State center Ethan Miner discusses improvements in the run game
This week Mississippi State experienced another bye week and spent the first part of the week on the practice fields. The Bulldogs were able to get a jumpstart on next Saturday’s foe in Missouri before taking a weekend break from competition.
After Wednesday’s practice session, senior center Ethan Miner met with the media to discuss this week’s preparations and the mindset heading down the homestretch of the season:
Q: What’s the toughest part in practice week when you don’t have an opponent to prepare for?
Miner: I would say the toughest part is keeping yourself locked in. It’s real easy to want to lay back and take a break but that’s really the last thing you can do. We got in our practices and now we do have some time to relax. But it’s really giving us more time to prepare for the following week. I like it but you just have to make sure you are locked in and not completely away from the game.
Q: What do you see that is causing slow starts by the offense?
Miner: Every play is designed to gain yards so it’s really just play execution. Not drawing up plays for no gains and TFLs (tackles for loss), obviously, but that’s been the result. It’s really going to come down to execution. Starting fast, there’s really not a lot to it and that’s all you can do.
Q: The run game has become a night-and-day difference since September. What has led to that?
Miner: I think I’ve said it before and it’s just a mentality. When you’re running the ball not typically for big gains but doing it to get small chunks, I personally like running the ball and I like getting after guys. Yeah it’s nice to have a big pass but it’s more rewarding as an offensive lineman when you go on a 12-play drive and you drove all the way down the field.
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We’re going into Week 11 now and the Oline has played a lot of games next to each other. So I think that does play a factor in it.
Q: How’s that feeling to see Davon Booth and Johnnie Daniels bust a big run right up the middle?
Miner: It’s awesome. It’s all five guys working together. It plays out that way sometimes where so and so did whatever. But there’s still four other guys that did their job at the same time.
Q: What progress have you seen from Michael Van Buren?
Miner: It’s been awesome. He’s done a great job. I talked about it before on Dawg Talk. When he first came in he was nervous, just fresh out of high school. Really should still be learning the system and the fact he’s having to start these games is pretty crazy for how young he is. But he’s building a lot of confidence and the offense trusts him, as well.
