STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) – These days, there doesn’t seem like many things Mississippi State’s football team can’t do.
Beat Florida in The Swamp for the first time since 1965? Check.
Win four games in a row for the first time since 1999? Sure.
Earn a national ranking for the first time since 2001? No problem.
But throwing the football? That’s where things get tricky.
No. 24 Mississippi State (5-2) wants to showcase a more balanced offense against UAB (2-4) on Saturday. In last week’s 10-7 victory over Florida, the Bulldogs ran on 49 out of 58 plays. Quarterback Chris Relf completed only 4 of 9 passes for 33 yards.
That’s partly be design – Mississippi State has the third-best rushing offense in the Southeastern Conference – but coach Dan Mullen wants to make sure the passing game is still a viable part of the offense.
“We’re going to have to be able to throw,” Mullen said. “We got conservative in things (against Florida). But the game led us to do that. We were running the ball well.”
After using a two-quarterback system for the first few games of the season, Mullen has settled on Relf as the starter over redshirt freshman Tyler Russell, who is considered the better passer. Relf has had a few decent passing games, throwing for 148 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Georgia, but is usually more dangerous running the ball.
He’s the team’s second-leading rusher with 377 yards and two touchdowns.
UAB coach Neil Callaway said Mississippi State reminded him of Conference USA foe Central Florida, which also uses a run-oriented offense. But just because the Bulldogs run the ball a lot doesn’t mean they’re predictable.
“I’m not saying they are better than UCF, but they’re more talented,” Callaway said. “They do a lot more crazy stuff because they come in moving. We kind of knew what UCF was going to be like, but these guys are moving everywhere.”
Still, the Bulldogs took the running game to extremes against the Gators. At one point, they ran the ball 24 plays in a row and only threw once the entire second half.
Sophomore recevier Chad Bumphis, whose 30-yard reception was the Bulldogs’ only big play against Florida, said the receivers weren’t pouting about the lack of opportunties.
“You just got to make the most of your opportunties when you get the chance,” Bumphis said. “We didn’t throw the ball much, so whenever I did get the chance to touch the ball, I wanted to do something with it.”
Mississippi State’s passing woes aren’t just on Relf, who has thrown for 708 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions this season. The Bulldogs are also very inexperienced at receiver, especially after senior Leon Berry was lost for the season because of an ankle injury.
The roster is so thin that the Bulldogs recently moved cornerback Maurice Langston to receiver to provide depth.
Though passes haven’t been coming their way too often, Bumphis said the receivers have to be ready for the day when an opponent overpopulates the line of scrimmage and force the Bulldogs to throw.
“We just have to continue to grow,” Bumphis said. “We’re so young right now. If we keep showing things during practice it’ll give the coaches confidence in us.”
In the meantime, the receivers are content blocking for the running game. Bumphis said playing time is often decided by who blocks the best, not by speed or pass-catching ability.
Center Quentin Saulsberry said when the Bulldogs are moving the ball effectively, nobody cares if its on the ground or in the air. Against Florida, everyone was blocking so well it didn’t matter that Florida knew the run was coming.
“It built the confidence of the whole offense – not just the offensive line and the running backs,” Saulsberry said. “You see receivers making blocks. It’s contagious. It’s like a disease.”
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