STARKVILLE — This week, the keys to winning are bigger than the usual statistical emphases.
Mississippi State head football coach Joe Moorhead knows a 0-2 start to Southeastern Conference play has his team in a tender spot as it hosts No. 8 Auburn (4-1, 1-1 SEC) 6:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2). The man who usually places his focus on winning statistical battles such as explosive plays and turnover margin made one of his focuses keeping the team together. It took him no time to see steps toward that goal.
“Had a great meeting with our captains and our leadership council on Sunday night, discussing the things that went wrong with the game and the things that need to improve,” Moorhead said. “I think a guy that’s not on either of those but’s kind of stepped up to the forefront and become a great leader for us is (safety) Johnathan Abram. He was a guy who after the game — obviously a lot of guys are not pleased with the outcome — but he stepped in front of the team before I had a chance to and talked about how the team was in the exact same spot five games into last season.
“I was proud of John for stepping up and taking a great leadership role there.”
With the boost that provided, Moorhead thought Sunday’s practice went well. Sunday’s practice is the one when the team makes corrections from the previous game and begins transitioning into preparing for its next opponent.
“They were stinging a little bit in our team meeting, they were a little sore and upset, but so were all of us and they should be. I don’t want guys in there hooting and hollering after a loss,” Moorhead said.
Injury report
MSU had two cornerbacks and a linebacker miss the Florida game with injuries while one tight end played through one, yet there are no changes in any of their statuses.
Moorhead said cornerback Jamal Peters remains indefinitely out and cornerback Tyler Williams, who did not play against Florida, remains day-to-day with a lower body injury. Linebacker Sh’mar Kilby-Lane also did not play against the Gators but tight end Justin Johnson did. The latter three remain day-to-day this week.
Run game distribution
As MSU (3-2, 0-2 SEC) has run 60 times for 130 yards (2.16 yards per carry) in ints two-game losing streak, one number has stood out: the distribution of those carries.
Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald has taken 36 of those carries for 52 yards, 1.4 yards per carry. Over those same two games, Kylin Hill ran 13 times for 55 yards and Aeris Williams ran 11 times for 53 yards.
Moorhead attributed a good bit of that difference to the nature of run-pass options, where defensive positioning plays a factor in who ultimately gets the ball, but he acknowledged he’d like to see more running back involvement.
“Nick is a very capable and accomplished runner, and some times we want the ball in his hands as a runner,” Moorhead said. “We have to find a way to get them the ball.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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