1. Relentless: GO TO 1:22 mark. DO IT. DO IT!!!!!!:
2. PRED WED by Austin Golding. Fantastic Analysis, AG. Keep it up!:
*Prediction Wednesday*
The Bulldogs went to Auburn and took care of business. The first half of football, especially the first drive, showed what this team is capable of. The second half of the game it seemed like we put it on cruise control but did enough to get the win. I was excited to see Malik Dear get involved early and to see De'Runnya Wilson be targeted more often. I still think we need to get #1 the ball more. His touchdown catch was classic "Uno Beezy". He is a match up nightmare. When we make a point to go to De'Runnya it requires the defense to double team him and this opens more opportunities up for the rest of our supporting cast.
This team is a pass first squad. It isn't what we are used to seeing as Dan Mullen likes to run the football first and foremost. It's evident that we have seen the last of the Dak Prescott who carried the ball 15+ times a game. Last year we averaged 233 rushing yards per game. This year we are averaging 144 per game. I think Dak not running and the benefit the other running backs got to enjoy due to him running, is shown in the 90 yards a game decline from last year. I think we have to rush for at least 170 yards a game by the end of the season if we want this year to turn out like we want it to. This is going to happen as some of Shumpert's carries start to be given to our other RB's.
Texas A&M's biggest weakness is protecting their QB. They are 108th in the country in sacks allowed as they have given up 12 already this season. Mississippi State is 19th in the country in sacking opponents quarterbacks with 12 to their credit. Texas A&M offsets this weakness by being great at rushing the Quarterback. Their defense has 17 sacks so far and one of the very best pass rushers in college football in Myles Garrett. Whoever can keep their QB standing will have the upper hand in this game.
Something that surprised me about Texas A&M is that they are not very good on third down. They only convert 3rd down 43% of the time which places them 41st in the country. Mississippi State has one of the very best defenses in college football on third down. Opponents only convert 22% of their third downs which places the Bulldogs 10th in the country in that department. Last week against Arkansas The Aggies only converted 2 of 9 third downs against a bad defense.
Mississippi State - 35 - Texas A&M - 29
The popular statement by all of the talking heads on TV this week has been, "I think Dak Prescott keeps Miss State in this one but they just don't have the pieces around him to win the game." I think that is a very lazy way to break this game down. The Bulldogs have some weapons at WR and on defense that if over looked will make you pay. As this season has progressed this team is slowly improving. I think last years team peaked early and it feels like this team is building toward peaking in November.
I don't think this Texas A&M team is as good as people think. Arizona State is a a bad football team and so is Arkansas. Throw in a Ball State and a Nevada and you have a pretty weak schedule so far. Ball State and Nevada put up a combined 50 points on A&M and sacked Aggie QB Kyle Allen 6 times.
The last statistic that I think sheds light as to why the Bulldogs will get the road win is that Texas A&M scores most of their points on standard downs and not passing downs. There is a statistic called IsoPPP or Isolated Points Per Play that tries to identify when a team is most explosive. Texas A&M is most explosive on standard downs as they are #8 in the country in points per play on standard downs. On passing downs they are #109. It is shocking how conservative they get on 3rd down. Mississippi State's defense is very good on standard downs in preventing points as they have allowed the 26th fewest points on standard downs. On passing downs however the Bulldogs slip to 71st in the country. Basically Texas A&M is going to have to shift from being aggressive on 1st and 2nd down to taking risks on 3rd down or when they have been backed up. When teams get out of their comfort zone and have to start being aggressive when they aren't comfortable doing so mistakes happen. I think you see the Bulldog defense step up on key downs. This will take the crowd out of it and place the momentum in the Bulldogs corner.
Safe travels to everyone going to the game. If we pull this one out the rest of the season looks promising. Here is hoping we get the ball to our play makers and prove all the lazy experts wrong.
#HailState
3. GAME NOTES (w/ Depth Charts): http://www.hailstate.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1158174
4. THE BPP! with special guest Carter the dog. http://the-back-porch-podcast.madewithopinion.com/cfb-week-5-podcast/#
TEETH,
KHH
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