Mississippi State 3 Keys: Louisiana Tech

The Mississippi State Bulldogs upset LSU on the road to start the 2020 season. Mike Leach was riding high after a 44-point explosion from his Air Raid offense. The idea that Leach’s offense couldn’t work in the SEC was refuted…

By Matt Zemek

…and then the roof caved in. The rest of the 2020 season was a nightmare in Starkville. The Bulldogs beat Vanderbilt and did barely anything else the rest of the year. They finished 3-7 in the SEC and failed to take advantage of the fact that much of the division had a down year. They did get a bowl invitation and they did beat Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl, but a win over Tulsa does not transform the outlook on a team’s season. Leach’s offense was figured out by opposing SEC defensive coordinators. He will need better answers this year. The Bulldogs begin their season against another group of Bulldogs from Louisiana Tech. Let’s see if MSU can begin a process of improvement in 2021. Here are three keys for Saturday’s game:

1 – Pass rush

Louisiana Tech brings in a new quarterback this year, former Oklahoma and West Virginia quarterback Austin Kendall. Mississippi State’s most direct path to victory lies in creating pressure which takes the visitors completely out of their rhythm. As an added note, Louisiana Tech has a new offensive coordinator this year as well, so if the front seven can generate pressure, Tech will find it hard to make the necessary adjustments in tactics or player responses to counter Mississippi State. Not allowing Tech to find any sort of comfort zone on offense is the main pillar of an MSU victory in this game.

2 – Short passing game, but watch the jumped routes

Mississippi State’s passing game encountered problems last year when K.J. Costello threw down the field into zone coverage. That proved to be a disaster. The interceptions flowed and Mississippi State lost the plot. A short passing game will establish a foundation for this offense. Making the safe throw and the percentage play needs to be a point of focus for Leach and quarterback Will Rogers. However, if Louisiana Tech’s corners jump routes, Rogers has to be alert and attentive, ready to make the adjustment with a pump fake or a throw to a spot where a Tech defender is not in position to make a play on the ball.

3 – Chemistry

Leach, Rogers, and the MSU offense need to walk away from this game knowing that everyone is on the same page and that after a long offseason of practice, the Bulldogs are in a position to play the rhythmic, reflex-based, instant-process football the Air Raid system requires. Getting clarity and certainty as early as possible within the flow of the season will be an important central goal for MSU.