BULLDOGS:MSU’s rebuilt D-line faces trial by fire
Tim Bailey has been trying to drive home a particular message to his fellow defensive linemen this summer: “This isn’t a part-time job.”
Much as they’d like to, it’s been hard for Mississippi State’s front men to heed that advice.
Whether it was Brandon Cooper’s back, Kyle Love’s toe, LaMarcus Williams’ shoulder, or Charles Burns’ knee, the Bulldogs’ big boys have been banged up from Day 1 of August camp.
“It’s been a little frustrating, because you haven’t had a whole lot of continuity there,” second-year defensive line coach David Turner said. “Guys haven’t been playing an extended period of time with the first unit, with each other.”
So the Bulldogs will just have to man up for today’s season opener at Louisiana Tech. The other Bulldogs might be from the WAC, but they have what MSU coach Sylvester Croom called an “SEC-looking” tailback in Patrick Jackson, not to mention a quarterback, Taylor Bennett, who started for Georgia Tech last season.
Those two will line up behind an offensive line that returns three starters, all sophomores.
djournal.com
8/30/08
