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MSU offense back on track |
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Monday, 02 November 2009 |
 Ed Reinke/The Associated Press Mississippi State’s Anthony Dixon runs past Kentucky’s Ashton Cobb for a touchdown during the second half of their NCAA football game Saturday in Lexington, Ky. Dixon rushed for 252 yards and two touchdowns in the win. By AARON SEIDLITZ
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To hear Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen and offensive lineman J.C. Brignone explain it, running back Anthony Dixon’s record-breaking Saturday has some simple roots.
Mullen spoke, earlier in the week, about the team’s lack of an offensive rhythm against Florida. The team struggled to gain first downs, only had 13 by the end of that game and the running game failed to get on track.
The head coach said that the offensive line needed to stay on the field, and convert a few first downs in a row before it can really come together to produce an effective running game.
For much of the season the Bulldogs’ front five had done just that. Their cohesion helped lead to State’s 219.2 yards per game on the ground, and Dixon’s average of a little over 107 yards per running per game going into Saturday’s game at Kentucky.
Then the Bulldog rushing offense combined for its best effort of the season, with a total of 348 rushing yards gained and a school record 252 yards by Dixon. State also earned 20 first downs.
To Brignone, that kind of production wasn’t due to anything out of the ordinary being done.
“In the Florida game, we just couldn’t get going. We couldn’t find that play that was working, but against Kentucky we found the play that was working – and we just kept running it, and running it,” Brignone said.
That one thing the Bulldogs were doing well was also bolstered by a confidence and trust between linemen and running backs as the game went along.
Mullen thought that the game against Florida was the toughest game the Bulldogs front five had this season.
The numbers reflected that as MSU rushed for a season-low 92 yards against the Gators.
Then against Kentucky, the Bulldogs dedicated themselves again to the run, and the result were the eye-popping numbers put up against the Wildcats.
Brignone chalked it all up to the way Dixon was reacting to the blocks laid out before him.
“When you got a running back like Anthony Dixon, and you know that every time you block somebody he’s probably going to get three or four yards – and sometimes take it for 60 – that’s an awesome thing,” Brignone said.
Individually, Dixon had another record-producing day as a Bulldog, but he seemed to be at his happiest about the result afterwards with his linemen around.
So far this season, when he has broken a record, what has made Dixon pleased about the situation outside of the personal accomplishment is sharing that moment with teammates and also earning a victory in the process.
With both of those things occurring in Lexington, Dixon acknowledged just how well the evening had unfolded.
“I told people, ‘I want to get as many yards as it takes to get the W,’” Dixon said. “It just so happened that was what I got tonight.
“We got a W, and I’m happy.”
Lee makes second chance work
Mississippi State quarterback Tyson Lee had no problem admitting after Saturday’s game that he made mistakes in the first half.
Two interceptions – one of which was in the red zone – were the main problems for the senior, and they were also reasons for the Bulldogs playing from behind after Kentucky went into halftime leading 17-10.
Things had gotten bad enough for Lee in the first half that Mullen went to backup quarterback Chris Relf toward the end of the 30 minutes.
But it wasn’t long after that when Lee was reinvigorated by a showing of confidence from Mullen and his teammates. From that he was able to put behind him the shakiness early on.
“You know what, it didn’t stop him. He came right over, discussed it with the coaches, communicated with us to get things going again and he continued to battle through the course of the game,” Mullen said.
After halftime, Lee said that both the players and coaches showed confidence in him. The result was an efficient second-half performance in which MSU did not turn the ball over. He also threw a deep ball that hit receiver O’Neal Wilder in stride for a 67-yard touchdown.
Also, 21 points were put on the scoreboard during the third quarter, and State rode it out to a victory.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 07 November 2009 )
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