14-in-14 2023: Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Bulldogs won 9 games in 2022 and were a formidable foe. Can Zach Arnett carry on the legacy of Mike Leach and keep up State’s winning ways?
By: Hammer
This is undoubtedly the most difficult 14-in-14 to write given the passing of Mike Leach. The Waco Kid wrote a great tribute to the Pirate back in December when he passed, so we won’t rehash the sad story here. This is about the program moving forward, which is why it's so difficult to write. I have no clue what to expect from this team in 2023. New system and staff aside, it’s going to be an emotional year. Everyone associated with Mississippi State is human, and they lost someone who was really important to them last year. Going through it all without him will be emotional. It could be a catalyst in some ways, or it could be too much too handle.
State of the Program: 6/12 biscuits. Right in the middle, there’s some hope, but it’s mostly bland; They look right, but they don’t taste like much.
I feel bad given the Bulldogs just six Biscuits after finishing 9-4 last year, but it's the unknown around Zach Arnett and their future that is holding them back. The Bulldogs went 7-6 in 2021 and 9-4 in 2022. They looked to be on the right track and were close to ascending into a more competitive team within the SEC. They might still be on that trajectory, but who can say?
What went right in 2022?
They won nine games after the win at the ReliaQuest Bowl so plenty went right in 2022. Statistically speaking, they are pretty much right in the middle of the SEC in total offense and total defense, which is quite good relative to the rest of the country. Put the 2022 team in the ACC or Big 12 and they are winning 10 games. Zach Arnett’s defense surrendered 23 points per game, which was 7th best in the SEC. Similarly, the Air Raid offense was 8th in the SEC at 31.6 points per game. This was a solid team in 2022 across the board.
Individually speaking, Will Rogers had a heck of a year, like most Leach-coached QBs do. He threw a million passes (610) and passed for 3,974 yards, 35 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Rogers was, and remains, the unquestioned leader of this team. Although he’ll be operating a new system in 2023, Rogers can sling the rock and should not be overlooked. Jo’Quavious Marks also showed some juice at running back despite not getting much work in Leach’s system. Marks ran for 582 yards and nine touchdowns on just 113 carries (5.2 ypc). He added 48 receptions for 288 yards as well. Marks is one player who figures to have a much bigger role in 2023 under the new system.
What went wrong in 2022?
It’s difficult to find things that went sideways in 2022 for Mississippi State. For the most part, they handled their business by beating teams they should beat and losing to teams they typically lose to. The Bulldogs lost to Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Kentucky. The only outlier there was the loss on the road to Kentucky, but otherwise, this team took care of business. And winning on the road in Lexington is no easy task.
Of course, the tragic passing of Leach after the regular season drastically changed the direction of the program but it's not fair to categorize that as something that went wrong in 2022. If you were to ask a Mississippi State fan about what went wrong, they would say the offense disappeared at times. In each of their four losses, the offense failed to score 20 points. Outside of the Georgia game, the defense gave them a fighting chance but the offense sputtered. Finding more consistency in 2023 on offense will be paramount.
What the Bulldogs need in 2023
The Bulldogs need Zach Arnett to prove he knows what he is doing. Arnett is a highly respected defensive coordinator who did a great job in that role at Mississippi State and Washington State before that. But is he going to be a good head coach? No one knows. Time and time again, great coordinators get head coaching opportunities and flame out. The circumstances that Arnett takes over in are completely unique as well. If Arnett proves he is the man for the job and this team is able to win despite growing pains of a new coach and new system, then the future will be bright in Starkville. Given the experience they return on offense and in the front seven on defense, they have a chance to be quite good yet again.
Outside of Arnett managing this whole thing, he needs his coordinator hires to work out. On defense, Arnett promoted Matt Brock from linebackers coach to DC. This is Brock’s first coordinator job, and it's a tough one given the offensive firepower in the SEC. Arnett figures to have his fingerprints on the defense so they should still be good there, even if Brock is a little over his skis. On offense, Kevin Barbay, previously of Appalachian State, will take the reins. He runs a much more traditional system than Leach’s air raid, and Arnett has no offensive experience so a ton rests on Barbay’s shoulders. He has a good pedigree but this is his first Power 5 coordinator job. The bottom line is this team has the pieces to win 8-9 games again, but the inexperience of the coaching staff and a brand-new offensive system are big question marks.
How they can earn some extra biscuits
If this team repeats what they did a year ago with all the changes that have taken place, more biscuits will be headed to Starkville. If this team can go .500 in SEC play with a brand-new, first-time head coach and new coordinators, then they would move up to the ascending tier.
Next Up:
Alabama
Previous: Missouri Tigers, Florida Gators, Vanderbilt Commodores, Ole Miss Rebels, Arkansas Razorbacks, Auburn Tigers