Saturday’s contest between Mississippi State and Alabama features two of the most dominating running backs in the SEC. Anthony Dixon for the Dawgs and Mark Ingram for the No. 3 ranked Tide will both shoulder the load for their respective teams.
Dixon looks to help MSU snap a four-game home losing streak – all at the hands of nationally-ranked opponents. He has stepped up so far this season, most recently gashing the Kentucky Wildcats for 252 yards to keep the bowl hopes glimmering. Week after week, announcers hype Dixon as an NFL running back, and week after week he has delivered. He is averaging 125.1 yards per game, but he knows this game is different.
“It’s one of those woodshed games. They know it, and we know it,” Dixon said. “They know about the last three, four years it’s been knockout. They knocked us out last year so they’re up. So we’re trying to defend our turf, protect our house and make it happen.”
Considering Dixon’s first 100- yard game was against Alabama in 2006, it should be interesting to see how he fares in his final showdown with the ugly Elephants. Alabama head coach Nick Saban has certainly taken note of Dixon’s running prowess and rest assured he will gameplan for it.
“Anthony Dixon is a big, strong downhill runner who has had a fantastic year this year,” Saban said. “It has certainly been difficult for us to get him on the ground when we’ve played them in the past.”
The Dawg offense will face one the most formidable defenses on the schedule as Alabama gives up a measly 68 rushing yards per game. Bama is loaded with guys such as 6’5″, 365-pound defensive tackle “Mount” Terrence Cody and SEC co-interception leader Mark Barron. Due to the staunch Tide defense, MSU coach Dan Mullen knows game planning is doubly important.
“We’re going to have to keep them [Alabama] off-balance,” Mullen said. “Also, we’ve got to focus on winning one-on-one matchups. If they load the box, that leaves our receivers one-on-one so we will have to make plays to our receivers to loosen them up.”
On the other side of the football, the Bulldogs will have their hands full against one of the premier running backs of the SEC and what many gurus believe to be the nation’s top underclassman. Mark Ingram has averaged 127.6 yards per game, but he has found paydirt one time less than Dixon. Mullen is well-aware of the threat Ingram poses, but he said he also believes there are other big-time players on the Alabama offense.
“All the Alabama receivers are talented, and that showed against LSU last week,” Mullen said. “They’ve got the ability to pass and throw, and they’re deep in every position.”
Mullen is alluding to Alabama receivers Julio Jones and Marquis Maze. Although the numbers are not quite there because of injury this season, Jones is one of the most talented receivers in the NCAA, and Maze has proven difficult to defend in his own right.
The Dawg defense started out slow against the pass, and at one time this season, Jones and Maze may have presented the biggest matchup problem.
However, the Bulldogs are currently first in interceptions returned for touchdowns with four. The recent play of the secondary should give the Bulldogs confidence against the pass.
MSU middle linebacker Jamar Chaney has been a positive for the defense as he is currently fifth in the SEC in tackles with 8.1 per contest. Chaney said he is looking forward to the matchup and believes it could be favorable for the Bulldogs.
“It suits my mentality. That’s what I like to play against, I-formation running downhill,” Chaney said.
Mullen said he is confident the MSU fanbase believes in the newfound confidence players such as Chaney and Dixon exhibit. He points to the attendance this season as an example.
“I think our fans have bought in to what we are doing here, just like our team has,” Mullen said. “We want our fans to bring another sellout crowd with a big time atmosphere, and we’re excited about this weekend.”