BURNING QUESTIONS: Guerry Smith provides answers to these five burning questions
1) Is former Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen working magic with the Mississippi State offense?
Uh, no.
You can dive into all the Mullen/Steve Addazio comparisons you want, but the Bulldogs are better this year because of their defense. Their mediocrity on offense qualifies as magic only compared to the dreadful "Worst Coast" system run by predecessor Sylvester Croom.
The problem is a lack of playmakers. Although Mississippi State has put up big numbers on Memphis, Alcorn State and Houston, it has been stuck in second gear against SEC opponents. The Bulldogs gained 246 yards in a 17-14 loss at home to Auburn, 268 in a 29-7 loss at LSU and 314 in a 24-12 win against Georgia at home.
That's weak.
Their next 150-yard passing day in league play will be their first.
2) What's with the two-quarterback system?
Usually true: if any team plays two quarterbacks regularly, it has no good quarterbacks. That description fits Mississippi State perfectly, and Mullen is trying to make the most of a bad situation by switching back and forth between Chris Relf and Tyler Russell.
Relf, with 295 yards on 65 carries, is the better runner. Russell, a redshirt freshman who was a top recruit, is a prototypical pocket quarterback at 6-foot-5. Neither has been effective as a thrower, with Russell downright awful at times. Relf is 26-of-48 for 293 yards with two touchdowns (vs. Georgia) and two interceptions (vs. LSU) in SEC action. Russell is a miserable 9-of-19 for 100 yards with four interceptions and zero touchdowns.
Mullen replaces them when he wants with no set pattern, and he stuck with the hot hand (or more accurately, feet) in the upset of Georgia as Relf played every down, rushing for 109 yards.
3) How did Mississippi State beat Georgia?
First, wide receiver A.J. Green did not play, and he makes a huge difference for Georgia.
Second, Mississippi State was opportunistic, winning comfortably despite being out-gained 387-314.
Georgia answered Mississippi State's opening touchdown drive with a 13-play, 80-yard drive of its own that ended when running back Washaun Ealey fumbled at the 1-yard line. Later in the half, Georgia settled for a field goal after a 15-play, 58-yard drive stalled at the 16.
Leading 10-6, Mississippi State sealed the victory on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Relf to Arceto Clark with 4:22 left. Mississippi State fumbled three times and recovered all of them.
4) Why has the defense improved?
New co-coordinators Manny Diaz, who came over from Middle Tennessee, and Chris Wilson, a former Oklahoma defensive line coach, have the Bulldogs playing incredibly hard with a 3-4, blitz-heavy scheme.
They held Auburn to a season-low 348 yards, keeping Mississippi State in the game until the final seconds, and LSU to an SEC-low 264 yards, hanging tough despite five interceptions from the offense. The Bulldogs have held opponents to 3.5 yards per carry, better than Florida's 3.7, and have yielded only three rushing touchdowns, tied for the best figure in the league. Mississippi State has 42 tackles for loss, five more than Florida.
The pass defense is decent, but the Bulldogs have not faced any big-time throwing quarterbacks. Houston true freshman quarterback David Piland threw for 301 yards last Saturday but needed a whopping 57 attempts to do it.
5) How can Mississippi State beat Florida?
By stopping the run, forcing the Gators to win in the air, finishing drives and getting a ton of breaks.
Mississippi State has scored 16 touchdowns out of 22 Red Zone series and needs to put the ball in the end zone to have a shot. Relf and Russell need to avoid interceptions against Florida's ball-hawking secondary, a tough proposition.
Essentially, the Bulldogs have to be flawless and the Gators have to be careless.
Despite serious offensive concerns, Florida has too much talent top to bottom for Mississippi State. Alabama overwhelmed Florida with playmakers and LSU dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Mississippi State can't do either.
John Brantley could be headed for a big day after leading a clutch touchdown drive against LSU late in the fourth quarter.
Found some of the responses of these questions interesting. Also, these are answers from one of their Rivals editors.
1) Is former Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen working magic with the Mississippi State offense?
Uh, no.
You can dive into all the Mullen/Steve Addazio comparisons you want, but the Bulldogs are better this year because of their defense. Their mediocrity on offense qualifies as magic only compared to the dreadful "Worst Coast" system run by predecessor Sylvester Croom.
The problem is a lack of playmakers. Although Mississippi State has put up big numbers on Memphis, Alcorn State and Houston, it has been stuck in second gear against SEC opponents. The Bulldogs gained 246 yards in a 17-14 loss at home to Auburn, 268 in a 29-7 loss at LSU and 314 in a 24-12 win against Georgia at home.
That's weak.
Their next 150-yard passing day in league play will be their first.
2) What's with the two-quarterback system?
Usually true: if any team plays two quarterbacks regularly, it has no good quarterbacks. That description fits Mississippi State perfectly, and Mullen is trying to make the most of a bad situation by switching back and forth between Chris Relf and Tyler Russell.
Relf, with 295 yards on 65 carries, is the better runner. Russell, a redshirt freshman who was a top recruit, is a prototypical pocket quarterback at 6-foot-5. Neither has been effective as a thrower, with Russell downright awful at times. Relf is 26-of-48 for 293 yards with two touchdowns (vs. Georgia) and two interceptions (vs. LSU) in SEC action. Russell is a miserable 9-of-19 for 100 yards with four interceptions and zero touchdowns.
Mullen replaces them when he wants with no set pattern, and he stuck with the hot hand (or more accurately, feet) in the upset of Georgia as Relf played every down, rushing for 109 yards.
3) How did Mississippi State beat Georgia?
First, wide receiver A.J. Green did not play, and he makes a huge difference for Georgia.
Second, Mississippi State was opportunistic, winning comfortably despite being out-gained 387-314.
Georgia answered Mississippi State's opening touchdown drive with a 13-play, 80-yard drive of its own that ended when running back Washaun Ealey fumbled at the 1-yard line. Later in the half, Georgia settled for a field goal after a 15-play, 58-yard drive stalled at the 16.
Leading 10-6, Mississippi State sealed the victory on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Relf to Arceto Clark with 4:22 left. Mississippi State fumbled three times and recovered all of them.
4) Why has the defense improved?
New co-coordinators Manny Diaz, who came over from Middle Tennessee, and Chris Wilson, a former Oklahoma defensive line coach, have the Bulldogs playing incredibly hard with a 3-4, blitz-heavy scheme.
They held Auburn to a season-low 348 yards, keeping Mississippi State in the game until the final seconds, and LSU to an SEC-low 264 yards, hanging tough despite five interceptions from the offense. The Bulldogs have held opponents to 3.5 yards per carry, better than Florida's 3.7, and have yielded only three rushing touchdowns, tied for the best figure in the league. Mississippi State has 42 tackles for loss, five more than Florida.
The pass defense is decent, but the Bulldogs have not faced any big-time throwing quarterbacks. Houston true freshman quarterback David Piland threw for 301 yards last Saturday but needed a whopping 57 attempts to do it.
5) How can Mississippi State beat Florida?
By stopping the run, forcing the Gators to win in the air, finishing drives and getting a ton of breaks.
Mississippi State has scored 16 touchdowns out of 22 Red Zone series and needs to put the ball in the end zone to have a shot. Relf and Russell need to avoid interceptions against Florida's ball-hawking secondary, a tough proposition.
Essentially, the Bulldogs have to be flawless and the Gators have to be careless.
Despite serious offensive concerns, Florida has too much talent top to bottom for Mississippi State. Alabama overwhelmed Florida with playmakers and LSU dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Mississippi State can't do either.
John Brantley could be headed for a big day after leading a clutch touchdown drive against LSU late in the fourth quarter.
Found some of the responses of these questions interesting. Also, these are answers from one of their Rivals editors.
