STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team”s quarterback position is in a much better shape than last year as the team prepares for its season opener at 7 p.m. Thursday (Fox Sports Net) at the University of Memphis.
MSU third-year coach Dan Mullen said one philosophical difference will be the lack of a scripted game plan for backup quarterback Tyler Russell.
Entering last year”s opener, Mullen said Russell needed to get at least a series of playing time to give him experience. There also was even a debate at the time as to whether Relf or Russell would be under center for the rest of the season.
“You clearly didn”t know who was even going to be at quarterback last
year because well, we didn”t know for sure,” MSU offensive coordinator Les Koenning said.
Neither quarterback did anything to separate themselves in MSU”s 49-7 victory. Relf completed 78 percent of his passes, while Russell equaled the school”s single-game record for touchdown passes (four). They combined to go 20-for-25 for 372 yards and five touchdowns.
Entering a new season with high expectations, Relf will be the only returning starting quarterback in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. The senior, who was named the MVP of the 2011 Gator Bowl, now is the unquestioned starter. He will be counted on to improve on his 1,789 passing yards and 13 touchdowns from last season.
“It”s good to have a guy in game one that”s played games and when the lights come on he knows how to play in games,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “It”s not a new experience for him stepping out on the field. It”s somebody where, hopefully, he”ll pick up where he left off at an even higher level.”
Last season, MSU set school records for points scored, completion percentage, and touchdown passes.
With all the team”s receiving weapons on the outside returning except for Leon Berry, Mullen has hinted Relf will be given the opportunity to handle more responsibilities in the passing game than at any point in his MSU career.
“We got a lot of guys this year that can make plays and spread defenses, so if we spread the football around it”ll help everybody, including Chris,” junior receiver Chad Bumphis said.
In a contrast of schemes, Mullen said nothing will be scripted for Russell, a former Parade All-American from Meridian High School, due to the nine games of experience he earned last season.
“We don”t have to because he”s been in the game and had the entire offense given to him,” Koenning said. “We can hand the game to Tyler and feel fine he can lead the football team.”
That”s not to say the sophomore won”t play Thursday night, but he likely won”t see the field unless something happens to Relf or the game is out of hand for MSU.
“(Russell has) been in a game, he”s had a great week of practice,” Mullen said. “I looked yesterday and he looks like he was ready to start yesterday. That”s where you really feel good about the backup position.
Russell said last week he”ll be on the sidelines with the headset on and will able to see angles to help Relf when the MSU offense comes off the field.
“I”m able to see things in the defense Chris can”t see while his mind is moving quicker and with so much adrenaline,” Russell said last week. “When he comes off the field, I”m able to tell him what a cornerback is doing on every play or something crucial he can file away on the next series.”
The only unknown at quarterback is redshirt freshman Dylan Favre. The former Mr. Football selection in Mississippi, hasn”t taken a snap in a college football game.
“If we do go with Dylan as the next guy in the game at some point early in the season, (we”ll need to) get him reps so it”s not a shock when he gets thrown it at a key moment in the game and expect him to make the play,” Mullen said.
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