|
DB
Derek Pegues |
|
|
2007
Statistics |
Coach:
Sylvester Croom
17-30,
4 years |
2007
Record: 8-5 |
|
LOUISIANA
STATE |
LOST
0-45 |
at
Tulane |
WON
38-17 |
at
Auburn |
WON
19-14 |
GARDNER-WEBB |
WON
31-15 |
at
South Carolina |
LOST
21-38 |
UAB |
WON
30-13 |
TENNESSEE |
LOST
21-33 |
at
West Virginia |
LOST
13-38 |
at
Kentucky |
WON
31-14 |
ALABAMA |
WON
17-12 |
at
Arkansas |
LOST
31-45 |
MISSISSIPPI |
WON
17-14 |
LIBERTY
BOWL |
UCF |
WON
10-3 |
|
2007
Final Rankings
AP-33, Coaches-34, BCS-UR
|
2008
Outlook |
In
an era when coaches are turned
over for not winning right away
(and also for not winning all
the time,) it has been refreshing
to see Mississippi State stick
and stay with Sylvester Croom
as he rebuilt the program. It
is obviously that time now when
things are reaching fruition
and expectations will grow accordingly,
especially since Croom turned
the corner last year after the
four consecutive three-win efforts
to start his tenure here. Then
the watershed game with Auburn
- whom they hadn't beaten since
2000 - instilled the confidence
to go with Croom's tenets. On
a wing and a prayed, the scrappy
Bulldogs then went on a tear
to avenge their recent woes.
Suffice to say, State has now
won two in a row against Alabama
for the first time in 10 years.
Eight wins has fans and alums
excited, so this season becomes
pivotal as to where the Bulldogs
go from this successful juncture.
Where
they go will have everything
to do with how the quarterback
battle plays out into the season.
Wesley Carroll seems like a
'by default' starter - not the
top talent, but the most experienced
and a solid game manager. Relf
and Lee are not the best choices
yet, but either could be brought
in at Croom's will, a trait
he practices at the first signs
of trouble. The running game
is full of big backs, and the
results can only be described
as struggling, even with the
40+-yard increase in their per
game average from the prior
campaign. Like Pitt found out
after the recent years of trying
to establish their ground attack
with big, bulky backs, getting
a faster, cut-back type who
can still get yards inside the
tackle box can solve the problem
(LeSean McCoy)...Ducré
and Elliot can make defenders
miss with pure speed to compliment
Anthony Dixon's physical style
if coaches are willing to spread
the carries around more. But
one aspect affecting everything
that happens, the line, is missing
its best player - Mike Brown
is gone at left tackle, so three
new sophomore starters will
carry the team's destiny without
Brown’s leadership. If
the spring game's offensive
joke is any indicator, much
work has to be done still, but
Croom doesn't think the 6-0
OT inter-squad result reflects
much. "It's not a true
picture of where we are. My
idea of how we finished spring
is how we finished the scrimmage
before the spring game."
Without much evidence over his
tenure of offensive aptitude,
let alone explosiveness, we
have to think this Bulldog dish
is half empty until proof of
a change after four years of
meager production on this side
of things says otherwise.
The
defense poses a simple problem
for which there are few conclusions.
The back seven from their 7th-ranked
pass defense is already on the
same page, so foes will have
to run it if they want to win.
If the Bulldogs can keep from
committing extra hats into the
tackle box, they can win many
games through ball and clock
control…oh, and through
their opportunistic attitude
toward turnovers (that led to
five defensive scores, all on
INT returns.) Risk and reward
will rear its tempting head
again, and this much quality
under second-year coordinator
Charlie Hobson should assure
wise make-or-break results,
ones that help the team way
more than they hurt them. The
key will be the new DEs hitting
on all cylinders like Brown
and Hannibal did. The pressure
from up front is what allows
the secondary to do its thing,
and without it, opposing QBs
will find their guys much more.
The tackles aren't rush types,
but the new ends look like they
can be up to speed quickly.
Without this pressure, expect
the win total to dip.
The
slate is as daunting as any
in the nation's toughest conference.
Adding Georgia Tech is a gutsy
move, but one that probably
means another loss. The other
non-cons should be wins if the
team is truly playing to its
potential, but small schools
know they have a shot at beating
this unpredictable giant, so
each game will be its own challenge.
Along with Tech, SEC foes LSU,
Tennessee and Bama are all road
tests, and the trip to Oxford
to close, even with their in-state
rivals reeling, is never easy
(but sure is fun to watch, that
Egg Bowl). With Auburn looking
for revenge but also revamping
its staunch profile to look
more like the modern offenses
now termed 'spread', MSU has
to think that reaching bowl
eligibility is a reasonable
goal to start, not trying to
pick up where they left off.
That would be a 10-3 win over
a game UCF team, but still,
if winning against CUSA teams
is the bar set again for ‘08,
breaking even won't occur in
the SEC.
Mississippi
State had a dubious reputation
under former coaches who will
remain nameless. That makes
winning this time around that
much sweeter, knowing it is
being done right and with a
coach like Croom who is a better
role model for shaping the young
men under him. Building the
program as they have optimizes
the impact of student athletics,
putting education and fair play
above winning, as they should
be, but unfortunately aren't
in the declining ethics of our
time. We tip our hat to Croom,
his approach and the university
for making the right priorities
as they complete many young
men's (and women's) minds with
quality lessons through their
coaches’ trickle-down
example. The Magnolia State
never smelled so good.
Projected
2008 record: 8-4
|
|
|
WR
Jamayel Smith |
MISSISSIPPI
STATE
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 4 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 4 |
OL
- 3 |
.. |
|
MISSISSIPPI
STATE
2007 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
76 |
10 |
Passing: |
113 |
12 |
Total
Off: |
113 |
12 |
Sacks
Allow: |
40 |
11 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
58 |
7 |
Passing: |
7 |
3 |
Total
Def: |
21 |
5 |
Sacks: |
100 |
12 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Wesley Carroll, 134-255-7, 1392
yds., 9 TD
Rushing: Anthony Dixon,
287 att., 1066 yds., 14 TD
Receiving: Jamayel Smith,
33 rec., 510 yds., 3 TD
Scoring: Anthony Dixon,
16 TD, 96 pts.
Punting: Blake McAdams,
77 punts, 39.3 avg.
Kicking: Adam Carlson,
10-13 FG, 33-34 PAT, 63 pts.
Tackles: Jamar Chaney,
89 tot., 35 solo
Sacks: Jimmie Holmes,
2 sacks
Interceptions: Derek
Pegues, 5 for 120 yds., 1 TD
Kickoff returns: Derek
Pegues, 24 ret., 22.7 avg.,
0 TD
Punt returns: Derek Pegues,
27 ret., 9.9 avg., 1 TD
|
|
|
|
|
MISSISSIPPI
STATE |
|
|
OFFENSE
- 7 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Michael Henig-QB, Tony Burks-WR,
Lance Long-WR, Dezmond Sherrod-TE,
Eric Butler-TE, Jason Husband-TE,
Michael Brown-OT, Royce Blackledge-C,
J.D. Hamilton-OT |
DEFENSE:
Titus
Brown-DE, Avery Hannibal-DE, Gabe
O'Neal-SLB, Anthony Johnson-CB,
Demario Bobo-FS (NFL) |
|
|
2008
OFFENSE |
Not
much was established in the modest
offense seen last year that will guarantee
anything for '08. Look at the statistical
rankings, and you see struggles in
most areas, especially the passing
dimensions. Coupled with what was
seen in spring, or a lack thereof
when it came to production as the
score after regulation was still 0-0
(final score in OT was 6-0), and predictions
have to be reserved for what the Bulldogs
can muster. One aspect last year was
that the highs weren't too high, and
the lows weren't so low, and that
signals a much more consistent effort
upon which to build...slowly, as the
case may be.
QUARTERBACK
The quarterbacks are sorted out...well,
sort of. The stratum seems dictated
by experience, so we find Wesley Carroll
atop the depth chart for now. Carroll
is a solid sophomore who worked many
kinks out in his Freshman All-SEC
campaign. With his knowledge of the
system, we can't see anyone getting
past him before the opener. JUCO transfer
Josh Riddell is now gone, as is Mike
Henig, and both could have been solid
under center. Chris Relf has the gutsy
approach many fans like and was the
hurler of that game-winner to end
the spring scrimmage. But when Relf
was “off” in spring practice,
he showed it, hence his 2-for-13 (one
INT) outing to emphasize that he’s
not ready. Still, many have him as
the No.2 guy at this early juncture.
Junior Tyson Lee seemed the most consistent
this spring, but this junior college
product is also green to the ways
of FBS-level play. There is ample
talent in the QB unit, but is Woody
McCorvey the right guy (also the coordinator)
to elicit the most from his candidates?
After McCorvey's team pass efficiency
ratings over the past three campaigns
ranked 110th, 108th and 117th respectively,
we must pose this obvious truth since
the QB talent doesn't seem to reach
its potential here under this regime.
RUNNING
BACK
The running game does a bit better,
which is good since Croom's West Coast
system runs it twice as often as they
air it out. But let's face it...if
Anthony Dixon only musters 3.7 yards
per carry again, the running game
won't bail out the (passing) offense.
Dixon is a big back who can move well,
but the predictability of his between-the-tackles
aim allows foes to stop him too often
before he gets going. Christian Ducré
is a bit lighter, and it translates
since he can bounce outside a bit
better. RS frosh Rob Elliot seems
poised to make a big splash if his
workload this spring says anything
about what we will soon see. As last
year's No.8 prospect, Elliot is even
more svelte than either Ducré
or Dixon, but he will have to keep
speedy Montario Patterson from becoming
the chosen smaller back. Both fullbacks
are little more than bruisers, but
Hoskins and Hart can both do more
than just block if asked to. Given
a decent passing game, this group
of backs could sustain their part
in creating sustained drives.
RECEIVER
/ TIGHT END
The receivers will be two seniors
who know how to do their part. Aubrey
Bell is the biggest body and surest
target, using his size to shield DBs
and block well downfield. Jamayel
Smith is a proven field-stretching
weapon, forcing two-deep coverages
to commit a safety, or else. JUCO
guy Co-Eric Riley was a four-star
prize, but he wasn't included in enough
plays last year for his paper worth
to be realized. The same goes for
6'4 Brandon McRae, a true weapon who
needs to be tapped for more than his
mere two receptions last year. Marcus
Green will be found more downfield
than plowing at the line of scrimmage;
he’s more of a bulked up WR/RB
with speed to burn, and he will be
asked to replace the production of
three tight ends who were all major
parts of the Bulldog offense. Henderson
is that pusher needed up front, but
he will get his chances in the pattern
seeing how the offense here employs
many TEs.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
The biggest news this off-season wasn't
good - Mike Brown is gone (legal troubles)
after being expected to anchor the
already tenuous OL from his left tackle
spot. Four-star prospect Derek Sherrod
gets thrust into the spotlight similar
to how Brown was placed at the line's
most important position and expected
to deliver instantly. Mark Melichar
plays light like classmates Sherrod
and J.C. Brignone. Pass Christian
product Brignone did well in his chances,
so these three sophs look like they
can bolster this OL during its revampings.
Brignone is flanked by the two returning
starters, and the upperclassmen can
help him learn the position the way
it needs to be played at this level.
Ex-DT Strauder and Pearl-native Jenkins
are the keys for the inside running
game to stay strong, and that's good
news for State fans. Mike Gates is
good enough to start, using surprising
athleticism to play anywhere needed.
Along with Carpenter and Spencer,
there is some depth that could step
in and keep any injuries from taking
production down any notches, but the
rest of the unknowns were big reasons
the offense had trouble disciplining
itself to perform as a tight unit
this spring. The OL, regardless, shouldn't
be a liability.
If
the QBs can prove worthy enough to
keep those top SEC foes from cheating
eight/nine into the box, this offense
can get into long drives and wear
down defenses with their physical
running style. If the QBs only provide
12 passing TDs like they did last
year, expect the offense to again
break the 20 point barrier in only
about half of MSU's games.
|
|
RB
Anthony Dixon
|
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|
MISSISSIPPI
STATE 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters
in bold |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Wesley
Carroll-So (6-1, 190) |
Tyson
Lee-Jr (5-11, 190) |
FB |
Brandon
Hart-Sr (5-11, 240) |
Eric
Hoskins-Sr (5-11, 230) |
HB |
Anthony
Dixon-Jr (6-1, 240) |
Christian
Ducre-Jr (6-0, 215) |
WR |
Aubrey
Bell-Sr (6-3, 217) |
Co-Eric
Riley-Sr (6-1, 200) |
WR |
Jamayel
Smith-Sr (6-0, 183) |
Brandon
McRae-Jr (6-4, 200) |
TE |
Brandon
Henderson-So (6-1, 250) |
Marcus
Green-Fr (6-2, 230) |
OT |
Derek
Sherrod-So (6-5, 298) |
Chris
Spencer-Jr (6-3, 305) |
OG |
Anthony
Strauder-Sr (6-3, 290) |
Johnny
Carpenter-Jr (6-2, 290) |
C |
J.C.
Brignone-So (6-1, 290) |
D.J.
Looney-Fr (6-1, 290) |
OG |
Craig
Jenkins-Jr (6-4, 315) |
Michael
Gates-Sr (6-4, 305) |
OT |
Mark
Melichar-So (6-5, 284) |
Quentin
Saulsberry-Fr (6-3, 286) |
K |
Adam
Carlson-Sr (6-4, 195) |
Eric
Richards-Fr (6-4, 227) |
|
|
2008
DEFENSE |
These
Bulldogs have got some bite seeing
how three big conference games were
won by the defense, including the
one against Auburn and its then-senior-laden
squad. That game (Bama result also)
was prototypical of what will still
be seen this year – State’s
iffy run-stopping won't, in turn,
open up the defense for subsequent
passing success since the secondary
is pretty air-tight, and whether State
can take advantage of turnovers will
again change which team comes out
ahead at the end.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
A total of five INTs (out of their
18) came back for scores, and opportunities
such as these will again be important
at those times the offense struggles.
The DBs are 2007's No.7 pass defense,
which was only good enough to rank
them third in the league. Missing
will be their best corner, Johnson,
and finding a new lock-down type will
be the search that tells whether this
is another killer secondary or one
that struggles to get its results.
Marcus Washington did an admirable
job after tweaking his back against
Auburn, but he wasn't the same and
lost his starting assignment by mid-season.
JUCO transfer Jasper O'Quinn picked
up Washington's mantle and proved
why he was so sought after. Tay Bowser
is also returning from an injury-plagued
year, so a fully healthy set of corners
can hopefully pick up where they left
off. Then we have the safeties, who
are bursting at the seems with both
experience and four-star wanna-be's.
All-SEC Derek Pegues is a senior who
has started at both corner and free
safety since he was a true frosh.
He therefore knows how to break on
the ball with a vengeance from his
rear position. The same profile is
shared by Keith Fitzhugh, a tough
hitting Georgia product who was tapped
from day one. Fitzhugh, also a senior,
didn't start as much last year after
he was a regular in his sophomore
campaign, yet he still finished fifth
on the team in tackles to prove his
effectiveness. Then there's De'Mon
Glanton, who will have to earn his
starting spot back from Fitzhugh or
just be rotated in often so Pegues
can step up on third/extra receivers,
a specialty of his. Zach Smith is
another guy who didn't get a freshman
redshirt in 2007 since he was good
enough to contribute right away. These
four have plenty underneath of them,
including two four-star safety prospects
who are sure to get a serious look
upon arrival. The two departees shouldn't
be impossible to replace, so big things
are expected of this veteran group.
Knowing what to do on ball-fakes and
play-action should be "old hat"...well,
they have to be.
LINEBACKER
The linebackers lose one guy, but
it might be the best guy on last year's
D if solo tackles are the criteria.
Senior Jamar Chaney becomes the leader,
and he seems ready if the scoreless
result from the spring game (regulation
time) is any indication of his ability
to rally these troops. Chaney earned
his All-SEC status after learning
both how and where to move much better
last year. Chaney is solid now in
coverage, but as the biggest MSU LB,
he is often needed still along the
line. Dominic Douglas enrolled early
last year out of junior college (Hinds,
MS), and his big spring parlayed into
11 quality starts. Jamon Hughes killed
in the West Virginia game, leading
the team with 12 tackles, and along
with senior Anthony Littlejohn, quite
a few guys want Gabe O'Neal's old
starting slot. Well, too bad, because
K.J. Wright is the new face at strongside
linebacker. Wright impressed in the
off-season after a mediocre first
year, and he has the chops to be one
of the greats here. The two freshmen
may represent the future, but whether
they become weak links or true Bulldogs
this year leaves a taste of uncertainty
in new LB coach Louis Campbell's mouth.
DEFENSIVE
LINE
Also a bit nerve racking has to be
trying to find outside pressure with
two new starters at end. No one else
started last year except Brown and
Hannibal, but Tim Bailey was substitute
number one, and the JUCO transfer
delivered. An Iraq vet (2004-05),
Bailey has speed (4.6-second 40 time)
and athleticism like few others (41"
vertical leap is absurd). His junior
year proved the end slots can feature
some continuity from the quality seen
here last year. In those ever-tough
spring position battles, Holmes and
McCraney were leap-frogged this spring
by Brandon Cooper. After Cortez started
four games, who'd-a thunk that Memphis-transfer
McCraney wouldn't get the start again,
especially with his stout size for
sliding into the one-through-nine
gaps and losing no push (he started
at tackle to start off '07.) The tackles
are not lacking skills, but they definitively
are "old school" in that
they engage a blocker or two so the
help behind them can then get the
ball carrier. Jessie Bowman was good
for only nine unassisted tackles and
fellow starter Kyle Love had eight,
but their modest tackle totals do
not reflect how well they do their
job in occupying OLmen and stringing
out plays. The No.11 tackle prospect
this year is Templeton Hardy; the
Sardis native overachieved throughout
prep and should make waves instantly
on this team that isn't afraid to
use its most qualified youngsters
right away.
The
key to beating this defense will simply
be to do it the same way as last year...if
the running game works, keep at it
and wear them down slowly. Foes that
are forced to pass will struggle.
|
|
LB
Jamar Chaney
|
|
|
MISSISSIPPI
STATE 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters
in bold |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Brandon
Cooper-So (6-3, 240) |
Cortez
McCraney-Sr (6-4, 272) |
DT |
Kyle
Love-Jr (6-1, 320) |
Reggie
Odom-So (6-0, 295) |
DT |
Jessie
Bowman-Sr (6-1, 305) |
LaMarcus
Williams-So (6-1, 290) |
DE |
Tim
Bailey-Sr (6-3, 241) |
Jimmie
Holmes-Sr (6-3, 235) |
SLB |
K.J.
Wright-So (6-3, 215) |
Anthony
Littlejohn-Sr (6-1, 230) |
MLB |
Jamar
Chaney-Sr (6-1, 236) |
Jamie
Jones-Fr (6-0, 215) |
WLB |
Dominic
Douglas-Sr (6-2, 227) |
Terrell
Johnson-Fr (6-2, 210) |
CB |
Jasper
O'Quinn-Sr (5-10, 185) |
Tay
Bowser-Jr (6-3, 185) |
CB |
Marcus
Washington-Jr (5-10, 180) |
Damein
Anderson-Fr (5-11, 175) |
SS |
Keith
Fitzhugh-Sr (5-11, 206) |
De'Mon
Glanton-Sr (6-1, 190) |
FS |
Derek
Pegues-Sr (5-10, 196) |
Zach
Smith-So (6-0, 180) |
P |
Blake
McAdams-Sr (5-10, 190) |
Eric
Richards-Fr (6-4, 227) |
|
|
|
2008
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Blake
McAdams has been the punter since his first
day here, but the net results during his
three years have not been complimentary
of his consistency. Adam Carlson has an
accurate leg, but not a big one. That's
tough on a team where production comes at
a premium. Eric Richards does get distance,
and we expect last year's No.3 kicking prospect
(ESPN.com) will get some looks at both foot-bearing
slots. Derek Pegues rules both return jobs
and his downfield vision as a top safety
allows his runs to be maximized and mistakes
to be minimized.
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