Bulldogs search for answers on offense
If Joe Moorhead had a suggestion box, he’s certain it would be filled to the brim by Mississippi State fans with ways to improve his struggling offense.
The Bulldogs have scored just three total touchdowns in four Southeastern Conference games and are last in the league averaging only 92.8 yards through the air.
“Offensively, we continue to run the ball well, but we have to find a way to compliment the pass game and keep defenses honest,” Moorhead said. “Our system has been most effective when we can do both, so when one is taken away, we can use the other to pick up the slack. We cannot rely solely on the run game to drive the length of the field, because as a play caller it makes it very tough.”
MSU is off to a 1-3 start in SEC play and its passing statistics have decreased each week. Senior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald threw for 145 yards against Kentucky, 98 yards against Florida, 69 yards against Auburn and 59 yards this past weekend at LSU. Fitzgerald has only completed 44.4 percent of his passes over that span and also thrown six interceptions and no touchdowns.
However, Fitzgerald is also third in the conference in rushing versus SEC opponents, having averaged 94.5 yards per game.
“For the struggles that Nick has had throwing the football, I have to credit him with the amount of times he has rushed the ball and for what he has done for us to create yards and create points,” Moorhead said “But obviously, our struggles in the pass game are apparent.”
Moorhead mentioned that the criticism he has received from the Bulldogs’ fan base over the past few weeks has been warranted with his track record of success as an offensive play-caller.
“My job is to get it fixed and it will,” Moorhead said. “We are exhausting every option and working diligently to make that happen.”
