Miss State coordinator believes Bama game comes down one key stat

Published Nov. 12, 2015 5:43 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mississippi State's front seven opened conference play by facing a task similar to the one it faces Saturday with Alabama's physical front and running back Derrick Henry coming to town. In that game, LSU ran for 266 yards on 47 attempts and won 22-19.

Mississippi State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz sees much of the same traits from Alabama after studying the Crimson Tide's offensive tape.

“It’s our biggest task since the LSU game, in terms of a great player at running back. Nobody’s quite had the answer in getting (Henry) stopped yet. Part of it is because they’re just so persistent in pounding him,” Diaz said. “That’s one of the challenges that I have a lot of respect for in their offense.

“They’re just going to keep asking you the same question and see if you’re willing to be where you’re supposed to be with the right frame of mind for 60 minutes. If you can hang on 15 or 25 or 35, sooner or later, they keep pounding at you, it cracks, and then the big plays occur. It is a challenge of mental discipline and mental toughness as much as physical toughness.”

Diaz understands Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin's plan is to methodically pound the defense, suck linebackers and safeties up to defend the run and hit the defense with an explosive play that ideally results in a score for the offense.

“It’s all about the explosive play,” Diaz said. “On normal downs, everything comes off some sort of run-action. They’re not going to drop back. They’re going to pound you, pound you, and here comes somebody on a crossing route. Pound you, pound you, here comes somebody on a double move down the field."

Mississippi State's defense has been exceptional this season at not allowing explosive scores -- defined as scores coming from outside of the red zone -- as the Bulldog defense currently ranks No. 7 in the nation in preventing explosive scores, according to Dave Bartoo of CFB Matrix.

“They present the type of deal where you play well except for five or six plays, and those five or six can be huge chunk plays and touchdowns," Diaz said. "That’s a strength of theirs and we feel that’s a strength of ours, not allowing that to happen. That, to me, is going to be very telling in who comes out on top on Saturday.”