I clearly remember thinking that the 42-0 loss to Louisiana State University on national television last season was rock bottom for this program. Truth is, I don’t think we’ve hit it–yet. For a lack of a better term, it’s embarrassing. It’s a shameful and outrageous disgrace. The fact that this team has actually gotten worse literally makes me sick to my stomach, and I can’t begin to imagine what the players and coaches feel about it–if they feel anything at all.
I was one of the few people who, before the season began, said Mississippi State would be back. Granted, I only said we would finish 7-5, but compared to last season’s 3-8 debacle, 7-5 looked pretty darn good. Now, 7-5 looks downright miraculous.
The question has now become rhetorical. “Is it time to make some changes?”
Some people are still calling the slump the Bulldogs are in just that–a slump. The term slump doesn’t quite do any justice to the situation. So what do we do? Well, let’s start at the top.
Some have complained that the reason for the losses is the players’ lack of discipline, while others have complained that it’s bad play-calling and tired, outdated schemes. All bring up very interesting points.
Discipline comes from one source–the coach. It’s the coach’s job to let everyone know who is boss, who makes the rules, and if those rules are broken, you will be punished, no matter who you are. The problems with MSU’s football team can be traced to discipline, or lack thereof.
Football is a game of 11 players playing as one for one another. Here, it seems to be 11 players playing as 11 players, playing for only themselves. There are exceptions, of course, but it is obvious that this football team is anything but. You want an example? Here you go.
In the Auburn game, Kevin Fant scrambled for a key first down. As he is being run out of bounds, he turns around and spikes the ball at an Auburn player–a move that cost him 15 yards. You don’t see players like Ken Dorsey, Byron Leftwich or Seneca Wallace do things like that, do you? Of course not, because they know the consequences, and they know it will hurt their team. In our case, it’s a matter of self-pride, not team. There isn’t a single rock star on this team, so why do we have guys acting like them?
It might seem like I’m picking on Fant here, but another example is the “tire incident.” Fant’s comment about the ordeal was that he should start paying more attention to the rules, and asking more questions. Could there be a more obvious statement? I’m not saying that Fant getting suspended for the game against Oregon is the only reason we lost, but having Fant certainly would have helped.
It’s not like MSU is the only team with players who lack discipline. Other teams and coaches struggle with the same thing, but some of those teams still manage to win ball games. How? Good coaching.
I don’t claim to be an offensive genius, but I’m smart enough to figure out that running dives on third and long could be classified as bad play-calling. I’m not sure if the coaches think that the defense will drop into coverage and leave the middle open to break a run for a first down or what, but whatever it is, it sure isn’t working.
Many people might say “the offense worked against Mississippi and BYU last year.” Yeah, and UM and BYU could have battled it out for the title of the two worst defenses in the country last year. I was one of the people that was somewhat fooled by the O’s sudden burst of effectiveness last season, I will admit that, but I finally took off the blinders and realized that the offense that everyone said was improved, really has not.
As for the defense–where have they been? Have they forgotten HOW to defend? Have they forgotten how to tackle? Have they lost their heart? Yes, yes and yes. With the exception of Mario Haggan, there isn’t a solid defensive player left. Simply put, this defense couldn’t stop a sweat on a cold day.
It’s not lack of talent, it’s lack of heart. The defenses two and three years ago didn’t have half the talent this team has, but they had heart. They knew they could stop you, and they did. They would knock your head off and laugh about it. It’s a different story now. This is now a unit that ranks last or close to it in just about every defensive category in the SEC. What was once feared is now the team everyone wants to play.
Fans should feel cheated. Certain players should feel the same way. Why? Because the best players aren’t playing. For Jackie Sherrill, it seems to come down to loyalty to upperclassmen. It’s not fair to anyone that the best players are being left on the bench to watch the game while the players that are out there are losing games 36-13, 42-14, 31-13 and 34-10.
Case in point, Nick Turner and Jerious Norwood. Ok, maybe I jumped the gun a little by saying that Jerious Norwood was better than Dontae Walker. In some ways, he is, and in others, he’s not. The problem with Walker is this: Dontae doesn’t have an offensive line. No matter how good the back is, if you can’t get holes, you can’t run.
It doesn’t quite help Walker that he is far too heavy to play tailback, and has lost the speed he had three or even two years ago. Turner has gotten more playing time than Norwood and has fared much better, but neither is playing as much as they should, simply because they are underclassmen, and to me, that is a dumb reason. You play the best players, you go with your horses. Sure, you might struggle at times, but you’re a lot better off later. But my point is simple–play the talent.
It doesn’t necessarily come down to strategy with me. It’s a matter of fielding a team who will represent this university, its students, teachers and alumni. If it means cleaning the house, and bringing in all new coaches, then fine, but please, I’m begging you, get something done. As trivial and unimportant as a game like football is, it still means a lot to me and almost everyone here, and I guarantee you I’m not the only one who thinks we’re being misrepresented by the players and coaches not only on the field, but off.
While we’re talking about college football, would it be fair to say that people around here are not happy with the Florida Gators? I, for one, am not.
See, I’m not from Mississippi, so I don’t have to show allegiance to other Mississippi schools. Therefore, I am not happy for Mississippi beating Florida this weekend. No, wait, let me retract that. I am not happy that Florida lost to Mississippi this weekend.
Getting beat and losing is two different things. State got beat this weekend–Florida LOST this weekend.
It’s not that the Rebels played so great that it carried them to a win over the overhyped Gators. Florida just played so bad that Mississippi happened to walk into the win column this weekend, no matter what anyone else says.
Where was Eli Manning? Better than that, where in Sam Hill was Rex Grossman? Four interceptions and only 14 points against a defense that gave up 38 to Vandy two weeks before? Are you kidding me?
I think it’s time to add Florida to my now two-deep list of overrated teams. After next weekend, I expect Texas to join Tennessee and UF as the most overrated teams in America.