Not just Air Raid, Mississippi State will Run the Ball vs. Kentucky

Tim Couch once threw 67 passes in a football game at the University of Kentucky. That was a year after he dialed up 66 in a game. Mike Leach was the offensive coordinator for each contest. This Saturday he’ll return to Lexington with the Air Raid offense, but it’s evolved from his days at UK. Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers is leading the nation in passing yards per game (351.7), but the Bulldogs are also effectively running the football in 2022.

The Bulldogs have a terrific tandem in the backfield, often using both on the field at the same time. Dillon Johnson and Jo’Quavious Marks combine to average 116 yards on 21.5 carries per game. Rushing for eight total touchdowns, the Bulldog running backs are a big reason why Mississippi State has the best red zone touchdown scoring percentage (90.5) in the SEC.

“It’s one area that is slightly different (than previous Mike Leach teams). You see the balance that they’re creating on the offensive side of the ball,” Mark Stoops said this week. “They’re very, very efficient in runs. On first, second downs, mixed downs, there’s a much higher percentage of running the football than in the past. I wanna say it’s around 60-40 (percent pass-run) and it’s keeping people honest with effective runs. They have two good players back there or more. You can see why they’re doing it.”

When reflecting on Kentucky’s 31-17 loss at Mississippi State in 2021, many will focus on Will Rogers’ absurd efficiency (36-of-39 completions), but the running game is what killed the Kentucky defense. The Bulldogs ran the ball 31 times, converting on 7-of-12 third downs to wear down the UK defense and keep the Cats’ offense off the field.

Mississippi State Running Backs are Effective Pass-Catchers Too

These Mississippi State running backs are not one-trick ponies. The Bulldogs have six players with 20+ receptions this fall and two of them are running backs. Johnson is second on the team with 27 receptions, averaging 7.4 yards per catch. Marks has pulled in 23 passes for 6.1 yards per reception.

Mike Leach uses swing passes and screens to create easy completions for Rogers. Chris Rodriguez can turn what looks like a 2-yard run into a gain of eight. Similarly, the Mississippi State running backs turn short 2-yard passes into 8-yard gains by making the first man miss in open space. Last year the Wildcats missed 12 tackles in Starkville. For Kentucky to secure a Top 25 win Saturday, the Wildcats’ cornerbacks and edge defenders must be at their best when tackling in the open-field, or it could be a long night at Kroger Field.