STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen is in the position no head coach wants to be in this weekend.
There are a lot of questions Mullen won’t be able to answer until the Mississippi State football team kicks off its game against the University of Georgia at 11 a.m. today (Fox Sports Net South) at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.
Mullen knows he and his coaches haven’t been able to adequately simulate Georgia’s defense, its pro-style offense, or its uniquely talented playmakers, so he isn’t quite sure how MSU will respond in a pivotal road Southeastern Conference matchup.
Georgia is in the second year of a transition to a 3-4 defense that features a defensive line that averages 318 pounds on its two-deep and two nose tackles (Kwame Geathers and John Jenkins) that no team this season has blocked.
“I think they’re very multiple and they’re a better defense this year because their kids are much more comfortable in that system,” Mullen said. “They fit some more personnel to that system with the size of their defensive lineman with as big a defensive line in the league.”
MSU has one defensive lineman — Dwayne Carrington — who weighs more than 300 pounds, so trying to prepare for Georgia’s size and speed this week was nearly impossible.
MSU also will have to figure out how to handle Georgia tight end Orson Charles, a 240-pound junior, who likely will play in the NFL.
Charles, who has been used split in the slot position, is second on the team in catches with (13) and leads the team with three receiving touchdowns.
“Against South Carolina, (the tight ends) didn’t catch a ball, so we knew we have to dig down and block, so there are certain games our role is to block all game,” Charles said. “I’ll be just as happy if I caught 100 balls or a 100 passes.”
Charles also lines up with his hand on the ground next to the offensive tackle when offensive coordinator Mike Bobo wants to run a Power I-formation and rely on freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell to create a different tempo.
“They line up in a lot of (two tight end sets) or (tight end with a fullback sets), but there’s an old saying that if you’re a standup guy you don’t need to be told where to go,” MSU defensive coordinator Chris Wilson said. “Crowell is that type of player, even as a freshman.”
Mullen also will have to adjust to the fact he never has coached at Sanford Stadium, which could be a factor considering MSU hasn’t won a road game against Georgia (2-2, 1-1 SEC) since 1956.
Coming off a 24-12 loss to MSU last year in Starkville, Georgia would like to maintain its position as a contender in the Eastern Division.
“They earned it,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said of MSU’s win last season. “It was a frustrating day. I’m not looking forward another one like that.”
The good news for MSU (2-2, 0-2 in SEC) is it may have enough internal issues to solve that will prevent it from worrying about the matchup problems it has against Georgia.
MSU is ranked in the bottom half of the league in scoring offense, scoring defense, rushing defense, and total defense.
“We’re going to get good test to gauge who we are inside this week,” Wilson said. “This is not a trick-them offense, and neither was LSU. There’s no disguise, but they’re going to move the ball around vertically as well as in the run game.”
Even though the statistics aren’t kind to MSU, Wilson’s defense is generating a pass rush that has eight sacks (second in the league) and has been effective from all over the field. That pass rush figures to be a factor against quarterback Aaron Murray, who is less than mobile.
Junior defensive backs Corey Broomfield and Johnthan Banks will be instrumental in causing turnovers that have been critical to Mullen’s
success at MSU. In the past 14 seasons, MSU is 14-0 when it wins the turnover battle. It is 2-13 when it fails in that category.
In a game that could turn the season for both teams, Mullen’s answer when asked how his team will fare today was one he hates the most – I don’t know.
“You’re always just adjusting to the scheme you play each week,” Mullen said. “We just don’t see a lot of I-formation, two-tight end sets in practice with our ones versus ones.”
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