I'm Worried More About Leach than I am His Offense

[ShotgunDawg]

I know Leach is a good coach. He's been a good coach for 20 years.

I believe Leach's offense can work in the SEC. He's been too many places and seen to many things for it to have a fatal flaw.

What worries me most is Leach himself. Is he cut out to coach in the SEC from a work ethic and grinder standpoint.

Sure he coached under Mumme in the SEC but he was a young, hungry coach at that point and now he's a rich older guy. Money changes people and the absolute fact is that the SEC has the best coaches and players. It takes more work to be good.

Just this morning, there is a rumor that a coach was 1.5 hours late for a meeting. Not sure if that's true, but, if so, that won't cut it.

Being an hour late for press conferences is representation of your program.

I realize it's a COVID year but it's a COVID year for everyone.

Leach needs to tighten up. He's a great coach, but he won't win here while going through the motions.

[Mathiston]

Which coach? If its Arnett he was probably late because he was fielding calls from his agent asking him to name his price. If it was any body else, fire em.

[ShotgunDawg]

Which coach? If its Arnett he was probably late because he was fielding calls from his agent asking him to name his price. If it was any body else, fire em.

That or a back appointment after carrying the team for two weeks.

[Cooterpoot]

Leach has always been this way. It's part of why others wouldn't hire him. But he's still been successful.

[confucius say]

Maybe.
But counter point: see spurrier and dabo

[Johnson85]

I know Leach is a good coach. He's been a good coach for 20 years.

I believe Leach's offense can work in the SEC. He's been too many places and seen to many things for it to have a fatal flaw.

What worries me most is Leach himself. Is he cut out to coach in the SEC from a work ethic and grinder standpoint.

Sure he coached under Mumme in the SEC but he was a young, hungry coach at that point and now he's a rich older guy. Money changes people and the absolute fact is that the SEC has the best coaches and players. It takes more work to be good.

Just this morning, there is a rumor that a coach was 1.5 hours late for a meeting. Not sure if that's true, but, if so, that won't cut it.

Being an hour late for press conferences is representation of your program.

I realize it's a COVID year but it's a COVID year for everyone.

Leach needs to tighten up. He's a great coach, but he won't win here while going through the motions.

Leach isn't going to start working 80 hour weeks. I hope nobody expected that to change. And it's not a lack of work ethic. Heh does what he thinks is needed and then is done. I guess he could spend another 20 hours each week recruiting.

[BrunswickDawg]

I worry less about your list than I do the unrealistic expectations of fans, in particular the booster set. In the world of instant results, no one wants to allow for the time it takes to make a true philosophy shift. We are doing what Ga Tech did last season - it is that drastic. And no matter what, the change in schemes is so drastic that the first year is going to be tough. Add all the COVID crazy to this year and it makes it even harder. Leach will win here, like he has everywhere. But, we are going to have to adjust much more than Leach.

[DownwardDawg]

I know Leach is a good coach. He's been a good coach for 20 years.

I believe Leach's offense can work in the SEC. He's been too many places and seen to many things for it to have a fatal flaw.

What worries me most is Leach himself. Is he cut out to coach in the SEC from a work ethic and grinder standpoint.

Sure he coached under Mumme in the SEC but he was a young, hungry coach at that point and now he's a rich older guy. Money changes people and the absolute fact is that the SEC has the best coaches and players. It takes more work to be good.

Just this morning, there is a rumor that a coach was 1.5 hours late for a meeting. Not sure if that's true, but, if so, that won't cut it.

Being an hour late for press conferences is representation of your program.

I realize it's a COVID year but it's a COVID year for everyone.

Leach needs to tighten up. He's a great coach, but he won't win here while going through the motions.

Supposedly Kiffin is much like Leach in the fact he doesn't put in 100 hours a week and refuses to do so. He has fun and so does Leach.
Now I'm not saying Kiffin is a great coach, time will tell, but a lot of smart people think he is.

[maroonmania]

Leach isn't going to start working 80 hour weeks. I hope nobody expected that to change. And it's not a lack of work ethic. Heh does what he thinks is needed and then is done. I guess he could spend another 20 hours each week recruiting.

Well Mullen and crew didn't exactly stress themselves on the recruiting trail and they still were successful. As far as practice there is only so much time you can spend directly with the players so the additional extra time I guess would have to be spent on gameplanning and figuring out and evaluating strengths and weaknesses with your own team. Heck, if Mack Brown can take over at his age at North Carolina and have success then there is no reason why age should be an issue for Leach.

[BuckyIsAB****]

Leach is a known partier and enjoys a good time. We knew this when we hired him. But being late to a meeting as a coach, unless it really was done to prove a point is unacceptable. It?s unacceptable for anyone in the program. If that did indeed actually happen

[Todd4State]

Leach is eccentric so this doesn't surprise me. I agree that he should be on time for meetings though.

[bluelightstar]

https://www.si.com/college/2020/09/27/mississippi-state-lsu-air-raid-mike-leach-kj-costello

There?s an interesting quote in there about SEC coaches working long hours and how Leach doesn?t. I get that Leach has his systems and believes in reps and execution, but if other coaches are putting in 8 more hours a day scouting you, I?m skeptical they won?t figure something out. It?s the nature of the beast down here ? Oregon State?s coaches aren?t putting in 20 hour weeks.

[Cooterpoot]

I'm surprised at the number of people that thought this team was some loaded team. People can keep saying "this is the most talented team Leach has ever had" but it's not true. This bunch was a train wreck last year. It's very young in spots and is void of talent in others.
And moving to a totally new offensive identity is a massive undertaking considering what we ran previously.
Who knows it we're successful. But people screaming to go back to a run based offense because of two bad games are the reason our program struggles to advance.

[Commercecomet24]

I'm surprised at the number of people that thought this team was some loaded team. People can keep saying "this is the most talented team Leach has ever had" but it's not true. This bunch was a train wreck last year. It's very young in spots and is void of talent in others.
And moving to a totally new offensive identity is a massive undertaking considering what we ran previously.
Who knows it we're successful. But people screaming to go back to a run based offense because of two bad games are the reason our program struggles to advance.

This, I don't know why folks have trouble understanding this.

[msbulldog]

I'm surprised at the number of people that thought this team was some loaded team. People can keep saying "this is the most talented team Leach has ever had" but it's not true. This bunch was a train wreck last year. It's very young in spots and is void of talent in others.
And moving to a totally new offensive identity is a massive undertaking considering what we ran previously.
Who knows it we're successful. But people screaming to go back to a run based offense because of two bad games are the reason our program struggles to advance.

Agree.

[msstate7]

I'm surprised at the number of people that thought this team was some loaded team. People can keep saying "this is the most talented team Leach has ever had" but it's not true. This bunch was a train wreck last year. It's very young in spots and is void of talent in others.
And moving to a totally new offensive identity is a massive undertaking considering what we ran previously.
Who knows it we're successful. But people screaming to go back to a run based offense because of two bad games are the reason our program struggles to advance.

Message board posts aren't why we struggled. That's ridiculous

[StateDawg44]

Leach beating LSU is probably the worst thing he could've done to himself and to inflate fans hopes. It's awesome he did it even though LSU has proven to be pretty vanilla. But it completely reset the narrative of MSU for a total of 7 days. That was enough for all the talking heads and large portion of our fanbase to forget everything that has gone on in the offseason and pretend like we were favored to be a contender.

Yeah Ark & KY were important games for us to win this season but recently KY has been a toss up.

I do agree with the fact that we should start giving experience to the younger skill positions this year and get the growing pains and learning curve started.


ETA: I am happy with the defensive play this year compared to what I expected. At least that is a positive so far.

[msstate7]

Leach beating LSU is probably the worst thing he could've done to himself and to inflate fans hopes. It's awesome he did it even though LSU has proven to be pretty vanilla. But it completely reset the narrative of MSU for a total of 7 days. That was enough for all the talking heads and large portion of our fanbase to forget everything that has gone on in the offseason and pretend like we were favored to be a contender.

Yeah Ark & KY were important games for us to win this season but recently KY has been a toss up.

I do agree with the fact that we should start giving experience to the younger skill positions this year and get the growing pains and learning curve started.


ETA: I am happy with the defensive play this year compared to what I expected. At least that is a positive so far.

When's the last time Kentucky threw a defensive shut out on us? Leach deserves a chance to fix this, but Saturday night is totally unacceptable. Leach had a week knowing exactly what Kentucky was gonna do, and he failed, miserably. New week, do better.

[Cooterpoot]

Message board posts aren't why we struggled. That's ridiculous

Fans raising hell and giving up, absolutely have an effect on the program.

[msstate7]

Fans raising hell and giving up, absolutely have an effect on the program.

Guess that was why we struggled vs the same defense against Arkansas too. All the hell raising we were giving the team for the LSU performance. Personal responsibility is dead

[Tbonewannabe]

When's the last time Kentucky threw a defensive shut out on us? Leach deserves a chance to fix this, but Saturday night is totally unacceptable. Leach had a week knowing exactly what Kentucky was gonna do, and he failed, miserably. New week, do better.

Leach's biggest issue right now is we just went through a hard headed coach telling us that he was smarter than everyone else and his way would work. The past two games sure looks like the bullshit we have went through the past two years.

Leach needs to show something positive or some adjustments, whether it is personnel or playcallling.

[Cooterpoot]

Guess that was why we struggled vs the same defense against Arkansas too. All the hell raising we were giving the team for the LSU performance. Personal responsibility is dead

I'm talking program, not a game. If it were up to State fans, we'd run the damn option. We need a move to a better passing system. And people can't grasp these same issues have occurred everywhere Leach has been year one. It's going to be a rough year. You might as well settle in with it. In two years, if it's not working, we'll have a new coach. We've got better offensive players coming in next year. Hopefully we see improvement this year. The conference only schedule makes it tougher.

[msstate7]

I'm talking program, not a game. If it were up to State fans, we'd run the damn option. We need a move to a better passing system. And people can't grasp these same issues have occurred everywhere Leach has been year one. It's going to be a rough year. You might as well settle in with it. In two years, if it's not working, we'll have a new coach. We've got better offensive players coming in next year. Hopefully we see improvement this year. The conference only schedule makes it tougher.

Don't know about the option part, but rest is reasonable.

[StateDawg44]

When's the last time Kentucky threw a defensive shut out on us? Leach deserves a chance to fix this, but Saturday night is totally unacceptable. Leach had a week knowing exactly what Kentucky was gonna do, and he failed, miserably. New week, do better.

What's your point on the shut out question?

I don't disagree. I'm not defending Leach here or the performance this weekend or anything.

All I was pointing out was that most just wanted to be competitive and competent looking w/ LSU and we come out and destroy them. Then folks went crazy and we were the talk of college football and we suddenly we became world-beaters in some people's heads.

I was kinda fooled too after LSU but was skeptical of LSU more so at that point. And LSU MIGHT even be a bigger turd than we are so far this year. Ark shouldn't have happened and KY was an even worse performance but we at least thought it would be close.

The fact that people have already deemed Leach a failure just shows those people are weak and would probably give up on a play and limp off the field like the players the same people want to run down and complain about.

Leach definitely has to change something. But no one on here that is willing to post it knows enough about the locker room to be able to make any claims about what the problem is besides on the field play and effort.

[Cooterpoot]

Don't know about the option part, but rest is reasonable.

And we're better than what we saw this past week. I expected better than that. But we don't have a QB that's going to be great RIGHT NOW. That's a huge problem. Then you've got 3-5 players that don't want to play hard and give up. I think you'll see some different things this week as far as personnel. I still expect to lose to a better team.

[HailStateSZN19]

And we're better than what we saw this past week. I expected better than that. But we don't have a QB that's going to be great RIGHT NOW. That's a huge problem. Then you've got 3-5 players that don't want to play hard and give up. I think you'll see some different things this week as far as personnel. I still expect to lose to a better team.

Cooter, if you had the responsibility of fielding the 11 guys on offense on Saturday, who are you rolling with at the 11 spots based off of production and effort so far this year?

[Cooterpoot]

Cooter, if you had the responsibility of fielding the 11 guys on offense on Saturday, who are you rolling with at the 11 spots based off of production and effort so far this year?

Rogers at QB
WR: Payton, Tulu, Walley, Shavers
RB: Kylin (But I'd mix in the young guys- Marks looks good catching it and Johnson running it)
Nothing we can do about OL personnel except switch positions and that's a mess

[HoopsDawg]

I'm surprised at the number of people that thought this team was some loaded team. People can keep saying "this is the most talented team Leach has ever had" but it's not true. This bunch was a train wreck last year. It's very young in spots and is void of talent in others.
And moving to a totally new offensive identity is a massive undertaking considering what we ran previously.
Who knows it we're successful. But people screaming to go back to a run based offense because of two bad games are the reason our program struggles to advance.

20 yards rushing vs a Prevent defense on the heels of the Arkansas debacle. Some of the worst coaching I've ever seen. We have some talent on offense.

[Jarius]

I'm surprised at the number of people that thought this team was some loaded team. People can keep saying "this is the most talented team Leach has ever had" but it's not true. This bunch was a train wreck last year. It's very young in spots and is void of talent in others.
And moving to a totally new offensive identity is a massive undertaking considering what we ran previously.
Who knows it we're successful. But people screaming to go back to a run based offense because of two bad games are the reason our program struggles to advance.

People expected a quarterback that was projected to be a top 2 round pick to come in here and look competent with a coach that has installed his offense pretty easily year one everywhere he has been. The problems you are talking about talent wise we?re supposedly on the defense, which is playing lights out. If you do not understand why people are up in arms about how bad we look offensively then I do not know what to tell you. He did not inherent a lack of talent on the Ol and that is very concerning. He inherited an all sec running back and that is a problem. He brought in his own quarterback and that is a problem. Ole Miss went from running the ball 65 % of the time last year to a complete offensive identity switch and they just scored 45 points on Alabama. We have issues much bigger than talent.

[HailStateSZN19]

Rogers at QB
WR: Payton, Tulu, Walley, Shavers
RB: Kylin (But I'd mix in the young guys- Marks looks good catching it and Johnson running it)
Nothing we can do about OL personnel except switch positions and that's a mess

That's the QB, WR, and RB combo I had in my head as well. I'm still just confused beyond anything as to why Tulu has not gotten a shot to do something in the games. He got on the field in the final minute Saturday, but you're telling me he won't put forth more effort than Mitchell and won't catch the ball better than Cam Gardner did Saturday?

Walley probably should have caught that ball in the endzone admittedly and I'm sure he'd tell you that, but he's really really impressed me. He's getting a feel for things and getting comfortable.

[Cooterpoot]

20 yards rushing vs a Prevent defense on the heels of the Arkansas debacle. Some of the worst coaching I've ever seen. We have some talent on offense.

Blame the OL and QB. But fact is, we dropped two TD catches and our WR talent in the upper class is bad. But we stunk vs KY. Can't argue that.
OL has to be better and Leach has to do more than two running plays. But KY is pretty good vs the run too.

[Cooterpoot]

Tulu absolutely needs to be returning some kicks. Walley has put the ball on the ground 2 out of 4 chances I think. Williams is sure handed, so I get that. But when the offense isnt scoring, we need a HR hitter back there.

[hp22]

For some reason, I think we will play well this weekend. People going off the deep end with long term assessments following week 3 need to get a grip. That is insanity.

The part that most bothers me is we had an entire week to adjust to the drop 8 and our gameplan was identical to the prior week against Arkansas. I've been very critical of our gameplan which I feel is fair. I am going to hold out hope we adjust (or execute) in some capacity this week. I know Leach is stubborn but we are going to have to make a team that drops 8 return to respecting the line of scrimmage. Surely TAMU will drop 8 into a zone. I think we could put up points if someone is dumb enough to line up and play man.

We need something positive to happen and I hope that begins on Saturday.

[FISHDAWG]

I'm surprised at the number of people that thought this team was some loaded team. People can keep saying "this is the most talented team Leach has ever had" but it's not true. This bunch was a train wreck last year. It's very young in spots and is void of talent in others.
And moving to a totally new offensive identity is a massive undertaking considering what we ran previously.
Who knows it we're successful. But people screaming to go back to a run based offense because of two bad games are the reason our program struggles to advance.

what are we supposed to think when it's 8 bad games instead of 2 .....OK, so we don't yet have the players to implement his offense with precision and efficiency ... Do we not adapt until we do ? Where are the contingency plans if something doesn't work ? Why do we keep running something that doesn't work ? Where is the imagination ? There are a lot of first downs out there that a competent running play would convert - how long are we supposed to wait when what we see in front of us is absolutely adamant with no room for suggestion or improvement ? ..... I get the recruiting his type of players will eventually improve his offense but what I don't get is him refusing to try something different for the sake of winning with what he currently has

[TaleofTwoDogs]

^^THIS^

If you can't adapt, you are doomed to failure. For example, put Schrader in the backfield with Rogers or KJ and run a play designed for that skill set. In other words, do something that will take advantage of what the defense gives you. Not sure how this team & staff can go from the top of the world to the bottom of the pit in 2 weeks is unbelievable. Big, big head scratcher.

[Percho]

I know Leach is a good coach. He's been a good coach for 20 years.

I believe Leach's offense can work in the SEC. He's been too many places and seen to many things for it to have a fatal flaw.

What worries me most is Leach himself. Is he cut out to coach in the SEC from a work ethic and grinder standpoint.

Sure he coached under Mumme in the SEC but he was a young, hungry coach at that point and now he's a rich older guy. Money changes people and the absolute fact is that the SEC has the best coaches and players. It takes more work to be good.

Just this morning, there is a rumor that a coach was 1.5 hours late for a meeting. Not sure if that's true, but, if so, that won't cut it.

Being an hour late for press conferences is representation of your program.

I realize it's a COVID year but it's a COVID year for everyone.

Leach needs to tighten up. He's a great coach, but he won't win here while going through the motions.

Have you not ever heard about, working from home? It's a thing now.

[FISHDAWG]

[QUOTE=hp22;1277252]For some reason, I think we will play well this weekend. People going off the deep end with long term assessments following week 3 need to get a grip. That is insanity.

But our opening loss to South Alabama was prophetic of how that season was going to go .... not sure these two losses are any different from that opening loss - Yes, there's a lot of dumb people but there are just as many with a brain that can see and interpret what's in front of them

And the definition of insanity is actually doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result

[Percho]

Leach is a known partier and enjoys a good time. We knew this when we hired him. But being late to a meeting as a coach, unless it really was done to prove a point is unacceptable. It?s unacceptable for anyone in the program. If that did indeed actually happen

I bet one of the other coaches, forgot to wake him.

[Percho]

Message board posts aren't why we struggled. That's ridiculous

We struggle because we do not know what we are doing. To learn to know what you are doing requires supervised, time and repetition which the powers to be do not allow you to have. Just x number of hours a week.

One of my favorite statements. Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD,

Methinks we need to hide and watch.

[hp22]

[QUOTE=FISHDAWG;1277252]For some reason, I think we will play well this weekend. People going off the deep end with long term assessments following week 3 need to get a grip. That is insanity.

But our opening loss to South Alabama was prophetic of how that season was going to go .... not sure these two losses are any different from that opening loss - Yes, there's a lot of dumb people but there are just as many with a brain that can see and interpret what's in front of them

And the definition of insanity is actually doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result

The bold part was the exact reason I was upset with the gameplan at Kentucky. We did the exact thing and expected a different result. A good coach adjusts and a stubborn coach will not. We know Leach will always be a pass heavy offense. But can he adjust and at least make defenses respect the line of scrimmage. Should that stubborn approach continue to be our attack throughout the rest of the year, I'll be very worried.

I also think insanity appropriately defines the doom and gloom leach can't win here portion of the fanbase. We've already fired one coach 10 months ago....lets just keep firing them and hopefully we eventually win....insanity!

That said, I don't see any similarities in the South Alabama loss. That was in year 5 or so of Mullen. We were in game 3 with Leach.

I am concerned about these last two weeks. And I've been critical of the gameplan against the drop 8 zone. But let's see how the rest of the year plays out.

[msstate7]

https://i.postimg.cc/0y3zrML4/E0-D7-C8-A9-39-E7-4-C1-E-A256-EE54662-C0-DE1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Percho]

https://i.postimg.cc/0y3zrML4/E0-D7-C8-A9-39-E7-4-C1-E-A256-EE54662-C0-DE1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Maybe if two receivers would have caught two balls they had their hands on in the end zone that would not have happened.

[msstate7]

Maybe if two receivers would have caught two balls they had their hands on in the end zone that would not have happened.

Probably, those were hardly routine catches though.

[Tbonewannabe]

Probably, those were hardly routine catches though.

Mitchell yes but that other pass was hard, high, and behind the WR. It was a shit throw that would have taken a great play to catch that ball.

[Commercecomet24]

https://i.postimg.cc/0y3zrML4/E0-D7-C8-A9-39-E7-4-C1-E-A256-EE54662-C0-DE1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

So you're saying we're still setting records on offense*****

[R2Dawg]

Fans raising hell and giving up, absolutely have an effect on the program.

Well we did roll out the bandwagon, what do you expect.

[Johnson85]

Probably, those were hardly routine catches though.

Mitchell's was pretty routine. Would have been easier for him if there had been a little more air in it, but he made the catch. He just let the LB snatch it from him.

I thought the other one was an awful pass when I first saw it, but one of the replay angles made it look a lot better. Hard to say for sure but it looked like maybe Costello put it where he needed to put it and it was the receiver that didn't break his route like he should have. Was still high, but there appeared to be a defender he was getting it over and a very catchable ball if the receiver wasn't stopping rather than running past it to where he had to reach back as well as up.

[Cooterpoot]

what are we supposed to think when it's 8 bad games instead of 2 .....OK, so we don't yet have the players to implement his offense with precision and efficiency ... Do we not adapt until we do ? Where are the contingency plans if something doesn't work ? Why do we keep running something that doesn't work ? Where is the imagination ? There are a lot of first downs out there that a competent running play would convert - how long are we supposed to wait when what we see in front of us is absolutely adamant with no room for suggestion or improvement ? ..... I get the recruiting his type of players will eventually improve his offense but what I don't get is him refusing to try something different for the sake of winning with what he currently has

We aren't playing for one season. Does it matter if we win 5 or 6 games this year? No. We hired him to run the damn air raid. That's what he needs to do. Returning players will be better for it. And as far as running, when your OL is getting killed, you can't. We need our returning players getting comfortable with the scheme, because they obviously are not.

[Cooterpoot]

Well we did roll out the bandwagon, what do you expect.

Everyone bout broke their neck jumping on. Now they've skint up their knees jumping off.

[FISHDAWG]

We aren't playing for one season. Does it matter if we win 5 or 6 games this year? No. We hired him to run the damn air raid. That's what he needs to do. Returning players will be better for it. And as far as running, when your OL is getting killed, you can't. We need our returning players getting comfortable with the scheme, because they obviously are not.

If he wants to recruit what he needs for next year- then YES he needs to be playing for this season .... and we didn't hire him to run an air raid - we hired him to win.... Cooter - I get what you are saying about more than one season, but next year opponents will watch THIS years film and they need to understand that he won't always drop back on 3rd and 3 or he will def run the ball if you only rush 3 with a soft defensive backfield .... in other words he needs to project an element of we can and will run on your ass if needed

[BrunswickDawg]

So you're saying we're still setting records on offense*****

KJ must have circled Kevin Fant's 21 INTs in 2003 and figured, "What the hell, lets do it!"

[Maverick]

Cooter is right though, you people who want to change the new scheme mid season need to let it go. The lsu game spoiled us and it was probably the worst thing that could have happened. We had a month to practice a new scheme with new coaches and we are who we thought we would be. We don't need to be flip flopping around. Leach is going to run his system point blank, you can either ride with him or without him. We will run the air raid and the plays are there to be made we just aren't making them right now. We need to continue to practice and we have to start executing. We are going through a learning curve which has only been made worse by corona limiting practice. Yes, he was hired to win games and might I include install some toughness and discipline back into the program. But, he has ran the air raid for what, 30 years? He ain't changing now....

[HoopsDawg]

Cooter is right though, you people who want to change the new scheme mid season need to let it go. The lsu game spoiled us and it was probably the worst thing that could have happened. We had a month to practice a new scheme with new coaches and we are who we thought we would be. We don't need to be flip flopping around. Leach is going to run his system point blank, you can either ride with him or without him. We will run the air raid and the plays are there to be made we just aren't making them right now. We need to continue to practice and we have to start executing. We are going through a learning curve which has only been made worse by corona limiting practice. Yes, he was hired to win games and might I include install some toughness and discipline back into the program. But, he has ran the air raid for what, 30 years? He ain't changing now....

I haven't seen anywone ask for a new scheme. Just a couple of more running plays.

[Turfdawg67]

KJ must have circled Kevin Fant's 21 INTs in 2003 and figured, "What the hell, lets do it!"

He's on track to destroy that record.

I said early in the year that the most Mississippi State thing ever would be for us to hire Leach and get KJ... and the season gets canceled because of Covid. I was wrong... the MOST Mississippi State thing ever is getting Leach and KJ and having them suck monkey dongs.

[maroonmania]

Cooter is right though, you people who want to change the new scheme mid season need to let it go. The lsu game spoiled us and it was probably the worst thing that could have happened. We had a month to practice a new scheme with new coaches and we are who we thought we would be. We don't need to be flip flopping around. Leach is going to run his system point blank, you can either ride with him or without him. We will run the air raid and the plays are there to be made we just aren't making them right now. We need to continue to practice and we have to start executing. We are going through a learning curve which has only been made worse by corona limiting practice. Yes, he was hired to win games and might I include install some toughness and discipline back into the program. But, he has ran the air raid for what, 30 years? He ain't changing now....

Well the only thing the LSU game did was show us that the scheme can work really well against man coverage. Unfortunately we will never see that again for the rest of the year and, so far, we haven't even seen a shred of evidence that the scheme will work in the SEC against a big zone. We have one TD catch in the last 2 games and that was essentially on a broken play where Payton made a heck of a catch. Right now I'm pretty hopeless on this because we've seen 2 weeks of zone and we looked even worse in the 2nd week than we did in the 1st which tells me we have NO adjustments to make other than just to stick with the line that "we have to execute better".

[Commercecomet24]

KJ must have circled Kevin Fant's 21 INTs in 2003 and figured, "What the hell, lets do it!"

He may break it this week!

[Jarius]

We have some highly rated offensive linemen that can’t make this work right now and that is the scariest part. If Charles Cross and Dolla Bill can’t block these guys, who are we going to recruit that can block them? If his hand picked quarterback is out there seeing ghosts, who is going to be able to run it? This is not a normal year, so obviously some of this is understandable but we look awful at positions that have not been looking awful in scrimmages or practice. The biggest reason Leach needed 3 years elsewhere was talent. It doesn’t take that much talent at receiver to get where you are supposed to get against a prevent defense. It does not take that much talent to block 3 people with 5 guys.

[Cooterpoot]

Both those guys never started or played before this year. Cross has been solid. Dolla wasn't nearly as highly rated as Cross.
Hand picked? It was him or a Freshman. And Leach generally doesn't play Freshmen QBs. Our others didn't fit the scheme. You're dead ass wrong about the receivers. They've never seen zone like this. This ain't cover 2. And our talent just isn't top shelf there either.

[TheLostDawg]

We've been good on defense the past couple years and are good now because they were well coached. Our receivers have been poorly coached for what seems like forever. They didn't have a spring to learn better route running or catch passed. We should have expected this. Ole miss was well coached on offense and not defense. Same remains this year.
This year might as well be a wash. I'd rather run his system and let these guys get experience than plug in a qb who is never going to play in this offense, it seems, and waste Rodgers developing faster. I'm all for adding a few run plays but the thing about that is when you add a couple, they know it's either going to be this or that. Hopefully Leach throws in some surprises but for long term it's better to just keep doing what we're doing and letting these guys learn and get experience and then add some more schemes this fall because if we learned one thing from Joe is these guys need simplicity.

[defiantdog]

I wonder if KJ has an undisclosed ankle injury..... I've noticed he's missing high on all of his passes. Typically happens with ankle sprains and qb's trying to compensate the throw when they can't follow through like normal. Just a thought.

[Bothrops]

KJ's passes have looked different since week 1.

[Jarius]

Both those guys never started or played before this year. Cross has been solid. Dolla wasn't nearly as highly rated as Cross.
Hand picked? It was him or a Freshman. And Leach generally doesn't play Freshmen QBs. Our others didn't fit the scheme. You're dead ass wrong about the receivers. They've never seen zone like this. This ain't cover 2. And our talent just isn't top shelf there either.

Yes, hand picked. He could have gotten plenty of quarterback transfers And he picked Costello. He was a first round talent according to many. The receivers are playing against a coverage most everyone else would die to face on a weekly basis, and Leach has been repping them against this defense from day 1 (and they beat it in practice on a daily basis) because he knew that this is the defense he has faced the most. The talent he has here is more highly rated than anywhere he has ever coached and it is going against defenses that are not great. We have Leach for an extended time because he has all of the cards due to our situation. I hope it works, but there are a ton of red flags right now. I hope we come out Saturday and light A&M’s ass up. We very well may. I have no clue with this bunch.

Also, people saying that Ole Miss did not go through a total scheme change are dead ass wrong. They are lighting it up with a completely different coaching staff and with a quarterback that looked like dog shit last year.

[Turfdawg67]

I didn't think a lot of his passes, including some big gainers, looked good versus LSU. The ppl watching the game with me told me to calm down because he was accumulating so many yards, but I wasn't impressed with his mechanics at all... plus the 4 turnovers.

[BuckyIsAB****]

Both those guys never started or played before this year. Cross has been solid. Dolla wasn't nearly as highly rated as Cross.
Hand picked? It was him or a Freshman. And Leach generally doesn't play Freshmen QBs. Our others didn't fit the scheme. You're dead ass wrong about the receivers. They've never seen zone like this. This ain't cover 2. And our talent just isn't top shelf there either.

Our offense sees drop 8 every day during pass skel bc that is what Arnett does