MSU looks to execute against Texas A&M
Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach is ready to see his team execute on offense the way he knows it can.
In last week’s disappointing 24-2 loss at Kentucky, Leach didn’t think the Bulldogs protected, saw the field, caught or ran routes well.
Those are all things that are important to execute for Leach’s Air Raid offense if MSU is going to win games.
It has been a bit puzzling to Leach as to why the Bulldogs have struggled to perform in those areas the last two games because the coaches have seen the players do it in practice.
“We have the ability to do it because we’ve seen them do it,” Leach said. “In some cases, maybe some of the young guys have stage fright. Some cases we just need to work harder and develop some of the experience that allows us to do that.”
MSU (1-2) gets another opportunity to get the season back on the right track today when it faces the No. 11 Texas A&M Aggies. The kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN.
After pulling off a 44-34 season-opening win at LSU, the Bulldogs have lost backto-back games to Arkansas 21-14 and Kentucky.
It hasn’t been a pleasant last couple of weeks for MSU, but wide receiver Javonta Payton said the team has just tried to stay encouraged, move forward and improve.
“We try not to worry about the past, play the next play and focus on the next opponent,” Payton said. “We’re just going in every day, trying to get the job done and work on seeing the zones better. A lot of teams are going to try and play zone on us.
“It’s just about going into the game, showing the same thing that we do in practice and taking it to the game. It just takes time and this is a new offense.”
There are four Bulldogs with at least 100 yards receiving with Osirus Mitchell leading the way with 247 yards on 14 catches, while Kyln Hill has 237 yards on 23 receptions, Payton adds 179 yards on 13 grabs and Tyrell Shavers has 107 yards on three catches.
Quarterback K.J. Costello has completed 115-of174 pass attempts for 1,168 yards with six touchdowns and nine interceptions. He threw four picks against the Wildcats.
Leach has not ruled out the possibility of using
freshman Will Rogers in an increased role behind center. Rogers made his MSU debut at Kentucky and did throw a couple of interceptions himself.
“It was a brutally tough situation,” Leach said of putting Rogers into the
game. “You’re talking about the first college passes he’s thrown. Under the circumstances, I thought it was a start.”
The Aggies bring a 2-1 record to Starkville and are coming off a 41-38 upset victory over previously No. 4 ranked Florida.
Even though the win over Florida was a big moment for his program, Texas
A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said it’s time to move on to the next challenge and take it seriously.
Fisher has no doubt that MSU will be ready to play when it steps onto the Davis Wade Stadium surface this afternoon and his Aggies had better be ready.
“It’s time to put that one away,” Fisher said of the Florida game. “That one is
over with. It was a very good win and now we get ready to play a very good Mississippi State team on the road, which is always tough in this league.
“Mike has always been a great offensive mind. This is a very good football team and we’ll have to go on the road to play a complete game.”