STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen knows how his offensive line got to this point.
That’s not the problem.
The fact the solution still eludes him and his assistant coaches is the most frustrating aspect of the equation.
As it hits the midway point of its season, MSU (2-3, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) is in the bottom half of the league in five of six key statistical categories (league games only). The Bulldogs are eighth in scoring offense (16.7 points per game), eighth in passing offense (165.3 yards per game), and last in sacks against (12). MSU also is seventh in rushing offense (147 ypg), seventh in total offense (312.3 ypg), and fifth in penalties (57 ypg).
Mullen has admitted in the past two weeks he and his coaches feared the Bulldogs could be in this position if key position groups, especially the offensive line, faced injuries.
“From our two-deep last year there are only four guys left, so there are six guys in their first season getting reps with the ones and twos,” Mullen said. “This is a very, very young group that is improving. It’s what we have.”
A season-ending injury to junior guard Tobias Smith left MSU’s line vulnerable because the Bulldogs didn’t have an experienced backup entering the season.
The lack of depth at that position dates back to when Mullen took over as coach of the program for Sylvester Croom on Dec. 10, 2008. Mullen said he knew the Bulldogs would lack depth and athleticism on the offensive line as the team moved away from Croom’s Pro-Style philosophy. The coaches tried to address that concern in the 2009 recruiting class, which included offensive linemen Dillon Day, Blaine Clausell, and four-star prospects Damien Robinson and Eric Lawson, who are both from Olive Branch.
“Offensive line was always a tricky deal because we knew we’d lose a lot of guys early (to graduation or transferring out) from when I got here within your two-deep,” Mullen said.
The loss of senior offensive tackle James Carmon to an injury in the game against Auburn University forced MSU to go to redshirt freshman Blaine Clausell. Carmon, who was moved to offensive tackle from the defense, and Clausell were in a close battle in the spring and preseason workouts.
However, Smith’s injury forced a double switch that pushed senior Quentin Saulsberry from center to guard and a second redshirt freshman (Day) into the starting lineup.
Mullen said Tuesday the coaching staff didn’t intend Clausell or Day to see significant time this season and hoped the offensive linemen would stay healthy like they did last season.
In 2010, MSU had a rotation of six or seven lineman. An injury to senior J.C. Brignone that forced him to miss a 29-24 victory against the University of Alabama at Birmingham was the only adjustment the unit had to make. MSU moved senior Mark Melichar into the lineup and Saulsberry to replace Brignone.
Mullen said Clausell and Day were backups on the depth chart at left tackle and center last season.
“The positive in the future as we continue to build this program is one day looking out there, scratching your head saying, ‘That Dillon Day and Blaine Clausell have been here forever,’ ” Mullen said. “It takes some time to develop quality players at that position.”
Senior right tackle Addison Lawrence said Day and Clausell are in roles most redshirt freshman in the SEC aren’t asked to play.
“I was definitely not ready to play (as a freshman) because I was probably 260 pounds playing special teams,” Lawrence said. “We have a drop-off. Those freshman shouldn’t have to play, but because of the position they’re in they’ll have to step up and contribute soon.”
After losing three straight SEC games, declining production by the offense, and changing combinations on the offensive line, fair isn’t a word that is used very often on the MSU practice fields.
“We have to accelerate the learning around here with all the young kids,” MSU offensive line coach John Hevesy said. “Functional is not good enough. Our biggest thing is the mentality to go out and want to get in a fight.”
Fair also isn’t a word players and coaches use when they discuss recent criticism of senior quarterback Chris Relf’s play in front of the patchwork offensive line.
“If we let him get hit one time then everything after that is going to be tough for him,” Lawrence said. “Every interception and bad read, that comes on us.”
In front of a different starting line combination the past three weeks, Relf’s is getting nearly 1 yard less per carry on designed quarterback runs. He also has four interceptions.
“You go back a couple weeks earlier (and) look at the Auburn game, what if we score and win that game at the end,” Mullen said. “Your problems throughout the game still exist. Perception makes you feel a little bit better.”
Now that Carmon is back in the lineup, the coaches have shifted the 320-pounder to guard for the first time in his career. Carmon didn’t work out at guard in the spring or in preseason camp. He had three days of practice
at the position before starting last weekend in a 24-10 loss at the University of Georgia.
“We’ll see how practice goes this week, whether he stays at guard or moves back to tackle,” Mullen said. “What I’m happiest with is the attitude, his approach of doing what it takes to help the team win, and stepping into that role and not being shy about it.”
Carmon said this week he initially didn’t like moving to guard, but he agreed to try it because MSU is limited in the middle of the line.
“Guard is much faster and (there is) more thinking at guard than I expected,” Carmon said. “It’s a different ballgame inside there.”
As MSU continues preparations for its game at 11 a.m. Saturday (SportSouth) against the University of Alabama at Birmingham, players and coaches still use a small gap between their index finger and thumb to indicate how close they think they are to finding a rhythm on offense.
Mullen said this week he is still unsure about the starting lineup for Saturday. He said coaches will continue to tinker with rotations to find
what he calls “the best five” on game day.
Lawrence said the last time he felt a sense of unity on the offensive line was a season-opening 59-14 victory at the University of Memphis when MSU broke the school record for total yards. He said finding that unity is a confidence and consistency problem that needs to be solved if MSU wants to go on a winning streak like it did last season that helped it earn a bid to the Jan. 1 Gator Bowl.
“When I came in here, we struggled and had the bad years, 45-0 Egg Bowl loss, and they’ve never had to go through and work to get what they’ve gotten,” Lawrence said. “Maybe it does seem a little expected to them. Then again, it is the SEC, and every week you have to compete against the best in a close game.”
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