Mississippi State’s offensive line knows the run of performances hasn’t been good enough, and the numbers from last week make that plain.
In a 31-0 loss to LSU, Billy Puckett was pressured 11 times and sacked five times, according to Pro Football Focus. The broader SEC picture hasn’t been much kinder either: since conference play began, Mississippi State’s offensive line has given up 37 pressures and 16 sacks.
Center Luke Boone said the group has been working to clean up the details that have been getting them beat.
“I feel like the past couple weeks we haven’t all been on the same page, and I kind of take that on myself,” Boone said. “It’s my responsibility to get everybody together. We need to get that in order, but also, like I said, just the technique that we use, we got to use it week in and week out.”
Boone said the line sees technique as the separator between average and strong offensive play.
“It’s really just all about hand to feet. All the top offensive linemen that get paid are really good with their hands and all really good with their feet,” he said. “So kind of just using those and then tying those together creates success up front.”
That offseason work has been tested by the stretch of defenses Mississippi State has faced, and Boone said the line believes it is learning through those snaps.
“I feel like the stuff that we built from the winter all the way up to this point has continued to grow, and continues to strengthen us,” Boone said. “I feel like we’ve done really well to kind of bounce back every week and continue to go play. I feel like we’ve done really well to kind of bounce back every week and continue to go play.”
Boone added that no matter who is lined up at quarterback, the mindset stays the same.
“The confidence in the quarterback is the same,” he said. “My responsibility as the center doesn’t change either way.”
On Tuesday, Boone was named Mid-Season All-American by On3. He has broken up six passes and, according to Pro Football Focus, has a coverage grade of 55.3 while allowing completions on just 23% of the balls thrown his way.
Regardless of who starts at quarterback on Saturday, Boone and the rest of the line say the message is the same: keep it simple, trust the fundamentals and keep grinding.
“The confidence is the same,” Boone said, “and for me personally, it’s the same way. My responsibility as the center doesn’t change either way.”
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The significance for Mississippi State is obvious in the way the programs early SEC progress has felt more substantial than a quick hot stretch. Lebby has worked through a variety of coaching roles since those days in Norman, and the steady climb has given him the kind of credibility that comes from doing the work at multiple levels. For a fan base looking for signs the rebuild is real, his rsum offers a reminder that the foundation did not appear overnight. [Read more 🡒]