2006 Statistics

For an area that seems to be the specialty of their head coach, the Bulldogs have struggled on this side of the ball since Croom took over. But better times just might be soon to come. Yes, State will still be seen struggling to produce yards and/or points, but with the new façade of the quarterback unit, things could change. Mike Henig broke his collarbone twice in ’06; questions surrounding his durability have to be seen as still valid since he is a dual-threat and weighs in under 200 lbs while playing in the toughest conference. Henig isn’t the most accurate passer (43.8% completion), either, yet his knowledge of and experience within this system gets him the start. Tray Rutland is still listed as backup, but his weak numbers after being thrown into the fire as a RS frosh prove he still needs work. JUCO-transfer Josh Riddell has the arm strength and savvy to succeed at this level; with Rutland still showing signs that his ACL injury from last year wasn’t quite ready for full-contact drills, Riddell has gotten lots of reps with the first team. Croom seems worried about what will happen when Riddell sees his first real game scenario, but we think a few mistakes will eventually equal big things for this Salem, Oregon product. In their traditional formations, running proves difficult as MSU couldn’t even average 100 yard per game (95.2). But with starters returning at every position on the line (including TE), we will truly see if Croom can inspire them to better group play. Anthony Dixon definitely isn’t the running game’s problem, and the hulking back proved much by carrying his team to wins over Alabama and Ole Miss. Tony Thorton moves to DB, so Justin Williams and Arnil Stallworth will also get the rock, but expect Dixon to again be the workhorse. Fullback Brandon Hart needs to step up if MSU is to average more than three yards per carry (2.9 in ’06). Royce Blackledge is the senior center who has to lead his group to an SEC-level of plowing. J.D. Hamilton did well as he bumped up from junior college; he moves inside for ’07, though. Junior Tony Strauder reinforces the inside to give MSU three upperclassmen to lead block for the larger RBs found here. RT Craig Jenkins is sure to improve after earning the start as just a RS frosh, and ex-Gator Mike Brown is ready to prove why he was so highly touted out of H.S. The reserves all have promise, but only Mike Gates offers worthy experience to go with that. This is the leanest the line has looked in some time, and along with TEs Eric Butler and Dezmond Sherrod, who also go into pattern with effectiveness, the outsides seem well contained. Jason Husband is more like a big WR who lines up inside. Receiver Tony Burks led the SEC (and was second in all of I-A) in yard per catch (24.3); foes cannot stop the 6’4 former-JUCO All-American since he wins so many “jump balls”. Jamayel Smith is a decent second option, but JUCO-transfer Brandon McRae, another large target, gets the other start in their healthy competition. Accomplished coordinator Woody McCorvey seems like the right guy to spearhead the offensive strategy, but we wonder how much overriding by Croom is tangling the chain of command and is therefore (ultimately) responsible for their 103rd (total) offensive ranking.

The defense held its own against most of last year’s foes. They had some troubles with their secondary, but the line, which ranked 36th in rushing defense and was solid, loses three of its four starters. The biggest loss is the three tackles who rotated so effectively (totaled over 100 tackles and 25 TFLs together). Stepping in is Jessie Bowman, a well-sized, first-team JUCO All-American who represents no drop off in the middle. Memphis transfer Cortez McCraney is ready to start after his fallow 2006 season has this DE/DT hybrid hungry. Backup Kyle Love proved he can make the rotation strong again, so this isn’t a weak spot by any means. The Bulldog’s top man in sacks and TFLs, ex-LB Titus Brown will again earn all-conference due to his size-speed combination. Like other defensive units, the SEC demands that the DL be able to hold its own, when necessary. The rest of the DEs have clocked some real game reps, but it will be a wait-and-see proposition for how well they can contain RBs who can get outside effectively. True soph Jamon Hughes had five tackles versus LSU - the WLB spot is his, but oft-used Anthony Littlejohn will prove why he started last year (on the strongside) as he pushes for reps. Gabe O’Neal will remain a starter after his strong showing, but Dominic Douglas doesn’t agree after he led in-state JUCO/CC defenders with 77 solo stops. But the corps’ leader is Jamar Chaney, who moves into the middle after starting on the weakside. Chaney will likely be the defensive captain and the glue of the defense’s best unit. The secondary struggled to keep the play in front of them in ’06, so things have been shaken up back there with so many lost lettermen. The new sophomore corners impressed this spring with their ability to play man-to-man, and each promises marginal improvements. Two newly converted receivers are their backups, so Johnson and Washington have to stay healthy for this area to remain at the needed SEC-level(s). The team interception leader, Derek Pegues, moves to the free safety position, a move that allows the most experienced Bulldog DB to oversee coverages and play development. Another junior returning starter, Keith Fitzhugh, also will help lead the secondary in the same ways (ostensibly when Pegues is out). But the biggest DB change of the spring was made when De’Mon Glanton jumped ahead of Fitzhugh and proved why he was so often seen in his former reserve role. “Glanton really made a move…he could have had the best spring of all the safeties,” said coordinator Ellis Johnson. The solid defensive play usually seen - the kind of play that kept South Carolina, Georgia, ‘Bama and Arkansas under 30 points - has to displace the inconsistencies that too often cost the Bulldogs the weekly win. The talent is here for this to be one of the leagues better D’s, but the new-look DBs, along with the lack of depth at end, likely means MSU again has trouble stopping the conference’s top 25 teams.