Mississippi State Three Keys: Alabama

The 5-2 Mississippi State Bulldogs face a 6-1 Alabama Crimson Tide squad on Saturday in Starkville. Alabama was stung last week by Tennesse, can MSU make it two defeats on the bounce for Nick Saban’s men?

By Steve Wright
Follow @14powerscom

Here are the three keys to a Bulldog victory:

Unleash Will Rogers

Mike Leach will have his quarterback throw the ball all day against Alabama. Will Rogers is one of the country’s most efficient – and therefore one of the most productive – quarterbacks. He is third in the nation with 2,325 yards, third in touchdowns with 23, and has an overall pass efficiency rating of 153.47. He also doesn’t make mistakes, having thrown just four picks on the season. The one issue is that Rogers does his best work in the mid-range passing game. Hendon Hooker killed ‘Bama last time out with the deep ball, which Rogers might have to turn to on Saturday.

Pressure ‘Bama

This Alabama team has a serious discipline problem. There were 17 penalties for 130 yards in the loss against Tennessee. Mixed into those penalties were plenty of drive-extenders for the Vols and just as many drive-enders for the Crimson Tide. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that in a three-point loss, 17 penalties are everything. There were also 15 penalties in the narrow win over Texas – there should have been at least five more – and in total, the Crimson Tide has had 66 accepted penalties on them this season. Mississippi State is also a penalty waiting to happen – the Bulldogs are No. 109 in the nation with 48 penalties on the season – but putting pressure on Alabama to break their discipline should be a goal of Leach’s squad.

Hang in With the Run

Leach doesn’t prioritize the run, but the BUlldogs’ rushing attack needs to at least be a viable threat. Mississippi State is 123rd in the country and rushes the ball for 93 yards per game. The worry is that this will allow Alabama – and its long and athletic linebackers – to clog passing lanes as they know the pass is coming. The Bulldogs are also No. 79 in the country in rushing defense, a big issue against a ‘Bama rushing attack as good as any outside of the service academies.