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Mississippi State football: Which Bulldogs must step up against LSU in 2018?

By Ethan Lee

STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs and defensive end Gerri Green #4 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs walk out of the tunnel prior to their game against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns on September 15, 2018 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs and defensive end Gerri Green #4 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs walk out of the tunnel prior to their game against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns on September 15, 2018 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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STARKVILLE, MS – SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs throws a pass during the third quarter of their game against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns on September 15, 2018 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS – SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs throws a pass during the third quarter of their game against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns on September 15, 2018 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Nick Fitzgerald (but really only when he throws the ball)

When the Mississippi State Bulldogs took down the No. 8 Auburn Tigers (and subsequently broke them for the rest of the season) it was Nick Fitzgerald that was carrying MSU to victory. Fitzgerald was able to run at will against a run defense that had proven to be one of the best in the country prior to that game.

But Fitzgerald’s struggles this season aren’t a secret. As Joe Moorhead has attempted to install his offense fully for Fitzgerald to utilize, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan. There’s been poor decisions, overthrows, missed reads, and just a few too many blemishes. Those blemishes lead to the Bulldogs having incredibly painful moments on offense.

Thankfully against Auburn, Moorhead broke out a battering ram offense and allowed Fitgerald to run it. Alongside Kylin Hill, Fitz bowled through the Auburn Tigers. But, going forward, the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback is going to need to be able to throw the ball more precisely. State won’t need Fitzgerald to become an air raid type of quarterback to be competitive in this game, but it would help if he could make fewer mistakes and a couple more big plays against LSU.

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