B&S Preview Series: Level up - Mississippi State looks to raise the bar in 3rd year under Leach
Leach teams historically jump in year 3 or 4. is this Mississippi State’s year to do just that?
By: Bossman Slim
Photo via Mississippi State Athletics
The Bulldogs are coming into 2022 quietly. There isn’t much hype surrounding the Maroon and White in Starkville, with much of the focus on other teams in the conference like the Alabama’s and Georgia’s along with the distractions of the circus at Auburn and the back and forth between Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban in the offseason. With all the attention elsewhere, Mississippi State is primed to sneak up on folks this season.
Let’s dive into the 2022 Bulldogs..
Flashback
Mississippi State had an up and down year last year, notching some big wins and taking some head-scratching losses. Wins over NC State, Texas A&M, Kentucky and Auburn makes you think this team was taking the next step ahead of schedule for Mike Leach. But then there was the losses to Memphis, LSU and getting blown out by Texas Tech in the bowl game that made you question what was going on in Starkville. Granted, Memphis and LSU were close, and the Memphis game could have easily swung the Bulldogs way if not for a blown call at the end of the game. This team easily could have been 8-4 or 9-3, but a few bounces the wrong way and they end up 7-6. Now…can they turn those close losses into wins this year and keep climbing the SEC pecking order?
Coaching Staff
Mike Leach is a wizard. Or a Jedi. Also a pirate. The guy has been successful at every mid-level stop he’s been at, willing programs to overachieve. He’s doing it again with Mississippi State, and he could get them back to similar heights they saw under Dan Mullen. He did it at Texas Tech with Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, he can do it in Starkville too. History tells us that year 3 or 4 is where Leach turns it on and his teams make big leap. Check out the jumps made in year 3 at Texas Tech and year 4 at Wazzu. We’re in year 3 at State…so it’s prime time for a jump. Leach is the OC, and Zach Arnette is in his 3rd year as DC with an experienced defense coming back. There’s continuity up and down the coaching staff, with almost all coaches in their 3rd year at Mississippi State and a few others with even more experience under Leach from his time at Wazzu. As we’ve talked about in previous previews…continuity on the coaching staff is huge when you’re trying to make a leap like Mississippi State is.
Offense
Much of the Bulldogs hopes this year rest on the shoulders of Cowboy Will Rogers. This kid is a killer. Leach has his guy and it’s his 3rd year in the offense…and that’s dangerous. Leach’s offense relies heavily on the QB and it will be even more so this year with Rogers experience. One thing that needs improvement is the deep ball, which Rogers had the lowest attempts of 20+ yards in the SEC in 2021. State returns two RBs in Jo’quavious Marks and Dillon Johnson who rushed for a combined 900 yards last year, but they’ll also be a threat in the passing game. At receiver, Rogers has rapport coming back with Jaden Walley who I expect to have a big year. They lost Makai Polk to the NFL but added a few transfers. These kids will get theirs in this Leach offense. The O-line is experienced on the inside and added a few transfers with starting experience. This unit should be strong - and will have to be if the Bulldogs are to take that jump they want this year.
Defense
The Maroon and White return three starters along the defensive front in what will be a strength of this defense. State lacks depth at linebacker but are strong at the top with Tyrus Wheat and Jett Johnson returning…just hope the injury bug doesn’t hit this group. The secondary should be a solid unit with a few transfers coming in including WVU transfer Jackie Matthews and Alabama transfer Marcus Banks who will complement three returning starters including two-time All-SEC selection Emmanuel Forbes. The defense should be a strength of this 2022 iteration of the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Leach has this unit right where he wants them to push up the standings in the SEC West.
Special Teams
This has been a thorn in Leach’s side since he arrived in Starkville, particularly last season. Leach held open tryouts for kicker last year and publicly disparaged his kicker after Nolan McCord struggled. Lideatrick Griffin returns to field kickoffs and had a good year last year and should be able to build upon his success.
Prediction
This team is going to sneak up on people. Alabama, Texas A&M and Arkansas are soaking up all the attention in the West. That should put a chip on the Bulldogs shoulder because they beat A&M last year, kept it close in Fayetteville last season, and they have a ton of experience returning. This team will be dangerous and won’t be an easy out for anyone save Alabama.
Mississippi State 2022 Schedule
Sept 3: Memphis
Sept 10: @ Arizona
Sept 17: @ LSU
Sept 24: Bowling Green
Oct 1: Texas A&M
Oct 8: Arkansas
Oct 15: @ Kentucky
Oct 22: @ Alabama
Nov 5: Auburn
Nov 12: Georgia
Nov 19: East Tennesee State
Nov 26: @ Ole Miss
There is a case to be made that there are two make or break three game stretches for the Bulldogs this year, but I’m going with the A&M-Arkansas-Kentucky stretch over the Alabama-Georgia-Auburn stretch. No weeks off in the SEC West. If State can come out of the A&M-Arkansas-Kentucky stretch at 2-1, they have a chance to make that leap we’ve been talking about.
I think this team hangs around 7-5, 8-4 and has a similar track to last season. I don’t see a big leap up for the Bulldogs on this schedule, even with their experience returning. It’s just a dang grind in the SEC West, and the Kentucky/Georgia draw out of the East is tough. Hail State will have another solid year but there’s too much talent and better teams in the West for Leach to climb too far up in the West. I think this team finishes 4th or 5th in the West, right around where they finished last year. But I am really excited to see what the Bulldogs can do this year.