AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 18
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Focus: Mississippi State!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bulldogs Inbound?
This weekend we’ll get to watch the Yellow Jackets play the first of three different “Bulldog” teams on the schedule. And while the Gardner Webb and UGA teams are examples of two competitive extremes, the Mississippi State Bulldogs are a bit of an enigma.
While Sylvester Croom’s 2007 team went 8-5 (4-4 SEC) and won a bowl game over George O’Leary and UCF, the 2008 MSU team has stumbled out of the gate losing to a Taylor Bennett led Louisiana Tech team and Auburn while notching a lackluster win over Southeastern Louisiana.
The general consensus seems to be that Croom’s guys can play some excellent defense but I would submit that they haven’t truly been tested like they will be this coming Saturday. Louisiana Tech, Southeastern Louisiana, and a woeful Auburn offense are nothing like Paul Johnson’s triple option that has functioned and improved while facing the stiff defenses of Boston College and Virginia Tech…on the road.
Josh Nesbitt has looked better each week and Demarius Thomas will be returning to the field. Thomas is a difference maker in his ability to both block and provide a legitimate passing threat to stretch the field. If we’d had him against Virginia Tech we’d have won that game, in my opinion.
The only way Tech loses this game is via turnovers or special teams snafus which give MSU easy points. The MSU offense will not be able to sustain drives against our defense.
I see this game playing out in the 27-10 range…in favor of the Jackets.
Luuuuuuuuke
The next time Lucas Cox rips off a long run or gets into the endzone we need to make some noise. Anyone else remember the “Luke Schenscher Has a Posse” shirts? If Lucas keeps it up, he may be the next adoptive student body favorite. He’s an old school, hard nosed player who brings it every play. I personally enjoy watching him quite a bit.
Yellow Jacket Alley & Visiting Recruits
It sounds like we could have somewhere between 50-80 prospective recruits at this game and many of them will be present in and around Yellow Jacket Alley. Not only is it imperative that our fans get down there to greet the team as they return home with a 2-1 record but we need to show these recruits how much we appreciate and support this team and coaching staff.
Get down to the stadium by 9:30am and show your colors and cheer on the white and gold. This is our real home opener against serious (SEC) competition. We need to take it seriously and step it up at YJA and in the stands.
Josh Nesbitt > Pat White
I’m sitting here watching Colorado and West Virginia and I’ve come to the conclusion that Josh Nesbitt is already as good or better than Pat White. He has comparable running ability and a bigger arm. All he needs is experience and seasoning. Its scary how good Nesbitt could be by the time he’s a junior or a senior and is surrounded by players that Coach Johnson has recruited for his system. The future is bright!
Go Jackets!
THWG!
