Joe Moorhead flat-out underachieved in his first season in Starkville at 8-5.
Before some Mississippi State fans come unglued, eight wins is always respectable at Mississippi State, but let’s not forget the Bulldogs brick wall for a defense allowed just 12 freakin’ touchdowns last season and produced three first-round NFL draft picks.
Just to jog your memory, Moorhead’s offense was pitiful at times. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald simply wasn’t equipped to run the new system, lacking the down-field passing accuracy.
MSU was inconsistent offensively, managing just seven points or fewer in four of the last ten games and failing to hit 24 points six of the last ten.
We shall see if Moorhead is the great offensive mind he was made out to be when he was first hired. He needs an SEC-caliber QB to make things work, and I have seen nothing from Keytaon Thompson to make me think he is the answer. I would bet Moorhead agrees — just judging by MSU’s intent on adding a graduate quarterback in the first place. That was evident when the Dogs missed on Kelly Bryant.
Thompson was Fitzgerald’s backup last year, throwing for 458 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. That means Moorhead needs Penn State grad transfer Tommy Stevens to be the missing piece at quarterback to provide a real, live passing game.
The 6-foot-5 Stevens backed up star Trace McSorley at Penn State. Moorhead coached Stevens early in his Penn State career when he was the school’s offensive coordinator.
“I think Tommy is a kid with a lot of physical tools,” Moorhead said. “Strong arm. He can really run. He’s accustomed to the system so he’s going to understand it for the most part coming in.
Moorhead has a history with Stevens. He will be the starter come Aug. 31 in New Orleans against Louisiana Lafayette. But if for some reason he doesn’t pan out — MSU may struggle to win six games.
The opener shouldn’t be an issue, but it’s in New Orleans. That’s not that bad a neutral-but-really-road game, and it’s followed up by hosting Southern Miss and Kansas State in Starkville. The other non-conference game is in late November against Abilene Christian — just five days before the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss.
I like the Dogs to win all four.
They don’t leave home after the Nov. 2nd date at Arkansas, getting a week off to get ready for Alabama. The LSU showdown is at home, too, but that’s the lone date in Starkville in a run of four road games in five dates. The SEC West season kicks off at Auburn and includes a trip to Texas A&M.
I think State goes winless against Alabama, Auburn, A&M and LSU — leaving Moorhead’s team needing to pull at leas three wins out against Arkansas, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Arkansas to reach a winning season.
I am guessing State goes 2-2 in those four and finishes 6-6. If I am right, things could quickly get dicey for Moorhead. If I am wrong and the Dogs win eight or nine, then I guess its just one in a long line of predictions that didn’t work out.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
