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Mississippi State Team Report
Yahoo! Sports
Mar 26, 5:25 am EDT
Buzz Up Print
Inside Slant
With an 8-5 finish, wins against Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama and a Liberty Bowl victory, this Mississippi State team holds a major spring advantage over the past three teams.
"We have confidence knowing that we can compete and win in this conference," junior cornerback Marcus Washington said.
At the same time, the return of 17 starters doesn't offer any guarantees for 2008.
"It definitely doesn't make it any easier," sophomore quarterback Wesley Carroll said. "It puts a burden on our shoulders because we have to get better. We're not going to settle for just going to a bowl game and winning this year."
Coach Sylvester Croom's fourth Mississippi State team has some big questions to answer.
On defense, veteran defensive assistant Charlie Harbison is the new defensive coordinator for a unit that returns eight starters but must replace its best leader, defensive end Titus Brown.
On offense, the Bulldogs are still looking for some receivers to step up and the coaches are hoping redshirt freshman Chris Relf will step up and push Carroll for the starting job. Josh Riddell, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, will not practice this spring.
Notes, Quotes
Spring Objectives: The Bulldogs return a solid foundation but still have a lot of work to do to replace two starting offensive linemen and two defensive linemen and develop some productive receivers. QB Wesley Carroll led the Bulldogs to their first bowl bid since 2000 but he's just a true sophomore with a lot left to prove.
Building Blocks: The Bulldogs return 17 starters from a team that improved from 3-9 to 8-5 and won a Liberty Bowl. All four members of the secondary return as well as both leading rushers.
Schedule Situation: The schedule is going to make it tough for the Bulldogs to improve on last season's record, with road games at Georgia Tech, LSU, Tennessee and Alabama, but the Bulldogs close with five winnable games-at home against Middle Tennessee and Kentucky, at Alabama, at home against Arkansas and at Ole Miss.
Quote To Note: "He's more hands-on, and he's in your face. He just wants the best for us. I think he's going to be good for us."-Cornerback Marcus Washington, on new defensive coordinator Charlie Harbison.
Strategy And Personnel
Stars Of 2008:
FS-KR Derek Pegues-Whether he's making tackles or interceptions or breaking big returns, Pegues is one of State's most important and valuable players. The coaches will expect even more from him as a senior in 2008.
RB Anthony Dixon-Dixon finished his sophomore season with 1,066 yards and 14 touchdown runs but coach Sylvester Croom will be the first to insist Dixon can be a lot more consistent and productive. Dixon is tough to stop when he's hitting the holes hard but he must stop dancing and do a better job protecting the ball.
LB Jamar Chaney-His move from outside to the middle in 2007 was often limited by nagging injuries but Chaney finished strong and showed that he can be a key player in a much-improved defense.
Top Newcomers:
DB Charles Mitchell-State needs help at cornerback so Mitchell, the No. 4 prospect on The Clarion-Ledger Most Wanted List and the Gatorade Player of the Year in Mississippi, could see some playing time this fall.
DL Templeton Hardy-Hardy ranked as high as eighth among the nation's defensive tackles and third among the state's best prospects. At 6-3, 295, he's big enough to hold his ground inside but still quick enough to make plays upfield.
DL Trevor Stigers-At 6-4, 225 pounds, Stigers doesn't have Hardy's size but he has the speed to rush off the edge and the frame to add more size and strength.
All-purpose players Arceto Clark, Terence Davis, Delmon Robinson, Rashun Dixon and Corey Broomfield-The Bulldogs desperately need some players who can make things happen with the ball in their hands, whether it's at receiver, running back or returner.
Roster Report:
• With junior Anthony Dixon limited following offseason knee surgery, redshirt freshman Robert Elliott is getting a chance to show what he can do. Elliott was a highly regarded signee for the Bulldogs but still has a lot to prove.
• After a series of injuries prevented him from reaching his potential, former starting QB Michael Henig decided in January it was time to move on. The final straw was a nagging right hip injury that would have required surgery and possibly eight months of rehab if Henig had decided to return. Henig said he is three credit hours away from graduating.
• Anthony Johnson emerged as a big-play cornerback in 2007, returning two interceptions for touchdowns, but suffered a broken left ankle against Ole Miss on Nov. 23. He should be able to return by spring practice but might be limited to non-contact work.
Mississippi State Team Report
Yahoo! Sports
Mar 26, 5:25 am EDT
Buzz Up Print
Inside Slant
With an 8-5 finish, wins against Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama and a Liberty Bowl victory, this Mississippi State team holds a major spring advantage over the past three teams.
"We have confidence knowing that we can compete and win in this conference," junior cornerback Marcus Washington said.
At the same time, the return of 17 starters doesn't offer any guarantees for 2008.
"It definitely doesn't make it any easier," sophomore quarterback Wesley Carroll said. "It puts a burden on our shoulders because we have to get better. We're not going to settle for just going to a bowl game and winning this year."
Coach Sylvester Croom's fourth Mississippi State team has some big questions to answer.
On defense, veteran defensive assistant Charlie Harbison is the new defensive coordinator for a unit that returns eight starters but must replace its best leader, defensive end Titus Brown.
On offense, the Bulldogs are still looking for some receivers to step up and the coaches are hoping redshirt freshman Chris Relf will step up and push Carroll for the starting job. Josh Riddell, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, will not practice this spring.
Notes, Quotes
Spring Objectives: The Bulldogs return a solid foundation but still have a lot of work to do to replace two starting offensive linemen and two defensive linemen and develop some productive receivers. QB Wesley Carroll led the Bulldogs to their first bowl bid since 2000 but he's just a true sophomore with a lot left to prove.
Building Blocks: The Bulldogs return 17 starters from a team that improved from 3-9 to 8-5 and won a Liberty Bowl. All four members of the secondary return as well as both leading rushers.
Schedule Situation: The schedule is going to make it tough for the Bulldogs to improve on last season's record, with road games at Georgia Tech, LSU, Tennessee and Alabama, but the Bulldogs close with five winnable games-at home against Middle Tennessee and Kentucky, at Alabama, at home against Arkansas and at Ole Miss.
Quote To Note: "He's more hands-on, and he's in your face. He just wants the best for us. I think he's going to be good for us."-Cornerback Marcus Washington, on new defensive coordinator Charlie Harbison.
Strategy And Personnel
Stars Of 2008:
FS-KR Derek Pegues-Whether he's making tackles or interceptions or breaking big returns, Pegues is one of State's most important and valuable players. The coaches will expect even more from him as a senior in 2008.
RB Anthony Dixon-Dixon finished his sophomore season with 1,066 yards and 14 touchdown runs but coach Sylvester Croom will be the first to insist Dixon can be a lot more consistent and productive. Dixon is tough to stop when he's hitting the holes hard but he must stop dancing and do a better job protecting the ball.
LB Jamar Chaney-His move from outside to the middle in 2007 was often limited by nagging injuries but Chaney finished strong and showed that he can be a key player in a much-improved defense.
Top Newcomers:
DB Charles Mitchell-State needs help at cornerback so Mitchell, the No. 4 prospect on The Clarion-Ledger Most Wanted List and the Gatorade Player of the Year in Mississippi, could see some playing time this fall.
DL Templeton Hardy-Hardy ranked as high as eighth among the nation's defensive tackles and third among the state's best prospects. At 6-3, 295, he's big enough to hold his ground inside but still quick enough to make plays upfield.
DL Trevor Stigers-At 6-4, 225 pounds, Stigers doesn't have Hardy's size but he has the speed to rush off the edge and the frame to add more size and strength.
All-purpose players Arceto Clark, Terence Davis, Delmon Robinson, Rashun Dixon and Corey Broomfield-The Bulldogs desperately need some players who can make things happen with the ball in their hands, whether it's at receiver, running back or returner.
Roster Report:
• With junior Anthony Dixon limited following offseason knee surgery, redshirt freshman Robert Elliott is getting a chance to show what he can do. Elliott was a highly regarded signee for the Bulldogs but still has a lot to prove.
• After a series of injuries prevented him from reaching his potential, former starting QB Michael Henig decided in January it was time to move on. The final straw was a nagging right hip injury that would have required surgery and possibly eight months of rehab if Henig had decided to return. Henig said he is three credit hours away from graduating.
• Anthony Johnson emerged as a big-play cornerback in 2007, returning two interceptions for touchdowns, but suffered a broken left ankle against Ole Miss on Nov. 23. He should be able to return by spring practice but might be limited to non-contact work.
