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This week for Mississippi State

By Ian R. Rapoport
irapopor@clarionledger.com

RECAP: Despite moving the ball early, Mississippi State kept turning the ball over and left itself no chance in its 31-13 loss to Vanderbilt. QB Kyle York, who was solid filling in for injured Omarr Conner at QB, will start.

SATURDAY: UAB, 1:30 p.m.

SITE: Scott Field, Starkville.

TV: None.

Scouting the Blazers


OFFENSE: The Blazers struggled mightily on offense in their win over Cincinnati. Quarterback Darrell Hackney went 12 of 30 for 107 yards and running back Dan Burks managed only 79 yards on 17 carries. And they still put up 30 points in a three-point win. So they can score.
The strong-armed Hackney has plenty of weapons, which allows him to spread it out. He's also the team's vocal leader. Roddy White is the most effective receiver.

In the running game, UAB has the bruiser Corey White, who had eight carries for 42 yards against the Bearcats, and the slasher Burks. Unless they can establish the run early, with a mediocre offensive line, look for the Blazers to pass and let Hackney do it all.


DEFENSE: As the offense struggled, the UAB defense picked it up when Will Evans returned an interception for a touchdown. But it was the same defense that allowed Cincy QB Gino Guidugli to pass for 300 yards and set a career high in attempts. Mississippi State could have success spreading the ball around in the passing game.

Linebacker Zac Woodfin, who has 32 tackles, leads the UAB defense, which is stingier against the run. Nigel Eldridge has 24 tackles. Still, while you can pass on UAB, the Blazers have had eight different players intercept passes this season.


INTANGIBLES: UAB is coming off a roller-coaster win against Cincinnati. After a win over previously undefeated Memphis, it was a tough performance against a sub-par team... UAB coach Watson Brown was an offensive coordinator with Mississippi State in 1991 and '92. The team went to bowl games and went 14-10 in the two years... It is homecoming for State, which returns after two brutal road losses and gets a bye week after this game.

QB Kyle York, who was solid filling in for injured Omarr Conner at QB, will start.

um, ok...Was he watching the same game? I don't call a 16-32-127 yards and 3 picks with 2 fumbles and 1 lost solid, unless you call it the solid that comes out your butt.

Might as well play Hening and let's see what he's got. I think our quarterbacks are color blind actually.

I actually like Kyle York. Think he's a great kid and an asset to our program. However, Henig is the future (along with Conner), So let him play since the redshirt has been removed.

tubadog Wrote:I actually like Kyle York. Think he's a great kid and an asset to our program. However, Henig is the future (along with Conner), So let him play since the redshirt has been removed.

I did not say I did not like him but do you call the above stats a solid performance? It was more of an indictment of the sportswriter sugarcoating it than what York actually did. In his defense though, it is highly possible that shoulder is still hurting him though and he may have lost something after surgery. He looked very good directing that drive against Auburn for well over 10 minutes, so he has moments.