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MWN Mailbag: Cupcake Edition

By Justin Strawn

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Sep 12, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) scores a touchdown past LSU Tigers linebacker Kendell Beckwith (52). LSU won 21-19. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

It’s Mailbag time! it’s the point of the week where I go to you the reader, and I find out what it is that is on your mind. And there is always something on your mind.

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Mississippi State suffered their first loss of the season much earlier in 2015 than it did in 2014. As a result, some of you are freaking out. I get to a certain extent, but lets slow down on season is a lost cause stuff so many are talking about. And to say the least people are concerned about how much Dak isn’t running.

Sure, there is plenty of reason to be concerned. The running game is the obvious problem. There is also the offensive line’s ability to actually do its job and block someone. So the team has issues, but we are a missed field goal away from being 2-0 instead of 1-1.

Let’s go ahead and open up the bag and see what is on your mind the most. If you don’t like my answers, feel free to be wrong and tell me how wrong I am.

I don’t completely understand this question. Dak Prescott hasn’t had a slow start. He may not be running the ball as much or as effectively as we would like for him to be running the ball, but he certainly isn’t off to a slow start.

In 2014, Dak Prescott averaged 265.3 yards passing each game, 2.1 touchdowns, and .85 interceptions while completing 61.6 percent of his passes. He also averaged 75.85 yards rushing per game and 1.1 touchdowns. That’s a combined average of 341.15 yards, 3.2 touchdowns, and .85 interceptions.

So far in 2015, Dak is averaging 286 yards passing, 1.5 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions while completing 62.2 percent of his passes. He also is averaging 26.5 yards rushing and 1 touchdown a game. Combine those numbers and it comes out to 312.5 yards, 2.5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. That isn’t a slow start.

Now, if you want to talk about the Heisman, it is going to have very little to do with any of those numbers. The numbers that will matter the most will be the numbers in the wins and losses column. Dak Prescott could handle two losses and still win the Heisman. The good thing going for him in regards to the Heisman is losing early is far better than losing late. He lost a lot of votes because Mississippi State lost two of their final three games in 2014.

Prescott isn’t off to a slow start. He’s playing well. He just isn’t getting a whole lot of help from the running game.

This is the biggest frustration among fans so far in 2015. Dak Prescott isn’t running enough. Dan Mullen isn’t calling as many designed run plays for Prescott. They are all correct, and there is a reason for it.

Other teams are taking it away.

Alabama and Ole Miss set out to make Dak Prescott throw the ball more and they succeeded. He struggled against Alabama, and he played well enough against Ole Miss, but he just didn’t have any help. Both Mullen and Prescott knew he was going to have to become a more accurate passer if the Bulldogs were going to have success.

This summer, Prescott spent a lot of time slimming down and getting rid of some of the bulk on his body. The result is a slimmer frame that has a much more fluid throwing motion. Another result is a body that can’t sustain the hits like it once could.

To answer this question, avoiding injury is part of the reason Prescott looks to throw when he has room to run this year. Unless he is certain he has a 1st down, He will try to find an open receiver. And remember, unless you’re there in person, you don’t know just how much green he has in front of him. There could easily be a defender waiting to take his head off of his shoulders, and you just don’t see him on the screen.

Trust me, if Dak Prescott and Dan Mullen thought there was an easier and better way to move the ball offensively, they would do it. They want to win much more than any of us fans want them to win. If has space and can get a first down, he’ll run.

Here’s the thing. I think Dan Mullen is looking at the defense and realizing the opposition isn’t giving Dak many options to run. They are playing to take that away because they don’t respect the ability of the other running backs to get the job done.

For this reason, I’m fine with it. Mullen tried to force the issue in the first half against LSU, and the Bulldogs didn’t move the ball at all. The only way Dak’s running is going to get better and more frequent is for the running backs making the defense pay for making sure they don’t allow Dak to hurt them with his feet. I guarantee if Shumpert starts to hurt teams more running the ball, Dak will start running better and more often.

I really didn’t know how to answer this question. But I know it’s referencing the fact we are actually playing a game at a decent hour for the first time this season. So I decided to list some of the things you’ll actually be able to do after the game is officially over. I’m hoping it will be over for all intents and purposes somewhere around the middle of the second quarter.

So, without further adieu, here is my list of things you’ll be able to do after Mississippi State’s game is over this Saturday.

  • Go out to eat and eat at a regular dinner time
  • Go to sleep at a your normal bed time
  • Help your husband or wife put the kids to bed
  • Rant about the GOP Debate despite it happened 3 days earlier
  • Watch other football games you’re interested in
  • Rag Ole Miss fans on Twitter and Facebook  about getting beat by Bama if Ole Miss loses
  • Block Ole Miss fans on Twitter and Facebook when they annoy you about beating Bama if they win
  • Get a head start on blocking Auburn fans on Twitter and Facebook (you really need to do this, trust me)

Got a question? Hit me up on Twitter @JustinStrawnMWN for next week’s mailbag. Have a great weekend everyone.

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