In Rare Conversation, Mullen Shares Blueprint For Program

[HailState_Beat]

A little over two years ago, I remember Athletic Director Scott Stricklin leading a tour of Mississippi State’s newly-finished expansion and renovation of its football stadium, a $75 million dollar project he’d been working on since he took over and … Continue reading →

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[Bulldogg31]

Good stuff Bobby C. The team is improving, even if it's taking longer that many of us would like. Fitz can be really good, just going to take time.

 

[bulldogbaja]

What could you have possibly seen that makes you think the team is improving? I am slightly dumbfounded by this.

 

[Bulldogg31]

Running game looks better with Aeris.

Leo Lewis getting it figured out at LB.

Fitz starting to get more comfortable at QB.

Mixon developing as a playmaker.

Several other young guys beginning to get more PT over less talented upperclassmen.


There are plenty of folks on the board pointing out the deficiencies, no reason I need to help with that.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Agreed. Good job, Poopy Toes! Yep, you can thank the General for that & yourself for pressing the tradition. The ONLY nickname I've remembered.

The sky is not falling, but no one is happy either.

 

[Hankp22]

Marquiss Spencer

He has been playing well. I thought the defense played well for the most part on Friday.

Running game looks better with Aeris.

Leo Lewis getting it figured out at LB.

Fitz starting to get more comfortable at QB.

Mixon developing as a playmaker.

Several other young guys beginning to get more PT over less talented upperclassmen.


There are plenty of folks on the board pointing out the deficiencies, no reason I need to help with that.

 

[mount lefroy]

Running game looks better with Aeris.

Leo Lewis getting it figured out at LB.

Fitz starting to get more comfortable at QB.

Mixon developing as a playmaker.

Several other young guys beginning to get more PT over less talented upperclassmen.


There are plenty of folks on the board pointing out the deficiencies, no reason I need to help with that.

No no no. A williams will sit when holloway returns.

Leo is great and that isnt mullen.

Fitz is a goaline qb. Nothing more. He doesnt have the grey matter for the job.

Mixon- see A williams

Underclassmen should have already gotten pt. our kicker should be on scholarship.

No leadership now means the yankee didnt develop it before it was necessary. Leadership is like a crop for a farmer. You want it in the fall, it better be planted in the spring.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

Running game looks better with Aeris.

Leo Lewis getting it figured out at LB.

Fitz starting to get more comfortable at QB.

Mixon developing as a playmaker.

Several other young guys beginning to get more PT over less talented upperclassmen.


There are plenty of folks on the board pointing out the deficiencies, no reason I need to help with that.

Agreed on all counts.

Aries had 22 carriers and 80+yards. That was his first time since being at State he's had a real chance and I liked what I saw. He made some shifty moves and ran hard.

The offensive line are much better run blocking than pass blocking right now. The issue is inconsistency. They play well then all of a sudden someone whiffs a man, most likely Senior, and then the play is blown up.

We play so undisciplined just like Jackie's teams did at the end. Granted mainly on defense, which is basically all freshmens and sophomores. Every time Peters chases a play, I worry about a 15 yard love tap.

Brandon Bryant needs to figure it out. I don't know what's wrong with him, but he may be fragile mentally and I worry he may transfer. The guy needs a big game in a bad way.

Nick will get better with time. He's only a sophomore with 5 games experience. Him not playing the South Alabama game is huge obviously.

The one take away is Mullen said he's going to keep building the program the same way, so if that means more 2 and 3 star projects, then I guess we'll be really good once every 7 years.

Fire Hevs. Put and emphasis on OL recruiting.

 

[Dawgtini]

.
The one take away is Mullen said he's going to keep building the program the same way, so if that means more 2 and 3 star projects, then I guess we'll be really good 4-5 years out of every 7.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Bulldogg31]

Maybe on Aeris. We shall see.

I said Leo is figuring it out. Didn't mention Mullen.

Fitz has looked better each game. Your opinion of his intellect is your opinion.

Mixon has received more reps each game. Again, we shall see.

Underclassmen are getting more PT. No problem giving veterans a shot if they've earned it in practice, in weight room, off the field. If they can't perform, give the kids a shot.

Good point on leadership. Unfortunately several fellows who should be leaders aren't, and others who should be aren't even on the roster. Coach needs to fix it.

Not everyone has to be miserable about this season. I enjoy watching the coaches work on it, figure it out. I enjoy watching young guys step up when given a shot. Winning is the best, but the other stuff gives me something to be interested in until the wins start coming again. I do think we're going to be much better next year if we get OL help (Hev's gotta go). We'll have returning starters all over the field which will help.

Also, not me that Sprite'd you there.

 

[the dog is on the loose]

Want a blueprint for a program? Stop freaking looking for another job and start recruiting worth a crap.

 

[Bulldogg31]

Cory Thomas is looking solid as well. Throw in Simmons and we've got some young talent in our front 7

 

[mount lefroy]

Maybe on Aeris. We shall see.

I said Leo is figuring it out. Didn't mention Mullen.

Fitz has looked better each game. Your opinion of his intellect is your opinion.

Mixon has received more reps each game. Again, we shall see.

Underclassmen are getting more PT. No problem giving veterans a shot if they've earned it in practice, in weight room, off the field. If they can't perform, give the kids a shot.

Good point on leadership. Unfortunately several fellows who should be leaders aren't, and others who should be aren't even on the roster. Coach needs to fix it.

Not everyone has to be miserable about this season. I enjoy watching the coaches work on it, figure it out. I enjoy watching young guys step up when given a shot. Winning is the best, but the other stuff gives me something to be interested in until the wins start coming again. I do think we're going to be much better next year if we get OL help (Hev's gotta go). We'll have returning starters all over the field which will help.

Also, not me that Sprite'd you there.

Correct on all but a couple.

Mullen has to prove he will keep the most productive in. I hope im wrong, then again, i think D Lee is the rb that needs the carries. Then A williams and Mixon. Holloway should be used as perkins was in 2010.

Fitz is getting better, he just doesnt have the IT factor Tiano has. Me may have better speed and a stronger arm, but after watching practice and games, Fitz is a specialist. Hard to contain over 1-2 plays. But he doesnt manage a drive. Tiano is that qb.

Agree on mixon.

Agreed on leadership. My opinion is that has bled into every crevice of our team. Im not talking michael irvin, mouthy leadership. Im talking "follow me, i am the infantry" leadership.

Well said on enjoying the process. We should all take a step back and do the same thing without wxpecting superficial results too soon. That said, I know there are at least 3 coaches on this team that dont need to lose their jobs. For their sake alone i hope mullen stays.

Mullen has alienated many with his percieved shopping but his inability to accept reaponsibility for the eggbowllosses for two years have really been the deathnel.

 

[patdog]

Want a blueprint for a program? Stop freaking looking for another job and start recruiting worth a crap.

And follow Jackie's lead and get you some big, strong, physical offensive linemen. Our OL play the last 2 years makes me want to puke.

 

[Bulldogg31]

All great points. I forgot about Dontavian Lee, I was really hoping to see more of him. Got to wonder what he's not grasping in the offense, practice, classroom, who knows. If he doesn't get more time I could see a transfer coming there.

EDIT: I forgot he missed fall camp with an injury

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Please how do you know this to be fact?

Fitz is getting better, he just doesnt have the IT factor Tiano has. Me may have better speed and a stronger arm, but after watching practice and games, Fitz is a specialist. Hard to contain over 1-2 plays. But he doesnt manage a drive. Tiano is that qb.


Looked like to me he was about to piss in his pants, last I saw.

 

[BossDawg78]

Fire Hevs. Put and emphasis on OL recruiting.

Good luck with that. If Mullen was interested in improving at all on that front, Hevesy would've been gone long ago. I don't think Dan has the balls to get rid of his buddy, so Hev will be here as long as Mullen is.

 

[mount lefroy]

Fitz is getting better, he just doesnt have the IT factor Tiano has. Me may have better speed and a stronger arm, but after watching practice and games, Fitz is a specialist. Hard to contain over 1-2 plays. But he doesnt manage a drive. Tiano is that qb.


Looked like to me he was about to piss in his pants, last I saw.

Fitz doesnt and its in the actions of every offensive player and evident in his own. He could get there. But he is not like the players who have a knack for making the play and then raising the level of others.

Tiano, in the amount of time (more than 3 plays) ive had to watch him, but more importantly through the eyes of someone who watched him practice, has a better grasp of understanding "what the defense gives". I dont think Tiano would pull a miracle and get us to a bowl this year. I do think that if given a fair shot at playing time he'd have us closer come september 2017.

Its my opinion based on what ive seen and who i trust. I dont expect that is enough to convince anyone other than me.

Honestly its mainly my gut. If im wrong it wouldnt be the first nor the last.

 

[DawgAmerica]

Mullen - FItzgerald

I have a young son who plays soccer. He is currently playing for a coach who is a yeller, my son is frustrated because he says he can't do anything on the field with his coach constantly yelling to pass it, shoot it, move here, move there, etc. I told my son that what he is learning now is how to block out distractions and focus on what he needs to do. Its not happening fast but he is learning.

What Mullen says about Fitzgerald is similar, he is not yet to the point where he has absorbed the coaching and able to see the defense and make the correct reads. He is still in thinking about what Mullen has said while he is playing instead of reacting to what the defense is 'telling him'. It sounds like Mullen is seeing signs the Fitzgerald is close.

That said, I think Mullen needs to make sure that he is putting in the game plan that is most comfortable for Fitzgerald to run. Are there some reads that he is better at making than others? He is too good of a runner to not find a few plays to get him in better position to run. In the passing game, I think he should have a 2 read sequence then take-off. If pressured, his instruction should be to tuck & run. At this stage in his career, and with our O-Line, we don't want him trying to get to a 3rd or 4th read. He will be more effective more times than not by using his legs. I saw several times in the BYU game where he had 5 - 10 yards easily on a scramble but he chose to pass instead and more often than not he threw inaccurate and had an incompletion. It will help our O-Line issues as well if they don't have to hold blocks as long and will neutralize (to some degree) the pass rush if they have to be more conscientious of the Fitzgerald running.

 

[NCDawg.sixpack]

Good luck with that. If Mullen was interested in improving at all on that front, Hevesy would've been gone long ago. I don't think Dan has the balls to get rid of his buddy, so Hev will be here as long as Mullen is.

I afraid you are correct, and therefore I see little hope for the future despite all these comments about how good some of the other players look.

 

[Drebin]

Let me be clear on my thoughts about Mullen: He is my guy if he goes all in, commits to the job long term, and throws his energy and effort into recruiting better - especially on the offensive line. That guy that was here the first three years is who I'm looking for. If we get that guy back, I can understand that it's reasonable in year 8 to take a step back sometimes. But if we have a guy that continues to seem lacking in desire to be here, it's time to start having some conversations. His ability to coach and teach has never been in question. His commitment to the program above his own agendas is what's in question.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

No no no. A williams will sit when holloway returns.

Leo is great and that isnt mullen.

Fitz is a goaline qb. Nothing more. He doesnt have the grey matter for the job.

Mixon- see A williams

Underclassmen should have already gotten pt. our kicker should be on scholarship.

No leadership now means the yankee didnt develop it before it was necessary. Leadership is like a crop for a farmer. You want it in the fall, it better be planted in the spring.

Graves hits more if he's on scholarship?***