Croom: "We've got to score points"

[Greenhead22]

http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=136&p=2&c=566462

Croom: "We've Got To Score Points"
Premium Story
Sylvester Croom

By David Murray
Editor-Dawgs' Bite
Posted Sep 9, 2006

The record shows two losses. The homefield scoreboard has yet to register a point in the left column. Yet for the natural doom-and-gloom, not to mention fire-and-brimstone, expressed by panicked and/or furious fans, the head Dog is sticking to both his guns and his gameplan.

Asked what it will take to get Mississippi State on the scoreboard and in the win column, Coach Sylvester Croom is clear. “Do the things we were supposed to have done out there today,” he said. “Execute the plays as they are and make plays.

Play-making, most obviously on the offensive side, has been in short State supply so far this early season. Saturday’s 34-0 loss at Scott Field to Auburn came ten days after a 15-0 blanking by visiting South Carolina, giving State consecutive shutouts for the first time in 39 years. In both games the Bulldog offense generated exactly the same total yardage, 161, and only once have they driven the ball inside an opponent’s ‘red zone.’ That one, to the Auburn 16 in the fourth quarter, ended in a blocked field goal.

Against the Gamecocks a game-opening interception resulted in State getting to the 21, where the field goal was merely missed. But placekicking, or the lack thereof, is not the topic on most minds at the moment. It is frustration over Bulldog struggles at moving the ball and scoring points.

From his vantage point Croom saw more encouraging signs in today’s defeat than a week ago. State ran the ball with some authority against a better defensive team, and quarterback Tray Rutland—who replaced the injured Mike Hening in the second quarter against USC—showed admirable poise under first-start pressures. At points the run-blocking seemed respectable and a couple of plays there was even sufficient time for Rutland to throw the ball.

As Croom said, “And we executed better. But when it came to the clutch plays to keep drives going, we didn’t make them.” State was 5-of-15 in third downs, with no third-quarter conversions and just one in the fourth long after the issue was settled.

One in particular bothered the coach. Trailing 7-0, the offense got the ball on their own one-yard line thanks to a great defensive effort by safety Jeramie Johnson to strip an Auburn receiver on his way to the end zone. It was a tough situation of course and turned into a 3rd-and-5. Rutland was to take a short drop and throw quickly, and the play developed as intended…almost.

“On the three-step drop we’ve got a guy wide-open and one of our linemen tried to cut,” Croom said. “And he misses.” The result was a dive into Rutland’s waist, a fumble, and Auburn possession at the one where they scored two snaps later for a 14-0 lead. “You can’t miss, bottom line,” said Croom, and old lineman himself. “How do you miss a cut-block?

“You have to make that play when those things are there.” He pointed to other junctures where State showed some drive by moving the ball and the chains with consecutive first downs in the first half, mixing the run and pass nicely. Nothing came of all that offensive effort. And even when the Dogs got a gift on a fumbled punt and pushed into the Tiger red zone for the first time it led to further frustration. Rutland overthrew tight end Eric Butler in the end zone—“We’ve got to make that play”--and Adam Carlson’s kick was rejected.

Croom did not downplay Rutland’s own errors. “A couple of times he had guys open.” But he had no criticism for the redshirt rookie’s demeanor or desire, nor most of the unit for that matter. The issue is that attitude isn’t enough to score against SEC competition. Aptitude is the question. “And we have to do things right,” Croom said.

“Yeah, we’ve got to score points. But the way you score points is executing plays. It’s blocking, it’s catching, it’s running, it’s throwing the ball to the right place, all of that stuff. And we’re going to keep working at it and keep doing it and it will come together. Right now we have a couple of kids in places, and some older ones, who are not making plays.”

The emphasis on play-making was meant to make clear Croom’s own attitude on another subject. Specifically, play-calling. Consecutive shutouts have fans, paying or otherwise, howling. The coach knows this is part of the game…but not one he was hired to address other than on-the-field.

“Here it is,” he told media post-game. “Those two games are over. I’ve learned after three years of being at this, particularly at the level I’ve been at, it hurts but you move on. That’s the only way to get better. I’m not going to sit around and cry and I’m sure not going to sit around and worry about the criticism and what fans think. I don’t have time to worry about that.

“I’ve got a bunch of young kids out there fighting their guts out and trying to get better, and I’m going to keep working with them. That’s what I’m supposed to do. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I could care less about what anybody thinks about what we’re doing, OK? I’m not concerned about that.”

Blunt talk, but from a man who hasn’t been shy about giving clear comments on any situation. Still Croom realizes that the queries will only increase and not just from media professionals. “We have a call-in show and people are going to call in and ask questions. But hey, nothing is going to change. We’re going to try to get better at what we’re doing. I don’t want to hear about the play-calling, I don’t want to hear about getting rid of my coaches because I’m never firing a football coach. If it comes to that I’m going to fire me. I want to get that clear so when I get to the show…and I don’t want to do the show anyway, I need to be working trying to get our team better instead of sitting around listening to those questions.”

The show, Dawgs Talk, airs Monday evening from 7:00-8:00. And even the most infuriated fan has to accept that the only response that matters will come from the entire team—offense, defense, and specialists--next Saturday evening against Tulane (6:00). Everything else is just, well, talk.

“It’s frustrating,” Croom agrees. “But there is no lack of effort. All I ask our kids to do is give total effort and that’s what they’re doing. They’re young, I expect them to get better. They’ve got the night off and I want them to enjoy the weekend and come back Monday and let’s go work and get ready for the next ball game.”

[go24]

Well, well, well.

He's in there until somebody (Templeton or Fogelsong) get tired of it. Three years already and probably three more to go. Add JWS three last years and two for a new coach... My head hurts

[Greenhead22]

He has 8 yrs left on the contract, plus the non-compete clause, which I feel we don't have to worry about since no one in the sec would want him.

I now realize why Bummer chose Shula over Croom.

[Hole Hunter]

They(MSU & UA) both are regretting thier decision.
Believe me!!!

[timberjack]

You can't win if you don't have talent. It's not like croom's got a fieldhouse fulla hosses. Give him some time, if after say....5 years, he's had time to recruit some talent and get them acclimated to his system and he still doesn't win, then I say let him go.

The problem with most fans today is they want immediate wins. It takes time to build a quality program even with the best coach. You can take the short route and hire a bunch of thugs and you'll win a few games........but eventually you'll end up on probation. That's what has me worried about orgeron. He's walking a fine line with some of the players he's recruited.

[Bankermane]

Defense just ain't scoring. . .

[Greenhead22]

[crackhead]

Remember the day when joe lee's d was good for at least one or two TD a game.

[go24]

I'm glad he at least mentioned the possiblity of firing himself. You know, Polk said he wouldn't fire himself regardless...

[Woodduckdawg]

Best play of the game is when Auburn fumbled the punt. We gained soooo many yards on that one play. The reason . . . .Woody didn't call that play!!!!!

[jtdumallard]

timberjack, his system (west coast) does not and will not work not only at msu but no where in the sec or against the sec. end of discussion

[DeltaDawg]

Timberjack I feel the same way,they have some good wr you just have to get them the ball! has everyone forgotten that we lost our starting QB the first game give rutland some time. we are rebuilding and people are calling for the coaches head because he did not score on a team that some are saying will be in the national championship, give me a break it was the kids first start! Some fans need to grow up a little , you get rid of the coach and half the kids he has committed will go elsewhere then where are we, set back another year!!! To all the negative fans,,,If ya aint got nothing good to say dont say it!!!!!

[bigwater]

com on basketball season...

[Po Monkey Lounger]

"You can take the short route and hire a bunch of thugs and you'll win a few games........but eventually you'll end up on probation. That's what has me worried about orgeron. He's walking a fine line with some of the players he's recruited."

Who exactly do you consider to be a hired thug?

[Money]

Bring Jackie backie !