Quote from Associated Press article "''We have got to play really good defense,'' said Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen. ''And obviously when you give up 500 yards that is not good defense.'' Hey Dan, how about blaming your offense for only scoring 17 points. How about blaming your offense for turning the ball over 4 times again. And how about blaming yourself for not challenging the illegal forward pass call. The defense didn't lose this game, the turnovers (once again) did. It seems like every week Mullen is throwing his defensive coaches and players under the bus. We didn't like it when Croom did it, and I don't like it now.
I'm tired of Mullen blaming the defense
- Thread starter o_riverdawg
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Quote from Associated Press article "''We have got to play really good defense,'' said Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen. ''And obviously when you give up 500 yards that is not good defense.'' Hey Dan, how about blaming your offense for only scoring 17 points. How about blaming your offense for turning the ball over 4 times again. And how about blaming yourself for not challenging the illegal forward pass call. The defense didn't lose this game, the turnovers (once again) did. It seems like every week Mullen is throwing his defensive coaches and players under the bus. We didn't like it when Croom did it, and I don't like it now.
But, you're right. I'm tired of him too. Mullen is the first head coach to ever throw his guys to the wolves. I do wonder what it would take to rehire Croom.
riverdawg said:
He could regret those remarks when he's trying to hire a new DC because coordinators don't take to kindly to getting thrown under the bus.
Yes, Houston had 500 yards, but they only had 17 points the first 3 and a half quarters. If someone had told me we would allow 31 points to Houston and get a pick 6 from our defense, I definately would have marked the game in the win column. No excuse for our offense to score just 17 points against a ****** Houston defense that gave up 58 to freaking UTEP last week.
when a team gets 500 yards of offense- it means your offense is on the sideline watching alot. It also means you are losing field position causing your own offensive drives to be longer. Having a long field most of the day due to ****** defense does hamper an offense
A hypothetical, "Our defensive coordinator called a terrible game today" is a good example of throwing your defensive coordinator under the bus. "We've gotta play good defense" after your team gives up over 500 yards of offense is NOT a good example of throwing the DC under the bus.
Secondly, the man DID blame the turnovers for the loss as well. He specifically mentioned that turning the ball over 3 times in the red zone is going to get you beat.
He was pretty accurate in his assessment of what lost us the game today. The offense turned the ball over 4 times. And the defense, other than getting the two INT's, got carved up like a knife through hot butter.
BFB
Secondly, the man DID blame the turnovers for the loss as well. He specifically mentioned that turning the ball over 3 times in the red zone is going to get you beat.
He was pretty accurate in his assessment of what lost us the game today. The offense turned the ball over 4 times. And the defense, other than getting the two INT's, got carved up like a knife through hot butter.
BFB
It has annoyed me that he has thrown the DC under the bus in the past, but I don't think today was an example of that. Having said that, I still think he should take a little more of the responsibility himself. He is ultimately responsible for how his team performs, no matter if it is the offense, defense, or special teams.
other than the 4 killer turnovers and 2 horrible penalities that killed drives, there were 3 crucial play calls:
1) first drive, 3rd and 2 in Houston territory, just give it to Dixon twice. We pass and then punt for a 20 yard net. I think that's an automatic go for it on 4th down.
2) crucial 3rd down play. We give it to Stallworth. Why? We have Dixon and Ducre gashing them on straight ahead runs? He comes up a yard short and we have to punt again.
3) 17-17, 9 minutes to go in the game. We have run it down the field and are in the red zone. We call a slow developing roll out pass on first down and take a big sack. We run it on 2nd down and throw a 3rd down pick. We should have just kept pounding it. If we do, we may hold Houston to 24 points or maybe even keep them at 17. It changed the entire game.
1) first drive, 3rd and 2 in Houston territory, just give it to Dixon twice. We pass and then punt for a 20 yard net. I think that's an automatic go for it on 4th down.
2) crucial 3rd down play. We give it to Stallworth. Why? We have Dixon and Ducre gashing them on straight ahead runs? He comes up a yard short and we have to punt again.
3) 17-17, 9 minutes to go in the game. We have run it down the field and are in the red zone. We call a slow developing roll out pass on first down and take a big sack. We run it on 2nd down and throw a 3rd down pick. We should have just kept pounding it. If we do, we may hold Houston to 24 points or maybe even keep them at 17. It changed the entire game.
never got in any real rythym...and we had a tough time running between the tackles for the most part
We've got to do better on offense, no doubt...but the fact that our offense is keeping us in games even though we give up 500 yards or career passing days to triple option QB's is encouraging
We've got to do better on offense, no doubt...but the fact that our offense is keeping us in games even though we give up 500 yards or career passing days to triple option QB's is encouraging
because he is the savior of MSU football. Anything that goes wrong is either Tyson Lee's fault, Zach Smith's fault (before his concussion) or Carl Torbush's fault. I'm not saying Mullen is a ****** coach or will go the way of Charley Shira, but damn people, he isn't beyond reproach. Some of the playcalling in today's game was headscratching and the non-challenge of the penalty was a key turning point in the game. But by all means, blame the defense and the evil Carl Torbush.
Torbush was a good DC in the 90's before the spread offenses took over. He was differnent much the way Joe Lee was only Torbush was a little more fundamentally sound in his formations. The fact of the matter is the game has passed Torbush by. Don't belive me? Look at his tenure at A & M? They couldn't stop a cold while he was there, and ultimalty that led to Fran getting fired. If you look at his D when we play a more conventionla offense, like LSU he calls a decent game, other than our DB's just sux. When we play teams that can move the ball with the spread we just look lost. You all can say Mullen is throwing Torbush under the bus, but the fact remains he cannot coach agains spread teams.
Croom (2008) through 6 games:
Total Offense: 300.7 yards/game
Points: 16.3 points/game
Mullen through 6 games:
Total Offense: 399.8 yards/game
Points: 27.5 points/game (22.8 if you take away the 2 INTs and 2 blocked punts that scored. I count the LSU one that gave us the ball on the 1.)
I'm not saying I don't agree with a lot of what is said, but if this is bad play calling (with Croom's players, I might add), then I'll take bad play calling any day of the week this year and look forward to the day when Mullen has his own recruits in the system. On offense, turnovers are the major problem, so I'd worry about those before I start over-analyzing the play calling. Remember folks, we're really only 6 games removed from Croom's 45-0 debacle in Oxford...
As for the defense, Johnson was a good DC, but do you really think that Harbison would have had us in any better shape? We were getting beat last year in the air, even with senior leaders on the team, and the only reason the stats don't show it is because few teams in the SEC last year could throw it worth a damn. Now we have inexperienced Croom recruits trying to defend the pass. Think about that for a second.... inexperienced + Croom Recruits = Exactly what you expect. Heck, just saying Croom recruits should be enough reason for our defensive woes. Johnson and Pegues were the only DBs Croom recruited that made defenses respect our secondary.
We lost these past three games due to mistakes on both sides of the ball, and I think Mullen has aknowledged that. Sure, he mentions the problem with the defense during post-game press conferences, and it may come across as throwing people under the bus, but it doesn't mean they aren't accurate statements. We've improved, and if you find yourself forgetting that or wondering how Croom would have done, please go back and watch some games from 2008. In what was considered a down year in the SEC, we were still at the bottom. I'm excited to see how Mullen develops this team over the next few years...</p>
Total Offense: 300.7 yards/game
Points: 16.3 points/game
Mullen through 6 games:
Total Offense: 399.8 yards/game
Points: 27.5 points/game (22.8 if you take away the 2 INTs and 2 blocked punts that scored. I count the LSU one that gave us the ball on the 1.)
I'm not saying I don't agree with a lot of what is said, but if this is bad play calling (with Croom's players, I might add), then I'll take bad play calling any day of the week this year and look forward to the day when Mullen has his own recruits in the system. On offense, turnovers are the major problem, so I'd worry about those before I start over-analyzing the play calling. Remember folks, we're really only 6 games removed from Croom's 45-0 debacle in Oxford...
As for the defense, Johnson was a good DC, but do you really think that Harbison would have had us in any better shape? We were getting beat last year in the air, even with senior leaders on the team, and the only reason the stats don't show it is because few teams in the SEC last year could throw it worth a damn. Now we have inexperienced Croom recruits trying to defend the pass. Think about that for a second.... inexperienced + Croom Recruits = Exactly what you expect. Heck, just saying Croom recruits should be enough reason for our defensive woes. Johnson and Pegues were the only DBs Croom recruited that made defenses respect our secondary.
We lost these past three games due to mistakes on both sides of the ball, and I think Mullen has aknowledged that. Sure, he mentions the problem with the defense during post-game press conferences, and it may come across as throwing people under the bus, but it doesn't mean they aren't accurate statements. We've improved, and if you find yourself forgetting that or wondering how Croom would have done, please go back and watch some games from 2008. In what was considered a down year in the SEC, we were still at the bottom. I'm excited to see how Mullen develops this team over the next few years...</p>
On the T.V when we took either our first or second time out of the first half. They showed Mullen on the sideline yelling into his mic and Torbush in the box, he was fired up and yelling right back.
Anyway, if not for the fumbles and intercepts we would most likely be sitting at 5 and 1. Damn that hurts. </p>
Anyway, if not for the fumbles and intercepts we would most likely be sitting at 5 and 1. Damn that hurts. </p>
.....blame is due and i think mullen has, due to the fact that he calls out himself as well as others on his coaching staff. he is just verbalizing what the majority of the fans can see for themselves. poor defensive schemes, turn-overs and a lack of talent at critical positions will cost you ballgames, period. i'll take what we have seen so far this year over the past 5-years, all day.
Our opponents are completing passes to wide open receivers. Its not like opposing quarterbacks are consistently threading the needle into good coverage. Very little about our defense's execution looks promising.
You can't say that stuff about our offense. Yeah, our offense only put up 17 points on Houston. But at least they can execute. At least they look competent. There is at least hope that they can stop making simple mistakes like unforced or barely-forced fumbles.
Regardless, our offense is in the top half of the SEC in total yardage. We're 10th in the nation in rushing.
What can be said of our defense? Still scaring 100th in national stats?
Yeah, our defensive staff should be thrown under the bus.
You can't say that stuff about our offense. Yeah, our offense only put up 17 points on Houston. But at least they can execute. At least they look competent. There is at least hope that they can stop making simple mistakes like unforced or barely-forced fumbles.
Regardless, our offense is in the top half of the SEC in total yardage. We're 10th in the nation in rushing.
What can be said of our defense? Still scaring 100th in national stats?
Yeah, our defensive staff should be thrown under the bus.