STARKVILLE — As Mississippi State slogged through a 45-7 win over Abilene Christian on Saturday night, its anemic passing attack persisted once more.
“I think as we continue to evolve and the passing game continues to improve it will be more representative of what this system has been like over the years,” coach Joe Moorhead said. “It’s been an incremental, sometimes slow process, but you see flashes of it.”
While Moorhead has remained staunch in his belief that his offense is predicated on the run game and that the passing game will follow, the Bulldogs have continuously failed to prove competent enough to threaten defenses through the air.
Following Saturday’s win, the Bulldogs have now failed to go over 250 yards a single time this season as Stevens totaled just 165 yards on 13 of 27 passing against an Abilene Christian defense that ranked No. 55 of 124 FCS teams entering the week.
“It starts with me,” senior quarterback Tommy Stevens said. “Some throws that I could’ve put in better places for guys to make plays on, and ultimately I’ve got to give our guys a chance to make a play. So I’ll take the blame on that one.”
While the arrival of Stevens from Penn State and a stable of capable receivers — including Kansas State import Isaiah Zuber — the Bulldogs anticipated a step toward a more dynamic passing game. Yet through 11 games, the MSU downfield attack continued its woeful ways Saturday night.
Speaking with the media postgame, Moorhead noted the development of the pass game has been an ongoing issue and that inconsistency has been the crux of the problems.
That inconsistency was on full display in the form of senior receiver Stephen Guidry. A one-time top-ranked junior college receiver, Guidry has been plagued with unrealized expectations and limited output over his nearly two seasons in Starkville.
Most notably, it was a 33-yard pass from Stevens that fell right through his hands at the back of the end zone on a surefire touchdown that stood above the other three drops he recorded on the night.
“I don’t think it’s for a lack of ability, it’s for a lack of consistency,” Moorhead said of what the issue has been. “And as you continue to work with the kids that we have and you continue to recruit, the pass game will continue to evolve as will the offense.”
Whether it be consistency or ability, MSU’s passing attack enters a week in which another susceptible defense comes to Starkville. Following its loss to No. 1 LSU last week, Ole Miss currently sits as the nation’s 90th-ranked defense and 12th-best unit in the SEC.
“I can make those (catches) easier on those guys, and I just didn’t do that tonight,” Stevens said. “But obviously we’re going to have this film to grade and make some adjustments that are going to be needed to win this next game.”
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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