Alabama vs Mississippi State: 3 Takeaways from the Tide’s Trashing

2. Mike Leach’s Air Raid isn’t Meant for the SEC

Mississippi State’s offense has had success against decent SEC teams this year. With 42 points against Texas A&M and 40 against Arkansas, the air raid isn’t totally bad.

The problem arises when going up against the upper-tier secondaries in the conference. 16 points against LSU. 17 against Kentucky. Now, six against Alabama. If Mississippi State is looking to get back to being one of the better teams in the SEC, which they’re fully capable of doing, they need to adjust.

The biggest example I’ve seen of the air raid going wrong came about midway through the second quarter, when the Bulldogs faced third down and half a foot at their own 30. If you’ve seen Super Bowl 49, you’re familiar with the idea that in especially short-yardage situations, running the ball is generally better than passing the ball.

Unfortunately, Mike Leach does not believe in running the football. Not only did this lead to quarterback Will Rogers throwing an incompletion on third down, but the team proceeded to go for it on their own 30, call another passing play, and throw an incompletion.

Four plays later, Alabama found the end zone to make it 21-0. This is not how you compete in the best conference in the country.