FAYETTEVILLE — Razorbacks defensive coordinator John Chavis is typically an early riser, beginning his day before 6 a.m. more often than not.
But after watching Arkansas' defense give up 52 points and 35 unanswered in the second half Saturday in Starkville, Miss., the longtime SEC coordinator didn't sleep – more like he couldn't.
He rested his eyes for a few hours Sunday morning, but his busy mind wouldn't turn off.
"It bothers you when you don't get your best," Chavis said Monday. "That has to do with me and that has to do with preparation and has to do with everybody around. If you can go home and go to sleep then something is wrong.
"I'm not suggesting you have to kill yourself or anything like that, but you don't feel good. I had a high school coach that taught me a long time ago: the only cure that gets that feeling back is winning. That's why you go compete, because you want to win. You do your best to win, and this game isn't any fun when you don't win."
Arkansas allowed Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald to throw four touchdown passes in the 52-6 loss – the Razorbacks' 10th straight in SEC play. Backup Keytaon Thompson tallied one as well to set the final margin. Prior to Saturday, Fitzgerald had thrown for only two scores in conference play, and the Bulldogs' five touchdown passes tied a season-high set in their season-opening win against Stephen F. Austin.
The Bulldogs were also 7 of 10 on third down, which didn't sit well with Chavis.
"We didn't do a very good job of (getting off the field)," he said. "I thought our kids played hard, I think they played physical. But we didn't tackle was well as we needed to in certain situations and we didn't cover as well as we needed to. That's why the result was like it was."
Mississippi State tight end Justin Johnson and receiver Austin Williams each totaled career highs in receiving yards in the win and second-string running back Aeris Williams rushed for 104 yards, becoming the fifth player to finish with 100-plus yards on the ground against the Razorbacks in league play.
Fitzgerald, who'd thrown for more than 125 yards twice against SEC teams heading into last Saturday, had a rare efficient game passing against Arkansas, whose secondary was at full-go. Santos Ramirez was beaten by Thompson for a late touchdown on fourth down while Ryan Pulley and Kam Curl's matchups also found the end zone.
Pulley and Curl, following reports of socializing with members of the Mississippi State pom squad prior to the game, have been suspended from team activities this week and are not expected to play at Missouri on Friday, Chad Morris announced Monday.
Chavis said he was disappointed in their actions, which Morris deemed "completely unacceptable," and stands behind the head coach's decision.
"It's really perception," he added. "Here we are fighting to develop the kind of culture where you're going to have a winning attitude by every guy that walks on that field ... and again, I'm not questioning their character, but the perception was not very good."
Montaric Brown and Britto Tutt (6 combined tackles this season) are the candidates to fill Pulley's role, and freshmen Myles Mason and Joe Foucha are likely to replace Curl, Morris and Chavis said.
The young, largely inexperienced players will be charged in trying to slow one of the league's top passing offenses. Missouri quarterback Drew Lock has thrown for 2,904 yards and 23 touchdowns this season, and four Tigers receivers have at least 26 catches, 400 yards and three touchdowns on the year.
Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, a preseason All-SEC selection now projected to go mid-first round in the 2019 NFL Draft, leads the group with six touchdowns.
"It doesn't get any easier this week. A little bit different style and one of the top quarterbacks in the country," Chavis said. "I think they bring nine starters back, and that offensive line has played together for several years. It will be a challenge, but one we're gonna work hard and hopefully we'll be more prepared for.
"They've had their ups and downs too, but they are a very talented offensive football team."