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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Sylvester Croom (3rd season, 6-16) 2005 record: 3-8 SEC finish: 1-7 (t-5th West) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 69th (137.6 ypg) Passing: 109th (138.6 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 46th (140.5 ypg) Passing: 28th (195.0 ypg) Date Opponent Aug. 31 South Carolina Sept. 9 Auburn Sept. 16 Tulane Sept. 23 at UAB Sept. 30 at LSU Oct. 7 West Virginia Oct. 14 Jacksonville State Oct. 21 at Georgia Oct. 28 Kentucky Nov. 4 at Alabama Nov. 18 Arkansas Nov. 25 at Ole Miss Depth Chart: Offense 6 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 4 Tony Burks Jr. 11 Will Prosser Sr. WR 14 Omarr Conner Sr. - Ryan Mason Jr. LT 79 Calvin Wilson So. 63 Chris Spencer Fr. LG 53 Anthony Strauder So. 73 Dio Herrera So. C 76 Royce Blackledge Jr. 59 Johnny Carpenter Fr. RG 55 Brian Anderson Sr. 72 Anthony Dunning So. RT 78 Michael Gates So. - J.D. Hamilton Jr. TE 88 Eric Butler Jr. 48 Dezmond Sherrod Jr. QB 7 Michael Henig So. 17 Tray Rutland Fr. FB 41 Bryson Davis Sr. 35 Brandon Hart So. HB 27 Brandon Thornton So. 26 Derek Ambrose Sr. Depth Chart: Defense 9 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 54 Titus Brown Jr. 92 Charles Burns So. DT 98 Deljuan Robinson Sr. 90 Antonio Johnson Sr. NT 94 Andrew Powell Sr. 51 Avery Hannibal Jr. DE 58 Michael Heard Sr. 99 Quinton Wesley Fr. SLB 5 Gabe O’Neal Jr. 56 Anthony Littlejohn So. MLB 2 Quinton Culberson Sr. 52 Jimmy Miller So. WLB 22 Jamar Chaney So. 44 Brad Horton Sr. CB 3 Derek Pegues So. 13 Anthony Johnson Fr. CB 23 David Heard Sr. 8 Adron Chambers Fr. SS 1 Keith Fitzhugh So. 6 Demario Bobo Jr. FS 34 Jeramie Johnson Sr. 45 De’Mon Glanton So. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 46 Keith Andrews Sr. P 43 Blake McAdams So. KR 3 Derek Pegues So. PR 3 Derek Pegues So.

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In his first two years, Sylvester Croom worked to implement a system with players he inherited from the previous staff. As he enters his third year at Mississippi State, he finally has a roster that features mostly players he recruited.

How does that change his approach to coaching? Quite a bit, which may not bode well for his players. As for being patient, those days are over, he adamantly states.

"People think I've been intolerant before. Be prepared," he says. "I'm fixing to coach like I used to coach when I was young. The mellowing is over.

"Two years of 3-8, this is the last time for that. I've been patient, and my patience has worn out. When I came here, I knew it was going to take time to build a positive attitude. Now, I'm tolerating nothing. Anybody or anything that gets in the way of us winning is going to get eliminated."

Croom was hired to turn around a program that had hit rock bottom, both in the win column and with NCAA troubles. Now he feels there is light at the end of the tunnel due to numerous veterans returning with experience and ample depth at nearly every position.

OFFENSE

Quarterback Michael Henig knows the success of Mississippi State's offense begins with him. And to be the type of player he wants to be, understanding the West Coast offense is priority No. 1.

Henig's had two years to grasp the schemes and has a far better understanding of what coach Sylvester Croom expects. He also knows playmakers are essential to get the offense rolling. And for the first time during Croom's tenure, those athletes are in abundance.

Starting with junior college transfer Tony Burks at wideout, Henig has some legitimate threats at his disposal. There's also Omarr Conner, who played quarterback the last two years but lost his starting job the final three games of 2005. But Croom knew Conner was too athletic just to sit on the bench, so he moved him to receiver. In his final two games, he responded with nine catches for 116 yards.

"He's turned out to be one of our most consistent players," Croom says.

Still, MSU knows that to be successful, it can't be one-dimensional. The Bulldogs will remain true to the ground game.

Gone is Jerious Norwood - the school's all-time leading rusher. Croom doesn't plan on replacing him with only one player. Instead, he'll look to a committee of backs, starting with Brandon Thornton and continuing with Derek Ambrose. And if incoming freshmen Anthony Dixon and Courtney Jones contribute as expected, MSU's backfield could be one of the deepest in the SEC.

Also key is the offensive line. State has a new center in Royce Blackledge, while there are also concerns at the two tackle slots. But for the first time since Croom's arrival, he has depth across the line.

DEFENSE

One of the biggest surprises last year was the improvement of the defense, which went from last in the SEC in total yards allowed in 2004 to eighth in 2005.

Key to the turnaround was the play of defensive linemen Deljuan Robinson and Andrew Powell, along with middle linebacker Quinton Culberson. All three seniors return, along with two other senior defensive leaders - free safety Jeramie Johnson and cornerback David Heard. Last season, Johnson led the team with four interceptions.

The return of sophomore cornerback Derek Pegues and safety Keith Fitzhugh should make the secondary even stronger.

The key to the defense, however, will be the linebacking corps. There's no questioning Culberson, but he needs the guys on both sides of him - junior Gabe O'Neal and sophomore Jamar Chaney - to step up and develop into consistent playmakers.

The success or failure of the Bulldogs will once again be determined by the stop-unit.

SPECIALISTS

Punter Blake McAdams was solid last year as a freshman, averaging 41.9 yards per kick. The concern, however, is at placekicker. A severe groin injury sidelined Keith Andrews for the final three games, and he was replaced by Adam Carlson. Neither won the starting nod in the spring.

FINAL ANALYSIS

If State can get consistent play from Henig, and if the receivers and running backs live up to their expectations, the defense is solid enough that the Bulldogs could make a move in the SEC West. The key is the season opener against South Carolina at home. If MSU is 1-0 coming out of the blocks, the clanking of the cowbells just might be heard throughout the SEC.

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