Playing Nice: Mississippi State

Boy oh boy it’s conference play szn! To get us ready for SEC play, For Whom the Cowbell Tolls editor/my very good friend Landon Young joins us once again to get the lowdown on the Bulldogs. You can find him on Twitter @MStateSports.

1. First of all, how has this Mississippi State team performed relative to your expectations?

Honestly, I expected Mississippi State to be 2-1 before the season started. After the NC State game, I expected us to be 3-0 going into the LSU game, but due to SEC Officiating, here we are. I put that as nicely as I could.

2. The Bulldogs famously threw for 623 yards on LSU last year and then everyone else figured out how to slow down the offense. Has Mike Leach changed anything at all offensively or should we expect more air raid?

It’ll be air raid. Expect nothing less. We might run the ball a couple more times last year, but we will still throw 50+ times this game. Last week vs. Memphis, Rogers finished the game with 67 attempts for 419 yards.

3. I count six Bulldog receivers with at least 10 catches, who is the leader of the group?

There are several leaders of that WR group. If I had to name one, I would name Jaden Walley. When the ball is in his hands, he makes something happen after the catch. Makai Polk has begun to make a name for himself since the start of the 2021 season. Expect Polk to have a good day on Saturday vs. the Tigers.

4. What about this Zach Arnett defense, can they give LSU’s shaky at best offensive line issues?

Yes. This Mississippi State defense looks as good as ever. They look sound. I wish our offense would take notes and be as sound as our defense. I expect the defense to keep us in the game this Saturday late into the 2nd half.

5. How raucous is Davis Wade Stadium going to be despite the 11 A.M. (gross) kickoff?

This should have been a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. It’s upsetting that they gave it to Alabama vs. Southern Mississippi. I know LSU and Mississippi State aren’t the two best teams in the conference, but it’s their first SEC matchup of the season. This truly upset me when I first found out. I think Davis Wade will still be loud, but nothing like it would’ve been if we had come away with a win vs. Memphis. 3-0 is a lot better than 2-1, but there’s nothing we can do about that.

P.S., Zachary Junda is a champ! LSU fans, don’t take this guy for granted!