continue to play with that level of competitive spirit and fire for four quarters and execute a little better in some situations, then obviously you give yourself a better chance to win.”

Mississippi State Bulldogs look to find a way to win on the road against Texas A&M Aggies

Arnett is also faced with a tough challenge of figuring out the best way to win now, despite the way the season has spiraled, and finding a way to develop young talent. Because between Seth Davis, Creed Whittemore, and Chris Parson, there’s a lot of young talent on offense that could help the Bulldogs down the road.

And when key contributors and starters who have more seniority also happen to be injured and are playing ineffectively, it’s worth wondering if the Bulldogs would just be better outright by playing their freshmen.

When Arnett discussed trying to find a balance between salvaging this season and developing young talent, MSU’s head coach said that winning is what the Bulldogs need to do.

“The only objective is to win,” Arnett asserted. “You only put guys out there who you feel give you a chance to win.”

Everything Mississippi State football coach Zach Arnett said before facing Texas A&M Aggies

Here’s everything Arnett had to say ahead of the Bulldogs’ game against Texas A&M:

MSU and Arnett desperately need to find some ways to win games this season. The Bulldogs can’t afford to lose anymore if this season is going to be something they’re satisfied with. Too many opportunities have disappeared for the Bulldogs to win and they won’t find many more chances to win up ahead.

So that might mean that Arnett, who has shown the willingness to adapt here and there, needs to get his young playmakers out on the field. He might need to ensure that Kevin Barbay’s offense is truly enables the freedom it needs to thrive. And he might need to enable Matt Brock on the defensive side of things.

Because State needs something to change in a hurry. And it wouldn’t be ideal for the Bulldogs to make a significant change in coaching personnel. In an ideal world, this staff would get things turned around.

But what has happened this season, a year that absolutely shouldn’t have been a rebuilding year, has been painful and can’t be deemed acceptable. So here’s to hoping that Arnett can make some changes and get some wins as this season winds down.