Seydou Traore and the Bulldog tight ends becoming important part of the gameplan
Things are shifting at Mississippi State as Jeff Lebby’s offense begins to take hold.
The Bulldogs started the season with some ups and downs on Lebby’s side of the ball, but freshman QB Michael Van Buren and his skill players are bringing things into focus. That group includes a tight end duo of Seydou Traore and Justin Ball who are creating their own plays.
“I think every week we get better and I think that shows in games as well. Me and Justin have been a great duo bouncing off of each other. Each week the tight end group is getting used as well,” Traore said.
“I think I’ve gain that trust before the season even started. The offense is starting to pick it up and it’s a bit easier when you’re in the flow of things to start moving people around and doing different stuff.”
Through seven games, Traore is the second-leading receiver on the team with 21 catches. He’s also hauled in 224 yards which is good for fourth best and easily the most among the tight ends. Ball has five catches on the year for 38 yards.
Since Van Buren has come on as the starting quarterback, things have really started to improve for Traore. He had just one catch against Texas in Van Buren’s first start but had his best game as a Bulldog at No. 5 Georgia with his five catches for 51 yards. Last week against No. 14 Texas A&M, Traore had three catches for 38 yards.
Traore had already caught some passes in the offseason from Van Buren but his comfort level started with Blake Shapen. Now with four weeks under his belt with the youngster, he is feeling comfortable and is impressed with how Van Buren has handled himself leading an SEC offense.
“Honestly, he’s started hot. He’s started great and is getting better every week. To think the position he’s been put in from the first game (to now), he’s done nothing but rise to the pressure,” Traore said of Van Buren. “The responsibility of the receiver, tight end and running back is the easier you can make the game for the quarterback, the easier the offense will be.
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“Mike can every throw and every play. If he finds me, he finds me but I won’t complain if he doesn’t. We’ve got some great receivers.”
With Van Buren’s progression has come the improvement of the entire offense.
State went to Texas and Georgia and put up a fight with a 31-point showing Between the Hedges and over 300 yards passing from the freshman. Last week, State rushed for 125 yards and threw for another 242 against one of the SEC’s best defenses.
With six-straight losses, it hasn’t looked like a team on the decline, but Traore and his teammates are still trying to get a win. That next opportunity comes on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. as State hosts Arkansas inside Davis Wade Stadium. Traore believes the offense will give them a chance.
“I think we’ve just started hitting our stride. Our potential is through the roof,” Traore said of the offense. “I think we’ve seen glimpses of it and when we do show glimpses, we’re very dangerous. If we can stay in it, no one can stop up in my opinion.”
