How MSU’s O-line got its ‘stinger’ back

STARKVILLE – Florida defensive back Donavan Stiner took off before the ball was even snapped.

He had eyes on Mississippi State senior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, but nobody on the Bulldogs’ offensive line had eyes on him. Not sophomore guard Michael Story or senior center Elgton Jenkins, both of whom Stiner zoomed right past on his way to the quarterback.

Stiner went unblocked on fourth-and-10 and rocked Fitzgerald for a huge sack. It might've knocked the wind out of Fitzgerald, and it definitely took the air out of Davis-Wade Stadium. The turnover on downs ended MSU’s chances of sending the game to overtime as the Bulldogs lost 13-6 two Saturdays ago.

Stiner’s sack was the sixth of the night for Florida. Mississippi State’s inability to pass protect was a major reason the Dogs had a feeble offensive output.

Something had to change last Saturday against Auburn, and it did.

The Tigers didn’t sack Fitzgerald once, and the Bulldogs’ offensive line paved the way for the 349 rushing yards MSU piled up in a 23-9 win.

Senior guard Deion Calhoun said Bulldogs' Oline coach Marcus Johnson kept his teammates motivated last week.

“I believe he kind of knew that some of the guys were frustrated with the last game against Florida and he just kept telling us to trust the process and keep working,” Calhoun said. “The only way we're going to get better is to keep working.”

Johnson’s message to his players during Mississippi State’s two-game losing streak had much to do with their resurgence. Johnson played at Ole Miss from 2001-04. He compared State’s struggles to his junior year as a Rebel.

Johnson went to the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft. He spent four years in Minnesota and one in Tampa Bay. Because his players know his history, they buy into everything he preaches. Johnson, a Mississippi native, was raised in Coffeeville 20 miles northeast of where junior Tyre Phillips grew up in Grenada. Seeing what Johnson has accomplished throughout his playing and coaching careers motivates Phillips to be just as successful.

“He was a student, he went through the SEC and he went to the league,” Phillips said. “We’re trying to have the same aspirations as he had. Who wouldn’t want to do what he did?”

Saturday’s performance against Auburn might be the kickstart MSU’s offensive linemen need to start re-living up to their position coach’s legacy. Head coach Joe Moorhead said the way they pushed the Tigers around proved that they got their “stinger” back.

Johnson thinks it could be a sign of things to come, too.