Shoop details success at MSU, reflects on UT

When Bob Shoop joined first-year coach Joe Moorhead’s staff at Mississippi State in December, Shoop wanted to help create a culture rather than fit into one.

That's different than how he remembers coming aboard Butch Jones’ staff at Tennessee in 2016.

“Compared to Tennessee, we all came in as a new staff here, so it’s an opportunity for us to create a culture,” Shoop said last week in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee.

“And I think one of the things, looking back, that I really tried to do at Tennessee, whether it was to my detriment or whatever, was to try to fit into that culture – and really, in some ways, never got a chance to be myself or who I was.”

With Moorhead’s blessing, Shoop is operating MSU’s defense just the way he wants.

The results striking.

The Bulldogs (4-2, 1-2 SEC) rank No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense, surrendering 12.7 points per game. Only one of their first six opponents has scored more than 13 points.

“The one thing I made sure I was going to do, after my experience at Tennessee,” Shoop said, “I was going to do it the way I wanted to do it, and I wasn’t going to compromise anything.” are

A scheme similar to Vanderbilt, Penn State

Before Shoop's two seasons at Tennessee, he was James Franklin’s defensive coordinator for five seasons – first at Vanderbilt, then at Penn State. His defenses ranked in the top 30 in scoring defense in four of those five seasons.

Shoop's Mississippi State defense is schematically reminiscent of his Vanderbilt units, with a bit of Penn State sprinkled in.

“We’re very aggressive in our approach and mind-set, probably more so than we were at Tennessee,” Shoop said.

Shoop is MSU’s fifth defensive coordinator in as many seasons. He credits a mature, talented defensive group with helping make the transition as smooth as possible.

MSU is highlighted by defensive end Montez Sweat, who is tied for the SEC lead in sacks and, Shoop said, is "as good as anybody in college football at his position." Veteran safety Johnathan Abram and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons are standouts, too.