Scouting Mississippi State (torrents)
Some torrents here:
http://tenyardtracker.com/browse.php?search=%22mississippi+state%22&cat=2
I'm downloading these:
Auburn at Mississippi State 2010 HD
NCAA.2010.WK11.Mississippi.State.vs.Alabama.576p.firekiller
NCAA WK3 Mississippi St Bulldogs @ LSU Tigers - 720P
NCAA.2010.WK13.Mississippi.State.at.Mississippi.espn3.firekiller
December 5th, 2010 at 6:49 PM ^
let the games begin.
December 5th, 2010 at 6:49 PM ^
Can be a good matchup for us. Their O is lacking and could be a decent matchup vs our young D
December 5th, 2010 at 6:55 PM ^
On the other hand, their D held Auburn to 17 points.
December 5th, 2010 at 8:00 PM ^
Of which Zero points came in the second half...
A quick look at their schedule: Lost only to Auburn (by 7, after only 5 days between games for healing/prepping,) LSU the following week, then Alabama before losing to Arkansas (by 7 in 2OT.)
Outside of the big games linked to above, the MSU-Kentucky game might be worth looking at. Kentucky's Randall Cobb is 2nd in the nation in all-purpose yards but the Wildcats lost to MSU thanks, in part, to 4 turnovers.
2 things: 1. Denard Robinson should lead that list of all-purpose yards (which apparently only includes rushing, receiving, and returning.) 2. HOLD ON TO THE DAMN BALL!!!
December 5th, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
The Arkansas game was fun. MState came back to tie from 10 down as time expired. They drove inside the Arkansas one in the first OT, but the RB reached for the cone and fumbled through the end zone for a touchback to end a long run. Arkansas didn't move the ball and missed a FG.
Arkansas scored a TD in the 2nd OT and MState could not answer.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:39 PM ^
I think we've consistently proven that our D can out-lack any O.
December 5th, 2010 at 6:50 PM ^
Nice... "Know Thine Enemy"... Bowl Edition. (Sorry, I was looking through the HTTV magazine again, just to re-read some sections given what I know now...it's actually an interesting exercise.
Anyway, I'm pumped about this bowl game.
December 5th, 2010 at 8:02 PM ^
Also excited. I think this is as good a bowl matchup as we could have asked for: a team that doesn't really pass the ball and is clearly outside the top tier of their conference.
For scouting, I want to read their blogs. So far I've only found one, which must be poorly followed considering they haven't head a reader comment in weeks. It's called For Whom the Cowbell Tolls. If anyone else knows of any others, please post.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^
Supposedly the Bulldogs like to use the cowbell (although supposedly they will be banned from home games.. i think next year?)
Looking at their record/results.. this is a pretty good team we're playing. 4-4 in the SEC, with key wins over Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida.
They've played Arkansas tough (lost in OT), they've played Auburn tough (lost by FG.)
The most they've put up is 49 pts (twice, once against Alcorn State, the other time against Memphis). They're 91st in passing yards but 16th in rushing.
Should be a fair and intriguing matchup.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
The Gator Bowl will allow cowbells, per Angelique Chenglis's twitter. That'll be pretty cool...lots of noise, depending on how well MSU's fans travel.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:05 PM ^
I am some insight. This is a team that moves the ball easily against weak defenses. Chris Relf is an average passing QB. He tends to be inaccurate when pressured, but can very confident and accurate when there is little pressure. Relf is not a risk to break one, but he is a load who is hard to bring down. He seems to convert with his feet on third and seven type plays,often going over or through a LB. They have two good young running backs (Ballard and Perkins) and many good receivers (Bumphis, Berry, Smith, Clark, Heavens, etc.). The O-line is a strength.
On D,their DB's tend to gamble. They have many picks, but sometimes get burned for YAC. The LB core is solid. The D-line is big and gets penetration. They tend to have more trouble defending the pass and to stuff the run. Most of the year, they were fundamentally solid, but had trouble against Alabama on swing passes in the flat that went the distance when DB's couldn't tackle Ingram and Richardson.
For the most part, Mullen prefers to play solid D and hope his O can score 21 or so. All for now
December 5th, 2010 at 7:17 PM ^
they sound a bit like how I would describe Wisconsin .... which doesn't make me feel too good right now (and also considering how they played Auburn). Very nice to get those 15 practices in ... and I think we all believe that at least we should have a very healthy Denard.
Go Blue !
December 5th, 2010 at 7:37 PM ^
Those hosses on Wisky are the best around. Throw in three really good RBs, makes them hard to beat. Even OSU got pushed around by them.
Obviously, we need every possible break we can get on D to slow them down, even a pedestrian, straight-ahead kind of offense like MSU.
Given that MSU has only been in a few bowls in the last decade, I'm hoping that they are a bit star struck by the experience, going against major name program.
In every loss this year, we got down by 17+ by the early 2nd half. Can't happen this time.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:44 PM ^
Mullen has the players believing they could win the SEC West. After playing at Alabama, Florida, and LSU this season, they won't be starry-eyed. That said, this was a team that fed off of the home crowd. I agree that Michigan has to come out scoring to win this one.
December 5th, 2010 at 8:24 PM ^
Relf is a much better runner, but much less accurate than Tolzien. The O-line is good, but near as good as Wisconsin. There are some defensive similarities. There is no way MState scores 48. I can see Michigan putting up 28 on MState's defense. That may and may not be enough given UM's D.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:23 PM ^
So what do you think of our team's chances then?
December 5th, 2010 at 7:37 PM ^
I think this will be a good game. I would put the line at Mississippi State -3. I guess it goes without saying that finishing drives, especially in the first half will be important. Mississippi State tends to play better in the second half. I think the key will be whether Denard is connecting with his recievers and if he can limit turnovers in the first half.
December 5th, 2010 at 8:43 PM ^
a tough one. But the experience will be great for the young men I'm sure.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:24 PM ^
Looks like they only played a few spread teams (Auburn, LSU part time when Jefferson is in). Florida is not a capable spread team right now (Brantley is NO Tebow). Houston had already lost both QBs before getting waxed by MSU.
Impressive performance vs. Newton and Auburn, 348 yds and only 17 pts. That doesn't bode well.
ANY offense looks GOOD against our D, so this will have to be another 30+ to 30+ game.
One thing in our favor --- we should FINALLY have all of the parts healthy on Offense, including Junior, Shaw, Lewan, DRob, etc. Not sure about Odom.
MSU's QB ran for almost 700 yds. Even if he's not fast, that adds more pressure on our D.
All will depend on Michigan: turnovers and mindset. We've killed ourselves this year in losses. Who knows the mindset from the players --- hopefully, some of the Michigan Men of the past are around practice often this month to encourage these guys to win for the seniors and for MIchigan and not get sucked into the coaching soap opera.
I'll be well-stocked with beer and munchies at 130 PM New Years Day, camped out with the new 46" flatscreen TV, and screaming my vocal cords and my heart out for our MICHIGAN MEN!
December 5th, 2010 at 7:40 PM ^
I didn't see the LSU game. From what I heard, MState did a pretty good job on defense. They had a bad case of fumbilitis. I think LSU scored 2 TD's and 5FG's. MState's 5 turnovers contributed much to LSU's scores.
December 5th, 2010 at 8:37 PM ^
This is a team that moves the ball easily against weak defenses.
/Gulp
December 5th, 2010 at 8:39 PM ^
I saw them play Ole Miss in Oxford Thanksgiving weekend. Really dominated the game by more than the final score of 31-23 would indicate. Ran the ball well against an Ole Miss defense that reminded me a lot of our defense (very porous on pass defense). When Ole Miss came up to stuff the run, hit a few big plays.
They seem to be a ball posession, run the football, grind it out kind of offense with a fairly mobile defense. I think it will be an interesting game.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^
December 5th, 2010 at 7:38 PM ^
Would have liked them. Bigger name, better match-up for our D, too.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:22 PM ^
holy shit i just remembered...
doesn't Miss St have lloyd brady??
we're screwed.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:38 PM ^
Is there a chance he takes a job (say, the Miami job) before the bowl game? That would presumably help us.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:51 PM ^
He hasn't said anything that indicates he plans to leave. No local news to that effect, but who knows?
December 5th, 2010 at 7:40 PM ^
I thought we had a couple of DT/DE types that looked like they were going to Michigan but jumped to an SEC school (and not the big boys like Bama, LSU, Florida, etc.).
Anyone remember their names? Are they starters?
December 5th, 2010 at 7:45 PM ^
I think I remember those two guys going to LSU. The only M recruit that I know goes here is Dennis (pronouced Deny-us) Thames, the cousin of Marcus Thames. He does not play.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:51 PM ^
December 5th, 2010 at 7:54 PM ^
He is a team captain. Pernell is one of the best D linemen they have.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:57 PM ^
December 5th, 2010 at 7:43 PM ^
They only lost to Auburn by 3. I'm worried.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:48 PM ^
They played Auburn early in the season, before Newton was Newton. I was at the game. Neither team moved the ball well. Auburn led the whole way. MState scored a late TD , held Auburn, got the ball back, and had a drive fizzle near midfield to end the game.
December 5th, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^
and full of good information! Thanks!
December 5th, 2010 at 7:55 PM ^
I have been in Starkville for 17 years. I never thought anything happening here would be of importance to the AA community.
December 5th, 2010 at 8:59 PM ^
What's up guys? Been scouting out yall's boards and like what I see. Yall don't seem to be homer fans, which is refreshing coming from a lot of SEC boards.
Mississippi State is a oppurtune offense. If you go on ESPN3.com and watch some of our games you'll see what I'm talking about. We prefer to run the ball because we're considered on of the top 20 offensive lines in the country (our senior OT is expected to be drafted in the top 15 picks in the draft this year) but we'll pass if it isn't working out for us, evident in the Arkansas and Ole Miss games this year. Relf passed (accurately) almost 300 yards in both of those games.
I say this because I think a lot of people are discounting our passing game.
Mullen ran a 2 QB system until the Georgia game, where Relf was our #1 as a run-first QB and Russell was our passing QB. Russell can pass.
December 5th, 2010 at 9:30 PM ^
I live in Starkvegas and teach at MState. I have faculty season tickets, but am more of a casual fan. This was my first year with season tickets. I was raised near Ann Arbor and have been a lifelong Michigan fan. I have a split loyalty for this game.
December 5th, 2010 at 9:32 PM ^
... because I'm a sophomore student here in Starkvegas. Do it for your students.
December 5th, 2010 at 9:41 PM ^
It may hurt my standing on the board, but I teach football players, band members, cheerleaders, etc. One of the Bully's is my intern at a business I own downtown. Funny, I am 40 and have never rooted against Michigan. I guess I am pulling for MState in this one.
December 5th, 2010 at 9:00 PM ^
Also, on recruiting, Dorsey went to Ole Miss. Our starting SS is Charles Mitchell, Mr. Mississippi in 2008, was considered a Michigan commit.
December 5th, 2010 at 9:50 PM ^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_GRxhVXgSM
I think a lot of plays are going to end like this. Mississippi State isn't too scary in the passing game, but between that and Michigan's secondary, I think the game will come down to after-the-catch plays for us.
December 5th, 2010 at 10:36 PM ^
Well Statefan, I think we 
killed this thread. Time to pack it in.
December 5th, 2010 at 11:05 PM ^
Manny Diaz. I want him
December 5th, 2010 at 11:15 PM ^
i'll do a picture pages before the bowl game.