Former NFL great Jim Brown had labeled Trent Richardson ‘an ordinary back’, but through eight weeks, Brown is singing a different tune.

“That’s my partner, man,” Brown told Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland after the game. “He never took anything I said the wrong way. He’s interested in his family. He’s interested in his team. And he’s willing to make sacrifices because really, he’s hurt more than you think he is right now.

“Great running backs break tackles,” Brown said. “You do that, you are in control. You keep the ball. The other team is disheartened. That’s football.”

Richardson rushed for 122 yards and scored the team’s only touchdown in a 7-6 win over the Chargers.

Vick Ballard broke into the Indianapolis Colts lineup a couple weeks ago, and he’s already defying gravity. He wowed the NFL yesterday with his leaping touchdown to win the game on a screen pass from Andrew Luck.

Two current NFL rookies and former SEC running backs doing work in the NFL – it’s a beautiful thing.

Take away Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Justin Blackmon from the top picks and what’s left? A bunch of can’t-miss, Sunday-ready defensive stars from the nation’s toughest conference patrolling a backfield — or secondary — near you.

What would an all-SEC draft day be without a few surprises …

1. Indianapolis Colts: With Peyton Manning’s future up in the air in Indy, the Colts need a franchise player in this position with the top pick — not necessarily a quarterback. Colts GM Ryan Grigson narrows it to two players, Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill and LSU’s Morris Claiborne, before making a selection. Indy needs an insurance policy on Peyton … Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M.

2. St. Louis Rams: The Rams aren’t trading away the No. 2 pick in this draft with the standout player they’ve wanted all along still on the board. The shocking news of Luck and RGIII pulling out of the draft means Sam Bradford’s the future in STL. This All-American will start from Day 1 on the carpet in St. Louis and may even have an impact in the return game like his brethren in Arizona … Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Minnesota needs to draft remaining top-tier talent rather than need with the third pick, eliminating wideouts Rueben Randle and Alshon Jeffery from the mix. Troy Williamson never worked out under the dome and the Vikes didn’t resign Sidney Rice, both former Gamecocks. Adrian Peterson is the franchise player, but this All-SEC sensation can benefit the other side of the football and its multitude of problems early … Melvin Ingram, LB/DT, South Carolina.

4. Cleveland Browns: Remember Madden cover boy Peyton Hillis? Neither do I. Cleveland hasn’t decided whether the tailback will be re-signed, tagged or dumped into free agency. Tampa tried to move up at the last second to grab this selection, but the Buccaneers were not giving the Brownies enough draft picks in return … Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman and the Bucs had the rug pulled out from under them in the first round after the Browns picked up Trent Richardson. In need of another Crimson Tide star, a lanky cornerback has his name called to eventually replace the aging — but talented — Ronde Barber … Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama.

6. Washington Redskins: Dan Snider has pulled a fast one on everyone in attendance and watching around the world. Roger Goodell just called a speedy athlete from Athens, Ga. with the No. 6 overall pick. Snider must think this two-way player is a cross between Santana Moss and LaRon Landry. Time will tell how this pick turns out … Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Help along the defensive line is a necessity in Jacksonville and a couple of tackles are sitting in the front row waiting to be called. It’s either Miss. St’s Fletcher Cox or LSU’s Michael Brockers for the Jags since Ingram went to the Vikings with the third overall pick … Fletcher Cox, DT, Miss. St.

8. Miami Dolphins: Hootie frontman Darius Rucker has another reason to cry for his beloved pro football team. After GM Jeff Ireland tries valiantly to acquire Manning from Indy in a sign-and-trade, he drafts an offensive lineman to further frustrate the South Beach fanbase. Well, someone has to block for Chad Henne and J.P. Losman … Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia.

9. Carolina Panthers: Move over Steve Smith. Armanti Edwards? You can slide further down the bench. Cam Newton teams up with a physically-gifted target with big hands and a knack for coming down with the football. Questions about his weight and speed are put to rest when this South Carolina native sprints up to the podium donning the draft’s most subtle garnet and black suit … Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina.

10. Buffalo Bills: Finally, a schedule selection that fits in most mock drafts. The Bills need help on the outside, especially someone who can cover that pesky Wes Welker on the drag route two games a season … Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs have been SEC-heavy in recent drafts. Dexter McCluster, Javier Arenas and Eric Berry made splashes as rookies and Kansas City believes it is a team stacked with young talent. It’s hard to believe former LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey is already a four-year veteran. He’ll be joined by another Bayou Bengal who has slid to No. 11 …. Michael Brockers, DT, LSU.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Head coach Pete Carroll and the rest of Seattle’s brain-trust has spent the entire offseason looking for another weapon to follow Marshawn Lynch. Lynch is the only household name in the rainy city and he’ll be a free agent after this season. It’s too early to select Vick Ballard or Tauren Poole, so the Seahawks go defense. But be careful, picking a linebacker didn’t work out in 2009 with Aaron Curry … Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald is begging for a sidekick in the desert, another target to ease some of the pressure off the former Pittsburgh Heisman candidate. The Cardinals are afraid of the lack of size associated with two available Arkansas wideouts, so they draft a Tiger — LSU’s third selection of the first round … Rueben Randle, WR, LSU.

14. Dallas Cowboys: With lock-down corner Dre Kirkpatrick off the board, the Cowboys eye the next-best defensive back. This guy excelled at the combine and should fit it nicely in the Big D secondary. He may even see a few snaps in the Wildcat (note: sometimes no Tony Romo is better than shotgun Romo) … Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Most pundits think Philly goes defense here, possibly linebacker, but the athletes the Eagles wanted have already been selected. Who is the top remaining player from the SEC? It would be hard to argue against Georgia’s Orson Charles, but Philadelphia already has three tight ends on roster. Unable to deal the pick, the Eagles stay up front … Ben Jones, C, Georgia.

16. New York Jets: Rex Ryan and the Jets are feasting at No. 16. For some reason, an Alabama ballhawk is available for the taking. He’ll gladly join a talented secondary for the rookie minimum in New York … Mark Barron, SS, Alabama.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Cincy thought about going with former Florida standout Janoris Jenkins in the middle of the first round, but leaned towards a player without any off-the-field troubles. This defender becomes the Commodores’ first opening-round pick since Jay Cutler in 2006 … Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt.

18. San Diego Chargers: When will Philip Rivers, one of the AFC’s top quarterbacks, win a Super Bowl? Whenever the Chargers decide on playing consistent, mistake-free football is the short answer. San Diego looks deep south on its draft board with the 18th pick. Think mini-Antonio Gates … Orson Charles, TE, Georgia.

19. Chicago Bears: LSU DB Brandon Taylor raised eyebrows in the Bears’ camp with sparkling combine numbers but even Chicago is skeptical on selecting a projected fifth-rounder. Drafting a 6-foot-6, 300-pound blocker is usually a safe bet in the NFL and the Bears choose that route … Brandon Mosley, OT, Auburn.

20. Tennessee Titans: Methinks the Titans are a little too Chris Johnson-happy with this pick. Along with Washington’s surprise selection of Brandon Boykin 6th overall, Tennessee raises some eyebrows in the back after requesting an invoice for this track star … Chris Rainey, RB, Florida.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Rookie and new signee Casey Hayward helps the front office with Cincy’s next pick. These two battled a few years as SEC East Division rivals even though both were starters on defense … Antonio Allen, SS, South Carolina.

22. Cleveland Browns: What a draft it has been for the Cleveland Browns. First, they grab Alabama’s Trent Richardson fourth overall then trade a 2013 first-round pick to the Detroit Lions for this year’s 23rd overall selection. For what reason you ask? Speed … Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas.

23. Cleveland Browns: Acquired via deal with Detroit, the Browns go back to the SEC West for another playmaker who so happens to be teammates with pick No. 22 Joe Adams. Cleveland’s receiving corps overhaul continues … Jarius Wright, WR, Arkansas.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Ben and the Terrible Towels got away from smash-mouth football last season to a more sexy spread attack. The result? A wild-card playoff loss to the Denver Tim Tebows. The Steelers get back to a powerful backfield with their tailback of the future … Vick Ballard, RB, Miss. St.

25. Denver Broncos: John Elway and the rest of Denver’s brass skipped the draft festivities in New York. Instead, the Broncos sent in Tebow to grade players and make the team’s only first-round pick. The former Gator noticed a highly-rated lineman still on the board capable of protecting his blind side next season in the pocket or on the run … Bobby Massie, OT, Ole Miss.

26. Houston Texans: Can Houston keep defensive end Mario Williams? The former top draft pick is in line for a big pay day should he avoid injury and accumulate some sacks next season. In lieu of Williams’ expected absence, the Texans move on … Jake Bequette, DE, Arkansas.

27. New England Patriots: The Patriots wanted Miss. St’s Fletcher Cox to solidify a front run that couldn’t stop the run in the Super Bowl. Too bad. Cox was gone 20 picks previously to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The next best thing is some secondary help to put the ball back in the hands of Tom Brady and Co. … Brandon Taylor, S, LSU.

28. Green Bay Packers: The Packers look at one of the conference’s newest members for the 28th overall pick. This player, under the tutelage of Charles Woodson, could help a unit near the bottom of the league in pass defense … Coryell Judie, CB, Texas A&M

29. Baltimore Ravens: Running the football has worked for the Baltimore Ravens. Jamal Lewis, Willis McGahee and Ray Rice have perfected the low-risk, high-reward offense that has become the franchise’s staple since 2001. Throw this guy into the mix with those other powerful shape-shifters … Tauren Poole, RB, Tennessee.

30. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers make their money on defense, not offense, and should draft accordingly. With most of the SEC’s top defensive talent off the board, San Francisco looks at the best available option: the kicking game. Any team led by Alex Smith under center is sure to punt a few times a game, so why not make those kicks extra lethal … Drew Butler, P, Georgia.

31. New England Patriots: Former Florida All-American Brandon Spikes has become the leader of New England’s defense and numbers wise, there’s a player still waiting to be picked who is just as special. This year’s SEC-tackles leader slips because of his stature, not because of his performance … Danny Trevathan, LB, Kentucky,

32. New York Giants: The SEC’s last-remaining first-round pick gives Eli Manning a target across the middle twice as athletic as incumbents Jake Ballard Bear Pascoe … Deangelo Peterson, TE, LSU.

Mr. Irrelevant: Stephen Garcia, QB, South Carolina. He “walked-on” Tampa’s practice squad after the draft and is rumored to be in a battle with Josh Freeman for the starting spot. The hot-button topic going into fall camp is this for new coach Greg Schiano: How many turnovers should I expect from each quarterback?

Who would be your top SEC picks in the NFL Draft?

Cox, along with three other teammates, will take part in the NFL Scouting Combine beginning Feb. 22 in Indianapolis, an event aimed at prospective NFL players hoping to improve their stock. The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder is up against Penn State’s Devon Still, LSU’s Michael Brockers and Michigan State’s Jerel Worthy as the draft’s top interior defensive lineman.

Cox started 27 games during his career, accumulating 114 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. In 2011, Cox earned the SEC’s Defensive Lineman of the Week on four different occasions. He was an All-SEC first-teamer according to the Associated Press.

Joining Cox is tailback Vick Ballard, safety Charles Mitchell and guard Quentin Saulsberry. In his final game as a Bulldog, Ballard rushed for a career-high 180 yards and two touchdowns as Miss. St. won its second postseason game under Dan Mullen with a 23-17 victory over Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl.

Ballard (5-foot-11, 220) is a projected fourth or fifth-round pick after rushing for 2,157 career yards and 29 touchdowns.

Well, all the non-BCS SEC bowl games are pretty much over except for Arkansas’ game against Kansas State.

Here is who we are looking at so far as the top SEC studs:

Auburn

Emory Blake, WR: Blake was the go-to receiver for the different quarterbacks for the Tigers in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Blake caught six passes for 108 yards, and he made Virginia’s secondary look down-right foolish at times in Auburn’s win.

Onterrio McCalebb, RB: When Gene Chizik announced that Michael Dyer was suspended from the bowl game, McCalebb took it upon himself to prove himself and show everyone the Tigers would not drop off without Dyer. McCalebb was right, and he rushed for 109 yards, caught two passes for 53 yards and scored one touchdown. He was out to make a statement, and he did just that.

Florida

Jon Bostic, LB: Bostic was a beast against Ohio State in the Gator Bowl. He was flying around all over the field, and it was his best game he has played as a Gator. Bostic recorded eight tackles, with four coming for a loss.

Chris Rainey, RB/ST: Rainey has been Florida’s do-it-all player this season. He’s returned punts, he’s been the running back, and he’s blocked punts his whole career. He got another one against Ohio State that was returned for a touchdown, and he added 71 rushing yards and 31 receiving yards to end his career in style.

Georgia

Brandon Boykin, DB/PR: Boykin was dynamite for Georgia against Michigan State. He had a forced safety, a punt return for a touchdown and caught a 13-yard touchdown. Boykin was the MVP for the Bulldogs, but they could not pull out the win in OT.

Tavarres King, WR: King has been frowned upon somewhat this season for his lack of big plays and dropped passes; however, King forgot all of that against the Spartans. He caught six passes for 205 yards and a touchdown. He had a heck of a day.

Mississippi State

Vick Ballard, RB: Ballard tore up Wake Forest in their win in the Music City Bowl. Ballard closed out his career in style, as he ran for a career-high 180 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries. He mauled that pitiful ACC defense.

Fletcher Cox, DT: Cox is leaving early for the NFL Draft, but he closed out his college career very nicely. Cox had seven tackles, two for loss, and blocked a field goal. State will miss his presence along the defensive line next year.

South Carolina

Alshon Jeffery, WR: Jeffery had a huge game in the first half, and he was ejected for his “fighting” with a Cornhusker. However, he did all the damage he needed to in the first half, as he caught four passes for 148 yards and one touchdown.

Connor Shaw, QB: Even though Jeffery won the MVP, Shaw was the man that made all that happen for the Gamecocks. He really came on strong as he got more and more comfortable in the offense. Shaw threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns, and he also ran for 42 yards and another touchdown.

Vanderbilt

Archibald Barnes, LB: Much was made about senior Chris Marve’s return back to Memphis to close out his career; however, Marve wasn’t the one who impressed. Barnes was all over the field for the Commodores against Cincinnati. Barnes led all tacklers with 10 and blocked a field goal in the fourth quarter.

Casey Hayward, DB: Hayward has been a stud all year, and he will have a great career at the next level. He sure impressed once again in the Liberty Bowl. Hayward recorded eight tackles and two interceptions. With his two interceptions, he tied the record for career interceptions at Vanderbilt. What a great career.

An angry Alabama Crimson Tide rolls into Starkville this weekend, fresh of a heartbreaking loss to top ranked LSU last Saturday in Tuscaloosa. In what was billed as “the game of the century”, Nick Saban’s team fell to the Tigers in overtime by a final score of 9-6.

For Alabama, though, all hope for a national title is not lost. With a strong finish to the season and a stumble by Oklahoma State and Stanford, Saban’s squad could set themselves up for a rematch with the Bayou Bengals in the BCS championship game.

The first obstacle on their road to redemption? Mullen’s Bulldogs. And that could spell bad news for the boys in maroon.

Offensively, Bama is lead by one of the top running backs in the country. Trent Richardson, who is sure to a Heisman finalist, is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and has picked up 1078 total yards so far this season. He’s also accounted for 17 touchdowns. Overall, the Tide ranks 22nd nationally in rushing offense, averaging 214 yards per game, and 23rd in scoring offense, at 35.7 points per game.

On the flip side, Bama brings to town one of the top defenses in all of college football, giving up an average of just 7 points per game. That ranks best in the country. The most points allowed by Kirby Smart’s defense all season, 14, came via Arkansas’ high flying offense in week four.

In other words, the Bulldogs will be in elite company if they can find the endzone more than once. Of course, LSU never found the endzone last week and still managed to pull off a victory.

So…Could there be a chance?

State’s defense is definitely not in the same category as John Chavis’, but this unit has improved tremendously throughout the course of the season. First year defensive coordinator Chris Wilson currently has his guys playing very solid football, allowing just 18.7 points per game. That’s good enough for 16th in the national rankings. The Dawgs also held LSU to 19 points back on September 15, when the Tigers visited Starkville. Until last weeks contest, that was the lowest output of the year for Les Miles and company.

For MSU to have a chance in this one, the defensive front must slow down Bama’s rushing attack and force first year quarterback A.J. McCarron to throw the ball. That’s much easier said than done, but it will be critical to the Bulldogs’s chances of pulling the upset. In order to accomplish this, powerhouses Fletcher Cox and Josh Boyd must have a big night on the defensive line. Cox and Boyd, both juniors, have combined for 71 tackles and 7.5 sacks so far this season.

Once the ball is in the air, State’s secondary has the capability to make big plays. Junior defensive back Johnthan Banks, who has 5 interceptions on the year, has wreaked havoc on many SEC quarterbacks during his three seasons as a starter. Banks is joined by Corey Broomfield, Charles Mitchell and the hard hitting Nickoe Whitley as guys who’ll go toe-to-toe with a very talented Marquis Maze, Bama’s leading receiver.

If Wilson’s “bend but don’t break” defense can hold the Tide to field goal tries, MSU’s offense will carry the burden of manufacturing enough points to grab a win. While that task is daunting, to say the least, it isn’t impossible.

Since a bye week after the UAB game, Mullen’s two-quarterback system has worked pretty well. Starter Tyler Russell and former starter Chris Relf shared duties very effectively at Kentucky, completing a combined 15 of 21 passes for 264 yards. The pair also led their team to a 55-17 homecoming victory over Tennessee-Martin last weekend, with Relf looking especially sharp in the passing department. The performance of receiving duo Arceto Clark and Chad Bumphis will go a long way towards determining the offense’s success on Saturday, also.

Senior running back Vick Ballard, while no Richardson, is plenty capable of picking up some tough yards on the ground. The key to MSU’s rushing game will be the ability of a battered offensive line to stay healthy and compete at a new level of intensity. Though this unit has recovered nicely from an injury plagued start to the season, the Bama defense will present challenges not faced since that September matchup with LSU.

The kicking game can be crucial in a tight contest, as we all were reminded of last week in Tuscaloosa. If the Bulldog defense can limit Bama’s production in the red-zone, the hopes and dreams of the cowbell nation could very well ride on the shoulders of kicker Derek DePasquale. The senior from Texas has made 9 of 14 field goals this season, but has only knocked in 2 of 5 from beyond 40 yards. Every kicker envisions his moment in the spotlight, so DePasquale had better bring his “A” game if he hopes to be the hero on Saturday.

The Bottom Line: Regardless of how unlikely an MSU victory may seem, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities. The Tide will come into this game angry and determined to dominate their remaining opponents, but let’s not forget that these guys played a very physically and mentally demanding game last week. Don’t rule out an LSU induced hangover.

If the defense can continue to play well and the offense can avoid turnovers, the Bulldogs will have a chance to shock the world this weekend. Vegas has Bama as a 17 point favorite, but don’t look for a blowout in this one.

Will the home team pull it off? Well, in the end, that’s probably asking for too much.

Prediction: Alabama 24 – Mississippi State 13

In front of a another sold out crowd at Scott Field, MSU routed the Skyhawks and moved one step closer to bowl eligibility. By capturing win number five on the year, Dan Mullen’s squad is now just one victory away from post-season action.

The schedule obviously gets much tougher for the Bulldogs moving ahead, with games against Alabama and Arkansas on the horizon. Before looking to the future, though, here’s some interesting notes from this past weekend’s affair in Starkville:

- State used three different quarterbacks during the course of the game (Tyler Russell, Chris Relf and Dylan Favre), with each one leading multiple scoring drives.

- Senior running back Vick Ballard recorded 102 yards of rushing and two touchdowns. Surprisingly, it was Ballard’s first time to reach the endzone since the Louisiana Tech game in week four. His second scoring run, which went for 54 yards, was also his largest gain since the season opener at Memphis.

- Johnthan Banks returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. The junior defensive back is now only the second player in nation to have both a punt return and an interception return for a touchdown this season.

- Statistically, this was the Bulldog’s most balanced performance of the season on offense. Of the 570 total yards gained, 282 came through the air and 288 on the ground.

-Arceto Clark, a junior, hauled in five catches for 96 yards to lead all receivers in the game. Two of those receptions were for touchdowns. Chad Bumphis was second on the stat sheet, catching 4 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.

- Punter Baker Swedenburg was only called to duty on two occasions, marking the second week in a row that MSU was only forced to punt twice. Sewedenburg was averaging 6 punts per outing through the first 7 games of the year.

- Favre took over at quarterback early in the fourth quarter, earning the most playing time of his career thus far. The redshirt freshman completed 3 of 4 passes for 38 yards. He also ran 12 yards for a touchdown to close out the game.

-After being named SEC defensive lineman of the week three straight times, junior tackle Fletcher Cox failed to make a tackle on Saturday.

- Nick Griffin, another redshirt freshman, carried the ball 10 times for 80 yards and a touchdown. At 6’1” and 215 lbs, Griffin is expected to be the Bulldog’s starting running back next season.

- Cody Sanlin hit a 31 yard field goal for UT-Martin as time expired in the second quarter, making the score 28-3. A first half shutout would have been MSU’s first of the season.

Looking Ahead – This weekend, the Alabama Crimson Tide comes to Starkville fresh off their heartbreaking “game of the century” loss in Tuscaloosa. It’s hard to say whether an LSU win was a good thing or bad thing for the Bulldogs, but we’ll find out soon enough. Considering that State played the Tigers very tough in week three, losing 19-6 in the end, it isn’t beyond reason to think that Mullen’s bunch could put up a fight against a dejected Tide team.

Later this week, we’ll take a look at this matchup and see how Mississippi State stacks up against the guys from 80 miles down the highway.

In the end, though, outstanding wasn’t enough.

South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery, while held in check all day, made the big play when needed. Jeffery hauled in a four yard touchdown catch with 3:50 left on the clock in the fourth quarter; a move that would give the Gamecocks a 14-10 lead. That would prove to be the game winning score.

MSU quarterback Tyler Russell, making his first career start, proceeded to march his team down the field in the final minutes, but his efforts would end with an interception at Carolina’s 12 yard line. The Gamecocks went on to claim a 14-12 victory, after taking a safety as the final ticks ran off the clock.

For the Bulldogs, it was an especially heart wrenching loss. Though the game was close from start to finish, Dan Mullen’s squad never allowed the Gamecocks to grab the lead before Jeffery’s touchdown at the end.

Now, at 3-4 overall and 0-4 in the SEC, State gets a much needed week off to regroup from a disappointing seven weeks of football. Kentucky is up next on their schedule, which could be good news for a team in search of their first league win.

Before looking ahead, which we’ll do in the coming days, let’s take a glance at a few of the positives and negatives for MSU in Saturday’s loss:

Positive – The Bulldog defense continues to improve every week. Before going down with an injury (a torn ACL) in the fourth quarter, Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore was held to just 39 yards of rushing on 17 carries. Lattimore’s longest run went for 11 yards. The sophomore was able to tack on 29 receiving yards in the game, bringing his total yardage to 68.

Jeffery, while making the game winning catch, was held to just 24 total yards on four receptions. Coming into the game, he was averaging just over 71 yards per outing. MSU junior defender Johnthan Banks was the man covering Jeffery for most of the day, doing a solid job of keeping Carolina’s star receiver in check.

As a team, the Gamecocks gained 289 yards of offense and gave up 296.

It’s also worth noting that junior defensive tackle Fletcher Cox was named the SEC defensive lineman of the week. It’s the second week in a row that Cox has captured the honor.

Negative – With the success Banks was having against Jeffery, it’s fair to question why he wasn’t covering the big man on the final touchdown play. Corey Broomfield and Nickoe Whitley were given that duty, while Banks was on the opposite side of the endzone as the game winning catch was hauled in.

In retrospect, Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw threw a near perfect pass that was just high enough to give the 6-4 Jeffery the best shot at making the catch. Banks is 6-2, however, taller than both Broomfield and Whitley. Given his performance up to that point, it seems that Banks would have been assigned to Jeffery when the game was on the line. That’s one call that I’m sure the MSU coaching staff would love to have back.

Positive – Tyler Russell looked very much the part of a starting quarterback. Although it doesn’t show up in the stats, Russell delivered some impressive passes in the face of tremendous pressure from the Gamecock defense. He also seemed to remain calm and collected at all times, which is impressive for a guy facing a highly ranked SEC team in his first ever start.

Negative – With a first and goal from the Carolina four yard line, the Bulldogs had to settle for a 22 yard field early in the fourth quarter. While it resulted in a 10-7 lead at the time, the failure of the offense to pick up a touchdown would prove to be costly in the end.

MSU’s lack of ability to reach the endzone on that series highlights the ongoing problems along their offensive line. Bruising running back Vick Ballard attempted just one rush, for no gain, with Russell throwing two incomplete passes before the field goal was attempted. You have to believe that Mullen and staff would have put the load squarely on Ballard’s shoulders in that situation, if they had confidence in their line to block up front.

To be fair, State’s front five did appear to be improved at times. A two week break may be just what this unit needs to find what they’ve been missing.

Positive – Even though there are no moral victories in the SEC, the Bulldogs did go toe-to-toe with a very good South Carolina team. The Gamecocks, even without Lattimore, may very well end up playing for a conference title in Atlanta.

It would be easy for everyone in Starkville to push the panic button at this point in the season, but it’s performances like this that keep the coaches and players speaking in an upbeat tone. Even at 0-4 in league play, it doesn’t appear that State is far from being a good team. Truthfully, the Bulldogs are agonizingly close to holding a 5-2 record right now.

That is both encouraging and frustrating, for a program looking to take that next step.

Looking Ahead – After a week off, Mississippi State faces two very beatable opponents, in Kentucky and UT-Martin. These are two games that State must win in order keep themselves in bowl contention.

We’ll take a closer look at MSU in the days to come and examine the season up to this point. Also, we’ll highlight a few of the Bulldogs who have performed well thus far, before focusing on the final leg of the schedule.

The Bulldogs failed to score any points during the opening half of last week’s game at UAB, which led to sophomore Tyler Russell taking over for starter Chris Relf after the break. Russell went on to throw three touchdown passes in route to a 21-3 win. As a result, there has been widespread discussion concerning who will get the start against the Gamecocks, with head coach Dan Mullen opting to keep his quarterbacks off limits to the media this week.

South Carolina, of course, booted senior signal caller Stephen Garcia from the team on Tuesday, after testing positive for alcohol and marijuana. Though Garcia had been replaced in the starting lineup by Connor Shaw a week earlier, the move suddenly makes depth and inexperience an issue for the Gamecocks at the quarterback position.

Beyond the quarterback situation, Saturday’s contest will feature two defenses that have been impressive as of late.

MSU leads the SEC when it comes to limiting touchdowns in the red-zone, allowing opponents to reach pay dirt only 44.4% of the time. They held LSU’s offense to 19 points earlier this year, the lowest output of the season for Les Mile’s team. The Bulldogs are also coming off a game in which they never allowed UAB to move within 19 yards of the endzone.

Steve Spurrier’s defense started the season allowing an average of 33 points per game in their first three meetings, but only seven points per game since. The Gamecocks also lead the SEC in pass defense, featuring a nasty pass rush that’s sure to keep any quarterback on his heels.

As we take a look at MSU’s keys to victory in this one, there’s obviously little doubt as to what’s number one on the list:

1) Quarterback Consistency - Whether it be Relf or Russell, it’s crucial that State gets some quality production form it’s quarterback for 60 minutes. South Carolina is no UAB, and it will be difficult for the Bulldogs to recover from a bad start in this one.

During the second half of last week’s affair, we saw how a solid passing game can open up things on the ground for guys like Vick Ballard and LaDaruis Perkins. Mullen’s offense will need their QB to step up and prove he can move the chains through the air, because Carolina’s defense is much too good to be beaten by a one dimensional team. An unbalanced attack will lead to a long day for the running backs wearing maroon.

We could very well see both quarterbacks for MSU, as Mullen has pointed out repeatedly. In fact, he’s even suggested that redshirt freshman Dylan Favre could factor in at some point. However, with so much change and disruption along the offensive line this season, a rotation at the top spot is something the Bulldogs had better avoid.

While Russell is the guy with the hot hand right now, Relf has proven in the past that he can get the job done, too. This will be an interesting situation to keep an eye on, to say the least.

2) Show Shaw The Pressure - South Carolina’s Connor Shaw had a brilliant showing against Kentucky, throwing for 311 yards and four touchdowns against the Wildcats. The sophomore, though, has only played in three of the Gamecock’s first six games. His only start came in the season opener against East Carolina, in which he was benched after his team fell into an early 17 point deficit.

Shaw’s trip to Starkville will mark his first ever start in a road game.

State must bring some heat and keep Shaw off balance and uncomfortable in the pocket and under center. Starting your first road game in the SEC is tough on any quarterback and the Bulldogs have to make Spurrier’s young gun feel the pressure. With Garcia gone and little experience behind him on the depth chart, Shaw’s nerves could play a role on gameday. Look for the State to bring the blitz early on.

If Chris Wilson’s defense allows Shaw to find a rhythm and hit his receivers, including superstar Alshon Jeffery, it will open things up even more for running back Marcus Lattimore, the league’s leading rusher.

3) Mr. Ballard, Meet Mr. Carmon - After suffering through a few down weeks, senior running Vick Ballard had a big day for the Bulldogs in Birmingham. He carried the ball 19 times for 101 yards, bringing his yardage total for the season to 531. Ballard is averaging 6.2 yards per carry, so far.

For MSU to have a chance to beat South Carolina, Ballard will have to again eclipse the century mark on the ground. To accomplish that, he will rely heavily upon the play of offensive lineman James Carmon. After sitting out the first half against UAB, Carmon entered the game at left guard in the third quarter and things immediately improved along the line of scrimmage. Hopefully for the Bulldogs, Carmon will be ready to go full blast from the first whistle on Saturday. He has been banged up for most of the year, which is why he didn’t get the start last week.

Closing Thoughts - Mississippi State needs three more wins to become bowl eligible, with Kentucky, UT-Martin and Ole Miss being their most likely victims. A victory over the Gamecocks would certainly improve their post season status, though. The Bulldogs have a week off following this game, so a win would give them a lot of confidence heading into the final stretch.

Vegas currently has Carolina as a three point favorite in this one and I tend to agree, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see MSU pull the upset. Look for a close contest until the end.

Prediction: South Carolina 28 – Mississippi State 24

Here is how the rankings stackup midway through the 2011 season:

10. Tauren Poole, Tennessee
9. Jeff Scott, Ole Miss
8. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State

Tauren Poole has struggled this season for Tennessee because the Vols cannot get anything going on the ground. Poole has 325 yards on 78 carries and only one touchdown. Poole rushed for 1,000 yards last year, but it looks like that will come to an end this season unless things change drastically on Rocky Top…Jeff Scott has been Ole Miss’ MVP this season. He has 350 yards rushing on the year with five touchdowns, and he has been a menace in the punt return game as well. He is the spark plug Ole Miss was looking for this season…Vick Ballard started off the year hot against Memphis, but the offense has cooled down somewhat because of stiff competition. Ballard has gained 531 yards on 85 carries, and he is very gifted at the position. Last year, Ballard led the SEC in scoring, but he is not having that much of an impact getting into the end zone like a year ago. However, I think he will have a strong second half of the year for State.

7. Eddie Lacy, Alabama
6. Isaiah Crowell, Georgia
5. Chris Rainey, Florida

Eddie Lacy has proven he can be a formidable No. 2 running back and a perfect combination with Trent Richardson. Lacy has 46 carries for 397 yards and five touchdowns. He has only played in five games this year, but he would be a No. 1 running back for virtually five or six teams in this league…Isaiah Crowell has arrived, and he is making his mark on the SEC in what is his freshman season in Athens. Crowell is giving the offense a sense of balance and stability by not having to rely on Aaron Murray all the time. Crowell is fourth in rushing yardage, carrying 118 times for 573 yards and four touchdowns. This kid is going to be a player throughout his career at Georgia…I’m going to get a little flack for naming Chris Rainey the fifth best back in the SEC, but that is ok. He’s super explosive, but Florida has had a hard time getting him the ball in space against better defenses – Alabama and LSU. Rainey can take it to the house on any given play, and he is the heart and soul of this Florida offense now that John Brantley is hurt. Rainey leads the team in receptions, rushing and punt returns. He has shown to be very versatile and rather durable this season.

4. Spencer Ware, LSU
3. Michael Dyer, Auburn
2. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

Spencer Ware has been Mr. Steady for LSU this season. He has the perfect combination of speed and power at running back for Les Miles’ offense, and he has 105 carries for 432 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Ware will get stronger as the season goes along for LSU because of him splitting time with Michael Ford. Ware is a good-looking prospect who will get better and better…Michael Dyer is having a monster season for the Tigers this year. He is the backbone of that offense, and he’s currently third in the league in rushing with 679 yards. Dyer is also just behind Lattimore in total carries with 124. He has been a horse this year for the Auburn Tigers…Marcus Lattimore has been the offense up to week seven for South Carolina. Lattimore is leading the league in rushing (779 total yards), and he proves once again that is oh so durable, averaging over 24 carries per game. And while that might not seem like a lot, SEC linebackers put licks on ball carriers, as you well know. It’s not that Lattimore’s game has fallen any whatsoever, but Trent Richardson’s play has just elevated this season.

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama

I’m not sure there is any denying Trent Richardson has been the best running back this season. While Marcus Lattimore means more to his team, Trent is a beast. He runs through would-be tacklers every time he hits the hole. Trent is second in the SEC in rushing yards (729), behind Lattimore, but he’s leading the league in rushing touchdowns (11) and leading the league in scoring (72 total points). Richardson has been a beast by any account this season, and I think he is the top running back midway through this 2011 season.

How would you rank them based on this season?

After playing one half of football on Saturday, Mississippi State headed into the locker room trailing UAB by a score of 3-0. Head coach Dan Mullen needed to find a way to spark his sluggish offense, so he made the decision to send sophomore quarterback Tyler Russell out to begin the second half, in place of starter Chris Relf.

Mullen definitely found the spark he was looking for.

With Russell at the helm, the Bulldogs responded with three unanswered touchdowns in the second half and came away with a 21-3 victory over the Blazers. Being able to balance out their record at 3-3 was important for MSU, who also left Legion Field with a much needed dose of confidence. Saturday’s performance was the best by their offense since a trip to Auburn in week two.

Here’s a closer look at what transpired for the Bulldogs in Birmingham over the weekend:

Tyler Russell Stole The Show – We’ve seen Russell take snaps before, but never for an entire half. Until Saturday, he mainly saw action as a “clean up” guy at the end of games. He had also been thrown in at other times to create a spark on offense, usually unsuccessfully.

However, this was a different situation. Russell was handed the reigns at halftime and looked very much the part of a man in charge, completing 11 of 13 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns. He spread the ball around nicely, hitting Chad Bumphis, Malcolm Johnson and tightend Marcus Green for scores. Russell’s longest pass was to Bumphis, who trotted 57 yards to the endzone after making the grab.

There’s no doubt that UAB’s defense pales in comparison to most of those in the SEC, but Russell’s poise in the pocket was impressive, nonetheless. He stood strong and delivered the ball in the face of pressure on several occasions, taking some big hits in the process. Russell, who was courted by the likes of Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier prior to signing with MSU, gave Bulldog fans a glimpse of why he was considered a major recruit in 2009.

The Defense Didn’t Disappoint – Defensive Coordinator Chris Wilson seemed to turn things around after the Auburn game and his unit kept up the momentum on Saturday. State held UAB to 340 yards of offense, with the Blazer’s only points coming from a field goal late in the second half.

The most impressive thing defensively, though, was the fact that UAB ‘s offense never traveled beyond MSU’s 19 yard line. Obviously, the most effective form of red-zone defense is not allowing your opponent in the red-zone at all. The Bulldogs managed to do just that for the vast majority of Saturday’s matchup.

It’s also worth noting that, thanks to a forced fumble and a Johnthan Banks interception, State was able to win the turnover battle 2-0.

Ballard Returns – Senior running back Vick Ballard never left the team, technically, but his performance in Birmingham sure felt like a homecoming to the Maroon Nation. After being held in check the past few weeks, Ballard exploded with 101 yards of rushing on 19 carries against UAB. He also added 24 receiving yards on two catches.

Ballard’s success was aided by the insertion of James Carmon at left guard at the beginning of the third quarter. Carmon, who has been banged up for most of the year and sat out the first half of the contest, requested to get the start after halftime. Mullen said that blocking along the offensive line improved tremendously after that point.

Key Stat – MSU only managed to find 118 yards of offense in the first half, but racked up 298 yards in the second.

Looking Ahead – South Carolina will be coming to Starkville this weekend, fresh off a 54-3 pounding of Kentucky. It will be the Bulldog’s first meeting with the Gamecocks since the 2007 season.

With Dan Mullen refusing to name a starting quarterback thus far, and choosing to keep Relf and Russell away from the media, it’s sure to be an eventful week in Starkville. State has a week off after this game and would certainly like to head into the break with it’s first SEC win of the year.

Later this week, we’ll preview MSU’s matchup with South Carolina.