Data storage device decoder and method of operation

A data storage device comprising:

• a nonvolatile memory, wherein the nonvolatile memory is configured to store a set of bits;
• and
• a controller, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the nonvolatile memory, wherein the controller includes a decoder, wherein the decoder is configured to receive the set of bits from the nonvolatile memory, and wherein the decoder is further configured to perform a decoding operation using the set of bits based on a parity check matrix that includes a block row having a first non-zero sub-matrix and further having a second non-zero sub-matrix that is separated from the first non-zero sub-matrix within the block row by at least a threshold number of null sub-matrices of the block row.