Statistically Speaking: A first look at Mississippi State

OFFENSE

Scoring Offense: 20^th, 39 ppg

Total Offense: 11^th, 487 yards per game

Yards per play: 17^th, 6.9 ypp

Rushing Offense: 54^th, 177.8 ypg

Yards per carry: 53^rd, 4.8 ypc

Rushing Attempts per game: 49^th, 37.4 apg

Rushing Touchdowns: 92^nd, 7

Passing Offense: 11^th, 309.2 ypg

Passing Attempts per game: 35^th, 33.8 apg

Passing yards per attempt: 18^th, 9.1 ypa

Completion Percentage: 50^th, 65.7%

Passing Touchdowns: 4^th, 18

Interceptions Thrown: 63^rd, 4

First Downs: 10^th, 26 per game

Third Down Conversions: 29^th, 47.6%

Fourth Down Conversion attempts: 113^th, 6

Red Zone Touchdown Percentage: 51^st, 66.7%

20-plus yard plays: 27^th, 31

10-plus yard runs: 69^th, 27

20-plus yard passes: 25^th, 24

Sacks Allowed: 99^th, 13

Tackles For Loss Allowed: 93^rd, 5.6 per game

Time of Possession: 121^st, 27:35 per game

Clearly, the passing game is dictating things for Mississippi State. Kamario Taylor has put on the Superman cape and carried this team.

While there is a downside in terms of sacks allowed, time of possession problems and an iffy running game, the positives through the air have generally outweighed them.

Taylor threw five touchdown passes at South Carolina, beat Missouri with 360 passing yards and three scores and has three-plus passing scores in every game.

Anthony Evans leads the SEC and is seventh nationally with 114.8 yards per game receiving. His eight catches per game is tied for third in the country. Fluff Bothwell is the leading rusher. He’s averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He left the Alabama game with an injury. It’s not considered season-ending.  

DEFENSE

Scoring Defense: 108^th, 28 ppg

Total Defense: 96^th, 379.6 ypg

Yards per Play Allowed: 76^th, 5.5 ypp

Run Defense: 42^nd, 119.6 ypg

Yards per Carry Allowed: 44^th, 3.6 ypc

Rushing Touchdowns Allowed: 27^th, 5

Passing Defense: 124^th, 260 ypg

Completion Percentage Allowed: 88^th, 62.8%

Yards per Passing Attempt Allowed: 78^th, 7.2 ypa

Interceptions: 103^rd, 2

Passing Touchdowns Allowed: 83^rd, 9

Sacks: 29^th, 2.6 per game

Tackles for Loss: 70^th, 5.2 per game

Third Down Defense: 63^rd, 36.1%

Red Zone Touchdown Percentage Allowed: 90^th, 64.7%

20-plus yard plays allowed: 67^th, 22

10-plus yard runs allowed: 17^th, 15

20-plus yard passes allowed: 106^th, 20

Jeff Lebby’s program at Mississippi State has been awful on defense. This year, through a month, it’s not a whole lot better. The Bulldogs outscored South Carolina 41-34 to get a win. Same story when Missouri had 295 passing yards and rolled up 414 total yards but State still held them off. With some help from its defense, Alabama scored 56 in Starkville.

Big plays have been a problem. Red zone stops haven’t showed up.

Lebby is not asking his defense to win games. That’s on Taylor and the offense. Bu the defense has to play better if the Bulldogs want to win some more games in the league.