Mississippi State Keys to Victory: Fighting Chickens Edition
Peeps, tonight the Mississippi State Bulldogs renew their series with the South Carolina Gamecocks.
These two teams were permanent opponents until the SEC changed the scheduling format. In recent years, the game has been a bitter battle. I’d expect nothing less this year in a game that is considered a “must win” for the Dawgs and head coach Dan Mullen. So what do the Dawgs need to do in order to defeat the Fighting Chickens and get the season back on track? Here’s what I think:
1. Run the “Darn” Football: I’ll just say it now, this one will basically be sticky’d at #1 for me every week. I wanna see the OL whipping SCar’s DL up front. Create holes that you can drive a Mack truck through. The backs need to run hard and hit the holes when they’re there. I’d love to see a few runs of 15+. When the night is over, I’d love to see a run/pass split in the 65/45 range. We need to pound the ball relentlessly.
2. Be PHYSICAL: I want to see State come out and punch SCar in the mouth over and over again. The D needs to get nasty and lay a few slobberknockers to the SCar skill players. Make the SCar WRs get “alligator arms” coming across the middle. Make ’em drop some passes because they know a hit is coming. Make the ‘Cock RBs start dancing in the backfield because they don’t want to carry it anymore. Knock the ball out because you hit someone that freakin’ hard.
Offense needs to win at the point of attack. I want to see the RBs trucking SCar defenders. Make sure you fall forward for extra yards. I want to see the WRs actually block on running plays, maybe even knock a few guys off their feet with blocks.
In short, I want to see State rediscover our identity as a physical, blue collar program. Punch the other guy in the mouth, make him like it, then make him quit. That’s MSU football.
Related Story: THE MSU vs. SCar Game Preview
3. Personnel, Personnel, Personnel: Get the right guys on the field. If we still lose, so be it. But I can’t stomach losing when I believe better players who are capable of contributing are riding the bench. Give the ball to Aeris Williams, Dontavian Lee, Nick Gibson, or Alec Murphy 15+ times and see if that guy can be the workhorse at RB. Use Ashton Shumpert as a fullback/H-Back. Get him the ball on flare passes out of the backfield or short yardage situations only. When it comes to Brandon Holloway, less is more. Give him about 8-10 touches, none consecutively. Jet sweep, toss sweep, passes in the slot, screens, etc. That’s where he’ll have the most impact and thrive. Start Michael Storey or Elgton Jenkins at OG ahead of Devon Desper and Martinas Rankin at LT. And most importantly of all, let Nick Fitzgerald have a fair shot to produce at QB. Let him play two and a half quarters before pulling him if he can’t settle in and be effect. And if you have to pull him, go to Nick Tiano. We’ve seen Damian Williams doesn’t have the arm you need to keep defenses, especially not SEC defenses, honest.
Defensively, start Mark McLaurin at safety over Kivon Coman. Let Brandon Bryant play the roaming CF role instead of like a traditional strong safety. Find ways to get Jamal Peters on the field early and often. Roll with Maurice Smitherman and/or Chris Stamps in the nickel package over Chris Rayford. All those guys will only get better with live game reps. Make sure Jeffry Simmons and Fletcher Adams get plenty of snaps, too.
Final Thoughts:
This is a very winnable game for State. Some changes are needed, but it’s nothing that can’t be done. The biggest thing for me is rediscovering our identity as a physical, blue collar program. The outcome of this game will ripple throughout the rest of the season. I’m expecting a team that’s fired up and ready. Hopefully Monday’s Armchair QB will be a happy one.