Every Word Sam Pittman Said Concerning Mississippi State Game.
The Bulldogs will have the Razorbacks at home on Saturday morning for what is expected to be a higher scoring game compared to last year’s 7-3 matchup.
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Mississippi State football team will take on Arkansas in only four days and Razorbacks’ coach Sam Pittman spoke at length about the Bulldogs during his weekly press conference.
Here is Pittman’s commentary on the Bulldogs before Saturday morning’s game in Starkville.
Opening Remarks…
Transitioning to Mississippi State, they are performing exceptionally. Coach Lebby has excelled in that position. They are present in all games and giving their all in playing. They possess quickness in their lineup, a plethora of skill. The quarterback on their team is performing excellently. I am a fan of their joggers. They possess a pair of excellent running backs. Coach Kennedy has significantly improved the performance of the offensive line. They excel in the wide receiver position. Coleman is an outstanding player.
In terms of defense, I appreciate their group of linebackers. They truly sprint towards the ball. It begins with Mitchell, followed by Blanton, and then Smith. They utilize various defensive tactics to throw off opponents on third down, ranging from aggressive blitzes to passive coverage with eight players dropping back. However, the people to watch are the six men who will hurry. We need to stay on top of that. Their punter is very skilled. It is clear that Coleman is the one who returns punts. The two guys at the backfield are the ones responsible for returning kicks. We are aware that the cowbells will be ringing. I hold their football team in high regard and we are thrilled to head over to Starkville for an early game.
Regarding the offensive strategy of Mississippi State…
They are completely exposed. Their style involves a blend of playing at a high speed. Certainly, K.B. was present, and he is part of Lebby’s family tree, which includes his father. They are completely exposed … I’m telling you, if you pressure them, they will pass it to you. They will attempt a long pass. They are linking up on those plays. They have fast players at the wide receiver position.
Their quarterback, Van Buren, has the ability to throw the deep ball. Another point is that they are executing the stretch and inside zone plays effectively. Both of their backs are running very aggressively. Soon after, the quarterback has the ability to create opportunities using his legs. I don’t think they really want to make him run a lot because he always slides. A quarterback who runs frequently, usually opts to rush on plays. However, he is difficult to catch in the pocket.
Regarding the record of Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby and his team…
They have an excellent soccer team. At times, people examine someone’s record and wonder, “Hmm, who were their opponents?” Are you aware? This is his initial year there with everything. He’s deceiving everyone, scoring 10 points or less, you know, regardless. However, I became acquainted with him thanks to Kendall (Briles) and his father. Obviously, he is a fantastic person.
You can observe the team’s coaching and progress by watching how the team is performing. They are now a frightening team to face when entering the arena with the noisy cowbell ringing in the background. However, I am confident that Mississippi State made the right choice in their hiring and I predict they will perform excellently this Saturday and in the future.
On the advances made by Mississippi State this season…
I believe they have continually improved since the Toledo game. They experienced breakdowns and surrendered scores, but now you don’t witness that occurring. They travel by air to the football game. They are an extremely athletic football squad. After the Toledo game, I believe they altered their strategy to focus on reaching the quarterback. I believe they have replaced several men in the box… I believe they have been using more man-to-man coverage lately, as I can see the difference in numbers in the box over the last three games following the Toledo game. They are improving and are now taking more risks on third downs and second-and-long situations in order to reach the quarterback, and so far it has been successful for them.