How Mississippi State football fans view Joe Moorhead will be determined in final two games

The expectations for Joe Moorhead as the Mississippi State football coach were sky high entering the 2018 season, but how optimistic or pessimistic fans view him after this season will be determined in the final two games.

After the Mississippi State football team lost their game to the Alabama Crimson Tide this past Saturday, the team fell to 6-4 overall and 2-4 in SEC play. Most people didn’t see this team getting to four losses at any point during the 2018 season, much less after 10 games had been played.

But here the team sits. Much of the blame for the disappointing season falls squarely on the shoulders of new Mississippi State football coach Joe Moorhead. The Bulldogs are giving up just 17.67 points per game in SEC play. The problem is MSU is only scoring an average 11.2 points in SEC play. Joe Moorhead’s offense has not translated well to this roster when playing its conference opponents.

The sliver lining for the Mississippi State football team is the last two opponents in SEC play are a drastic drop off in terms of the defenses they field. The first six opponents Mississippi State played were in the top 8 of the conference in scoring defense, with Texas A&M being the worst at 22.4 points per game. Arkansas gives up 32.7 points per game, 13th in the conference, and Ole Miss gives up 36.3 points per game, dead last.

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In terms of yardage, it’s about the same. Auburn gave up the most yards per game of the Bulldogs’ first six opponents at 372.3. Arkansas gives up 407.5, 154.6 on the ground and 252.9 through the air, and Ole Miss gives up 499.4 yards, 215.6 on the ground and 283.8 through the air.

The Bulldogs should be able to move the ball at will against Arkansas and Ole Miss for the first time against an SEC opponent. Yes, Ole Miss has a great offense, but the Mississippi State football defense just held the best offense in the conference to basically half of their normal output. I fully expect the defense to do just as well, if not better, against Ole Miss as they did against Alabama.

A chance for 8-4 is not only possible but for all intents and purposes, it’s probable. The Moorhead offense has done well against bad defenses all season long. The Bulldogs should be able to execute at a similar level in these final two games. If they do so and win, then you can feel somewhat better about the season and the future of the Joe Moorhead era. At worst, you feel like Moorhead will be no worse than Dan Mullen was.

However, if the Mississippi State football team loses either of these final two games in the 2018 season, then there will be plenty of questions about the future of the program. If Joe Moorhead wants to keep any support around him from the fans, he can’t afford to blow either of these final two games.