warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

College Football Preview: No. 18 Mississippi State

Eric Watkins |
July 6, 2011 | 10:35 a.m. PDT

Staff Writer

(Neon Tommy will be previewing the 2011 College Football Season throughout the summer. You can find links to each of our Top 25 previews here. Today, we preview the team ranked 18th, the Mississippi State Bulldogs.)

The Bulldogs look to be the class of the SEC West in 2011. (Chris Lawrence via Wikimedia Commons)
The Bulldogs look to be the class of the SEC West in 2011. (Chris Lawrence via Wikimedia Commons)
Head Coach:

Dan Mullen (14-11, 3rd year as head coach)

Mississippi State’s 2010 season:

9-4 (4-4). Defeated Michigan 52-14 in the Progressive Gator Bowl

Offensive Analysis:

-- Eight returning starters

-- Impact Players: QB Chris Relf, RB Vick Ballard, WR Chris Bumphis

Dan Mullen and the Mississippi State Bulldogs return their leading passer and top four receivers and rushers. The Dogs finished second in rushing in the SEC in 2010 (2,793 yards), running for 300 more yards than third-place Ole Miss.

RB Vick Ballard decided to return for his senior season at Mississippi State after running for 19 touchdowns and 5.2 yards per carry during his 2010 campaign. RBs LaDarius Perkins and Robert Elliot provide quality depth for the ground attack along with dual-threat quarterback Chris Self, who ran for 713 yards in 2010.

The Bulldogs will have to replace two starters on the offensive line, but Mullen’s offense should conceal any holes left by the departure of OT Derek Sherrod and C J.C. Brignone. 

With the top receivers returning for Mullen and the Bulldogs, and a dominant recruiting performance in the state of Mississippi, the Dogs have the skilled players on offense to compete in a gritty SEC West.

Defensive Analysis 

-- Seven returning starters

-- Impact Players: CB Corey Broomfield, CB Jonathan Banks

The Bulldogs will have to replace all three starting linebackers from the 2010 season. The 2011 starters seem to be in place with juniors Cameron Lawrence, Brandon Wilson and Mike Hunt filling the holes, but depth at the linebacker position has vanished for an otherwise tough Bulldogs defense.

Mississippi State allowed just 28 total touchdowns in 2010--tied for second-best in the SEC. A now-veteran group in the secondary returns, along with three of four starting defensive lineman. Instant impact four-star safety Dee Arrington will also bring added depth to an already formidable secondary.

With a rather easy away schedule--by SEC West standards--including trips to Auburn, Georgia and Arkansas, the Dogs could be looking at their first 10-win season since 1999.

Strengths:

Chris Relf is a talented and smart quarterback that shined bright in 2010, scoring 18 total touchdowns. His ability to use his feet to get out of trouble gave the Bulldogs an extra dimension that Mullen will use to great extent in 2011.

With a bevy of talent surrounding him, including four-star 2010 WR recruit Joe Marrow, Relf can spread the wealth. In addition, look for RB Vick Ballard to have a breakout season against the tough SEC defenses.

Areas of Concern:

The linebacker depth at State is worrisome. In addition to losing all three starting linebackers, they’ll lose their top two sack leaders in LBs Christ White and K.J. Wright who combined for nine sacks in 2010.

The 2010 recruiting class also lacks quality linebackers, as in-state four-star linebacker prospect C.J. Johnson slipped through the cracks, choosing Ole Miss over Mississippi State and Auburn.

Final Thoughts: 

If the Bulldogs can surprise some people at home against LSU, South Carolina, or Alabama, we could be talking about a top-10 team at the end of the season. State's offense could be one of the best in the SEC. But with the inability to pressure the quarterback with their down four, the linebacking corps and secondary might be picked apart once the tough SEC schedule begins.

------------------------

Reach Eric by email, or follow him on Twitter.



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
ntrandomness