Mullen press conference 10/12/2015

[elitedawgs]

Donations & supplies being taken at the Bryan Building for SC flood victims - visit hailstate.com


Thought we played really well in the first half, played to the standard we've come to expect at Mississippi State. Made big plays down the field, played aggressively.

Started solid for the 3rd quarter, some of the guys kinda hit cruise control, we as coaches can't let that happen. Have to play 4 quarters, didn't play as hard as we needed to in the second half. Need to improve execution. La Tech is a talented team, I think their QB is a big time player, great arm, very accurate, makes all the throws, big physical QB, he's the real deal. He's a legit big time player. One of the best RB's in America, he didn't play last week, so he's extra rested. Very explosive offense. Defense is well coached, plays hard, will make it a challenge for us.


OL play first half

Well at times, made a few mistakes here and there. Times we were excellent, times we were glaring, it was one guy glaring. It wasn't their best game, they played solid.

Q: Flashes from Donald Gray

He's made some downfield plays, he's learning routes, becoming a better player. He's misusing some assignments. he's learning how to be a football player at this level.


Q: Help to have Manny since he was at LaTech last year

You can see it on film, I don't know it gets us anything.


Q: Dak as Jr compared to Sr

Very different. Last year, big playmaker, big plays. This year his control of the game is so much better, how he sees the field, how he handles situations, he's calm, he gets out there and gets the job done. Last year I'm gonna make a big play to win the game, this year lead the team


Q: Ryan big game

He's the leader of the DL for us. The DL as a whole played the best game of the season. Ryan was the beneficiary of that, the whole DL played at another level.


Q: Has Fitz set himself as #2

No. They are pretty even. Staley & Fitz are pretty even. ES throwing up since 1AM, Dak 4AM. Told Damian he has to get ready, we are down two. Fitz did a good job in that game.


Q: Injuries

Came out healthy, beat up and bruised up. Hope to get Gus Walley back this week. Morrow & Myles will be a little longer, questionable this week. Gabe is a little bit ahead of Joe. Won't practice much this week. Rufus is ready.


Q: LT has QB with SEC experience

He's a great player, you have to limit him, he's going to make some throws, we have to go the next play.


Q: Elgton

He did some good things. Guys in their first start, they worry more about making a mistake than making a play. You have to build confidence, he's doing that.

Q: Dak this year

Numbers might not be as high, might not have made some runs he did last year, but he's made huge progress, he's seeing the 4th option, a guy wide open down the field, and getting the ball to him. That's where he's developed.

Q: 50 wins, bowl games, 7th year in, where do things stand

Coming here I wanted to build a solid football program. Tremendous support, administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni. My goal is to win a championship every single year. That is a struggle in our conference.

Q: Return game, what's been different, return TD's

Guys are more mature, trust the scheme, know where blocks will be set up, where to go in the scheme. Not trying to make a play ll by themselves. Understanding by players of when to block. Teams starting to kick away from our returners.

Q: How did Ross emerge as punt returner

He catches the ball the best. How much yardage you lost by not returning punts in the long term adds up, he could lose more yardage than he gains. Fred is consistent.

Q: Dontavian Lee, other RB's

We're still grading them. He had 17 plays, 5 carries, what did he do in those 12 plays? Are they making their blocks, do they know their assignments. One mistake and we can lose Dak.

Q: Kickers

We've tried to keep Westin Graves in position to build confidence and he's done that. He's doing that, when he makes a mistake he knows what he did and how to fix it.

Q: Damain a redshirt?

We'd like to, with Fitz & Staley we are pretty comfortable. He would have liked to have redshirted his first year, injures didn't allow that to happen. The second #15 walks out the door, I reset everything, slate wiped clean, someone has to emerge as not just a QB, but a leader of the team.

[Jack Lambert]

LA Tech's Kickoff team has let some big runs this season. I think Southern U had one. Maybe we can break one off.

[Bubb Rubb]

Regarding Fitz vs. Staley, it looks to me that Fitz is far and away the better QB at this point. But, just like the RB debate, Mullen has access to a lot more information than we do. I know this: whomever gets the job next year, we are in better shape at the QB position than we have been for as long as I can remember.

[Jack Lambert]

Regarding Fitz vs. Staley, it looks to me that Fitz is far and away the better QB at this point. But, just like the RB debate, Mullen has access to a lot more information than we do. I know this: whomever gets the job next year, we are in better shape at the QB position than we have been for as long as I can remember.

The problem is one of them will not be the starter and there is Williams still there.

[justwin]

do the 12 plays > the production from the 5 carries?

Let's put it all to rest give Lee 20 carries vs La Tech and let it be settled on the field.

What spectacular thing did Shump do on the plays where he didn't get carries? What spectacular things did Shump do when he did get carries?

[msstate7]

do the 12 plays > the production from the 5 carries?

Let's put it all to rest give Lee 20 carries vs La Tech and let it be settled on the field.

What spectacular thing did Shump do on the plays where he didn't get carries? What spectacular things did Shump do when he did get carries?

It's not like Mullen is sitting LF or Chubb in favor of Shump. Personally I don't think any of our rb's have shown much of anything. The best attribute of any of our rb's is shump's blocking ability. Bc of this, I don't have a problem with going pass heavy and letting Dak follow Shump's lead block some on zone reads.

I do wanna see more of Lee and Williams this week though to see if I misjudged them. Personally I hope Gibson is the real deal bc none of our rb's are that great to me

[Bubb Rubb]

The problem is one of them will not be the starter and there is Williams still there.

I'm not following....unless we get extremely unlucky on the injury front, Williams won't play QB for us again. If Mullen was intent on giving him reps ahead of the two freshmen, he would be playing now.

[sleepy dawg]

do the 12 plays > the production from the 5 carries?

Let's put it all to rest give Lee 20 carries vs La Tech and let it be settled on the field.

What spectacular thing did Shump do on the plays where he didn't get carries? What spectacular things did Shump do when he did get carries?

Q: Dontavian Lee, other RB's

We're still grading them. He had 17 plays, 5 carries, what did he do in those 12 plays? Are they making their blocks, do they know their assignments. One mistake and we can lose Dak.

The bolded text probably sums up why mullen is doing what he's doing.

[drummerdawg]

Personally I don't think any of our rb's have shown much of anything. The best attribute of any of our rb's is shump's blocking ability. Bc of this, I don't have a problem with going pass heavy and letting Dak follow Shump's lead block some on zone reads.

What are you talking about? Dear has ran the ball 5 times all year and averages 13.6 per carry with a TD. Longest run was 52 yards. Lee has only had 13 carries and averages 8.2 per carry. Logest run was 24 yards. Compared to Shump who has had 42 freakin carries and averages only 3.8 per carry, only 1 TD and his longest run was 20 yards. Dear has two less receptions than Shump and still averages more yards per catch. I think these guys have shown a pretty good bit in the limited reps they get. Not to mention they don't fall down on first contact.

[sandwolf]

What are you talking about? Dear has ran the ball 5 times all year and averages 13.6 per carry with a TD. Longest run was 52 yards. Lee has only had 13 carries and averages 8.2 per carry. Logest run was 24 yards. Compared to Shump who has had 42 freakin carries and averages only 3.8 per carry, only 1 TD and his longest run was 20 yards. Dear has two less receptions than Shump and still averages more yards per catch. I think these guys have shown a pretty good bit in the limited reps they get. Not to mention they don't fall down on first contact.

Dear isn't a running back. He probably should be, but he isn't one this year. Hopefully he will move to RB this off season.

[msstate7]

What are you talking about? Dear has ran the ball 5 times all year and averages 13.6 per carry with a TD. Longest run was 52 yards. Lee has only had 13 carries and averages 8.2 per carry. Logest run was 24 yards. Compared to Shump who has had 42 freakin carries and averages only 3.8 per carry, only 1 TD and his longest run was 20 yards. Dear has two less receptions than Shump and still averages more yards per catch. I think these guys have shown a pretty good bit in the limited reps they get. Not to mention they don't fall down on first contact.

Maybe it's bc I've watched a ton of lsu games. Guice as a freshman is so much better than ours it isn't even funny.

[drummerdawg]

Dear isn't a running back. He probably should be, but he isn't one.

You could even put Williams in there. He averages more yards per carry and has the same amout of TD's as Shump but has 27 less attempts.

[msstate7]

Dear isn't a running back. He probably should be, but he isn't one this year. Hopefully he will move to RB this off season.

I would love to see dear move to rb. He's the only that seems to be explosive

[Dawg61]

I'm not following....unless we get extremely unlucky on the injury front, Williams won't play QB for us again. If Mullen was intent on giving him reps ahead of the two freshmen, he would be playing now.

You're wrong. Damian Williams will most certainly play QB again for MSU. He's older and looked at by Mullen as more of the leader type than Nickjah Fitzley. See how he says this "The second #15 walks out the door, I reset everything, slate wiped clean, someone has to emerge as not just a QB, but a leader of the team." Mullen can not say it any clearer yet yall still think Fitz is ahead of Williams. He's not.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

You're wrong. Damian Williams will most certainly play QB again for MSU. He's older and looked at by Mullen as more of the leader type than Nickjah Fitzley. See how he says this "The second #15 walks out the door, I reset everything, slate wiped clean, someone has to emerge as not just a QB, but a leader of the team." Mullen can not say it any clearer yet yall still think Fitz is ahead of Williams. He's not.

I'll be more than surprised if Damian is at MSU next year.

[Dawg61]

I would love to see dear move to rb. He's the only that seems to be explosive

I want to see dual RB sets. Shump with Williams. Is the one I really wanna see. Those two backs might not be making big plays yet but they both are physical freaks and I want to see what the double Predator formation looks like. Aeris Williams is absolutely yoked. Plus I want to see what Shump looks like as a FB. Sucks that Myles got hurt. I think he should get some looks at RB too.

[FISHDAWG]

when had Graves made a mistake ? I thought he was perfect on the year ... although I am wrong a lot

[msstate7]

I want to see dual RB sets. Shump with Williams. Is the one I really wanna see. Those two backs might not be making big plays yet but they both are physical freaks and I want to see what the double Predator formation looks like. Aeris Williams is absolutely yoked. Plus I want to see what Shump looks like as a FB. Sucks that Myles got hurt. I think he should get some looks at RB too.

I would love to see Shump as FB, te, or hybrid of the 2 next season. No reason to waste his senior year at tailback

[Bubb Rubb]

You're wrong. Damian Williams will most certainly play QB again for MSU. He's older and looked at by Mullen as more of the leader type than Nickjah Fitzley. See how he says this "The second #15 walks out the door, I reset everything, slate wiped clean, someone has to emerge as not just a QB, but a leader of the team." Mullen can not say it any clearer yet yall still think Fitz is ahead of Williams. He's not.

You mostly have good takes but this is not one of them. Williams is done here unless, like I said, one of the freshmen get injured. It's just a fact. The "reset" comment is more for Staley's benefit going into next season.

[Dawg61]

I'll be more than surprised if Damian is at MSU next year.

I think that's a mistake if so. Being next to Dak everyday for two years has got to have rubbed off on Williams atleast some. He deserves a fair look. Staley doesn't have it above the shoulder pads yet. I'm not convinced we should be worrying about Williams leaving more than Staley deciding to play basketball.