BRADE LOCKE:Bulldogs feel a whole lot better, but …
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State’s 34-10 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday could be called convincing. The defense was dominant, the offense had four touchdown drives averaging 51 yards in distance, and there was what coach Sylvester Croom had been hoping for the most: discipline.
But.
There’s that intrusive little conjunction, which can get lost in the glow of victory. It is necessary, however, to let “but” do it’s reality-shaping work.
Croom and his team are doing just that.
After the game, the fifth-year coach praised his offensive execution and the sustained drives.
“But,” he added, “we missed some key situations where we had errors.” More specifically, two lost fumbles in the first half.
Croom lauded the defense, which held SLU to 148 yards and eight first downs.
“But,” he said, “the thing that concerned me again is there’s too many (loose) balls on the ground we’re not coming up with.”
SLU fumbled four times, but MSU recovered only one of them. The Bulldogs also had no interceptions. Their turnover margin through two games is minus-3.
At least the Bulldogs threw no interceptions. Wesley Carroll had three in the season opener, but he made safe throws Saturday. But …
“We’re still in the growing process with him making the right decisions consistently,” Croom said.
djournal.com
9/9/08
