Improvement?

Mississippi State has a very good coaching staff. It's more than schemes, plays called, etc. They are developing young players and putting them in the right positions on the field. The linebackers are the most obvious example (after the shift to youth before Florida last year), but you can look at the whole team and see this happening.

24 points and less than 100 yards rushing. Against UGA? No way. But it happened.

Speed kills, unfortunately size matters too, and that's where this defense is hurting right now. Our linebackers while speedy and valiant, are undersized. How many times was the defense in position to make plays on Saturday only to have a bigger, faster, stronger player win the head to head battle? It all comes back to talent.

And talent? We're getting there. Pegues, Fitzhugh, Chaney, Littlejohn...all freshman, all recruited by this staff and all playing critical snaps and making plays on this defense.

And you don't think this team has bought in. Goal line stand anyone? I haven't seen a head coach as upset at Davis Wade as Mark Richt since the Florida thrashing in 2000.

The offensive production is indeed offensive. But what is so frustrating is that even with the ineptness of the offensive line the opportunity for positive plays are there. One guy misses a block. An open receiver either drops a ball or Conner misses him. And Conner, well, he's not a great quarterback, but he is a warrior and a hell of a leader.

At the beginning of the year, I predicted we'd be 2-2 after the Georgia game. Only I thought Auburn and Georgia would wreck us and Norwood and/or Conner would be out hurt by the LSU game. Not only that, but we've arguably already played the best two defenses in the conference as well.

The team has impressed me so far in this young season.

Through four games in 2004
Tulane: 28-7 W
Auburn: 14-43 L
Maine: 7-9 L
@LSU: 0-51 L

Through four games in 2005
Murray State: 38-6 W
@Auburn: 0-28 L
Tulane: 21-14 W
Georgia: 10-23 L

I'd call that significant improvement.


(The photo, courtesy of Rogelio Solis, Associated Press, is of Georgia tight end Pope dragging Bobo across the goal line.)