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Bulldogs utilize Dixon to fullest
FAYETTEVILLE - Dan Mullen certainly brought the Urban Meyer Spread principles on offense from Florida to his first head coaching job at Mississippi State.
But with a different set of offensive playmakers, particularly big back Anthony Dixon, the Bulldogs have created their own unique style of ball movement, meshing Mullen's system with ideas by offensive coordinator Les Koenning, a former star receiver at Texas and a 25-year coaching veteran.
Arkansas must come up with a way of slowing Dixon and the Bulldogs' offense Saturday in Little Rock if the Hogs are to build on a three game winning streak and increase their bowl profile.
"They're one of the best running teams in the conference," Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said.
Mississippi State ranks fourth in the SEC and 15th in the nation with 209 rushing yards per game, and Dixon supplies 120 of those yards per game on the ground.
The Razorbacks controlled Florida's inside runs earlier this season in a 23-20 loss at The Swamp, but that was against the Gators' swift-but small duo of Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey. Dixon, 6-1, 235 pounds, has about 40 pounds on Florida's speed backs, plus he ran for 179 yards and three touchdowns against the Hogs last year.
"He's a really good-looking back who is big, and he can catch, he can run," Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. "He makes yards after contact. He has a great burning desire to be their bell-cow, so he's obviously somebody that we have to control."
Dixon, Mississippi State's career rushing leader with 3,685 yards, was suspended for the season opener as punishment for a DWI arrest during the summer. But he's been the Bulldogs' one dependable offensive force since then.
"His intensity, how hard he practices on the field, how hard he trained during the offseason, you can't replace those things, the effect that has on your program," Mullen said.
Mississippi State utilizes 5-11 senior Tyson Lee and 6-3 sophomore Chris Relf at quarterback, and Robinson said the Bulldogs coaches have done a good job of utilizing their talents.
"They have a lot more inside zone and read zone and options that they do with [Lee]," Robinson said. "It's not unlike [Tim] Tebow, but Tebow is the bell-cow at Florida."
Arkansas middle linebacker Wendel Davis said Mississippi State's offensive schemes are comparable to Florida's.
"We definitely have to stop the run," Davis said. "They do a lot of misdirection-type stuff, so we've got to be gap sound and read our keys."
Dixon broke numerous tackles against the Razorbacks last season, scoring on a 63-yard run and on touchdown receptions of 1 and 9 yards. Dixon totaled 211 yards, including five receptions for 32 yards, to go with his 179 rushing yards.
"Once you hit, you've got to really wrap up," Arkansas linebacker Jerry Franklin said. "We've got to run to the ball and try to gang-tackle him."
Razorbacks cornerback Ramon Broadway has been coming up to tackle Dixon for a couple of years.
"You just get one on this guy, he ain't going down," Broadway said. "So the corners and safeties definitely have to come up and play the run, tackling wise."
Arkansas, as usual, hopes to force the Bulldogs into the air. Mississippi State has thrown more than twice as many interceptions (16) as touchdown passes (7), and is averaging 159 passing yards per game.
Mississippi State's playaction passing has been its most effective way of hurting defenses through the air.
"They have to set up their run game to get their passing game going because it's all predicated on one another," Arkansas safety Matt Harris said. "So if we stop that run game, it kind of puts their offense in a spin."
Bulldogs utilize Dixon to fullest
FAYETTEVILLE - Dan Mullen certainly brought the Urban Meyer Spread principles on offense from Florida to his first head coaching job at Mississippi State.
But with a different set of offensive playmakers, particularly big back Anthony Dixon, the Bulldogs have created their own unique style of ball movement, meshing Mullen's system with ideas by offensive coordinator Les Koenning, a former star receiver at Texas and a 25-year coaching veteran.
Arkansas must come up with a way of slowing Dixon and the Bulldogs' offense Saturday in Little Rock if the Hogs are to build on a three game winning streak and increase their bowl profile.
"They're one of the best running teams in the conference," Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said.
Mississippi State ranks fourth in the SEC and 15th in the nation with 209 rushing yards per game, and Dixon supplies 120 of those yards per game on the ground.
The Razorbacks controlled Florida's inside runs earlier this season in a 23-20 loss at The Swamp, but that was against the Gators' swift-but small duo of Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey. Dixon, 6-1, 235 pounds, has about 40 pounds on Florida's speed backs, plus he ran for 179 yards and three touchdowns against the Hogs last year.
"He's a really good-looking back who is big, and he can catch, he can run," Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. "He makes yards after contact. He has a great burning desire to be their bell-cow, so he's obviously somebody that we have to control."
Dixon, Mississippi State's career rushing leader with 3,685 yards, was suspended for the season opener as punishment for a DWI arrest during the summer. But he's been the Bulldogs' one dependable offensive force since then.
"His intensity, how hard he practices on the field, how hard he trained during the offseason, you can't replace those things, the effect that has on your program," Mullen said.
Mississippi State utilizes 5-11 senior Tyson Lee and 6-3 sophomore Chris Relf at quarterback, and Robinson said the Bulldogs coaches have done a good job of utilizing their talents.
"They have a lot more inside zone and read zone and options that they do with [Lee]," Robinson said. "It's not unlike [Tim] Tebow, but Tebow is the bell-cow at Florida."
Arkansas middle linebacker Wendel Davis said Mississippi State's offensive schemes are comparable to Florida's.
"We definitely have to stop the run," Davis said. "They do a lot of misdirection-type stuff, so we've got to be gap sound and read our keys."
Dixon broke numerous tackles against the Razorbacks last season, scoring on a 63-yard run and on touchdown receptions of 1 and 9 yards. Dixon totaled 211 yards, including five receptions for 32 yards, to go with his 179 rushing yards.
"Once you hit, you've got to really wrap up," Arkansas linebacker Jerry Franklin said. "We've got to run to the ball and try to gang-tackle him."
Razorbacks cornerback Ramon Broadway has been coming up to tackle Dixon for a couple of years.
"You just get one on this guy, he ain't going down," Broadway said. "So the corners and safeties definitely have to come up and play the run, tackling wise."
Arkansas, as usual, hopes to force the Bulldogs into the air. Mississippi State has thrown more than twice as many interceptions (16) as touchdown passes (7), and is averaging 159 passing yards per game.
Mississippi State's playaction passing has been its most effective way of hurting defenses through the air.
"They have to set up their run game to get their passing game going because it's all predicated on one another," Arkansas safety Matt Harris said. "So if we stop that run game, it kind of puts their offense in a spin."