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Holliday and Co. present tough challenge for Dogs |
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Wednesday, 24 September 2008 |
By AARON SEIDLITZ
Starkville Daily News
Sylvester Croom started by saying how he was worried about one facet of LSU – return man Trindon Holliday.
But by the time he was through speaking on Tuesday he added Tigers’ running back Charles Scott to the list, and after LSU’s win over Auburn he can add freshman quarterback Jarrett Lee to that list as well.
All three are major reasons why LSU has risen into the top five of the AP poll this week – just edging out Missouri for the fifth spot – and Croom knows that he has to prepare his team for all three offensive options upcoming in Saturday’s game in Baton Rouge.
“LSU is a good football team, as we all know,” Croom said. “They’re fifth or sixth in the polls right now – I haven’t checked to see exactly where they’re at – but they’re one of the top teams in the country and they’re playing like it.”
For Mississippi State’s coaching staff, one thing they will begin focusing on is Holliday. A 5-foot-5 junior, who is also a track star for the school, Holliday has the ability to make defenders miss and then run right past them.
He does so on punt returns, kick returns and any other way head coach Les Miles can get him involved in the Tigers’ offense.
In fact, Croom stated just how he felt about Holliday after watching film before Tuesday’s press conference.
“I just got through watching a horror film. It’s called “The Returns of Trindon Holliday,” and it’s very scary,” Croom said. “This guy, as good as LSU is, is probably the most frightening aspect of this football team.”
So far this season, Holliday averages 24 yards per kick return and 26.1 yards per punt return. He has put the ball in the end zone once on a punt.
So once again – just as it was during the Auburn game in defense of return man Robert Dunn – the pressure will be on State’s special teams. Kick-off duties will include keeping the ball away from Holliday and punt duties will include directionally kicking and swarming to Holliday.
“We don’t have anybody who can catch him, and I don’t think there’s anybody in the country who has anybody who can catch him when he gets on top,” Croom said. “So we have to do an excellent job in the kicking game, (so) he doesn’t get his hands on it and definitely not in an ideal situation.
“If he does get his hands on it, he’s going to have to work real hard to get it.”
Other offensive options
Adding to the Bulldogs’ worries about defending LSU is Scott, who leads the SEC in rushing yards with 348 yards. Against Auburn, which had been stout against the run, Scott got loose for 132 yards on 21 carries.
Scott has picked up, and perhaps improved, upon a running game last year that imposed bulky halfback Jacob Hester on opposing defenses.
To Croom, Scott may offer more speed than what LSU could provide last year but the coach also sees the same kind of powerful style.
“Offensively, they’re a lot like they were last year,” Croom said. “They’re running the ball very well, they got the leading rusher in the conference in Scott (and) they got a huge fullback that’s a really good lead blocker.
“That’s where we got to start, is being able to stop their running game.”
But, perhaps most importantly, the Tigers had Lee bolster the quarterback position by making key throws during tough moments of the Auburn game.
Both Lee and Andrew Hatch can also provide offensive chances with their legs, though.
“The thing that is impressive is the mobility. They can run some of those spread-type runs where the quarterback pulls the ball down and intentionally runs the ball,” Croom said. “But where it really hurts you, is when the pass route or protection breaks down, then they pull the ball down and run for first downs.”
Croom at the
Leadership Summit
The Bulldogs’ head coach rarely admits to being nervous, but when he spoke of today’s Leadership Summit on campus he laid his true feelings out for everyone.
Croom will be introducing General Colin Powell today at the summit, and the chance to do so has the coach jittery.
“That makes me nervous to be honest with you,” Croom said. “I’m supposed to introduce the general, and I hope I don’t stumble around like I’m stumbling around right now.”
Croom said that as a coaching device, he has kept some of Powell’s quotes in a folder and used them on his players. He looks up to the man he will be introducing, and the chance to meet him has the coach nervous.
“I’ve always admired him from afar, and to actually get to meet him tomorrow is truly a great honor and one of the greatest honors that I’ve ever had,” Croom said.
Also, as a part of the summit, State defensive end Tim Bailey was one of the students selected to meet Powell.
He will do so with a few other selected students, and Croom said that the defensive end’s dedication and hard work are two examples of why he makes a fine choice for the selection.
Recovering Dogs
A day after missing practice, Derek Pegues and Keith Fitzhugh were back on Tuesday.
Pegues was suffering from an ankle contusion that kept him out and Fitzhugh was recovering from a concussion he received on Saturday.
Dominic Douglas was also practicing after wearing a red-cross jersey on Monday.
All three wore purple jerseys, which signified partial participation.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 25 September 2008 )
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