How Mississippi State football Zach Arnett and Kevin Barbay showcased accountability against Arizona

Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett admits to mistakes in conservative play calling during game against Arizona, vows to be more aggressive.

In his postgame media conference, Coach Arnett admitted that he didn't have a sufficient plan for the contest. He also acknowledged that the players were able to overcome his coaching. However, on Monday, he provided more details about the game.

During the first quarter, Arizona had possession of the ball while trailing 14-0. The Wildcats embarked on a 19-play drive, but it ultimately ended with safety Shawn Preston Jr. forcing a fumble that was returned 23 yards to the MSU 41-yard line. This gave the Bulldogs an opportunity to extend their lead. Instead, Arnett instructed Barbay to run down the clock in order to give the defense a chance to rest.

Unfortunately, the drive concluded with a missed 41-yard field goal. Arizona took advantage of this and scored a touchdown just before halftime.

Reflecting on the situation, Arnett expressed regret, stating, "If I could do it over again, I would have told us to be extremely aggressive. We had the chance to seize all the momentum in the game. We had just made a big play to prevent a score. Yes, our defense would have been exhausted, but it would have been worth it for the momentum and the potential three scores. I mismanaged that situation very poorly."

He continued, taking responsibility for his mistake and promising to address it with the team. Arnett acknowledged that he should have instructed the offense to be more aggressive, emphasizing that it is the defense's responsibility to stop the opposing team regardless of the circumstances, even after a lengthy drive. He admitted that he may have deflated the team's energy in that moment and stressed the importance of being accountable as the head coach.

Despite these revelations, the conservative approach prevailed. Mississippi State relied heavily on the running game, with 39 rushing attempts. Senior quarterback Will Rogers had his lowest number of pass attempts (17) since becoming a starter. Out of his 13 completions, only three were for more than 15 yards. In the second half and overtime, he attempted just nine passes.

There was anticipation for explosive plays with the return of sophomore receiver Zavion Thomas from injury, but that did not materialize.

Barbay acknowledged the criticism and admitted to being self-critical. He stated, "As I review the game and analyze my performance, I realize that I was too conservative in the second half. I stuck with the run-game strategy instead of exploring other options."

One surprising aspect was the limited playing time of backup quarterback Mike Wright, a transfer from Vanderbilt. He only played seven snaps against Arizona, compared to the 11 he played in the season opener. In the game against Southeastern Louisiana, Wright had five rushing attempts for 95 yards. However, against the Wildcats, he only had one attempt, resulting in a loss of three yards. It is possible that Arizona's defense focused on stopping the run when Wright was on the field. So far, Wright has not attempted a pass in the two games he has played.

Barbay mentioned that there were planned passing plays for Wright that he did not call during the game. He assured that fans can expect to see Wright throw the ball in future games.

Looking ahead, Mississippi State (2-0) will face No. 14 LSU (1-1) at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday. The team aims to learn from their mistakes and improve as they enter SEC play.

Stefan Krajisnik, the beat writer for Mississippi State, can be reached at [email protected] or followed on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.

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