Keytaon Thompson

[Bulldogg31]

Am I the only one that thinks Mullen may be drawing up a few plays for Keytaon to get him involved in the games a little more?

He looked incredible running the ball against Kentucky. He actually looks smoother running the ball than Fitz on some plays.

Absolutely NOT talking about a QB change or controversy in any way, just wondering if Mullen may have found a new toy to play with in certain situations, like when Tebow was a freshman at FLA.

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

That’s already happened... key got in the game early against UK.

 

[engie]

Mullen has basically said this in the media. Has a couple packages for him every game and becoming more and more confident in using him for them.

 

[stateu1]

Goal line jump pass?**

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

Saving the Goal Line Jump Pass for LEO against Ole Miss

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

I like Keytaon a lot and think the future is bright with him at QB

HOWEVER

If we are going to run the ball with a QB I have a hard time taking it out of Fitz's hands. By the time he leaves MSU he will be one of the greatest runners in SEC history. Feed Fitz as much as we can.

 

[MSUCE99]

I like Keytaon a lot and think the future is bright with him at QB

HOWEVER

If we are going to run the ball with a QB I have a hard time taking it out of Fitz's hands. By the time he leaves MSU he will be one of the greatest runners in SEC history. Feed Fitz as much as we can.

I agree. Watch Fitz when we get near the goal line with the ball. I have never seen another QB ... well, STRAIN, for lack of a better word... to get the ball into the end zone. He is determined like no other runner to break the plane, usually shedding or dragging multiple tacklers to do so.

Keytaon is fun in his own way to watch, but the level of effort with which Fitz pulls opponents along should inspire our whole offense.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

I agree. Watch Fitz when we get near the goal line with the ball. I have never seen another QB ... well, STRAIN, for lack of a better word... to get the ball into the end zone. He is determined like no other runner to break the plane, usually shedding or dragging multiple tacklers to do so.

Keytaon is fun in his own way to watch, but the level of effort with which Fitz pulls opponents along should inspire our whole offense.

Yeah I am fine with situational subs but I don't see a situation where Key gives us a better chance than Fitz. In the red zone? Fitz is gonna score. 3rd or 4th and short? Fitz is gonna convert. Leading a 2 minute drill? I'd rather have our battle tested Junior out there.

I am guessing Key's packages are for when Fitz's helmet comes off.

 

[BiscuitEater]

If we are going to run the ball with a QB I have a hard time taking it out of Fitz's hands. By the time he leaves MSU he will be one of the greatest runners in SEC history. Feed Fitz as much as we can.

Counterpoint. As long as he keeps running like he has been, Fitz has and will continue to take some serious hits. At any time, we are 'one hit' away from having Key as the starting QB. He needs to catch up with the speed of the game. He has shown signs. Given a comfortable lead against UMass, I would have Key playing the entire second half.

Yes, UK was beaten badly when Key came in and ran for the 40 yard TD BUT we had in the 1C or 1D offensive line-up in at the time. Went back and looked at the numbers during that play and best I can tell .. here are 10 of the 11 that were on the field for State ..

10	Thompson	Keytaon	QB	6-4	222	FR	HS
17	Couch	Jamal	WR	6-4	227	SO	1L
28	Lee	Dontavian	RB	6-1	235	JR	2L
54	Mitchell	Blake	ATH	6-0	310	FR	RS
56	Parker	Dareuan	OL	6-4	320	FR	RS
65	Armour	Brett	ATH	6-1	281	SO	SQ
75	Moon	Harrison	OL	6-5	290	SO	1L
79	Wilkerson	Evans	OL	6-5	315	SO	SQ
87	Mitchell	Osirus	WR	6-4	207	FR	RS
88	Hamaker	Aaron	TE	6-4	280	JR	SQ

<tbody>
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[coach66]

Here's your answer, he is breaking him in and also making the defense

prepare for multiple looks.

 

[Bulldogg31]

I'd love to see a set where they are both in the backfield before the snap. Send one out wide and let the defense try and figure it out.

 

[BIGDAWG44]

So does fitzy break the all time rushing record by a quarterback before he leaves? I think I saw where he is like 900 +/- away from tebow’s 2,950 season.

 

[Southern Law Dawg]

So does fitzy break the all time rushing record by a quarterback before he leaves? I think I saw where he is like 900 +/- away from tebow’s 2,950 season.

I just looked it up-Keenan Reynolds, the Navy QB from 12-15 had 4,559 yards and 88TDs on the ground. Fitz isn't touching that. Should get the SEC record for rush yards and TDs by a QB though.

 

[johnson86-1]

Yeah I am fine with situational subs but I don't see a situation where Key gives us a better chance than Fitz. In the red zone? Fitz is gonna score. 3rd or 4th and short? Fitz is gonna convert. Leading a 2 minute drill? I'd rather have our battle tested Junior out there.

I am guessing Key's packages are for when Fitz's helmet comes off.

Probably some of that but just as much or more about getting Key some learning experience for Key since we aren't redshirting him. Even if we end up being able to RS him next year with the new rules, we still want him to get experience this year.

But I agree with you. As valuable as Key could be as a situational sub with specific packages, he doesn't appear to bring anything different from what Fitz brings, so there's not much benefit in our particular situation.

 

[BIGDAWG44]

Oops. Meant SEC. Reynolds was a beast got a pardon to get into the NFL instead of going straight into his 4 year service

 

[KentuckyDawg13]

Does anyone know who has the faster 40 time, Fitz or KT?
Just curious.

 

[MSUDAWGFAN]

It wasn't a season Tebow did that in. It was his career totals.

 

[bulldognation]

As I recall, Jackie used to do that with every 3rd offensive series. Bring in the backup QB and at least get him a feel for that particular game just in case something happens to your starter.
So yeah, I'm a fan of a designed drive for the backup in every game. Most years the crowd loves the backup anyway. If nothing else, it gives the starter an early break.

 

[Moe Cabelle]

I think Keyton & Fitz, while sharing similar attributes, have different strengths.

I think Fitz is a "stronger" runner & can take hits and truck his way to the goal line. Perhaps KT will add that in time, but he seems much more thin which make him look less durable to me. He looks faster than Fitz, but I'm not sure he's ready to truck a pile at this point.

Passing - I bet KT is much more polished as a passer, but inexperienced.

I think the timing is great because KT will produce and have some damn good recievers on the roster in a couple of years.

Lastly - Jalen Maden looks like (hate to use it) a beast in every way. I never look at recruiting stuff and always hold the hype, but he looks extremely legit playing the largest class ball in Texas. Between KT & JM, I think we'll be on the plus side at QB for the coming years. JM should redshirt and that leaves us perfect at QB with a RSF, So & Sr next year.

And yeah, I see the dude from Maryland on board for 2019. Can't imagine he's better then JM, but nice problem to have.

 

[Go Budaw]

We are getting him out there because we’ve already got this year counting towards his eligibilty. Might as well use him and develop him.

Next year will be interesting. If the new redshirt rule goes through, we could conceivably use Key in 4 games only and save a year for him. Mayden could be the backup for 4 other games and also still RS. Then, we’d have Thompson as a sophomore taking over as the starter in 2019 backed up by a Redshirt Freshmen in Mayden. We’d also have Jalon Jones backing up both, who could still play 4 games. Would be a pretty good future ahead if it works out.

 

[Wizard of bulldogery]

I think it would be wise to have him run a few sets. Fitz plays really fricken hard running smash mouth. It is like sometimes he goes head hunting with the ball. That is great, but if he gets a stinger or something we'll need someone to step in and Key just plays smooth. Not sure what it is. Different demeanors, both work. Ideally a long drive scoring drive with Fitz running a good bit and then a quick defensive stop or turnover putting us back on offense it would be ideal to rest Fitz and run a few plays with Key. Then put fitz back in to smash them in the mouth again.

 

[Bulldogg31]

I think Keytaon adds a dimension in the red zone and that is elusiveness. Fitz will run your *** over and carry you into the end zone with him. KT looks like he'll just make you miss and leave you standing there looking stupid.

Two different styles, both really effective. It will make it really hard on a defense to have to prep for both.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

Does anyone know who has the faster 40 time, Fitz or KT?
Just curious.

According to their ESPN recruiting profiles KT was 4.94 and NF was 4.82

 

[Chesusdog]

That’s already happened... key got in the game early against UK.

I thought the reason he came in early was UK ripping Fitz's helmet off.

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

I thought the reason he came in early was UK ripping Fitz's helmet off.

He came in the game in the 2nd quarter I think it was with a designed run. Looked like he was gonna stay in but maybe had a false start penalty before the 2nd play.

 

[DirtyDog]

Not disputing your source, but those numbers can't be right or the SEC has some slow *** DBs since NF has been seen outrunning most LBs and many DBs so last year and this year. You might improve your 40 time slightly, but not by that much. My guess is that NF is in the 4.5-4.65 range. Or maybe he's just slow with the sprinter start because once he is moving, he is leaving some kids behind.

 

[Chesusdog]

Right, I remember that. Mullen was gonna let him keep going before the penalty, but the helmet removal was what got him in the game.

 

[LilSebastian]

In the red zone? Fitz is gonna score.

We're 96th in the country in Red Zone scoring.

 

[Msubulldogfan1]

Right, I remember that. Mullen was gonna let him keep going before the penalty, but the helmet removal was what got him in the game.

No, the helmet removal is what led to his 10 yard TD run the first play he went in. I’m talking about a different series that happened in the first half.

 

[stateu1]

Yeah I heard Greg McElroy say this week on XM that he ran a 4.8 at Bama. No way he's faster than Fitz or Thompson.

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

Just line one up at RB and run a RPO. Whoever ends up with the ball can still toss it downfield.