Schedule 1 random thoughts..

[CrookedLetta4Eva]

1. There's a reason that Cleveland and Jiles were 1 and 2 on the depth chart. (Because they were seniors**)

2. Staley transferred because he knew he wouldn't play, but he was still getting equal snaps with the other 3 QBs at the time. Strange.

3. AJ is a 17in animal.

4. I think our special teams will be much improved this year.

5. Word on the street, Gerri Green is so fast off the end. He's gonna cause a lot of QBs problems this year.

6. Word on the street, Leo Lewis is a headhunter.

7. Our starting o line will be improved from last year. Our backup o line is horrible. Very thin at all positions.

8. We are so damn deep at receiver.

9. I don't buy that "Shump gets it now".

10. Smokey gonna talk that ****. Love him and Smithermans attitudes at CB.

11. Nick James will put many o lineman on their asses. Glad to see how far he's come in his development as a player and a man.

12. Weed should be legalized. Just plain stupid to not reschedule it. Alcohol is legal but weed isn't? GTFOH

 

[aTotal360]

Print it.

 

[121Josey]

Sounds like you had a productive day at MSU Fan Day.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

The injuries worry me. I don't care how poor people may think our CBs were, they were the starters for a reason and it's not seniority. Dan may be loyal to his seniors, and he may give them the edge if it's a close battle, but he's here to win games and he's going to put the people he feels gives us the best chance to win. If he thought there was someone who was far and away better than either of those guys then they'd be starting. It's concerning. My 7-5 prediction is now closer to 6-6. Other than Graham, who hadn't played CB before last year, none of our CBs have taken a snap before. That's not a winning formula in the SEC

 

[TBone.sixpack]

I think 6-6 is realistic even before the injuries. I fear it's going to be a frustrating season.

 

[121Josey]

you mad bro?

 

[engie]

Broomfield over Slay in 2011*

It was a questionable move to redshirt Smitherman last year, especially after the Redmond injury. We lose a lot of experience right here -- but I think we upgrade talent. Going to be a similar year to 2013 unless I miss my guess. I'm bracing for it personnel-wise...

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

blessings to you

 

[Pookieray]

If *** is telling the DC who the starters should be at CB or any other position maybe this is where the issues have been all along! I wouldn't think a HC would tell his DC who to start at whatever position. So if we had two guys starting at CB my guess they would be the ones that played that position the best, especially since the whole defensive staff is new and they had an open mind coming into the program? All this talk about the best ones aren't playing doesn't make sense to me. Being that these coaches are with the players on a daily basis just maybe they see something that others do not.

 

[missouridawg]

If *** is telling the DC who the starters should be at CB or any other position maybe this is where the issues have been all along! I wouldn't think a HC would tell his DC who to start at whatever position. So if we had two guys starting at CB my guess they would be the ones that played that position the best, especially since the whole defensive staff is new and they had an open mind coming into the program? All this talk about the best ones aren't playing doesn't make sense to me. Being that these coaches are with the players on a daily basis just maybe they see something that others do not.

What issues are you referring too? The issues of us winning 19 games the last year? The sky is falling crowd.... Y'all need to just drink that koolaid and GTFO of the way of everyone else who plans on enjoying this season.

 

[Pookieray]

The issues of giving up tons of yards through the air. I'm not on board with getting rid of Coach Mullen or anything like that, I'm just saying we have had issues of stopping teams. I'm glad we have won however many games the last few years but I have been very frustrated with the defense if you think our defense has been ok well that is your opinion. Cant think of many teams that have been better than State on offense but I know quit a few that have been much better on defense. Apparently so did Coach Mullen and he knows that is the next step.

I'm not in the sky if falling crowd, I'm just calling BS on the people who think the HC is telling the DC who to start at what position. I think our best players for the most part have been on the field.

 

[rugbdawg]

Huh? Whenever we play upper echelon SEC teams it is ALWAYS the offense that lets us down. Always. Mullen's offense has been HORRIBLE against good defenses. HORRIBLE.

It's the D that keeps us in games.

 

[Pookieray]

Best I can say is I suppose its perspective.
D gave up 479 yards to TSUN
479 to UA but won
423 to UK
413 to ULL
516 TamU
413 USM
But if your thinking is that our offense was the problem check out the bama stats, there D gave up 393 yards while ours gave up 379 but 31 pts off those yards because they pounded our defense on the ground we gave up 7.8 yards per carry. If our d held us in games we wouldn't have given up 31 pts on 379 yards. Bama was the only upper echelon team we played that had a great defense, offensively we did enough to win TamU, TSUN, LSU you can believe what you like, offense wasn't the problem to me. Gaining almost 400 yards of offense against Alabama aint bad if d could have given a few more opportunities but not able to stop there run was a killer.
I don't see any stats in any of the SEC games where D kept us in a game except LSU. Not even a few Non Conf games either.

 

[Confucius Say]

Broomfield started over slay.
Love started over Redmond.
Zach Jackson started over gray.
Deontay Evans played over anybody.
Chris jones didn't start until jr.
I can go on here.

Let's not act like we don't start more experienced, less talented defenders.

 

[Pookieray]

In SEC competition we averaged 444 yards of offense while giving up 415 yards average.

In non conf we averaged 466 yards of offense while giving up 334 avg. This avg is way skewed by NwSt stats.

Defense did us no favors last year.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

You're right. He plays people off of seniority, not because he thinks they give us the best shot to succeed. I guess we can pencil Joc Johnson in on the OL then with that logic

 

[121Josey]

You're right. He plays people off of seniority, not because he thinks they give us the best shot to succeed. I guess we can pencil Joc Johnson in on the OL then with that logic

You're being a little whiny ***** today. You must have forgotten that Merlin started a converted TE to LT 5th year SR on the OL last year while two better OT's watched from the sidelines. With that logic, it's fair to say his "strain" to win was questionable.

Blessings to you too, Freezus.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

^^he still mad^^

 

[engie]

You really took that to the extreme.

Were we better with Gray or Jackson on the field last year? The freshmen or Evans? No one is saying he's not trying to win -- it's just obvious he's valued other things beyond spotlighted on-field performance, one of which seems to be seniority. It's fine when the gap isn't apparent -- I actually like the approach. But when it takes 3 years for talented rbs "to learn to pass block" -- it is fair to question that. It self-corrects in most seasons and isn't a problem worth actually complaining much about. But personally, I'd rather watch a very talented freshman make freshman mistakes in comparison with a junior or senior doing the right thing and just getting beat.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

I will agree that he does favor experience more than I like, but I just find it hard to believe that he doesn't think they give us the best chance to win. Right or wrong, I think he does what he thinks is best. The running back thing does piss me off to no end and it's something I will never understand. Somehow Shumpert is good enough in his second year to see PT but Williams wasn't. It can't just be seniority. These guys have to be doin something in practice that make him play them over others.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Mullen doesn't have Carte Blanche with your average Joe Fan, & I hope he doesn't within the AD. However, I think he's trying to build something. He's raised the floor beyond what we've ever known. Yet, the ceiling, or bar, is moved time & time again on him. Yes, some of his personnel & game management decisions baffle me. But, I'm just a fan posting my opinion on a message board. Clearly, he's more into getting wins than I. Sure, he could try to catch lightning in a bottle by cheating or by using questionable transfers to stem the tide. And if he were going to do so, he would've with Scam. He seems to want to build sustainability in Starkville & get away from the roller coaster I've lived from Sherrill through Croom. He's trying to change the culture of our program, & he has.

 

[Faustdog]

I'm not on board with getting rid of Coach Mullen or anything like that...

That's awesome to know that you aren't on board with getting rid of Mullen.

Seriously, what kind of moron would even think that for one minute?

 

[Confucius Say]

I will agree that he does favor experience more than I like, but I just find it hard to believe that he doesn't think they give us the best chance to win. Right or wrong, I think he does what he thinks is best. The running back thing does piss me off to no end and it's something I will never understand. Somehow Shumpert is good enough in his second year to see PT but Williams wasn't. It can't just be seniority. These guys have to be doin something in practice that make him play them over others.

I agree he does what he thinks is best

 

[Confucius Say]

You're right. He plays people off of seniority, not because he thinks they give us the best shot to succeed. I guess we can pencil Joc Johnson in on the OL then with that logic

Nope, Johnson only plays center and clayborn has been in the system longer so he gets the nod there ***

 

[DancingRabbit]

Fortunately, people with money (and stroke) usually aren't stupid.

That's awesome to know that you aren't on board with getting rid of Mullen.

Seriously, what kind of moron would even think that for one minute?

Regardless, Stricklin and Keenum aren't stupid.

 

[Junction John]

It's not that he wants to play "older" players, but that he values "more consistent" players... And generally the more experience you have in his scheme, the more consistent you do things the way he wants. Hence sitting obviously more talented running backs for those who "know the blocking scheme".

It's not that Shumpert was older than Williams last year, it was that Williams (like all young ballerz) wanted the rock - F all that blocking noise. He got lazy on blocking sometimes, and Dan won't put up with that. Then let one of the less experienced players fumble the ball and they're lucky to see the field again.

I'm not saying I agree with that line of thinking, just reminding y'all how he thinks.

 

[leeinator]

What's wrong with being a Senior?

I wish all 22 starting positions on the team were Seniors.

 

[Miketice]

C34

 

[Dogariffic]

When Mullen got here he could not get 4-5 star guys to commit to MSU. I have always thought Mullens philosophy as a result of this fact was to redshirt most everyone..... Because in his mind a 3 star guy in the system 4-5 years is as good or better than a 4-5 star guy is a system for 2-3. That is his equalizer.... Experience.
Now as we begin to recruit more 4-5 star guys this philosophy starts to bend some. But I imagine ........ All things being equal.....Mullen struggles to play younger guys because of the commitment and effort the guys who committed 4 years ago have given to him.
And I have to say his red shirting philosophy has worked pretty well so far. It will be interesting to see how recruiting more 4-5 star guys ... And more guys outside MS change things moving forward.

 

[coach66]

Best practice report I've seen.

nm

 

[maroonmania]

The scariest thing about #1 is that the season hasn't even started yet. What happens if we lose another CB or two for a few starts or longer during the season which there is a decently significant chance of happening? We may end up with walk-ons starting at this rate.

 

[the dog is on the loose]

As i read these posts, some were spot on and well thought out, but the one thing I do not understand with mullen is why does he still try to run a 160 lb guy right up the gut of an SEC defense? I have nothing against holloway but run him on sweeps or receiver. I will NEVER understand that logic. There is no way anyone can tell me we don't have a rb strong enough to run up the middle. I know our OL sucked crap last year but even with a bama OL I still wouldn't run a 160 pounder up the middle.