Has the Corner Been Turned?

[UPDATE: I know for a fact I pushed Publish on Thursday when I wrote this. Yet here I come to give some thoughts on the 2 Basketball scrimmages, and I find it remains unpublished. This is the second time this has happened. I am not happy with you Blogger. Basketball thoughts will come tomorrow.....I hope.]

Does the decisive victory over Kentucky mark the turning point for MSU football? Well, unfortunately that is one of those questions that can only be answered with any certainty in hindsight. However it feels like it just might be, to me at least. I can't really say why, probably because I'm just so desperate for some measure of success from this program. Whatever the reason, that single game completely changed my feelings on the season thus far, as well as the remaining games. The Auburn win was nice, but there was always the possibility that it was simply Croom's annual one big win and nothing significant would come of it. After the Kentucky win though, there is just a feeling of excitement and new life being breathed into this dormant program. The Alabama game is all of a sudden sold out. Suddenly I'm thinking of bowl possibilities. I'm looking back and realizing how much fun this season has been (for the most part, LSU still sucked). It has been a thrill to watch a competitive and capable team emerge from the shambles of MSU football 2000-2006.


Always one to throw a bucket of cold water on a situation, it should be noted that the two big wins this year both saw the opponent turn the ball over 6 times. Some were of course forced by the defense, but some were simply gifts from the opposing team. If MSU is to take the next step, they have to be able to win games regardless of whether the other team shoots itself in the foot or not.

With that said I like the direction things are going right now. I like the young, future players on the team, and for the most part I like the way recruiting is going. It still needs to improve significantly, but it appears to be getting there. I like the development I see of players at most of the positions, with WR and possibly QB being the exception. I'm starting to think Henig didn't get better because he is simply that bad and nothing could change that. WR is a different story, I haven't noticed a single player improve significantly year to year. All in all though, things appear to be looking up.

Now we move on to some observations of the Kentucky game.

-Wesley Carroll, I think I may love you. Finally, FINALLY, a QB who can make a few plays and won't turn the ball over every game. I hate to pile on Henig, but after 2 1/2 years or so of him at QB, Carroll is a breath of fresh air. You want a major reason for the turnaround this year? You don't have to look any further than Carroll. I truly believe that we would be sitting at 2-7 or maybe 3-6 with Henig leading the team. As bad as this sounds, Henig's injury was probably the best thing that could have happened to this team.

Against UK he was 17-28 with 152 yards, 2 TD and 0 Int. His performance earned him SEC freshman of the week honors. His numbers don't blow you away, but the number to look at is 0, as in 0 interceptions, both in the game and on the year. How refreshing to finally have a QB who knows how to take care of the ball. With just two more pass attempts, Carroll will hold the NCAA record for most attempts without an interception to start a career as a freshman. He would be passing Mike "I'M A MAN!!!" Gundy. A rather obscure record but nevertheless impressive.

In addition to his performance on the field, I love what I am seeing as far as the little things go. On every big play he was the first one in the face of his teammate congratulating him and patting him on the helmet. When it looked like Blackledge was going to get into an altercation with a UK player, it was Carroll getting if front of Blackledge and moving him away.




On the sidelines he was always talking to his lineman. All these little things which don't show up in the stat sheet but are so important to being the leader of a team, and to see it from a freshman is very exciting. I like how the future is looking with Carroll running things.

-Anthony Dixon was extremely unimpressive. The numbers look okay, 25 carries for 82 yards and 2TD, one rushing and one receiving, but they don't tell the whole story. He put the ball on the ground 3 times, fortunately losing only one. On top of that he continued to dance in the backfield and try to make people miss. You're 240, just hit the hole and go. Also I can't count the number of times he missed a lane and would consequently gain a yard, if that. He has loads of talent, but he isn't playing up to his potential right now.

-On the flipside, Christian Ducre had a stellar game. 5 receptions for 30 yards to go along with 19 carries for 119 yards and the TD which sealed the win.




I don't know where he was hiding the last 3 weeks, but this was a good time to see him reemerge. I love his decisiveness, he finds a hole and he goes for it, no dancing, no second guessing. He has the running style I wish we would see from Dixon. I don't know what will happen in practices over these next two weeks, but Croom will probably be thinking of starting Ducre against Alabama. Not that it matters all that much. As much as MSU runs the ball, both Dixon and Ducre will be looking at 15+ carries.

-It's good to see how walk-on Eric Hoskins has stabilized the fullback position. He is a good run blocker and is a threat to catch the ball coming out of the backfield. He has been impressive enough that Croom has said he will be put on scholarship next year. Good for him. He deserves it. Unsurprisingly Jeremy Jones didn't see the field. Like I've said before, 275 pound guys aren't all that useful except on the O-line.

-The play calling in the 1st half was fantastic. It kept the defense guessing, which is the whole point. Passes on first down, triple option, zone read plays, and this




Where has this playbook been the last 3 years? Please, I am on my knees begging, keep this going McCorvey.

-The tight ends actually made a play? Really?!


-Hats off to the O-line, another big reason for the improvement this year. They were pretty dominant, opening running lanes and giving Carroll ample time. Also I noticed Croom would mass substitute Brignone, Gates, and Sherrod in for Strauder, Jenkins, and Hamilton. As far as I could see there was little if any dropoff in production, though admittedly I am anything but an expert on offensive line play. I would assume keeping the line fresh has probably been helping, especially late in the game. It is also encouraging that we have enough depth at this point to be able to pull this off.

-Avery Hannibal, welcome to the party. He earned SEC defensive player of the week honors with his 5 tackle, 2 sack performance. Hannibal has always been stout in the run game but has been missing in the pass rush. He'll be needed in these last 3 games. Titus Brown returned to form as he was in the backfield much of the day. You think Hannibal's play forced the Oline to take some of their focus off of Brown? Yeah, me too.

-Surprisingly enough, Kyle Love looked very good at DT. I don't know if he had any tackles, but he was clogging the run lanes, getting penetration and disrupting plays. I didn't think we'd ever see much from him, but he was the best DT on this day.

-I truly believe Anthony Johnson has a good chance to be playing on Sundays in the future. Teams avoid throwing at him, and when they finally do he can make them pay. He's no slouch in run support either.

-Big day for Fitzhugh, 6 tackles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception. He was all over the field. Nice to have the luxury of putting him in for Pegues or Glanton and not lose anything at safety. Same goes for Bobo.