The CheckerBoard

Dont kid yourself. We are not in a position to beat them like that. I do think we could put 52 on them but I also think they could put 56 on us. Our defense is very very suspect right now. We cant set the edge so far this year. Way to many big and busted plays. But that is going to happen when you start a new scheme on defense. On the flip side, if the our defense does show up in this game then we may end up winning by a couple of scores. Miss st is a good ball team. I think this is will be a good game between 2 good teams.

I like your prediction, and tend to agree. If MSU is 5-0 but not really played any (more or less), UT 3-2, but our two loeses were to ranked SEC teams we were in the game vs UF till the 4th. we were hanging with UGA till the mid- 4th. To me MSU is an overrated unproven team.

I just expect more from our defense. Everyone moans about our lack of speed on the back end, but ALL of my horrifying memories so far have been of run plays that should have gone 5 or 6 yards and went 60 or 70 instead. The biggest pass play I can recall (in terms of game impact) was Florida's little hot route when we blitzed the defensive back. The hapless Teague was supposed to jump that hot route, that was the whole design of the play - intended more to get an interception than a sack. (sigh) Obviously tackling, pursuit, and lack of speed contributed to that becoming a touchdown for them, but blown assignment was the root cause.

My point is, aside from some big plays down the middle to tight ends and such, our biggest problems have not involved getting beat deep. At least not yet. I usually can't see the whole field when watching on TV, but the fact that we're getting so little pressure on the QB and not getting burned long very often (have we at all this year?), well, that implies to me that we've got some pretty decent coverage back there.

No, the front seven has been the real Achilles heel. But we have some very strong talent up there. LBs being banged up has hurt. Mental mistakes by the D-line and LBs have hurt. But those guys are pretty strong talent-wise. (Esp when McCullers is in.) The mental stuff is still correctable. We saw flashes of our potential late in the Georgia game. The fourth quarter our D looked like a top ten crew against those guys. I just honestly think that is what they are capable of if they can find the consistency. (And McNeil can provide superb run support if the front does a decent job.)

So yeah, I think we are in a position to beat them like that. To me it's just a question of whether or not we execute consistently at the level to which we have shown ourselves capable.