Game Grades - Aggies at Mississippi State

Sorry about not doing grades for the Arkansas game. Had some work come up that really ate into my time to write. But the signs of concern were there that blossomed into full bloom in this game. Very disappointing.

As an added benefit, at the bottom are my notes for the game, generally play by play.

Overall - D. Mississippi State is a really good team, to be sure. But we made mistake after mistake and looked unready for the moment. Juxtaposing this with South Carolina is a bit surprising until you look at how young this team is. But that doesn't mean we can excuse all of those mistakes. A lot of players are doing the right things, and teammates are letting them down.

Overall Defense - C. Why a C, do you ask? Because they made State earn their touchdowns, and got a stop on their second drive. Their role on this team has always been to get more stops than the opposition, and they did that. Until the second interception, they did what has been asked of them.

DL - C+. They did what they could, for as long as they could, and took advantage of State mistakes when they happened. This unit is not where we want them to be, but they are doing what they can.

LB - C. Like the line, did what they could, but not as effective.

DB - F. DeVante Harris, we were reminded how you can be picked on. Not good.

Special team - B. Until did what they could, including giving the team a short field to take the lead again after the game was tied 7-7. No issues with extra points, field goals, punts or kickoffs. The return unit, especially on punt returns, has made a few not-so-smart decisions in terms of when to catch the ball in close to the goal line.

Overall Offense - F. This team is predicated on the idea of continued success from the offense. I think this is one of the worst performances the Aggies have had on offense under Sumlin. Other than the first drive, none of their success happened when the game was winnable. By the time they did start making plays, the defense was too tired to get the stops they needed.

OL - C+. For enough of the game, the OL got Hill the protection he needed. This wasn't the Arkansas game where the opposing DL was pressuring Hill from the get go. The Aggies had seven drives where there was little or no pressure on Hill, and the little there was usually was something Hill could run for yardage from.

RBs - C. They did what was asked of them. Each made more than what they got from the line on most of their runs.

WRs - F. Yes, we will get to Hill in a moment, but often enough, the passes that were a bit off, a bit high, a bit fast still hit you in the hands, guys. You have to make those catches. The loss of confidence cascade starts with you. How much of the problems were routes and decisions by the WRs v. decisions and execution by the QB is not entirely clear, but the fact that so many WRs are dropping the ball makes me think that it is more likely more with the signal-caller than the receivers. But make no mistake, if it hits you in the hands, you have to find a way to haul that in - you share in the responsibility.

WB - F. Kenny Trill, he was not. Hill had more than enough time to make the right reads and the right throws. Too often the throw was off, or too hard. Somehow, someway, this has to be fixed and fast because Ole Miss has a heck of a defense and they are coming to get you. After that it is Alabama. And off date and a game against Louisiana Monroe follow before Auburn. Not sure how it happens, but you and your receivers have GOT to get on the same page. You ARE this offense, which means you ARE this team, especially right now.

Coaching - F. This unit, that was so ready to play South Carolina, was not mentally ready for this one. The Aggies didn't get beat because the other team was better, they got beat because they made mistakes that didn't need to be made. Play calling I think was good enough, but resolving the drops from the Arkansas game didn't happen - it got worse, and it didn't stop. The drops and mis-reads have been a problem since the Carolina match so it wasn't as if we didn't know the issue was there. Fix this folks, or it is going to get real ugly real fast on the field.


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First drive – a few passes dropped. Poor routes or poor throws? Not a question of OL, getting good protection. Success with short yardage run.

First drive by MS – pretty much had their way.

Second drive – they have picked up on WR dump pass behind the line, are crashing it. Still no issues with OL protection. Third down throw was open, poor throw.

More great special teams play – underrated. Should have been a difference in the game.

Third drive (short field) – 1^st down run – MS got some penetration.  2^nd down, another high throw. 3^rd down, good protection, good pass, good catch under pressure, poor spot? 4^th – good penetration by defense.

Second drive by MS – got the stop.

Fourth drive – good early run. 2^nd down, pass play, starting to get a little pressure, but good pass, good catch, good RAC. Ok early run, 2^nd and 7 – great protection, but couldn’t find someone so ran for 1^st. Four yards on WR screen, good coverage by defense but it was a productive play. 2^nd down – again good protection. Throw wide, good throw, dropped. 3^rd – good protection again, throw into a little traffic, hit hands but dropped under pressure.

Third drive by MS – 2 yard run. 2^nd down, no pressure, good pass v Harris. 1^st down – forced a scramble for a yard. 2^nd – good run wide. 3^rd and short – can’t get to Prescott before he gets first on QB run. Good pass. Again on DeVante Harris. Throw to the flat to the 2 yard line. Power run for td.

Fifth drive – good draw play. Bad catch on snap, throws off timing of play, runs for 6 (needed 2). 1^st – good protection, quick throw, got 5. High snap, D got some penetration. 3^rd and 7 – flushed, threw low under pressure.

Fourth drive by MS – methodical.

Sixth drive – good draw play on 1^st down. Good rollout on 2^nd and 3 – pass to Neiderhofer. Still great protection, again to Neiderhofer for 9. Again, good protection on quick pass. Again good protection, but throw too hard. 2^nd and 10 – protection broke down, good scramble for 12. Run play, DL beat it but Williams fought to make it a positive play. Another good protection, another throw to open receiver. Again, good protection, Neiderhofer has ball bounce off him to be intercepted as he was having to adjust to a throw behind him.

Big concerns now. They score here and it is big trouble.

Fifth drive by MS – Burns took advantage of a bobbled catch to force a fumble, Harris recovers and we have a chance…

Seventh drive – just a little pressure and Hill throws another interception. Looked like he was throwing to Neiderhofer again with two guys near him.

Ballgame.