Hey, let’s chat about the Mississippi State football spring game. The Bulldogs showed some new looks and new faces during the Maroon and White Spring Game.
Of course, there are plenty of ways to freak out about the game. We’re going to do the opposite of that.
Let’s chat with someone who has a pretty thorough understanding of MSU football to go over areas of concern and reasons to be optimistic as Miss. State heads into 2023.
Table of contents:
Mississippi State football Q&A with Andrew Miller
Mississippi State football spring game
Ethan Lee: What was the most enjoyable thing about the 2023 Mississippi State spring game for you?
Andrew Miller: Seeing Will Rogers stretch the field. Rogers hasn’t consistently shown the ability to throw deep the past few seasons. Some of that was a product of defenses playing back against MSU’s offense, but he also passed on chances downfield in favor of safer completions. Deep shots are a major part of new OC Kevin Barbay’s offense, so seeing Will not only be willing to take those chances but also connect on them was a great sign.
Examining MSU’s new offense
EL: What did you see out of the offense that was encouraging?
AM: Explosive plays. Building off the last question, Rogers hit multiple deep balls in the spring game, including a 55-yard dime to Zavion Thomas (who made a ridiculous catch). And on the very first drive of the game, we saw Tulu Griffin take a well-designed reverse 43 yards for a score. Barbay’s offense has a reputation of generating those types of game-changing plays, and we saw that in the spring game.
EL: What did you see out of the offense that was concerning?
AM: I thought the Offensive Line was a bit hit or miss. I should point out that starter Kameron Jones was out, and that unit almost certainly is making the biggest transition of any offensive position. Nonetheless, MSU’s defensive front, which had several starters out, caused quite a bit of havoc with pass rush and run stuffing. That’s promising for the defense, but it’s a sign that MSU’s OL still has plenty of room to grow. How well they handle the new run blocking and pass protection schemes they’re learning could make or break the Bulldog offense.
EL: Were there any specific Mississippi State football players that stood out to you?
AM: To get away from only talking about the offense, I was very impressed with the Linebacker group. With Jett Johnson out with injury and Nathaniel Watson seeing limited reps, we saw some lesser-known players take over. DeShawn Page was all over the field. John Lewis and J.P. Purvis, who are competing for the Sam LB spot, both made big plays. It’s a deep and talented position group that may very well end up being MSU’s strongest.
Mississippi State football ESPN FPI projections
EL: Explain, in five or fewer words, why Mississippi State football could surpass the ESPN FPI projections
AM: Offense clicks, New DBs Shine
EL: Explain, in five or fewer words, why Mississippi State could fall short of the ESPN FPI projections
AM: Too much new this year
EL: What gives you the most optimism about Mississippi State football this season?
AM: A talking point for this coaching staff has been the idea that they want to shape what they do both offensively and defensively around the personnel they have. It seems obvious, but you don’t always see that. If Kevin Barbay can mold his offensive system around what is an incredibly experienced unit, the offense should handle the transition well. And defensively, coaching continuity on that side of the ball should help alleviate some of the concerns with replacing starters, particularly with the young talent on the roster.
EL: What’s your biggest area for concern this year?
AM: There’s just a lot new for MSU this season. Zach Arnett is a young, first-time HC. You’re changing offensive systems. You’re replacing almost the entire back end of your defense and your best pass rushers. And you’re facing a schedule that’s a good bit trickier than many MSU fans want to admit. MSU needs a lot to align in 2023 for this to be a strong season, and that may not be realistic.
EL: Explain, in five or fewer words, why Mississippi State is better than Texas A&M, our true rival
AM: Cowbells > Cultists
Follow Andrew Miller:
As always, Andrew Miller is always incredible. And so, you should keep up with all that Andrew does. How can you keep up with Andrew? Well, you can track his work over at Maroon and White Nation. Or check him out on Twitter.
Either way. Go follow Andrew’s work.
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