Bounds just told caller Mullen is best recruiter MSU has ever had

[TopDog58]

and it's not even close. Thoughts?

[Political Hack]

true. best talent evaluator we've ever had and that's a big part of it. we've hit GA, AL, and LA better than ever before.

[ShotgunDawg]

and it's not even close. Thoughts?

No, he said, "Mullen is the best recruiter MSU has had, at least in the recruiting rankings era."

So that really only compares Mullen to Croom.

I will say our overall talent level is at decent level and getting better though. Mullen hasn't recruited near as bad as some of the recruiting rankings want you to believe. He evaluates well and finds value in overlooked players.

[maroonmania]

and it's not even close. Thoughts?

I will give Mullen and staff credit for finding "diamonds in the rough" but I think that is more out of necessity because they don't get many highly visible big time top end recruits outside of what's available in Mississippi. And as far as a recruiter I don't personally feel he is anywhere close to the best we've had as far as "recruiting skills". I would put Rockey and Jackie both above him on that. And Tyler in his day was probably better than either of those two. The fact of the matter is MSU is MUCH, MUCH more attractive now to recruits than it ever has been before. Part of that is because almost EVERY kid in the Southeast and even a lot outside the Southeast want to play in the SEC. Heck, I can remember the days of struggling with USM or some other non-SEC school over a recruit but that just doesn't happen anymore. Being a member of the SEC has lifted our stature regardless of who the coach is. And then on top of that we've put millions upon millions into facility upgrades and the fanbase has been phenomenal filling up the stadium over the past 5 years. Mullen is a weak recruiter personally but has got a few staff members that are pretty good but overall I feel like we are definitely recruiting a little below what we potentially could be. As mentioned before we've got OL prospects that won't give us the time of day because they absolutely do not want to play for Hevesy.

[ShotgunDawg]

I will give Mullen and staff credit for finding "diamonds in the rough" but I think that is more out of necessity because they don't get many highly visible big time top end recruits outside of what's available in Mississippi. And as far as a recruiter I don't personally feel he is anywhere close to the best we've had as far as "recruiting skills". I would put Rockey and Jackie both above him on that. And Tyler in his day was probably better than either of those two. The fact of the matter is MSU is MUCH, MUCH more attractive now to recruits than it ever has been before. Part of that is because almost EVERY kid in the Southeast and even a lot outside the Southeast want to play in the SEC. Heck, I can remember the days of struggling with USM or some other non-SEC school over a recruit but that just doesn't happen anymore. Being a member of the SEC has lifted our stature regardless of who the coach is. And then on top of that we've put millions upon millions into facility upgrades and the fanbase has been phenomenal filling up the stadium over the past 5 years. Mullen is a weak recruiter personally but has got a few staff members that are pretty good but overall I feel like we are definitely recruiting a little below what we potentially could be. As mentioned before we've got OL prospects that won't give us the time of day because they absolutely do not want to play for Hevesy.

You make many correct points, but when I watch us play, I don't see a talent level that is drastically behind anyone we play, with the exception being at the receiver position.

The answer is probably somewhere in the middle. Mullen struggles to get the top recruits that everyone thinks are good, but does a great job of getting really good players that are late bloomers or under the radar, because he is a good evaluator.

[maroonmania]

You make many correct points, but when I watch us play, I don't see a talent that is drastically behind anyone we play, with the exception being at the receiver position.

The answer is probably somewhere in the middle. Mullen struggles to get the top recruits that everyone thinks are good, but does a great job of getting really good players that are late bloomers or under the radar, because he is a good evaluator.

Its the difference makers we are missing and that is where you need a top notch recruiting staff to pull those in. We do not anywhere near have the depth of talent or top end talent that the upper SEC has. We have no real difference makers at WR. Lewis is the best we have but he does not really stretch the field. At OL we are super thin. Why do you think with ONE injury 2 of our top 3 Guards are a walk on and a true freshman. Our Tackles are Clausell and Siddoway who are decent but not much behind them. Robinson apparently will always be below average and Senior isn't really ready for big time SEC yet.

Defensively things are better but our secondary is still probably below average in talent. Brewster came close to getting us a big time DB or two last year but struck out. DL and LB we are probably OK but the failure of getting the talent out of Quay and Nick has hurt us depth wise as we are having to depend heavily on Chris Jones and Nelson Adams. Quay and Nick probably became easier for us to get BECAUSE they have some issues. Right now I think we have talent to play competitively with a little over half the SEC but lack the difference makers to really compete with the SEC elite. Still feel like upgrading our OL talent is the single biggest thing we could do to get better.

[HoopsDawg]

You make many correct points, but when I watch us play, I don't see a talent that is drastically behind anyone we play, with the exception being at the receiver position.

The answer is probably somewhere in the middle. Mullen struggles to get the top recruits that everyone thinks are good, but does a great job of getting really good players that are late bloomers or under the radar, because he is a good evaluator.

Mullen inherited 12 nfl players from Croom. Mullen has signed 1 nfl player on his own, Vick Ballard.

[ShotgunDawg]

Thats because his first two recruiting classes were mostly garbage. He'll have plenty in the coming years.

[starkvegasdawg]

Listening to head to head Monday Wyatt said that in his opinion that the issue at MSU is not lack of talent. He thinks it is lack of sharpness to use his term. He said you will see them play, as a team, very good for stretches at a time but then a player will be out of position and allow a big play and that sometimes those players that are out of position are seniors. For me, reading between the lines, Wyatt thinks we have the talent on the roster to at least compete with the big boys but just don't have the mental focus or toughness. Sounds to me as if he is pointing a finger square at the coaching staff.

[smootness]

That talent is mostly young, though, so in some ways it's understandable they would also not be as mentally tough or focused as you'd like.

[BogeyGolfer]

Where I see biggest difference is on the O Line... Watching Mizzou the other night I realized that we are not as good as most teams in the SEC across the front... If he can improve this area we can have success.

[ShotgunDawg]

Listening to head to head Monday Wyatt said that in his opinion that the issue at MSU is not lack of talent. He thinks it is lack of sharpness to use his term. He said you will see them play, as a team, very good for stretches at a time but then a player will be out of position and allow a big play and that sometimes those players that are out of position are seniors. For me, reading between the lines, Wyatt thinks we have the talent on the roster to at least compete with the big boys but just don't have the mental focus or toughness. Sounds to me as if he is pointing a finger square at the coaching staff.

No doubt the coaching staff had to take much of the blame, but what Matt described is also the symptoms of young team. And it's hard for myself and others to separate what is a coaching problem and what is just an immaturity problem.

At this point in the season, the young guys have played a lot of football though. Starting this weekend, I am longer considering problems "young player" mistakes. There has been ample time at this point to iron them out.

[bluelightstar]

I don't give a 5th-year coach a pass on his team making "young team" mistakes. We're young at key spots because of the coaching staff, so I see no reason they get to use that as a crutch.

[ShotgunDawg]

I don't give a 5th-year coach a pass on his team making "young team" mistakes. We're young at key spots because of the coaching staff, so I see no reason they get to use that as a crutch.

There is no doubt that it is the coaching staff's fault that we are young in spots. Their first 2 recruiting classes sucked and that's is their fault and why we are young. However, the last 2 and this year's have solid talent and good players in it.

So you just have to make a decision as to whether or not you think it's going in the right direction. I'm guessing that even the coaches would tell you it's their fault we are young and that their first few recruiting classes were weak.

[maroonmania]

Where I see biggest difference is on the O Line... Watching Mizzou the other night I realized that we are not as good as most teams in the SEC across the front... If he can improve this area we can have success.

So I think we are in general agreement. I agree that our recruiting has been "OK" at least recently, the 2010 and 2011 classes were not even at that level for what you need to compete in the SEC but the 2012 and 2013 classes and the commits for 2014 look to be better, still not up to what a great recruiting coach could do for us, but definitely better. I also agree that the OLine is the biggest factor holding us back followed by a game breaker type at the WR position or at least somebody opposing defenses have to respect deep.

[DawgInMemphis]

Thats because his first two recruiting classes were mostly garbage. He'll have plenty in the coming years.

I hate reading stuff like this. Those first two recruiting classes were filled with guys have that bled and sacrificed to help us win on the gridiron. If you want to argue about their talent level, then fine. Calling them "garbage" is ridiculous and unwarranted. These are OUR guys.

[ShotgunDawg]

I hate reading stuff like this. Those first two recruiting classes were filled with guys have that bled and sacrificed to help us win on the gridiron. If you want to argue about their talent level, then fine. Calling them "garbage" is ridiculous and unwarranted. These are OUR guys.

Sorry, I support and am thankful for all MSU players. My word choice was poor.

[Barking 13]

I hate reading stuff like this. Those first two recruiting classes were filled with guys have that bled and sacrificed to help us win on the gridiron. If you want to argue about their talent level, then fine. Calling them "garbage" is ridiculous and unwarranted. These are OUR guys.

Agree

[Goat Holder]

I think he's brought in some VERY good players, and formed a strong base of depth. I would like to see him not screw up guys like Johnson and Mix in the future though. I don't care too much about the primadonnas (Brassell, Singleton) but I want to see us get the MSU guys for sure. Johnson and Mix were MSU guys. I'd go so far as to say that Johnson has the swagger that this team so desperately has needed for the past two years.

[civildawg]

I am so tired of hearing young team. I swear that is the most used term at MSU in any sport we arent doing well in. True freshman play on good teams all around the country.