So what will we know this time next week that we don't know now?

[PettysDumpster]

I think that all we will know for sure is that Memphis has an *awful* football team. This one will be about as valuable in gauging things as Jackson State was last year.

There will still be a lot of intrigue about just how good/bad we are going into the Auburn game. I predict that Mullen plays it close to the vest because he can, showing as few cards as possible. I do think that we will all be reminded that Relf has some accuracy issues. The Egg Bowl has seemingly wiped the fact that Relf is not an accurate passer from our minds.

Most everybody in-conference has scheduled a cream puff for week 1 with the exception of LSU in the Chick-Fil-A game. (Link) You might possibly consider South Carolina/Buzzards to be a reasonable week 1 matchup. In Kentucky and Vandy's cases, they may be the cream puffs. So, while I can't wait for Saturday, I am not expecting to see the same team line up against Memphis as the one who lines up against Auburn.
</p>

 

[muscleshoalssound]

I don't really care how much we see, I just want to watch some football. I'm ready!

 

[22yardpunt]

I hope to see somme explosion into/through the hole, and some toughness after contact.

Also, I want to see some improved blocking from our receivers. These guys have a full year in the system and should be able to adequately pick up blocks.

Finally, I want to see our kickoff/punting coverage perform well .. "smothering" is the ideal term here. Hopefully, we will have only a small sample of coverage to analyze.

Finally, finally.... I want to see that D-Line get after it!!!

 

[Todd4State]

which is not the question, but alas. I want to see Relf complete 50% of his passes, and run the option well. I want to see our o-line dominate and win the LOS at least 85% of the time. I want to see Robert Elliott step it up a little bit and Ballard to run well. I want to see some improvement from our WR's. I also want to see our defense dominate and solid special teams play. I'd also like to see is have a good game in terms of penalty yardage. I also want us to win the turnover battle.

 

[FlabLoser]

I think against Memphis, Mullen runs a vanilla game plan. We won't we see many schemes or the depth of the playbook. And I think a lot of players get reps. No secret weapon is going to be left sitting on the bench saving it up for Auburn. Nobody key players are going to sit out to protect against injury. All of our skill players need reps.

So a week from now, we'll know whether or not Relf and Russell are competent throwing the football. And we'll know what kind of talent we really have at RB.

 

[PBRME]

1. Is Relf healthy or not.
2. Did he really find accuracy.
3. Are we going to miss Dixon.
4. Do we have more than Bumphis and Berry at wideout.
5. Is our depth at lb sufficient.
6. Is our defense as dominant as we think.

 

[El Diablo Blanco]

.

 

[OMlawdog]

And usually I was right, except for 2003, the Memphis game was a fairly good indicator on how good we would be. In 2004 we lost, and we were terrible. In 2005, 2006, 2007we barely won, and we sucked each year.

In 2008 and 2009 we won by more than 14+ (though the 2009 game was much closer than that and let me know that we were at a minimum vastly overrated), but at the end of the day, we won somewhat easily and had decent seasons.

I think Memphis is terrible, and MSU should win by at least 17 points. If MSU struggles at all, I think it could be a bad sign, just like it always was for OM.

Unless Relf is hurt, I don't see Memphis putting up much of a fight, and even if he is hurt, I think that only changes things from a 21 point favorite to a 15-16 point favorite. Personally, I think MSU wins by 25+.

 

[HLRebel]

I don't disagree with your original comparison, but I just don't thunk Memphis is the same team this year as they have been in years past.

 

[TaleofTwoDogs]

Iit all happens in the trenches. Those two units need to play at their highest level for us to go bowling this year.

 

[jackstefano]

I want to see Relf complete 50% of his passes, and run the option well. I want to see our o-line dominate and win the LOS at least 85% of the time. I want to see Robert Elliott step it up a little bit and Ballard to run well. I want to see some improvement from our WR's. I also want to see our defense dominate and solid special teams play. I'd also like to see is have a good game in terms of penalty yardage. I also want us to win the turnover battle.

That's it?