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2 minute drill: Mississippi State must force UAB to attack through the air
By Ethan Levine
Published:
The UAB Blazers rushed for 338 yards and scored 48 points in a season-opening win over Troy last weekend.
The Blazers rushed for four touchdowns against the Trojans, and had two different tailbacks (Jordan Howard and D.J. Vinson) clear the 100-yard mark, which is why it is important for the Mississippi State defense to eliminate the threat of the run early in today’s game.
The Bulldogs defense limited Southern Miss to just 2.2 yards per rush on 33 carries in a shutout win last weekend, and 29 different players on the MSU defense recorded a tackle in the process. Senior defensive end Preston Smith had a breakout performance to begin his final collegiate season in place of the departed Denico Autry, and defensive tackle Chris Jones made himself at home in the USM backfield all game long.
The defensive line must disrupt the UAB offense early in the game, forcing it to become one-dimensional through the air. Although the Blazers ran all over Troy, they looked pedestrian in the passing game, throwing for just 152 yards on 13 completions. With the Bulldogs’ veteran secondary, they’ll welcome putting the game in UAB quarterback Cody Clements’ hands.
However, if UAB gains traction in its run game, it could begin to dictate the pace of the game and control time of possession, keeping the ball out of Dak Prescott’s hands more than MSU would like.
If Mississippi State wishes to take care of business on its own terms at home this afternoon, it’ll first have to silence the UAB rushing attack.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
