Mississippi State has a problem at running back, so let’s take a look at what’s going on.
Historically, when you think of an area that Mississippi State excels, it would be running the football. Whether you go back to the wishbone days of Emory Bellard or you talk about the number of successful tailbacks under Jackie Sherrill or 1,000 yard backs for Dan Mullen.
Even Slyvester Croom featured Jerious Norwood and Anthony Dixon who both left the school as the all-time leading rusher.
State has always been able to run the ball. When Dan Mullen took over he continued that tradition with Dixon’s phenomenal 2009 campaign, then on to Vick Ballard, LaDarius Perkins and Josh Robinson.
But over the last two years the Bulldogs have struggled to run the football, primarily from the running back position. Let’s take a quick look at the RB production under Coach Mullen (these stats do not include rushing yards from the quarterback, obviously):
- 2009: 1,970 yards
- 2010: 1,783 yards
- 2011: 1,756 yards
- 2012: 1,747 yards
- 2013: 1,394 yards
- 2014: 1,928 yards
- 2015: 957 yards
- 2016: (on pace for 970 yards)
That is a substantial drop-off the last two years.
Without a doubt you can point some of the blame to the offensive line. They have not been as good the as they were in year’s past as they continue to miss blocks or get beat, allowing the RB to get hit in the backfield. Guys like Dillon Day, Gabe Jackson, Ben Beckwith and other road graders have graduated and this new crop hasn’t excelled like they did.
But you can’t put all the blame on the O-line, or even most of it. Game after game we see the same recurring problems, and 2016’s issues appear even worse than 2015 despite more experience at running back.