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Mississippi State’s OL not as bad as we thought, but ready for Bama?
By Pat Donohue
Published:
Mississippi State’s offensive line is quietly having a great season but faces perhaps its toughest task on Saturday against an Alabama defensive front that is rolling on all cylinders.
The Crimson Tide defense is coming off a strong performance against LSU in Week 10, where it held Heisman frontrunner Leonard Fournette to just 31 yards on 19 carries. Alabama’s front seven is a pack of offense-stifling defensive linemen and linebackers that once again has Kirby Smart’s defense as one of the best in college football.
With defensive end A’Shawn Robinson and middle linebacker Reggie Ragland anchoring the defensive line and linebacking corps, respectively, Alabama’s defense ranks 8th in the FBS in sacks per game (3.2) and 2nd in rushing yards allowed per game (75.8).
Without a doubt, the Crimson Tide’s goal will be to get after Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott, through whom the Bulldogs offense lives and dies. But that will be easier said than done, not only because of Prescott’s mobility, but also Mississippi State’s blockers up front that have been keeping the quarterback on his feet all season.
The Bulldogs offensive line has allowed 13 sacks through nine games, putting Mississippi State in a tie for 31st in the nation in sacks allowed per game (1.4).
Alabama will be the sixth defense Mississippi State has faced this season that ranks inside the FBS top 50 in sacks. Nine of the 13 sacks the Bulldogs offensive line has allowed this season have come against those teams.
But Prescott is having the best season of his career throwing the ball, and a lot of that is because of the time his line has given him to read defenses and pick them apart. Prescott is completing 66.7 percent of his passes and 18 touchdowns to just 1 interception entering the Week 11 matchup with Alabama.
Mississippi State has been a much more pass-happy team than it was last season under head coach Dan Mullen. As a result, the rushing numbers in terms of volume are down across the board for the Bulldogs this season. But that is merely because of less opportunity and not worse blocking.
The Bulldogs offensive line has helped Mississippi State’s backfield average 4.7 yards per carry this season and 15 rushing touchdowns.
The Crimson Tide will be the fourth defense that the Bulldogs have faced that ranks within the FBS top 50 in rushing defense. In those games, Mississippi State has averaged just 2.8 yards per carry and has scored 3 rushing touchdowns.
So while Mississippi State’s offensive line is enjoying a nice season, it does seem to still struggle a little bit against stiffer competition.
And it doesn’t get much tougher than the Alabama defense it will face on Saturday in Starkville.
Pat Donohue is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Follow him on Twitter @SportsDownPat.
