The Other Side: Q&A with a Mississippi State beat writer
This week's edition of "The Other Side" goes to Mississippi State. As the Hogs get prepped for the Bulldogs and the stingy MSU defense, we welcome Bulldogs beat writer Kyle Veazey (read his blog) of The Clarion-Ledger.
Mississippi State is relying heavily on its defense this season, as it has in the last few years. The Bulldogs are out of bowl contention just a season removed from an 8-5 season and their first bowl win in seven years. Arkansas looks to remain in the race for a 6-6 season and bowl eligibility, while the Bulldogs will be looking to shatter the end of coach Bobby Petrino's first season with the Hogs.
Arkansas may play two quarterbacks this week, and that's been all the rage in the Natural State, but what's been going on in Starkville, Miss.?
Veazey fills us in on the latest at Bulldog Land.
SLOPHOUSE: Give us a brief overview of the Mississippi State season, the state of affairs and how the fans have been reacting to the fact that there's yet another postseason without a bowl coming up. How did the Bulldogs go from an eight-win season to yet another possible three-win finish?
KYLE VEAZEY: I'm not sure that can be handled briefly, but I'll try my best. Bottom line: State's offense still can't score enough points for the Bulldogs to win. State benefited from some good bounces last year and have gotten bad ones this year, and MSU's offense gives the team a small margin to survive those bounces. There was an incident in the offseason with gunfire on campus that claimed five players for 2008. Three, and maybe four, of those guys would be starting right now, and State's depth, while improved over past seasons, still can't overcome something like that.
Oh, and then there's the little matter of special teams snafus, which have popped up at inopportune times especially over the last two losses. Add it together, and it's 3-7.
SH: Is Coach Sylvester Croom in danger of losing his job or is he pretty safe for another year? Why?
KV: There's danger, yes. How much? Now THERE'S a tough question to answer with any degree of definition. It's firmly up in the air as to what will happen at the end of the year.
SH: Why can't Mississippi State score the points it needs? Is it talent, the system or, as it seems from the outside looking in, a curse?
KV: Those around the offense, Croom included, have said this offense requires 11 perfect assignments on every play. This year, it hasn't gotten that. Many fans wonder if it's just flat out the wrong offense to use in college, with this talent.
SH: Really, who's the answer at quarterback - Tyson Lee or Wesley Carroll?
KV: Lots of people think the answer is Tyler Russell - a senior at Meridian High School who seems firm in his commitment to Mississippi State. He'll get a chance to play next year and win the job. In the meantime, State has gotten more consistent play from Tyson Lee in 2008 than Wesley Carroll, which has been an interesting story to follow.
SH: The defense at MSU has been strong the last few years. Has the defense been living up to expectations this season with a change in coordinators?
KV: I think so, yes. It played Alabama pretty tough last week and is ranked 19th in the country in total defense and 47th in scoring defense. One thing it hasn't done this year is been opportunistic - man, I hate that word - in terms of turning turnovers into points, or getting turnovers, period. But can you really count on that year in, year out, anyway?
SH: Has the defense been preparing differently for both Casey and Nathan Dick at QB for the Hogs or does it really matter?
KV: I'm not sure that it matters, but I'm sure that they're preparing for any and all possibilities.
SH: Who do you think will impact the game on offense for the Bulldogs? Why?
KV: I look for State to get Anthony Dixon the ball a lot Saturday, which is something it hasn't done much of this season. He's a powerful runner and can rack up yards in bunches if he goes straight ahead and has good blocking.
SH: Who do you think will impact the game on defense for the Bulldogs? Why?
KV: Dominic Douglas at middle linebacker is a team leader and can impact a game. He had six tackles in the first quarter alone against Alabama.
SH: Give us one word to describe the Mississippi State Bulldogs this season.
KV: Perplexing.
SH: Give us one word to describe the Arkansas Razorbacks this season.
KV: Regrouping.
SH: Give us your score prediction and how you see the game unfolding.
KV: I have a time-honored policy of not offering predictions, one that I'm not going to break here. I think this game hinges on an intangible: In a matchup of 3-7 and 4-6 teams, who's motivated to win more?
SH: Thanks for the time, Kyle.
– Brandon Marcello
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[...] The Other Side: Q%26A with a Mississippi State beat writer … of affairs and how the fans have been reacting to the fact that there’s yet another postseason without a bowl coming up. How did the Bulldogs go from an eight-win season to yet another possible three-win finish? KYLE VEAZEY: I’m not sure that can be handled briefly, but I’ll try my best. Bottom line … [...]