One think I noticed watching the LSU-Mississippi State replay is that Dan Mullen has incorporated certain elements of Big 12 offense — Mike Leach’s wide splits on the offensive line and Art Briles’ extreme receiver spreads — into what he’s doing now. Take a look at this clip of the first play of the game.
It’s very well executed, but notice that MSU has numbers at the point of attack and a lot of space immediately past the line of scrimmage. The formation, plus the running threat of Fitzgerald, makes this a likelihood from the snap. It sort of reminds me of what Paul Johnson’s after with the triple option.
Did I mention it was well executed? The left side of Mississippi State’s line has been pretty kick ass all season long.
I said it the other day, but if Georgia’s defense doesn’t stay fundamentally sound, they’ll be eaten alive by this kind of stuff.
Is it just me or is there more and more of this in the league? Also, tech runs this without a real passing option (a couple of rainbows against UT notwithstanding) and ND tried to do the same thing. It reminds me of UF back in the Urban and Timmy days.
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The thing that keeps me from freaking out over Mullen’s offense is that MSU doesn’t have its own version of Percy Harvin. Fortunately.
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Is that Percy Harvey, who gusty play won him the game ball?
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Corinne deserves every bit of mockery she gets, but I’m not sure there’s a player I’ve been happier to see turn pro than Harvin.
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Speaking of mockery of Corinne, it appears she’s in legal trouble. She has shamed the University of Florida in a worse way than speech issues.
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The forecast remains gusty for Corrine
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/crime/judge-denies-corrine-browns-motion-for-acquittal-and-new-trial/464811506
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Agreed. When he and Mullen left it eventually led to Urban leaving. They were never the same even with Tebow still there.
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Yep. In 2009 they were only 13-1 w/o Mullen. What a shit show!
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Davin held his own against a really good LT a couple of weeks ago and I think ND’s RT is better than MSU’s. Look for 7 to have another big day.
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The media pundits seem to be ready to declare Miss State the he winner before the game starts. I’m happy to let all their players keep reading that stuff right up until kickoff
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Indeed.
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The ajc said the Bulldogs would win. I think that’s a safe bet;-)
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It’s funny when I search for “pass block efficiency rating notre dame” – because I was curious to see if I could find how they match up to MSU – I find this article:
https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-football-top-10-offensive-lines-in-notre-dame-stanford
Preseason piece ranking top O-Lines in college football. They ranked ND as #1 and App State #3 heading into this year……
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If they’re right..and I doubt they are, we’ve got the best defense imaginable.
Regardless. we knew coming into the season we would have a very, very good defense. That’s not going to change just because MSU beat the hell out of an inept LSU team. This defense will hold it’s own. MSU will get some points, but not like they did last week. It will be up to our offense to get some holes for all of those great running backs.
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And LSU at #5.
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One thing I noticed on watching replay of MSU/LSU was that LSU was a undisciplined and poor tackling team, which IMO, did more to contribute to that final score than MSU being some kind of juggernaut. They’re good, don’t get me wrong, but I just think they’re coming up against whole different animal Saturday night in Athens. I’m feeling better about this game after watching that replay.
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Replay reveals a lot. Mullen has 22 players that are conference level but where his program is deficient is in depth and always will be. I think that’s the difference Sat night. We’re thin at some positions but have more players that will contribute for four quarters than State.
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Me too. MSU maximized the points it scored whereas LSU scored the minimum points it could have scored.
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Split wide between O-lineman and block down one-on-one with success against Big Trent? Ain’t gonna happen dog.
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Makes me dream of Trent Thompson having the kind of day he had against TCU in the bowl game.
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Trent turning around and chasing down that pass play last week immediately after a tackle for loss just reeked of domination. Guys that big aren’t supposed to move like that. Absolute beast.
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those CBS Sports Network clowns all picked ND to beat UGA and only one of them is picking UGA to win this week. they never mentioned that they all were wrong in the ND/UGA game. Prove them wrong again!!
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until we win something of note, ie:SECCG, we will be perennially over rated and underestimated.
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