MSU Run Game Needs Better Air Support

Can it be true? Is Dan Mullen’s spread offense already taking hold and becoming a force to be reckoned with, something SEC defenses will respect?

Well, the stats suggest that MSU is at least better than last year. The Bulldogs are fourth in the SEC—26th nationally—in rushing offense (204.0 yards per game). They’re ninth and 63rd in scoring offense, but that’s a bit misleading, because they’re averaging 27.5 points per game.

In total offense, State is 10th and 76th (355.5 ypg)—and while that’s not spectacular, it’s much better than what we saw under Sylvester Croom. His offenses never ranked higher than 103rd in the country in total offense, and last year’s unit finished 113th out of 119 Division I-A teams, with 274.9 yards per game.

But we’re only four games into the season, so that’s not the best comparison.

Four games into last season, MSU was 11th and 96th in rushing offense, 12th and 112th in scoring offense, and 11th and 94th in total offense.

Ah, but there is one place the Bulldogs were better: passing offense. At this point last season, they ranked seventh and 73rd with 204.8 yards per game; right now, they’re 12th and 112th with 151.5.

So the passing game has gotten worse, and that started when Tyson Lee (above) took over at quarterback for Wesley Carroll. MSU’s pass production steadily declined from that 204.8 number to 174.3 by season’s end.

Lee, a senior, has split duties with redshirt sophomore Chris Relf, who’s a much better runner than passer. As long as these two guys are the only options at quarterback, State is going to struggle in the passing game.

And State is going to struggle to win.

This was painfully apparent in last week’s 30-26 loss to then—No. Seven LSU.

Lee got all but 10 snaps that game, going 15 of 38 for 172 yards and three interceptions. He also had five passes batted down at or around the line of scrimmage, including one during LSU’s late goal line stand.

And on fourth down, Lee was stuffed shy of the goal line on an option keep.

I’m not picking on Lee, who’s an A-plus guy. But he’s not an A-plus quarterback.

Lee is 5'10" and can’t stretch defenses. He tried to go long to O’Neal Wilder in the second quarter, and Wilder had his man beat, but the ball was woefully underthrown and intercepted 48 yards from the line of scrimmage.

That’s all Lee’s arm had in it. Forty-eight yards.

That doesn’t get it done in the SEC. And if you don’t have a quarterback that defenses will respect, then you don’t have an offense that defenses will respect.

While Relf has potential, Mullen’s reluctance to play him in a big-time game shows just how far Relf has to go.

Anthony Dixon is a great running back, but he can only do so much. And in fairness to Lee, it’s not like he’s got a ton of great options to throw to—a bunch of newcomers and a couple of guys fresh off injury rehab.

Then again, MSU hasn’t faced the best of defenses. LSU’s isn’t bad, but it’s not as good as those at Alabama, Florida and Ole Miss.

I’m not saying freshman Tyler Russell should be played. In fact, I don’t think he should be played at all. Redshirt him.

He is the future, though. Mullen has said so himself.

Until that future arrives, and delivers on its promise, MSU’s offense will never be great.