What I've learned this year from watching this MSU foot ball this year is a couple of things. They are in NO particular order mind you so if you don't mind jus "bear" with me. I feel like I have a decent grasp of football as I have stated before I coach highschool football and as our season ended last Friday I saw some things that reminded me of our current football team at MSU.</p>
1.) If Flecther Cox and Jonathan Banks come back our defense will be pretty darned good! I have it on good authority that JB is POSSIBLY looking to leave after this season. I know some of you are probably saying "so what". Well honestly to me JB is as critical or even more critical to keep than Fletch. Yes, I know some of you are ready to tear me up for saying that but before we start lighting our flamethrowers listen to me for a second. JB not only does a good job of shutting down his WR as far as coverage is concerned (even though he pushed the Bama WR and it cost us a TD). He also puts points on the board for us and it takes some pressure off our offense. Regarless of if it's a pick 6 or a punt return TD the guy is a dynamic player. From an X's and O's stand point it lets us cut the field in half (we'll see it Saturday.....hopefully). What that means is MOST of the time when we blitz from the "field side" (long side of the field) he is so dynamic he can cover his area pretty well and as a D coordinator it allows you some liberty's and confidence that THAT side of the field is gonna be covered up. Now when we blitz to the "boundary side" (short side) IF and that's a BIG if our LB's are "scraping" he also help on the blitz as far as sacks or bated passes. I know that in the SEC "stopping the run" is VERY critical! But have you guys seen PJ Jones this year? Preston Smith? I knew PJ was good but watching him on 3rd and goal throw Tebob Hebert (one of LSU's best O lineman) aside and make that stick on LSU's running back was awesome! Guys he a freakin' true freshman! He was playing high school ball last year for Tupelo! And the best part about that stop? Fletcher NOR Josh were standing on the sideline! This is LSU here people! Not Memphis (which he still had a damned good game against). I feel our youger guys on the D line are coming around. Eulls is making plays he straight up destryed Trent Richardson on a cutback play. He's a redshirt fresman! Slay is NO where near as good as Banks or as good as advertised (so far). </p>
2.) We (as State fans) need to REALLY pay attention before we let our mouth's fly. This one'll probably get the ole flamers out but oh wells. I can also add myself to the list of people that need to run my mouth. This list includes "wooly" people (me) but also we can add the Chris Wilson naysayers to this as well. Those that said that Manny was SO great. Wilson's done far MORE with less. In this back and forth I was so caught up in defending Wilson in my predictions for the season I didn't REALLY take a look at what we lost on the other side of the ball. Apparently not only loing Sherrod was pretty big but losing Brignone (even though Dillon has come along as of late) was bad enough. But apparrently Tobias must've been pretty damned good too. But getting back to what I was saying about Wilson, look I have a CRAP ton of respect for the guy. After this year's coaches clinic and being with him 1on1 and having film session breakdowns with him, I think the guy is an awesome coach and an even better recruiter. I told him after our breakdowns how greatful I was and state fans should be to have him here. The guy lost the ENTIRE starting LB core and a pretty good pass/rush DE who plays in Nickel formations for the Ravens. But I was wooly and it has taught me a valuable lesson after this year. </p>
3.) We're gonna be fine with Tyler @ QB. I'm not gonna lie, I watched ALOT of the bowl practices last year. That was the only time we actually got a chance to see Tyler vs Dylan in a scrimmage (pre-spring game). AFter seeing what I saw I was scared. I saw Dylan being FAR too careless with the ball and then I saw the former Meridian QB get rattled that he was being pressured in competition. He held the ball too long and over shot TE's in the flat and under threw post patterns. I was worried. But then something happened. I don't know what but he just grew up somewhere between after the spring game to now. Call it coaching, personal commitment....I don't know. But the guy has looked pretty decent so far this year. Not to mention he has taken a BEATING this year. He's took far worse shots than Relf. As Russell get's hit he's in the middle of his release where he is completely exposed. Where when Relf gets smacked he's lowering his shoulder bracing for impact. Let's not lose sight of the fact that this is a guy who not long ago got his 1st start. I think some of our problem this year offensively is I think we are in a transition/transformation into what we're gonna be next year. Less zone-read and more 3 step/5 step drops. </p>
4.) (Last one) In Mullen I trust....and you should too. Okay let's not beat around the bush here. Mullen gets comapared to the BEST MSU coach we've had...JWS. Now let's REALLY look at this for a second. When JWS coached all the power resided in the East, Fulmer's Vols, Spurrrier's Gators. Both were cream of the crop in the SEC. Now let's look at what Dan's going up against week in and week out. Not only are Bama & LSU at the top but ARkansas has proven to be REALLY good as well now Auburn is proving they'll buy mules to win as well. No way (and yes I'm gonna say this and it's gonna piss some of you off!) would Jackie be more competitive than Mullen as a coach in this current division. The guy has beaten teams he's supposed to beat (LA Tech, Tenn Martin, Houston and should've won the 1st one). And he's only NOT been competitive in maybe 2 games in 3 years (last years LSU game comes to mind). We need to get a grip, we aren't Bama or LSU or even Arkansas for that matter. All 3 of those teams almost every year are BCS teams. Besides Mullen is only in his 3rd year! Petrino at least had talent when he showed up in Arky, Nutt did a decent job recuiting before he was given the boot & it didn't hurt Petrino to have a merc (Mallett) to come in and build behind him. Yes Dan needs to get better at getting at recruiting o linemen. But look at our QB's our RB's and most skill position guys as well. I can almost guarantee you IF (and that's a BIG if) Nick Griffin gets healthy he will make ALL of you forget about Vick Ballard! I trust Mullen, I trust that he'll learn from his mistakes (as we all have or need to) and continue to make us more competitve each year until we get a shot at being in Atlanta.....someday</p>
1.) If Flecther Cox and Jonathan Banks come back our defense will be pretty darned good! I have it on good authority that JB is POSSIBLY looking to leave after this season. I know some of you are probably saying "so what". Well honestly to me JB is as critical or even more critical to keep than Fletch. Yes, I know some of you are ready to tear me up for saying that but before we start lighting our flamethrowers listen to me for a second. JB not only does a good job of shutting down his WR as far as coverage is concerned (even though he pushed the Bama WR and it cost us a TD). He also puts points on the board for us and it takes some pressure off our offense. Regarless of if it's a pick 6 or a punt return TD the guy is a dynamic player. From an X's and O's stand point it lets us cut the field in half (we'll see it Saturday.....hopefully). What that means is MOST of the time when we blitz from the "field side" (long side of the field) he is so dynamic he can cover his area pretty well and as a D coordinator it allows you some liberty's and confidence that THAT side of the field is gonna be covered up. Now when we blitz to the "boundary side" (short side) IF and that's a BIG if our LB's are "scraping" he also help on the blitz as far as sacks or bated passes. I know that in the SEC "stopping the run" is VERY critical! But have you guys seen PJ Jones this year? Preston Smith? I knew PJ was good but watching him on 3rd and goal throw Tebob Hebert (one of LSU's best O lineman) aside and make that stick on LSU's running back was awesome! Guys he a freakin' true freshman! He was playing high school ball last year for Tupelo! And the best part about that stop? Fletcher NOR Josh were standing on the sideline! This is LSU here people! Not Memphis (which he still had a damned good game against). I feel our youger guys on the D line are coming around. Eulls is making plays he straight up destryed Trent Richardson on a cutback play. He's a redshirt fresman! Slay is NO where near as good as Banks or as good as advertised (so far). </p>
2.) We (as State fans) need to REALLY pay attention before we let our mouth's fly. This one'll probably get the ole flamers out but oh wells. I can also add myself to the list of people that need to run my mouth. This list includes "wooly" people (me) but also we can add the Chris Wilson naysayers to this as well. Those that said that Manny was SO great. Wilson's done far MORE with less. In this back and forth I was so caught up in defending Wilson in my predictions for the season I didn't REALLY take a look at what we lost on the other side of the ball. Apparently not only loing Sherrod was pretty big but losing Brignone (even though Dillon has come along as of late) was bad enough. But apparrently Tobias must've been pretty damned good too. But getting back to what I was saying about Wilson, look I have a CRAP ton of respect for the guy. After this year's coaches clinic and being with him 1on1 and having film session breakdowns with him, I think the guy is an awesome coach and an even better recruiter. I told him after our breakdowns how greatful I was and state fans should be to have him here. The guy lost the ENTIRE starting LB core and a pretty good pass/rush DE who plays in Nickel formations for the Ravens. But I was wooly and it has taught me a valuable lesson after this year. </p>
3.) We're gonna be fine with Tyler @ QB. I'm not gonna lie, I watched ALOT of the bowl practices last year. That was the only time we actually got a chance to see Tyler vs Dylan in a scrimmage (pre-spring game). AFter seeing what I saw I was scared. I saw Dylan being FAR too careless with the ball and then I saw the former Meridian QB get rattled that he was being pressured in competition. He held the ball too long and over shot TE's in the flat and under threw post patterns. I was worried. But then something happened. I don't know what but he just grew up somewhere between after the spring game to now. Call it coaching, personal commitment....I don't know. But the guy has looked pretty decent so far this year. Not to mention he has taken a BEATING this year. He's took far worse shots than Relf. As Russell get's hit he's in the middle of his release where he is completely exposed. Where when Relf gets smacked he's lowering his shoulder bracing for impact. Let's not lose sight of the fact that this is a guy who not long ago got his 1st start. I think some of our problem this year offensively is I think we are in a transition/transformation into what we're gonna be next year. Less zone-read and more 3 step/5 step drops. </p>
4.) (Last one) In Mullen I trust....and you should too. Okay let's not beat around the bush here. Mullen gets comapared to the BEST MSU coach we've had...JWS. Now let's REALLY look at this for a second. When JWS coached all the power resided in the East, Fulmer's Vols, Spurrrier's Gators. Both were cream of the crop in the SEC. Now let's look at what Dan's going up against week in and week out. Not only are Bama & LSU at the top but ARkansas has proven to be REALLY good as well now Auburn is proving they'll buy mules to win as well. No way (and yes I'm gonna say this and it's gonna piss some of you off!) would Jackie be more competitive than Mullen as a coach in this current division. The guy has beaten teams he's supposed to beat (LA Tech, Tenn Martin, Houston and should've won the 1st one). And he's only NOT been competitive in maybe 2 games in 3 years (last years LSU game comes to mind). We need to get a grip, we aren't Bama or LSU or even Arkansas for that matter. All 3 of those teams almost every year are BCS teams. Besides Mullen is only in his 3rd year! Petrino at least had talent when he showed up in Arky, Nutt did a decent job recuiting before he was given the boot & it didn't hurt Petrino to have a merc (Mallett) to come in and build behind him. Yes Dan needs to get better at getting at recruiting o linemen. But look at our QB's our RB's and most skill position guys as well. I can almost guarantee you IF (and that's a BIG if) Nick Griffin gets healthy he will make ALL of you forget about Vick Ballard! I trust Mullen, I trust that he'll learn from his mistakes (as we all have or need to) and continue to make us more competitve each year until we get a shot at being in Atlanta.....someday</p>
