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STARKVILLE — In what has evolved into seemingly a never-ending search to get something working for his offense, Mississippi State offensive coordinator Woody McCorvey and his staff spent Sunday reviewing the first four games in an effort to emphasize what has gone right.
Things like routes to Brandon McRae and passes to Aubrey Bell underneath.
“We’ve got to continue that,” McCorvey said. “Look at other ways, other formations to get into so you’re not giving away what you’re doing every time.”
On yet another day, after yet another loss, one that included yet another head-scratching offensive performance, the questions here Monday once again swirled around those 11 players – and their coaches. In three games against Football Bowl Subdivision foes this season, MSU has scored three touchdowns and had 10 turnovers.
After its latest lapses in a 38-7 loss at Georgia Tech, MSU fans were talking – some with choice words, no doubt – about it all weekend. As if things could get worse, No. 5 LSU (3-0, 1-0 SEC) awaits in one of those intimidating Saturday nights in Tiger Stadium.
In a regular early morning meeting with his team Monday, confidence was the first topic for MSU coach Sylvester Croom.
“I told them, I still believe in them as people,” he said. “I still believe in this football team. We’ve just got to get some things and some mistakes corrected.”
Croom said Monday he’ll stick with Wesley Carroll as his starting quarterback but left open the option to go to backups Tyson Lee and Chris Relf.
Both Croom and McCorvey say they want to find ways to get new guys involved. But Croom also cited youthful mistakes as a reason for Saturday’s loss.
State found one of those new guys, tailback Robert Elliott, against Georgia Tech. Again Monday, receiver Delmon Robinson was mentioned as an example of a player they’d like to get the ball to more, also. But he didn’t catch a pass last week.
Like last week, both coaches said they want to scale down on the things they’re asking players to do and focus on implementing more of what they spent Sunday searching trying to find.
“The ingredients are there for our players, they just have to be mindful of not letting negativism or doubt creep into their minds,” Croom said. “They have control. As coaches and players, we have control over what happens, and what anybody else says or thinks really doesn’t matter.”
Clarion Ledger
9/23/08
Magnolia Tribune
