HD6's article on the upcoming season...
- Thread starter dawgstudent
- Start date
at the same time, the only game that we should have won but didn't was the auburn game. If we had Sherrod back, we might beat south carolina. Going into last year, our fanbase made the same mistake the bears did after they lost blindside boy. They thought they were going to drop sowell in and keep right on truckin'. That is why I am cautiously optimistic about this year. With all the experience and talent that we have sprinkled around the field, it can all be undone by the left tackle position and that will be magnified because we plan to pass so much more this season. To me, all of the next step talk is premature. We just need to continue winning seven or eight for two or three more years and hopefull recruiting will improve.
we weren't as complete of a team as south carolina because of the OL. The reason we were in position to beat them was because of our D. Last year if we had the same OL from the previous year, we likely would have beaten them by ten. My point being that the left tackle can undo all of our other strengths.
..what cost us the game vs. South Carolina last year is our ****** FG kicker missed 4 FG's.
sixpackspeak.com is supposed to be where the experts congregate, yet you could go a full year here without anybody even recognizing FG kickers are vital to success, much less see it mentioned a FG kicker's failure to deliver has cost MSU some huge wins over the last 2-3 years.
sixpackspeak.com is supposed to be where the experts congregate, yet you could go a full year here without anybody even recognizing FG kickers are vital to success, much less see it mentioned a FG kicker's failure to deliver has cost MSU some huge wins over the last 2-3 years.
We missed two field goals...one of which was a 53 yarder.
So lets say we make the 40 yarder that was missed. We are still down by one.
South Carolina doesn't take the intentional safety to end the game and the end result is the same.
So lets say we make the 40 yarder that was missed. We are still down by one.
South Carolina doesn't take the intentional safety to end the game and the end result is the same.
Mullen has to win the home games this year. LSU 09 and Ark 10, ok those were good teams. We had some bad luck where Crooms talent just didn't make the plays. But last year, AU and USC were missed opportunities. Now this year, you have a good home conference schedule. You have to win 3 of those games to be given any type of respect around the conference as a good Coach and program. But like you said, he just has to find 6-7 wins (1 being in Oxford) to be revered by most around Starkville. However I think he has to win some big games this year to keep the sell outs and excitement up.
The only question will be; if others perceive Mullens lack of success vs everyone not named Ole miss as a Mullen coaching problem or Miss State problem? I think it will just depend on the agenda of the media personality.
The only question will be; if others perceive Mullens lack of success vs everyone not named Ole miss as a Mullen coaching problem or Miss State problem? I think it will just depend on the agenda of the media personality.
...that game came down to FG's, & MSU couldn't make them.
I realize this board likes to ignore the importance of FG kickers, but that game didn't come down missed defensive assigments. It came down to a FG who couldn't deliver in a huge game.
http://bleacherreport.com...issippi-state-game-recap
I realize this board likes to ignore the importance of FG kickers, but that game didn't come down missed defensive assigments. It came down to a FG who couldn't deliver in a huge game.
http://bleacherreport.com...issippi-state-game-recap
and a better receivers coach (even though you admittedly can't even name the one we have now), we'd be national champions. Is that about the gist of your 6 month long rant?
We simply again had a really tough SEC schedule--the SEC teams we lost towent 65-15. We do need some wins over 'middling' SEC teams, but2011 Auburn is the only one we've played in the past two seasons. And Auburn might not have finished ranked, but they did win 8 games and go4-4 in theSEC,so in hindsight, winning at their place wouldn't have been anobvious preseason pick.
To me, it's almost football-ignorant tosayour high2011 preseason hopes were dashed withoutacknowledging that South Carolinaand Georgia were better than predicted. Had we knownlast August that they would win 21 games between them, thenno one in the preseasonwould have predicted MSU wins over them.Let us play Tennessee or Vanderbilt or even Florida last year instead of the two clearlybest teams in the East, then we would have had more than 6 regular season wins.
We could face the same thing this year if Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Auburn are also better than predicted. For example,many have MSU picked to beat them, but what if Tennessee is really a 10-win team in 2012? Then thereshould beno shame or controversy in Mullen losing to them.
To me, it's almost football-ignorant tosayour high2011 preseason hopes were dashed withoutacknowledging that South Carolinaand Georgia were better than predicted. Had we knownlast August that they would win 21 games between them, thenno one in the preseasonwould have predicted MSU wins over them.Let us play Tennessee or Vanderbilt or even Florida last year instead of the two clearlybest teams in the East, then we would have had more than 6 regular season wins.
We could face the same thing this year if Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Auburn are also better than predicted. For example,many have MSU picked to beat them, but what if Tennessee is really a 10-win team in 2012? Then thereshould beno shame or controversy in Mullen losing to them.
Except I'd say UF and UGA were middling SEC teams in 2010.MedDawg said:
I don't understand how people are questioning Mullen's coaching ability based on his record so far. There's still plenty left to prove, but so far the only teams we've lost to with comparable levels of talent were 2011 Auburn and 2009 Houston. Auburn came down to having a new defensive coordinator with no defensive end and still developing linebackers square off in the first real Division I contest of the season against an offensive coordinator that was well equipped to spot weaknesses and exploit them. Even then, a first down measurement that could have gone either way, injuries on the O-line, and a questionable playcall could have all flipped the result. Houston was just a screwjob by the refs combined with a weak defensive coordinator.
Mullen hasn't been perfect, and there's still plenty to prove, but snikes, I'd say three years of a team playing essentially up to its ability, winning a little more than half of the toss-ups is pretty damn good evidence that the guy can coach.
Dan Mullen had better get it done in year 4 @ MSU lest we all jump off the bandwagon** It's crazy when you look at it in that context.
Spurrier took over a team that had been 33-26 in the previous 5 seasons, before going 21-16 in his first 3. 7-6(4-4) yr 4
Mullen took over a team that had been 29-65 in the previous 8 seasons, before going 21-17 in his first 3.
I'd argue that Mullen already broke through in year 2 as well.
Of course we want to continue taking steps forward, but I'd argue that simply sustaining 6+ win seasons and bowl appearances IS a step forward. It's going to be VERY hard for us to consistently take the step many are wanting and expecting. The top 3(soon to be 4) in the west are currently at a level of recruiting that we will never be able to touch. That doesn't mean we can't beat them, but it does make it unlikely that we can "sustainably" beat them...
Spurrier took over a team that had been 33-26 in the previous 5 seasons, before going 21-16 in his first 3. 7-6(4-4) yr 4
Mullen took over a team that had been 29-65 in the previous 8 seasons, before going 21-17 in his first 3.
I'd argue that Mullen already broke through in year 2 as well.
Of course we want to continue taking steps forward, but I'd argue that simply sustaining 6+ win seasons and bowl appearances IS a step forward. It's going to be VERY hard for us to consistently take the step many are wanting and expecting. The top 3(soon to be 4) in the west are currently at a level of recruiting that we will never be able to touch. That doesn't mean we can't beat them, but it does make it unlikely that we can "sustainably" beat them...
at that time we were still suffering from Mullen's worst decision he ever made coaching at MSU, hiring Carl Torbush as DC. Didn't understand that hire when he made it and still don't understand it looking back today. I definitely believe with a good DC we would have gone bowling in 2009 as well and would have beaten LSU and Houston that year. At least to Mullen's credit he corrected that mistake after only one year.
and attempting a 53yd FG with a kicker who didn`t have a prayer of kicking it that far and giving SoCar excellent field position. Thus the tone of HD6` article. Mullen has got to cut down on his per/game brain farts if we`re going to win some big games we weren`t suppose to win.
We had a FG kicker that can make the field goal. Not high percentage gamble, but our offense wasn't exactly lights out that game. He took a shot at some points. Playing for field position all game wasn't likely to get us a win either. I would have preferred that we tried, but it wasn't a ridiculous percentage. When you're playing people that are better than you, you usually have to have some low percentage calls go your way, because most of your options are going to be low percentage.
he`s had a ton of them, some at very critical times in games. He`s fast approaching the point that "rookie coach" excuses won`t get it anymore. aGAIN thus the HD6 article.
Right here.
<table border="0"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#fff8dc"><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Sc </font></td><td align="right" width="35"><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">4-6</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">atSc32</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Scribner-Howard punt 16 yards to the SC48, out-of-bounds.</font></td></tr></tbody></table>
So we follow a shanked punt and great field position with....
<table border="0"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#87cefa"><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Msu </font></td><td align="right" width="35"><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">1-10</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">atSc48</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">MISSISSIPPI STATE drive start at 12:40.</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#87cefa"><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Msu </font></td><td align="right" width="35"><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">1-10</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">atSc48</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">L. Perkins rush for 3 yards to the SC45 (Antonio Allen).</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#87cefa"><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Msu </font></td><td align="right" width="35"><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">2-7</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">atSc45</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">L. Perkins rush for 1 yard to the SC44 (Antonio Allen).</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#87cefa"><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Msu </font></td><td align="right" width="35"><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">3-6</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">atSc44</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">L. Perkins rush for 3 yards to the SC41 (D.J. Swearinger;Marty Markett).</font></td></tr></tbody></table>
I remember this series. Not only did we run it three straight times, we ran the same play out of the same formation, with the same motion each time. Just awful play-calling. Even if you want to run it three straight up the middle, why Perkins there? Ballard hadn't had a carry in over 6 minutes of game time, so he's rested. Just Croomesque decision making there.
<table border="0"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#fff8dc"><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Sc </font></td><td align="right" width="35"><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">4-6</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">atSc32</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Scribner-Howard punt 16 yards to the SC48, out-of-bounds.</font></td></tr></tbody></table>
So we follow a shanked punt and great field position with....
<table border="0"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#87cefa"><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Msu </font></td><td align="right" width="35"><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">1-10</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">atSc48</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">MISSISSIPPI STATE drive start at 12:40.</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#87cefa"><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Msu </font></td><td align="right" width="35"><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">1-10</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">atSc48</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">L. Perkins rush for 3 yards to the SC45 (Antonio Allen).</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#87cefa"><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Msu </font></td><td align="right" width="35"><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">2-7</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">atSc45</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">L. Perkins rush for 1 yard to the SC44 (Antonio Allen).</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#87cefa"><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Msu </font></td><td align="right" width="35"><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">3-6</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">atSc44</font></td><td><font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1">L. Perkins rush for 3 yards to the SC41 (D.J. Swearinger;Marty Markett).</font></td></tr></tbody></table>
I remember this series. Not only did we run it three straight times, we ran the same play out of the same formation, with the same motion each time. Just awful play-calling. Even if you want to run it three straight up the middle, why Perkins there? Ballard hadn't had a carry in over 6 minutes of game time, so he's rested. Just Croomesque decision making there.
Torbush was Mullen's. Weiss was Muschamp's. And on and on and on.<div>
</div><div>Mullen pulled the trigger around the Florida game in 2009 if I remember correctly. He finally told Torbush to get his *** down to the field, started playing Banks and other freshmen more, and took out Damein Anderson and Toast Smith. What the hell were they thinking playing those 2, they were literally the worst football players we've ever had suit up. Well, maybe after Michael Henig.</div>
</div><div>Mullen pulled the trigger around the Florida game in 2009 if I remember correctly. He finally told Torbush to get his *** down to the field, started playing Banks and other freshmen more, and took out Damein Anderson and Toast Smith. What the hell were they thinking playing those 2, they were literally the worst football players we've ever had suit up. Well, maybe after Michael Henig.</div>