Jul 15, 2014; Hoover, AL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen talks to the media during the SEC Football Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Dan Mullen has Done this Before
A lot of people thought Dan Mullen was just riding the coat tails of Urban Meyer when he took over at Mississippi State. A lot of that was debunked when the Florida offense wasn’t quite as explosive after Mullen left. When Mullen has a quarterback that can run and punish people when he does so, Mullen knows what to do with him. If you don’t believe this, just look at how much better the offense was when Chris Relf, a low skilled lightly recruited quarterback that didn’t throw it very well at all, as opposed to when Tyler Russell, a highly skilled and polished passer, was at the helm. Russell had all the tools but was just not the right fit. Relf had few of the tools, but could do what Mullen valued in an offense and played better than anyone thought he could.
Now Mullen has a guy that needs to improve but is the ideal fit for what he wants to do. Not only that, but he has spent the entire off season tailoring his offense to what Dak Prescott can do. The thing people who think simply adding in extra yardage for snaps Prescott didn’t play based on averages forget that the offense was adjusted (poorly done, but Mullen tried) to fit Tyler Russell. Prescott had to play in an offense that couldn’t utilize him to the best of his capabilities. Mississippi State was the first SEC team to offer Dak Prescott a scholarship, and it was because Mullen saw someone who brought to the table everything he needed in a quarterback. If Prescott can get his completion percentage to around 65%, which isn’t a huge stretch when he is already at 58%, then he is going to put up big numbers.