The Bulldog defensive line was horrendous this season, and this stat sums up just how bad they were.
Mississippi State football had a disappointing 2024 season, largely due to a struggling defense. The Bulldogs featured one of the worst defenses in the nation, allowing an average of 34.1 points per game, which ranks 118th overall. They also placed 127th in total defense, giving up 456.4 yards per game.
These statistics represent some of the lowest in the program’s history. Delving deeper into specific defensive positions reveals even more concerning trends.
The Mississippi State defensive line was particularly ineffective at applying pressure. There’s little doubt that this position group was the weakest in years. They were overpowered by nearly every opponent’s offensive line, even those outside of the SEC. The defensive line struggled against the run and was unable to generate any significant pass rush.
Just how ineffective was their pass rush? Sam Sklar from the Clarion Ledger highlighted a statistic that illustrates just how poor their ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks truly was.
This year, Mississippi State’s defensive linemen combined for just 4.0 sacks. Yes, you read that right—FOUR. With 13 defensive linemen on the roster, it’s clear that not all of them played, and injuries plagued the unit throughout the season. However, producing only four sacks from that position is simply unacceptable.
It gets even worse: among the six Bulldog defensive linemen who recorded at least 0.5 sacks, the leader was Kalvin Dinkins, who played in just one game all season! He tallied 1.0 sack in the season opener before getting injured and missing the rest of the year. Yet, that single sack was enough to top the position group.
That’s truly embarrassing. While some Mississippi State linebackers do play hybrid roles, acting as defensive ends, even when considering their contributions, the overall sack total only increased by 2.5. This doesn’t make the situation any better.
As a team, Mississippi State managed a mere 10.0 sacks, ranking as the second-worst total in the nation. They were the only SEC team that failed to record at least 22.0 sacks this season. To put it in perspective, in-state rivals Ole Miss led the country with 52.0 sacks, meaning they were 5.2 times more effective at pressuring quarterbacks. This stark contrast highlights the difference between having legitimate NFL talent on the front line and what Mississippi State showcased this season.
It’s clear: Mississippi State must completely revamp its defensive line for 2025. It’s an understatement to say they can’t endure another season of such poor performance on the defensive front. The lack of talent in that area was a major factor in the team’s struggles in 2024.
While there are promising players at linebacker and in the secondary, if the defensive line continues to be overpowered on run plays and allows quarterbacks too much time, the defense will suffer.
Securing multiple high-level transfers and signing several impactful defensive linemen in the 2025 recruiting class is essential. They cannot afford to bring back the same group from this season. If there isn’t an influx of talent on the defensive line, there’s little hope for improvement in the defense for 2025.
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