CoogFans.com Question: What are MSU fans saying about facing the '09 Houston Cougars?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: Most of the talk centers around how to defense Houston's exceptional offense and how the 60% to 70% chance of rain will affect the game. Most Mississippi State fans feel the rain will be an advantage to MSU due to the strong MSU running game and Houston's lack of same.
CoogFans.com Question: Tell us how QB Tyson Lee is developing in Coach Mullen's offense?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: Tyson played in the spread in junior college so this offense is better suited for him than the one Mississippi State played last season. And my first reaction to your question is to say that his stats will reflect that. But they are actually down compared to last season. Last year, he threw for a total of 7 TDs with 5 interceptions and completed 58.8% of his passes. He played in 11 games and started 8. This year, in five games, he has completed a little over 54% of his passes and thrown 3 TDs and 4 interceptions. And his yards passing per game is down by about 4. I guess you can say that he is about the same as last season, nothing spectacular but he manages the game well.
CoogFans.com Question: How would you describe the '09 MSU offense?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: It is much improved over last season, points-wise and yardage-wise. The 2008 team averaged a little over 15 points per game, while this year's team is almost doubling that average with a little 28 points per game. The biggest improvement has been in the running game. During the 2008 season the MSU running game averaged about 102 yards per game. So far this season State is averaging 205 yards per game. And the improvement is not due to playing an early cupcake schedule. Three of the five teams are ranked among the top-25 (Auburn, LSU, Georgia Tech), a fourth was Vanderbilt, another SEC team. While your initially reaction is to say that the running backs are running the ball better, it really comes down to a much-improved offensive line. I'll talk about that in the question below about the O-line.
CoogFans.com Question: In your opinion, is RB Anthony Dixon having the type of year that many MSU fans had hoped for?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: Dixon is living up to expectations and more. Last year he averaged just over 72 yards per game, while this year he is averaging almost 108 yards per game. And his yards per carry is 5.0 compared to 4.4 last season. This coaching staff is also running him more, about 5 carries more per game. But he can handle it since he is in the 235 to 240 range weight-wise.
CoogFans.com Question: How are your receivers this season?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: The receiving is much, much better than last season. The overall speed and talent level has increased dramatically due to a couple of newcomers, freshman Chad Bumphis and juco Leon Berry, and the return of redshirt sophomore TE Marcus Green from an injury. Chad has superstar written all over him. In five games he has caught 16 passes for 192 yards and 3 TDs. And 10 of those receptions and almost 170 of the yards have come in the last two games. And that's in an offense that runs the ball 63% of the time, so his opportunities are limited. Berry doesn't catch as many balls, but he has been electrifying in the return game, to the point where Georgia Tech quit kicking his way during last week's game. Green gives State a size and speed mis-match that this coaching staff has taken full advantage of. In the last two games alone, he has 8 receptions for 125 yards. And, remember, this is at the tight end position.
CoogFans.com Question: What has the run/pass ratio been so far this season?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: As mentioned above, State runs the ball about 63% of the time, but that's to be expected when you have a deep stable of talented running backs, including one of the best in the SEC, Anthony Dixon.
CoogFans.com Question: How is the offensive line performing?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: This year's offensive line has been playing well and continues to be a strength of the team, but when you consider four of the five (Derek Sherrod, Quentin Saulsberry, J.C. Brignone, Craig Jenkins) were starters last season that should be expected. And three of those four return next season, along with first-year starter sophomore Addison Lawrence, so they should be even better.
The bottom line is no offense can produce the way the MSU offense is without a solid group of offensive line. While the points and yards are great examples of that, another stat that reflects the improvement of this year's O-line is sacks. Last season they gave up 36 sacks in 12 games. This year, in five games, they have given up 4. After averaging 3 sacks per game last season, they are giving up less than 1 per game this year.
CoogFans.com Question: I know that MSU lost several defensive starters, how is the defense developing overall?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: The State defense has been up and down this season, almost like Dr. Jackal and Mr. Hyde. One week they give up 7 points, the next week 49 points, then 3, then 30, then 42. Of course, the teams that have scored the small number of points against them are poor offensive teams, while the other three are good offensive teams. While many MSU fans blame the secondary for the poor play of the defense, truthfully, it has been a team effort.
The good news for State fans is there is a lot of youth on the defense (most of the best players are either freshmen or sophomores with a few talented juniors thrown in), so the future is actually bright for the MSU defense. Two of the juniors (DE Pernell McPhee, LB K.J. Wright) should be very high draft picks next season (I can see McPhee being a 1st-rounder), while two of the true freshmen (DTs Josh Boyd and Fletcher Cox) have All-American written all over them.
CoogFans.com Question: Is the secondary ready for the multi-faceted Houston offense?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: No secondary is ever ready for an offense like Houston's. You don't stop them, you simply try to slow them down to a fast trot. Plus, you try to keep the ball away from them by burning up the clock as much as possible.
As for MSU's secondary, three of the starters are new to starting and, as you would expect, they have had to deal with the growing pains of being starters. There is some talent there, especially among the young guys, but they are still young and still learning. And due to an injury to starting strong safety Zach Smith, State will probably have a new starter at his position in the Houston game. And it's possible it could be a true freshman or redshirt sophomore who has limited playing time in the secondary. Can you say ouch!
CoogFans.com Question: Are the MSU fans happy with the progress made thus far under Coach Mullen?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: State fans are elated with what they are seeing from Mullen's first team. Although the team is 2-3 right now, they could easily be 4-1 if they score from the six-inch line against LSU at the end of the game and commit two less turnovers against Georgia Tech. But I guess you could say similar things about most teams that lose close games. But this team isn't that far away and the talent on the squad, especially the young talent, bodes well for the future of MSU football. Add in a Parade All-American QB next year, true freshman Tyler Russell who is being redshirted, and most of the ingredients are already in place.
CoogFans.com Question: Based on preseason expectations, which side of the ball has MSU over/under-performed thus far this season?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: Offense, offense, offense, then the kicking game have performed better than expected. Almost doubling points scored backs up the offensive improvement statement. And adding two juco All-American kicks in kicker Sean Brauchle and punter Heath Hutchins has done wonders for the kicking game. Also, adding juco wide receiver/kick returner/punt returner Leon Berry has been huge for the MSU return game. While his numbers are not significantly better than last year's, when a team starts kicking away from a player you know he is considered a big-time threat. And that is what is happening to Berry.
As for under-performing, the defense has as a group. The defense was expected to carry the team early on but has been torched for 49, 30 and 42 points in three of the five games. And State has lost all three. However, there is talent on the defensive side of the ball. The coaches simply have to figure out the best way to utilize that talent.
CoogFans.com Question: What should Houston fans expect to see from the MSU team overall?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: A very good offensive team, an average defense and an excellent kicking game.
The offense is strong running the ball, especially when the ball is in senior Anthony Dixon's hands. And if the MSU QB can get the ball in the hands of WRs Chad Bumphis and Leon Berry, and TE Marcus Green the passing game can be dangerous.
The defense runs a three-man or four-man front. The guy to watch on the defensive line is juco transfer Pernell McPhee, a two-time All-American in junior college. He will be a candidate for All-SEC for sure. Linebackers Jamar Chaney and K.J. Wright are two of the best in the SEC.
The kicking game, for the most part, has had excellent coverage, a great kick/punt returner in Leon Berry, and a very good kicker and punter. It's questionable if the kicker will start due to being hurt during last week's game, but the backup performed ok.
CoogFans.com Question: Where do you expect MSU to finish in the SEC this season?
GenesPage.com Publisher Answer: I see State winding up 5th or 6th in the SEC West this season primarily due to how strong the West is this year. I can see State, with a little luck on their side, going 4 and 4 in the SEC, but they will have to do it by winning two road games (Kentucky, Arkansas) and defeating Ole Miss at home. Defeating Alabama and Florida, even though they are home games for State, is probably a little too much to ask from a team that has a lot of youth and is still learning under a new coaching staff. But if they can win the ones they have a legit chance in, then I look for them to be bowl bound this season. That's not bad for the first year under a new coach.
Now, if you had asked me about next year's and the year after State teams, I see them being tremendously improved and battling for the upper half of the West both seasons with a legit chance of battling for the SEC West title in 2011.