STARKVILLE — It’s no secret the pressure is mounting for Mississippi State and head coach Joe Moorhead.
Following the Bulldogs’ fourth-straight loss Saturday against Texas A&M, MSU now enters the final four games of the season at 3-5 and 1-4 in SEC play, needing three wins just to get bowl eligible.
Among the numerous issues MSU has faced, slow starts on the road have been a noticeable harbinger of defeats throughout this year.
Seeking to inspire some confidence and energy in his squad, Moorhead, the team captains, and the leadership council employed the “board drill” pregame in College Station. With two offensive linemen and two defensive linemen lined up across from one another, the drill’s goal is to bring the opposing player to the ground.
But as has been the case in all of MSU’s road games this season, the ploy proved for naught as the Bulldogs were outscored 14-0 in the first quarter against the Aggies — marking the third time this season Moorhead’s squad suffered a scoreless first quarter on the road against an SEC foe.
Heading on the road again this week against an Arkansas team that five weeks ago would have no business being mentioned as a possible loss on MSU’s schedule, the Bulldogs must get off to a quick start should they hope to escape Fayetteville with a win.
“I don’t think there’s desperation by necessarily any means,” Moorhead said in regards to the Arkansas game. “I think we’re certainly focusing all of our concentration, all our efforts and practice and preparation to make sure we’re doing everything necessary to go out and perform and play well this week and get a win this week.”
Moorhead addresses slow starts
While slow starts on the road have become commonplace for MSU, the Bulldogs haven’t done themselves any favors of late.
Recapping Texas A&M week, Moorhead made mention of MSU’s inability to win the turnover battle both in College Station and over the past three weeks.
In losses to Tennessee, LSU and Texas A&M, MSU was minus-seven in the turnover department after starting the season plus-three in games against Louisiana, Southern Miss., Kansas State and Kentucky.
“With the quarterbacks and the interceptions that comes down to decision making and accuracy and knowing when it’s better to take a sack or throw it away than try and throw it in an ill-advised spot,” Moorhead said. “And then from a fumble standpoint, we do ball security circuits at a minimum and usually twice a week and that’s just about habits and keeping the ball high and tight, not letting it get away from your body — so that is something we drill every week in practice and obviously need to continue to do a better job with.”
With games against turnover prone teams such as Arkansas, Ole Miss and Abilene Christian on deck MSU’s overall numbers figure to improve, but should the Bulldogs continue gifting free possessions away, there’s legitimate reason to believe they won’t be bowling this year.
MSU doctor’s office facing overcrowding
As has become the weekly norm, Moorhead addressed those players with lingering injuries heading into Saturday’s date at Arkansas.
Of note, senior cornerback Maurice Smitherman underwent season-ending surgery Monday, while senior defensive end Fletcher Adams is also out for the season after suffering an undisclosed lower-body injury.
Freshman cornerback Jarrian Jones will also be out this weekend after suffering an upper-body injury, further clouding an already desperately depleted cornerbacks room.
With Jones out and junior preseason All-American Cam Dantzler still questionable as he continues nursing an upper-body injury, freshman Martin Emerson Jr. and junior Tyler Williams figure to slide into the starting roles.
Other players Moorhead said are questionable this week include:
OG Stewart Reese — lower-body
LB Aaron Brule — lower-body
DL James Jackson — lower-body
DT Nathan Pickering — upper-body
FS C.J. Morgan — upper-body
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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