Mississippi State defense has to step up against Ole Miss

STARKVILLE – To say Mississippi State has struggled keeping opponents off the scoreboard in recent weeks is an understatement. And it’s not going to be any easier on Friday with No. 6 Ole Miss rolling into Starkville.

Mississippi State (5-6, 1-6) heads into this year’s Egg Bowl looking to bounce back from a series of rough defensive performances, especially against the run. In Mississippi State’s last four games, opponents have scored at least 35 points each.

The Bulldogs have been especially porous against the run, surrendering the most rushing yards (2,088) in the SEC this season. Mississippi State has allowed 868 yards on the ground in its last three games. In the Bulldogs’ last game, a 49-27 loss to Missouri, they let Ahmad Hardy run for 300 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries.

“The run game is just playing our gaps, doing our assignment,” Mississippi State linebacker Nic Mitchell said. “Like I said postgame (against) Mizzou, we just got to do simple better, and we’re going to do that this week and handle business.”

A struggling run defense is a bad matchup for an Ole Miss (10-1, 6-1) team that can run the ball. Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss’ leading rusher, has 1,136 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground and ran for 224 yards and three touchdowns in his last game against Florida. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is a threat with his legs as well.

“They’ve played with really good balance,” Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby said. “Their run game right now is as good as it’s been all year long. The back is a guy that can create a ton of explosives and great top-end speed. And then the QB being involved in the run game, it makes it tougher. For us, we’ve got to tackle really well. When we get into one-on-one situations, we’ve got to find ways to get guys on the ground. We’ve got to get 11 hats to the football. And that, for us, is going to be where it starts. From a tackling standpoint, it’s going to be a huge piece of it Friday morning.”

Even if Mississippi State finds a way to minimize the Rebels’ ground game, Ole Miss can still throw it as well. Chambliss is seventh in the country in QBR and has thrown for 2,657 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.

“The guy just makes a ton of timely plays, and he can create and he does things in the run game that really make it hard for you,” Lebby said. “And then the way he’s been able to throw the football around and make the plays when he’s needed to is impressive for a guy that got there so late, has never played inside this league. He belongs, he’s been a big-time player and has given them the ability to have the season that they’re having.”

The Egg Bowl kicks off at 11 a.m. Friday and will be broadcast on ABC.