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Changes could be in store Saturday for MSU |
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Friday, 21 November 2008 |
By AARON SEIDLITZ
Starkville Daily News
A few changes could be in store for Sylvester Croom’s squad come Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. kickoff against Arkansas at Scott Field.
The Bulldogs’ coach hinted after Thursday’s practice that a few of the changes will be to see what a couple of unproven players could offer, while one other will be out of necessity.
Senior safety Derek Pegues will not return kickoffs for State against the Razorbacks because Croom feels as though he would be “overworked” coming off the concussion he suffered against Alabama if he had to handle punt and kickoff returns.
Pegues will still handle the punt return duties, but on kickoffs freshman wide receiver Delmon Robinson will be back deep to make the return.
“I think Delmon can handle the kickoffs with no problem, and he’ll be our back up punt returner as well,” Croom said. “I just feel safer starting the game with Pegues as the punt returner.”
On the season, Pegues averages 22.9 yards per kickoff return and has a long of 59 yards, but he has not found the end zone from a kickoff.
Robinson has returned three kickoffs this season, and he has averaged just less than 20 yards per return.
The other personnel moves that Croom could have up his sleeve would affect the quarterback and running back positions.
Before the LSU game this season, the coach thought about playing redshirt freshman Chris Relf some at quarterback.
The thought process was that Relf, who stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs over 230 pounds, offers both size and speed to possibly run the option. Relf never saw the field against the Tigers, but Croom is contemplating putting him in this week.
“We prepared with the idea that we will, but sometimes in game situations I might decide to go another route,” Croom said.
The other possibility for a change could come out of Wade Bonner. Another redshirt freshman, Bonner came to State from Memphis-area Manson, Tenn., and he was an option for either the secondary or running back.
This season Bonner converted from safety to running back, and Croom likes the speed he gives the team. This game Croom said he would “definitely” want to put Bonner on the field.
The offensive line will also fall back to its original look, as J.C. Brignone will move back to center and Michael Gates will start at left guard now that he is healthy enough after fighting through turf toe.
One healthy Hog
Croom has spoken early in the season about getting healthy at the right time, and the positive impact a bye week can have.
For Bobby Petrino’s team last week’s bye put the team in a position where he said it is “as healthy as we’ve been all year.”
The big question mark to his team’s health revolves around his 1,000-yard rusher Michael Smith. The running back has taken a beating this year after carrying the ball 193 times, but his head coach now says that his runner is healthy.
“The bye week was really good for him because he is back to full speed and looked great at practice last night,” Petrino said.
So what can State fans expect to see of Smith? Petrino, for one, offers a description of the back.
“He has really good instincts and can cut extremely fast, and he’s done just a nice job not only in running the ball but catching the ball. He’s been a key in our passing game as well,” Petrino said.
Indeed, Smith is second on the team with 30 catches this season. Those 30 catches have gone for 302 yards and two touchdowns.
Louis Campbell’s
expertise
Mississippi State may have a secret weapon in store for Arkansas in its linebackers coach.
Louis Campbell came to Starkville this season after spending every year since 1990 in Fayetteville, so Croom feels as though the veteran coach might have a little inside information on the Razorbacks.
“He’s given us name, rank and serial number on every player there,” Croom joked.
But in a serious manner, the coach did feel that Campbell is an asset in game planning against Arkansas because of his experience with the program and with the players.
After recruiting and helping to develop some of the players that Petrino will showcase on Saturday, Croom will tab Campbell as a person who can help breakdown those players on film.
“He can tell us about their guys, and from a coaching standpoint he can verify and emphasize what you may think or he may correct what you see on film about players,” Croom said.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 22 November 2008 )
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