Mississippi State Football: Pirates of the SEC, Is Captain Mike Leach’s Air Raid Cursed?

Mississippi State Football: Captain Mike Leach Looks to Commandeer the Commodores

Captain Mike Leach suffered a defeat like no other as he was shutout for the first time in his football head coaching career. If not for a safety in the third quarter, Captain Leach’s old team, the Kentucky Wildcats, would have goose-egged him first. So here we are trying to salvage the pieces of the Pirate Ship Bulldog that the Crimson Tide blew out of the water Saturday night.

The Pirate Ship Bulldog is now back in Starkville for repairs, and severe repairs are indeed needed. This week, Captain Mike Leach and his crew of Bulldogs will play host to the Vanderbilt Commodores, led by Rear Admiral Derek Mason. The Commodores ship also took a beating this weekend from hated Bulldog rival Ole Miss.

Captain Leach and his Bulldogs will look to commandeer the Commodores and right their offensive woes. The offense is indeed overboard and needs a life preserver.

For the fourth straight week, Captain Leach’s vaunted Air Raid Offense has sunk below expectations like a loose anchor. Captain Leach and his Bulldogs are not dead in the water yet.

Is Mike Leach’s Air Raid Cursed to Fail in the SEC?

Bulldog fans, are you a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series? If so, welcome to Pirates of the SEC: Is The Air Raid Cursed? When Mike Leach was hired, it was a culture shock. Mississippi State has always been known as a ground and pound and spread passing team. Mike Leach throws the ball a lot and rarely runs it, as you can see from the last four games’ results.

In year one of Captain Mike Leach’s leadership, the Pirate Ship Bulldog has not sailed smoothly. If you look at Captain Leach’s history, you will see that his teams struggle mightily in the initial years of implementing the Air Raid. Still, they improve after a few years of recruiting and the players getting comfortable in his system.

So is the Air Raid cursed to fail in the SEC?

It is too early to tell in year one with no Spring ball and Covid-19 impacting society. Captain Leach sees promise in his young crew Bulldogs, often praising the young players being pushed into duty this season.

Where Have All The Points Gone?

As Spoken by Captain Jack Sparrow: No! Not Good!

It’s not a good thing that the Air Raid Offense has basically disappeared like The Rum.

Why is the Rum, excuse me, Where Have All The Points Gone?

Every week, The Air Raid Offense has been sent to Davey Jones Locker. Mississippi State is an -18.5 favorite this weekend. Perhaps the oddsmakers feel like Captain Leach and his Air Raid will find some doubloons against a leaky Vanderbilt defense.

Will, there be a New First Mate Leading the Bulldogs on the Field?

Mississippi State starting quarterback, KJ Costello was knocked out of the Alabama game. He took a nasty hit to the head and I would guess that if he indeed suffered a concussion then he would be unavailable this Saturday.

If Costello cannot go, then Will Rogers would make his first start. Most fans wanted Rogers to start against Alabama, as evidenced by our Twitter poll.

Once he took over, Rogers outperformed KJ Costello as he led the Bulldogs to their first, first down of the game. Costello was woefully ineffective before his injury. The time is right to give Will Rogers his first start.

A Sword-Swinging Battle to the End

Yes, the Bulldogs are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, but they have not quit in a single game. The Bulldog players are battling to the end and that lets you know they are fighting for their captain even as of their some of their teammates have walked the plank. Get ready for Pirates of the SEC this weekend as the Bulldogs will look to lay down some cannon fire of their own and blast the Commodores into smithereens.