Quote Originally Posted by Todd4State View Post
Which is why we need to run something where we can throw the ball.

I remember Jackie, Croom, Dan most of the time when Dak wasn't the QB, even Joe morphed into a run heavy offense at the end- and every single one of those coaches and offenses it was always "Well, the MSU opponent is going to load up the box with 9 guys and dare MSU to throw it". Which was basically a veiled way of saying all we could do is run the ball. And I did not like that at all. It was soooo frustrating as a fan to watch. And then you would hear the excuses- "well, we can't find players that can run that kind of offense in Mississippi" (Ole Miss, USM, heck JSU and Mississippi Valley could) or the "well we're MSU and that's just not what we do."

Leach has already ruined that narrative. Shoot- we set the SEC record for passing yards in a game with KJ Costello throwing to Osirus Mitchell at Death Valley. Yeah. I think we can throw the ball at MSU.

I'm like you- I'm an Army fan and I love what Monken does with them and their offense. But that's good for them. I don't want MSU to do that and here's why:

1. Passing offenses score more points than run heavy offenses. Mostly because of the clock rules. Also because of the potential for more explosive plays. Most people consider an explosive play for a pass to be 20+ yards or more vs an explosive run being considered 12+ or more for a reason.

2. IMO it's easier to stop a running team than it is to stop a passing team. If you're more physical than the other run heavy team you can load the box and stop them. We can't count on being more physical every game since we're not a blueblood. To stop us now you basically have to run zone and hope that we have a really off day and don't just pick you apart. Or that you're Alabama and have generational talent on defense in which case nothing we would do would work anyway.

3. Because of 2 and the clock rules it's more difficult for a run heavy team to come back from a large deficit. When a team is down they have to pass. We do that naturally. A team like Army would be in trouble. It's not a coincidence that the two biggest comebacks in MSU history happened with Leach. We probably lose to La Tech and probably get blown out by Auburn if Dan or Joe were coaching us last year.

4. Our QB's were always getting beat up when we ran them a lot. Not saying a QB can't get hurt running the Air Raid but it minimizes it about as much as we can because we're in the gun all the time and the plays usually are run very quickly.

5. It helps us overcome our stigma with WR's and QB's in recruiting which is our traditionally most difficult position groups to recruit to. And thankfully we appear to be maintaining out recruiting stature on defense.
Actually, you make good points, but I think a more balance offense wins championships. Good teams or great teams will do whatever it takes to win, not a force run or force pass, keeping defenses on their toes is the key IMO. If they jam the LOS, you pass, if they back off the LOS you run.

In saying this, I wish two things the Pirate would do, throw the ball down the field just a little more, and run the ball just a little more. Find explosive wide out as well as a running back. I guess I guess I should say I wish we were Alabama! LOL