Closer the season gets, the more wool I am shearing.......

[Dollabillz]

I know Croom is not our coach, but his ghost remains. I cannot get fired up....and I think Auburn will kill us. I'm still not sold on Chris Relf, no matter what Coach34 says. We don't have a running back right now, Elliot is timid, the rest unproven, no matter what you all say about not missing Dixon. No big receivers.

Bumphis will make some plays for us. Special teams will help alot.

All I remember of last year is the defense getting gashed up by Auburn. I think Manny will remedy this, based on his work at MTSU.

I mean, yeah Relf can run the ball, but is he really going to step up when we're down 6 with 2 minutes left? Can't really pound the run in that situation...</p>

 

[Dollabillz]

I know Croom is not our coach, but his ghost remains. I cannot get fired up....and I think Auburn will kill us. I'm still not sold on Chris Relf, no matter what Coach34 says. We don't have a running back right now, Elliot is timid, the rest unproven, no matter what you all say about not missing Dixon. No big receivers.

Bumphis will make some plays for us. Special teams will help alot.

All I remember of last year is the defense getting gashed up by Auburn. I think Manny will remedy this, based on his work at MTSU.

I mean, yeah Relf can run the ball, but is he really going to step up when we're down 6 with 2 minutes left? Can't really pound the run in that situation...</p>

 

[Dollabillz]

I know Croom is not our coach, but his ghost remains. I cannot get fired up....and I think Auburn will kill us. I'm still not sold on Chris Relf, no matter what Coach34 says. We don't have a running back right now, Elliot is timid, the rest unproven, no matter what you all say about not missing Dixon. No big receivers.

Bumphis will make some plays for us. Special teams will help alot.

All I remember of last year is the defense getting gashed up by Auburn. I think Manny will remedy this, based on his work at MTSU.

I mean, yeah Relf can run the ball, but is he really going to step up when we're down 6 with 2 minutes left? Can't really pound the run in that situation...</p>

 

[Dollabillz]

I know Croom is not our coach, but his ghost remains. I cannot get fired up....and I think Auburn will kill us. I'm still not sold on Chris Relf, no matter what Coach34 says. We don't have a running back right now, Elliot is timid, the rest unproven, no matter what you all say about not missing Dixon. No big receivers.

Bumphis will make some plays for us. Special teams will help alot.

All I remember of last year is the defense getting gashed up by Auburn. I think Manny will remedy this, based on his work at MTSU.

I mean, yeah Relf can run the ball, but is he really going to step up when we're down 6 with 2 minutes left? Can't really pound the run in that situation...</p>

 

[imissplatinumplus]

We actually have coaches that know what the hell they are doing, BUT its our schedule that will sheer the wool.
I know we all feel like this yr we have a chance to win every game but at UAT, at UF, at LSU, at Houston. That is a tough SOB.

 

[Hector.sixpack]

I know Croom is not our coach, but his ghost remains. I cannot get fired up....and I think Auburn will kill us. I'm still not sold on Chris Relf, no matter what Coach34 says. We don't have a running back right now, Elliot is timid, the rest unproven, no matter what you all say about not missing Dixon. No big receivers.

Bumphis will make some plays for us. Special teams will help alot.

All I remember of last year is the defense getting gashed up by Auburn. I think Manny will remedy this, based on his work at MTSU.

I mean, yeah Relf can run the ball, but is he really going to step up when we're down 6 with 2 minutes left? Can't really pound the run in that situation...</p>

1. Croom's ghost remains? Did you even watch us play last year? We are a totally different lookingteam on the field. Mullen DOUBLED the offense in one season with a walk on 5'8" QB.

2. You're right, we don't have arunningback, we have at least 3. Conner (who was getting praise and rightfully so) was 4th string.This runningback thing is hilarious.

3. Relf is not the only QBon thisteam. It wouldn't surprise me to see Russell run a two minute offense. We will be better at the QBposition no matter who is out there. Mullen knows how to develop QBs. I don't remember a good QB coach at MSU in my lifetime. This ismajor difference inwins and loses.

4. Auburn will bea tough game- but they won't kill us. Their defense willbe in the lower third of the SEC.Malzahn is good, Chizik is not.

I do agreewith you that Manny will doa goodjob and we don'thave that big recievergreat teams do.

 

[jackstefano]

I know Croom is not our coach, but his ghost remains. I cannot get fired up....and I think Auburn will kill us. I'm still not sold on Chris Relf, no matter what Coach34 says. We don't have a running back right now, Elliot is timid, the rest unproven, no matter what you all say about not missing Dixon. No big receivers.

Bumphis will make some plays for us. Special teams will help alot.

All I remember of last year is the defense getting gashed up by Auburn. I think Manny will remedy this, based on his work at MTSU.

I mean, yeah Relf can run the ball, but is he really going to step up when we're down 6 with 2 minutes left? Can't really pound the run in that situation...</p>

1. Croom's ghost remains? Did you even watch us play last year? We are a totally different lookingteam on the field. Mullen DOUBLED the offense in one season with a walk on 5'8" QB.

2. You're right, we don't have arunningback, we have at least 3. Conner (who was getting praise and rightfully so) was 4th string.This runningback thing is hilarious.

3. Relf is not the only QBon thisteam. It wouldn't surprise me to see Russell run a two minute offense. We will be better at the QBposition no matter who is out there. Mullen knows how to develop QBs. I don't remember a good QB coach at MSU in my lifetime. This ismajor difference inwins and loses.

4. Auburn will bea tough game- but they won't kill us. Their defense willbe in the lower third of the SEC.Malzahn is good, Chizik is not.

I do agreewith you that Manny will doa goodjob and we don'thave that big recievergreat teams do.

Wow.

 

[JacksonDevilDog]

That's almost as bad as the Spirit and nafoom posts about a national title from last year. Almost.

 

[therightway]

I am not saying that we will win but I think that LSU is going to be down and I do know that it is death valley. Houston is good but I still think that we can win the game. Auburn is not going to kill us. If we can keep Newton from getting a good start we have a chance. You will not see us in a 3 man from allowing Auburn to run all over us.

 

[maroonmania]

our QB position. Russell has in no way lived up to the recruiting hype so far and I'm sorry but one half of running all over a confused OM defense doesn't convince me that Relf is a legitimate SEC starting QB.

I know they both had baggage, but I would be much woolier had we ended up with either Newton or Masoli. Both would have been perfect fits to our offense and either would have helped solidfy what I still consider our biggest question mark on the field. And heck I'm not holier than thou about the baggage with Newton or Masoli. As far as I can tell Relf, based on his suspension last year, is not exactly without his own baggage. Hopefully that is fully behind him.

 

[Hector.sixpack]

A positive outlook on our football team gets shot down with smart *** comments with nothing to add to the discussion. Everything I said was based on stats and what I seen on the field last year.

 

[dawgstudent]

[No message]

 

[Hanmudog]

The last decade has been brutal. I think Dan IS the man and he did an awesome job last year except for the LSU game. If we can get at least an equal offensive performance to last years to go along with vastly improved defense then I will get some peach fuzz.

However I also recall growing wool during Felker's first year.

 

[Dollabillz]

Elliot, Ballard, Perkins.....nothing as of yet. When I say a running back, I mean a solid SEC back. We don't have it right now. Sorry, you guys still clinging to the "We won't miss Dixon" are purebred dumbasses.

Tyler Russell isn't ready either - you know it, I know it, the whole fanbase knows it. Tyson Lee made as many plays as Relf did last year, let's just be honest. Vanderbilt, Kentucky, those were wins too that Lee helped us get that we might not have without. I know it ended unsuccessfully, but would Relf had led us down the field vs. LSU at the end of the game?

</p>

 

[Hector.sixpack]

along with Relf running the ball. You act like we won't have any running game, but I think we will have a very strong running game. </p>

 

[patdog]

You're either wildly irrationally optimistic or wildly irrationally pessimistic.

 

[hatfieldms]

It isnt like he predicted us to win 10 games or anything

 

[Dollabillz]

and don't get me wrong, I'd love to be wrong about Relf and Co. I would welcome it. The offensive line can open up alot of things for you. But until proven otherwise, We Are Mississippi State.

 

[jackstefano]

Mullen DOUBLED the offense in one season.

No he didn't.

This runningback thing is hilarious.

No it isn't. You don't have anyone who's producedconsistently on the field. Hell,I don't think 2 of the 3 have ever played in an game for you.

Mullen knows how to develop QBs.

Ask Tyson Lee how that worked out for him. He was much better the year before Mullen arrived.

Their defense willbe in the lower third of the SEC.

How could you possibly know this.

 

[Dollabillz]

I've been calling out the "We won't miss Dixon" morons since the beginning.

 

[Hector.sixpack]

Mullen DOUBLED the offense in one season.

No he didn't.

15.3 pts per game to 25.6 pts per game. Ok, so I rounded up. It's a big jump.

This runningback thing is hilarious.

No it isn't. You don't have anyone who's producedconsistently on the field. Hell,I don't think 2 of the 3 have ever played in an game for you.

I know one runner who did play for us, Chris Relf. Remember him?

Mullen knows how to develop QBs.

Ask Tyson Lee how that worked out for him. He was much better the year before Mullen arrived.

I can't believe you typed that, read it, and then posted it.

Their defense willbe in the lower third of the SEC.

How could you possibly know this.

Because the Auburn defense has for a decade averaged great numbers- less than 20pts per game. Last year they gave up 27.5. Chizik has been a HC for 3 years and his defenses at Iowa Stand Auburn are around the 30pt range. At ISUhis defense got worse from Yr1 to Yr2. I don't think it will be a big improvement this year because, well, his record speaks for itself and his DC doesn't have a great track record either.

 

[patdog]

nm

 

[ShrubDog]

When your rushing offense was ranked 105th with Crooms and then jumps to 9th in country under Mullen. Those ghost are hard to find.

 

[BigMotherTucker]

Mullen DOUBLED the offense in one season.

No he didn't.

This runningback thing is hilarious.

No it isn't. You don't have anyone who's producedconsistently on the field. Hell,I don't think 2 of the 3 have ever played in an game for you.

Mullen knows how to develop QBs.

Ask Tyson Lee how that worked out for him. He was much better the year before Mullen arrived.

Their defense willbe in the lower third of the SEC.

How could you possibly know this.

Hector is right. You are wrong.

 

[hatfieldms]

The only reason Lee's stats looked any better the first year was because he did not throw the ball down field much, and instead just dumped it off at the line constantly. The fact that you are using Tyson 17ing Lee as your example of Mullen not being able to develop QBs doesnt say much for your intelligence

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

this year, argument. I think it is dumb. Could someone step up and be big for us, sure? But I am taking a wait and see approach.

 

[tebmsu97]

Not that I have every play etched in my brain from that final drive, but yes Relf could have handed it to Dixon 5 or 6 times just like Lee did. I also think that Relf would not have had his jump pass swatted as he is not 5'8", but had we still gone to 4th and goal I think Relf either gets in or actually pitches it to the wide open AD around the left side.

I do not think Relf is going to be much of a passer and so far have my doubts about Russell, I would have hoped that reports out of camp would have been better at this point. Anyone who thinks we wont miss Dixon does indeed have their head in the sand, but the coaches feel strongly about the group we have and that combined they can get us back to a similar level of production.

 

[RonnyAtmosphere]

...a concern troll as described by wikipedia: (under "Concern Troll"):

The concern troll posts in web forums devoted to its declared point of view and attempts to sway the group's actions or opinions while claiming to share their goals, but with professed "concerns". The goal is to sow fear, uncertainty and doubt within the group.[15]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)

The blockquotedescribes your ******** post with utter perfection.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

A lot of the wool is based on last year. We were 5-7. We were inches from beating LSU and a blown referee call from beating Houston.

secondary should be better
linebackers possibly equal or better
d-line should be better
kicking game should be equal or better
o-line should be better
wideouts should be better

problems:
injuries - can we stay as injury-free as last year?
running back - can we replace Dixon? We will be more versatile than last year and o-line should be better
quarterback - Relf should be better and hopefully Russell is an upgrade over Tyson Lee

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

either (Norwood's freshman and sophomore years I think). I am scared we will be like we were then. Adequate at RB but no gamebreakers.

I just looked - the Fred Reid/Griffith year - 2002 - Fred Reid lead with 97 carries for a whopping 3.2 per rush. Gross.


I hope I am wrong. But I think there are two major false assumptions people are making so far this fall - 1) we are always good at RB, so we will be this year and 2) Chris Relf was good in the Egg Bowl, so he will be awesome this year.

I am not saying that neither could happen, I am just saying I will believe it when I see it.

 

[DowntownDawg]

....reading this kind of bipolar crap is horrible. For example, it looks like between today and July 12, you've lost all faith in Relf.

Relf has faults like any other but he's proven that he's a superb
athlete who can move the ball down the field. I've voiced by concerns
about his play earlier in this thread. I don't give a damn if he runs
or throws personally. Didn't need to throw to be able to beat ya'll
overrated asses.

http://sixpackspeak.yuku.com/reply/353573#reply-353573

And that literally took about 10 seconds.

 

[8dog]

our coach just wouldn't play him.

 

[Shmuley]

is that he hasn't been able to get legit QB prospects on campus.

If he can convince one that he isn't bolting at the first opportunity, I won't have any complaints.

 

[Coach34]

and you 17'ers around here know, I'm not one to be optimistic very often....

Why we will have a good season:

1. Our OL and DL- we are much better upfront. Nobody outisde of Alabama will push us around. And even with them it will take until the 4th quarter. This is the basis for playing winning football. We are in good shape here.

2. Defense- we will be improved defensively. Improved secondary, more depth along the DL, Carmon has the potential to draw a constant double-team....This group will help us stay in big games and win lesser games.

3. QB play- We will be better here. Lee did a good job of being a leader and bridging the gap we had with QB's. Except for his big turnovers, he did an adequate job. But he did allow us to get Relf more experience and RS Tyler Russell- which is what we had to have happen. Now, we have Relf more ready to be an every play QB, and Russell is ready to play a little to get experience. I dont worry about having a QB that can bring us back down 6 with 2 minutes left- I want a QB that can help us control the game so that we are up 7 with 2 minutes left. If he is having to bring us back- he didnt do his job the first 3 1/2 quarters. If we do have trouble passing, you can bet our coaches will make the necessary changes to move the football. Hell, Ga Tech rarely throws and they have one of the nation's best offenses- running it 82% of the time. Good coaching can move the football with the players we have- and we have good coaching

4. RB's- Don't make too much of not having someone established as "the guy". Mullen has proven in the past he is fine with doing it by committee. Fla does it every year. I know this- if Conner was our 4th RB, we are in good shape. It the same **** for some of out fans- "it's going to be tough to replace Micheal Davis"..."We won't be able to replace Kieffer McGee"..."We won't have another back like JJ Johnson"..."It will be a long time before we have a combo like Dicenzo and Walker"..."State will never have a back like Norwood again"..."You're crazy if you don't think we won't miss Dixon"....same ****- different group of backs...we will get the production from the RB position- it's the easiest position on the field to replace. Just like last year when Dixon wasn't even touched until he was 5-6 yards past the LOS, these backs will make plays when the same happens for them. As someone else pointed out- Elliot averaged almost 10 yards a carry the last 3 games of last season.

5. WR's- we played a guy fresh in from juco and 2 true freshman in this position last year. They didnt know ****- especially Heavens...he was lost. Now they have a year under their belts- they will run better routes, be more physical, block better, know to run the hot routes vs the blitz...we will be much improved in this area this season.

So, to recap- we have a team that is physical upfront, will play pretty good defense, has good special teams, and will be able to run the football. Those type teams usually fare pretty well during their seasons.

 

[Coach34]

would be that our OL that season was not very good. That had much more to do with it than the RB's we had. A team that runs alot of I-formation that doesnt have a good OL averages 3.2 per carry. Remember us under Crooms?

 

[coach66]

much in our record. Hopefully, the ball will bounce our way more times than not.

 

[thunderclap]

since the spring of 2009, when I thought we would likely win 2 games last year after seeing what Croom left behind, to the last practice I saw two weeks ago, I'll just say that the ghosts of Sly Crxxms are nowhere to be found where this team and staff is concerned.

Will we win 10? No.
Will we go to a bowl? I'd bet heavily on yes.

 

[Dollabillz]

Relf vs. Seth Adams? Yeah OK.

Relf can run the ball, yes. I've stuck with that.

Relf as a QB who be the #1 guy, lead, and win games? I'm not sold completely. What exactly am I waivering on?

Imust be all up in your head.

 

[jackstefano]

hatfieldms wrote:
The fact that you are using Tyson 17ing Lee as your example of Mullen not being able to develop QBs doesnt say much for your intelligence

Whoelse can we useby comparison? The greatestcollege football player in history? (who, by the way,completely changed his release after getting out of college). Please don't tell me you credit Mullen with developingTebow. Alex Smith? By that measure, Ed Orgeron is the greatest developer of MLB's in the country -- proof: Patrick Willis.

 

[Dollabillz]

and I can't really disagree. I just have concerns, and am cautious about getting crazy with my optimism. The LSU letdown was harsh last year. 2008 was pretty bad too. I'd rather enjoy MSU football for a change.

Also, I like where we're going, but then I go look and see where our opponents are going too. We have to beat Auburn. But they may just have too many more horses than us.