Let’s all just ignore DMQ’s insane ranking of South Carolina, who I think is a better team than Mississippi State. Agreed? Cool.
Mississippi State came out of nowhere, benefiting from Georgia and Florida’s abysmal seasons, to win 9 games last year. They finished the year by destroying Michigan (sucks) in the bowl game and ended the RichRod era.
Dan Mullen, an Urban Meyer disciple and the offensive coordinator for both of Florida’s National Title teams, is recognized as one of the better offensive minds in CFB. Mississippi State didn’t exactly set the world on fire last season as some of the passing numbers were inflated by playing against some cupcakes. However Mullen has a tremondous pedigree and I expect the passing game to improve in year 2 (especially with Relf having a full offseason as the presume starter).
- Mississippi State Passing Versus Bad Defenses: 69-for-111 (62% completion rate), 1,118 yards (10.1 per pass, 279.5 per game), 10 TD, 3 INT.
- Mississippi State Versus Everyone Else: 99-for-177 (56%), 1,306 yards (7.4 per pass, 145.1 per game), 8 TD, 10 INT.
*stats via FootballStudyHall (link)
The running game was the main driver of the offense last season as the top 2 returning backs averaged 5.2 and 5.6 yards per carry. Against Florida last year, Mississippi State attempted 9 pass attempts and still won. That’s a solid running attack.
Almost all of MSU’s skill position players return in 2011, including Chris Relf, described as a Big Lots version of Tebow by Spencer Hall. 3 OL starters return but they do have replace 1st round draft-pick Derek Sherrod which is never an easy task to do.
Mississippi State was terrific on defense last year, finishing 10th overall in S&P+. They were outstanding against the run, fairly good against the pass and return a good number of starters. 5 of the 6 top DL and the top 5 DBs return which should allow Mississippi State to deal with losing 3 of the top 4 LB’s who graduated. However, Manny Diaz, the D-coordinator, left for Texas and he was replaced internally by the D-Line Coach.
Overall, Mississippi State was a surprise team in Year 1 of the Dan Mullen era. They return tons of talent and are in year 2 of their coaches system. Working against them is that they play in the SEC East, they had some turnover luck last year, the record was bumped up by some cupcakes, and they are replacing their Defensive coordinator.
Better previews:
FootballStudyHall: Link
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22. Mississippi State (PootND)
23. South Carolina (DMQ)
24. Ohio State (Biscuit)
25. Arizona State (PootND)
- Florida State 18, Notre Dame 14: A Quick Recap - December 29, 2011
- Stanford 28, Notre Dame 14: A Quick Recap - November 27, 2011
- Notre Dame 16, Boston College 14: A Quick Recap - November 21, 2011
Where’s UM gonna be ranked? 12? Maybe too high, I think 15 is reasonable.
Given the trolling that DMQ has been doing, I expect him to have them in the top 10
I’ve got them at #56 on my big board.
56? The only 56 UM is good for this year is the 56 they will hang on ND’s vastly overrated D this fall. Don’t really believe this, just glad to be done with 75 hour work weeks in time to get ready for FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s coming boys, FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!! WOOOT.
56 is the number of times UM’s walk-on DBs will get burned by ND in a blowout loss. 56 is the number of times LNIII will have to chew to get all of Denard’s shoes down (laces and all)
LNIII doesnt have to chew, he simply engulfs his prey whole.
LNIII won the World Series of Poker using only Pokemon cards.