{"id":50333,"date":"2023-09-07T10:00:34","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T14:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/?p=50333"},"modified":"2023-09-06T20:03:46","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T00:03:46","slug":"week-two-bulldog-preview-of-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2023\/09\/07\/week-two-bulldog-preview-of-arizona\/","title":{"rendered":"Week Two: Bulldog Preview of Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Previously on Bulldog Nation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Before we get into Week Two and the Bulldog preview of Arizona, let\u2019s take a brief look back at last weekend.<\/p>\n

Mississippi State opened the 2023 season in good fashion with a win over Southeastern Louisiana 48-7<\/a>. In the preseason, curiosity circled, primarily around this new offense. In the second half, there was no question, the Bulldogs were killing it on both sides of the ball. But there is still that specter of the first half to deal with. It must have caused some concern, hitting the halftime tunnel after a long scoring drive by SLU and a sluggish start for the offense.<\/p>\n

Quarterback Will Rogers<\/a> and head coach Zach Arnett<\/strong> put it in perspective. \u201cMistakes are going to happen.\u201d Rogers said, \u201cThe more you can minimize those, the better you will get week to week.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the half, Arnett was particularly despondent over a 79-yard scoring drive by SLU. But by Monday, after seeing the game video, Arnett was a bit more philosophical.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve got to be mature enough,\u201d he said at his weekly press conference. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to be enough of a competitor to watch with a critical eye and know that everything on tape is now there for the opponent to study and ways to exploit your weaknesses, flaws in our schemes, techniques.\u00a0 We need to get them corrected in a hurry.\u00a0 The competition level takes a big jump and it starts this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arnett then channeled his best Jerry Reed<\/strong> and said, \u201cWe\u2019ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, anticipation (anxiety) returns this weekend. Fans should try to get used to it because it only gets tougher as the schedule unfolds.<\/p>\n

Scouting the Wildcats<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This year\u2019s Arizona is a different team than the one State walloped 39-17 in Tucson last year. Some of the players are the same, only their experience and talent have improved. That being said, the Wildcats have not beaten an SEC opponent since 1976. This century, they are 0-3. However, over-confidence could be the death knell for the Dawgs. It’s probably best for them to disregard that noise.<\/p>\n

This is their last year to be in the Pac-12 before joining the Big 12 in 2024. That should not have any bearing on the game, but it’s worth mentioning.<\/p>\n

Vegas oddsmakers have the Bulldogs as a nine-point favorite. The spread opened at 13 but dropped four points within a day. Perhaps there was a flurry of Wildcat betting? Whatever the case, the MSU coaches are taking them seriously.<\/p>\n

What better perspective on an opponent\u2019s offense is there, than the State defensive coordinator, Matt Brock<\/strong>? He expects it to be a much tougher competition this week.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the flavor of the offense is similar.\u201d Brock said, \u201cBut they\u2019ve gotten a lot better, upfront and running back.\u00a0 I think all three running backs are tremendous players\u2026like carbon copies of each other,” he said earlier this week. “Quarterback is dynamic.\u00a0 And their skill positions, their slot and they\u2019ve got big guys outside.\u00a0 You don\u2019t put up over 500 yards of offense on 40 plays.\u00a0 They probably should have scored 50-some.\u00a0 They\u2019re a very good offensive football team.\u201d Brock was referring to the Wildcats\u2019 win over Northern Arizona in their opener last week. They won the contest handily 38-3. Holding NAU to only three points is evidence that the Wildcat defense came to play as well.<\/p>\n

A Leach Connection<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes, there is a connection to the late MSU head coach, Mike Leach<\/strong>. The Wildcats\u2019 quarterback was recruited by the Pirate and played at Washington State. As quarterbacks go, he was a pretty good judge.<\/p>\n

Quarterback Jayden De Laura<\/a>, returns with some evident improvement. In last week\u2019s game against NAU, he went 18 of 24, for 285 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Those passes went to eight different receivers. Their 186-yard rushing effort went to five different running backs as well.<\/p>\n

Arnett is impressed with the offense and De Laura. \u201cThey have a phenomenal scheme offensively.\u00a0 Very mobile and agile quarterback,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cThe sacks he gets out of when you feel you have him bottled up with pressure.\u00a0 He flushes and finds his way out of there.\u00a0 He has one of the quickest releases.\u00a0 Very talented.”<\/p>\n

The Dawg Gameplan<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mississippi State currently leads the SEC in rushing. The offense racked up 298 yards on the ground against SLU to get that distinction. This signifies that AirRaid, as we knew it, is gone. Some remnants remain, but new offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay<\/strong> modified it to fit into a more balanced pro-style attack. Considering that Rogers put up 227 yards passing, you get the idea. This is a very balanced offense, although skewing toward the running game.<\/p>\n

That rushing yardage is due, in a very large part, to Woody Marks<\/a>. He put up 127 of the 298. One can expect him to continue frustrating linebackers as well as picking up their blitzes. Marks also tied with Creed Whittemore<\/strong> leading the team in receptions with four for 59 yards each. However, State is deep in running backs, so there might be a breakout appearance by one or more of them.<\/p>\n

There are potential fireworks Tulu Griffin<\/a> and Zavion Thomas<\/a> yet to be redeemed. Griffin missed the first half of last Saturday\u2019s game due to an injury. However, he returned in the second half to get four receptions and 33 yards. This will be Thomas\u2019 first game of the season. He suffered an ankle injury in practice and had to sit out the SLU game. They are also quite deep at receiver, so expect action from Whittemore and Jaden Walley<\/a>, who caught a touchdown last week.<\/p>\n

Looking for Mr. Wright<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dawg fans were pleasantly surprised last week with the performance of Mike Wright<\/strong>. Barbay has thrown him into a pseudo-wildcat offense, a complete departure from AirRaid. \u00a0The Vandy transfer successfully ran five times for 95 yards in the opener. It was the wrinkle all Bulldog fans were looking forward to. It did not disappoint.<\/p>\n

The Wildcat play put Rogers split wide left and Wright in the shotgun. Could Wright actually put one up for the starting quarterback? \u201cYeah, I got it,\u201d Rogers said with a smirk. \u201cI could do that if I wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even Barbay joked about it. \u201cWill has a go route,\u201d Barbay laughed. \u201cI just don\u2019t know if we are going to call a go route to throw to him.\u201d It\u2019s doubtful he would tell the media whether that is a true possibility or not. Stealth is the better part of a gameplan.<\/p>\n

As for Wright, the video of last week\u2019s game has been seen by Arizona and future opponents as well. There may be some other trickery Barbay has in stock for him this Saturday.<\/p>\n

Just Being Defensive<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The defense needs to continue what they did in the second half of last week\u2019s game. The shining star of the D was Bookie Watson.<\/a> He led the team with eight tackles to lead the team (three solo), and 1.5 sacks. He registered his 250th<\/sup> career tackle and tied for third in SEC sacks.<\/p>\n

His running mate Jett Johnson<\/a> is the other middle linebacker. He came in with three solo tackles out of six, and one sack. And, Johnson came in third in tackles just behind\u00a0De\u2019Monte Russell<\/strong>. The defensive end came in with two solo tackles out of seven.<\/p>\n

As far as Arizona is concerned, Brock said to expect offensive complexity. \u201cThey do so many different formations and they hide things well,\u201d Brock said. \u201cYou can\u2019t sit there and make the perfect call every time.\u00a0 You got to let your guys go play.\u00a0 Get them lined up and let them cut it loose.\u201d<\/p>\n

The secondary had the most rebuilding to do over last year. But, how is this game going to be for them? Barbay continued, \u201cThey\u2019re coming along, but they\u2019re going to have to take great strides this week,\u201d Barbay said. \u201cWe\u2019ll have a totally different test.\u00a0 No disrespect to Southeastern.\u00a0 It only gets harder from here.\u00a0 We have to make sure they\u2019re playing to their ability and growing, as does everybody on our defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

One Game at a Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For Arnett, the team will be concentrating on Arizona and only Arizona. The looming third game with LSU is probably on the minds of all Bulldog fans. But the team needs to get to 2-0 in order to build more momentum going into that game. The team cannot be looking ahead.<\/p>\n

Losing focus on the game at hand is like that missed pass because the receiver heard footsteps. It\u2019s disappointing, but avoidable.<\/p>\n

The other thing is complacency. Arnett is the furthest thing from complacent. He\u2019s always looking for ways to improve and that\u2019s a good thing for the Dawgs. He says it best. “If you don’t get better from Week 1 to Week 2, you’re not winning a lot of football games,\u201d Arnett said. \u201cIf you don’t win a lot of football games, we all know what the consequence of that is. So, we better get better.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Week<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Previously on Bulldog Nation Before we get into Week Two and the Bulldog preview of Arizona, let\u2019s take a brief look back at last weekend. Mississippi State opened the 2023 season in good fashion with a win over Southeastern Louisiana 48-7. In the preseason, curiosity circled, primarily around this new offense. In the second half, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4559,"featured_media":50470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[10339,510,10498,9747,10220,10248,1286,5287,20],"class_list":["post-50333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-sec","tag-2023-sec-football","tag-arizona-wildcats","tag-creed-whittemore","tag-de-monte-russell","tag-kevin-barbay","tag-matt-brock","tag-mike-leach","tag-mississippi-state-football","tag-sec"],"modified_by":"Tony Siracusa, CFB Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4559"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50333"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50333\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}