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Bulldogs struggle to regain their identity By Pat Forde Special to ESPN.com |
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Mississippi State Bulldogs
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Coach: Jackie Sherrill (73-65-2, 13th season) 2002 overall record: 3-9 Conference record: 0-8 Returning starters Offense: 7 Defense: 8 Kicker/Punter: 2 2002 statistical leaders (* - returners) Rushing: Justin Griffith (471 yds) Passing: Kevin Fant* (1,918 yds) Receiving: Terrell Grindle (608 yds) Tackles: Mario Haggan (119) Sacks: Michael Gholar (3) Interceptions: Darren Williams* (3) Outlook: All the proof you needed to know that Mississippi State had completely lost its identity is in the 2002 SEC stats: Gone was the Mississippi State that used to pound opponents on both sides of the line of scrimmage and wreak havoc with its disruptive, unpredictable defense. Gone was the opportunistic group that took the ball almost when it pleased from opposing offenses, feasted on big plays and lived in the opposing backfield. Gone was the team that seemed to lead the league in distributing fat lips. To remedy the situation -- and save his own skin -- Jackie Sherrill canned his coordinators and will make what could be a final stand with Morris Watts calling plays and Ron Cooper designing defenses. Sherrill is the winningest coach in school history and has had some great years, but the last two he's 6-17 and has the NCAA on his tail. This vital season must begin with improvement on defense from the uncharacteristically lenient effort of last year. Sherrill is high on his defensive line, which has played well in August drills so far. They're backed by a couple of senior linebackers, T.J. Mawhinney and Jason Clark, who will apply a hit. The pass defense was good last year (third in the nation in yards allowed), with the notable exception of keeping opponents out of the end zone: it surrendered 22 touchdown passes. On offense, the Dogs will try to generate something with three smallish backs (Fred Reid, Jerious Norwood and Nick Turner) and two inaccurate quarterbacks (Kevin Fant and Kyle York). Senior Fant, whose strange absence from most of spring practice was unconvincingly termed an injury, began August drills behind York but should be ahead of him by the season opener. He's practiced very sharply so far. Fant has 19 career touchdowns and 22 career interceptions -- not great numbers, until you compare them to York's three TDs and 10 picks last year as a redshirt freshman. The wideouts are at least loaded with athleticism and experience. Seniors Justin Jenkins and Ray Ray Bivines are running up front, but some younger players are shining in early practices (particularly Antonio Hargro, a big target at 6-foot-3). Kicker Brent Smith could be the added edge the Bulldogs need in close games. Last year the junior college transfer made 12 of 16 field goals, including two of the seven longest in school history, and was 8 of 8 in the final five games of the year. Keep an eye on: The young tailbacks. Sophomores Norwood and Turner were big-time recruits who probably should have played more last year, as Sherrill stubbornly stuck with overweight Dontae Walker and fullback Justin Griffith. Norwood was the more productive of the two in game action last year, averaging six yards per carry as a true freshman, but Turner might be the more explosive, averaging nearly 27 yards per kickoff return in part-time duty there. Neither are big enough to be banger backs, but both have the big-play capability the running game lacked last year. Key game: An opening home date with Oregon will be huge. A win over a program that has been to a bowl game eight of the last nine years would stem the negative tide and could be the springboard Sherrill needs to prove he can turn it around. It won't be easy, but the Ducks have some questions of their own and the Bulldogs have won six straight home openers in the Starkville heat. It's a good year if. . .: Sherrill keeps his job. That would certainly require an improvement over 3-8, perhaps a winning record and a bowl bid. And even that might be rendered moot by a finding of serious NCAA wrongdoing. The schedule offers one break -- the Bulldogs both of the predicted weak links in the East, Kentucky and Vanderbilt -- but the second half is a bear. Four of State's final six games are on the road -- all against teams that finished with winning records last year. The two are home are against rivals Alabama and Mississippi. Pat Forde covers college football for the Louisville Courier-Journal.
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