GeauxTo
08-29-2007, 08:32 AM
By RANDY ROSETTA (rrosetta@theadvocate.com)
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Aug 29, 2007 - Page: 1C
Michael Henig will begin his second straight season as Mississippi State’s starting quarterback Thursday night when the Bulldogs open the 2007 season against visiting LSU.
A positive sign for State, though, will be if Henig can sidestep a stout Tigers defense regarded as one of the nation’s best and is ready to lead the Bulldogs offense the rest of the season.
When Henig, a fourth-year junior quarterback, leads the MSU offense onto the field against the No. 2-ranked Tigers at Scott Field, it won’t be his first moment in the spotlight. He’s started nine games in two years, including the season opener last year against South Carolina.
But Henig suffered a broken collarbone in the opener last fall, punching a hole in any chance the Bulldogs had of establishing early momentum.
“This is a pretty big stage for us and for me,” Henig said. “We opened up against South Carolina on national TV last year, but this is different because of who we’re playing.”
It’s different for Henig because he appears to be healthy again after missing a large chunk of last season with the collarbone ailment. And it’s different for the Bulldogs because for the first time in coach Sylvester Croom’s four seasons, there’s cause for cautious optimism.
After getting hurt in the opener, Henig missed the next six games and State went 1-5. He returned against West Virginia when Bulldogs senior Omarr Conner got injured and started the next six games — compiling 1,145 passing yards and eight touchdown passes.
Sparked by Henig, MSU nabbed two victories — including a memorable 24-16 stunner at Alabama and narrowly lost to Georgia and Kentucky by three points each. Henig had the best games of his career against Georgia and UK — 234 yards and then 384 yards and three TDs. As impressive as those two breakout performances were, Henig was also intercepted twice in each game.
“We saw what we could do last year toward the end,” Henig said. “We showed we could play with anybody. We finished the season at a stage where we know can play together as a team. We learned how good we can be and I learned how important it is to limit my mistakes because everything I do as a quarterback can make a difference in a close game.”
Croom is certainly counting on Henig making a difference.
This year is the first time the Montgomery, Ala., native went into the preseason having to fight for the starting job, although the Bulldogs went into camp with a junior-college transfer (Josh Riddell), a walk-on (former Southeastern Louisiana backup Zack Harrington) two true freshmen (Wesley Carroll, Chris Reif) to push him. Riddell was suspended last week, leaving Carroll as Henig’s leading understudy.
But Croom sounds like a coach expecting big things from his veteran quarterback. He said Henig is “better mentally” and has learned how to reconcile his strong arm with the risks available to him.
“He’s more disciplined about executing the offense,” Croom said. “He’s got to be smart about how he takes licks, how he goes down. He shouldn’t take any unnecessary hits.”
Having an experienced supporting cast in front and around him should give Henig more of a comfort level than last year.
State returns 10 offensive starters, including the leading rusher from last season (Anthony Dixon, 668 yards, nine TDs) and the top three receivers (Tony Burks, 35 receptions for 850 yards and five TDs; Lance Long 25-177, 1 TD; and Jamayel Smith 20-335, 2 TDs).
“We’re a whole different team. We don’t even look like the same guys,” Henig said. “Wide receivers are making plays, Anthony is in great shape and running well. … There’s just a lot more confidence and a better feeling than we had last year.”
This week, however, there’s also the matter of contending with an LSU defense regarded as one of the country’s best.
In three games against the Tigers under Croom, the Bulldogs have struggled toffensively. State has carved out only 585 yards on 153 offensive snaps vs. LSU in that span and has scored only 17 points on offense, 24 overall.
Henig came off the bench to go 2-of-4 for 32 yards in 2005.
“We’ve seen them on film and we know they’ve got a fast and aggressive defense with hard hitters,” Henig said. “We’ve done all we can to prepare. This will be a good experience for me to see how ready I am and it’s a chance for us as a team to see how good we can be this season.”
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Aug 29, 2007 - Page: 1C
Michael Henig will begin his second straight season as Mississippi State’s starting quarterback Thursday night when the Bulldogs open the 2007 season against visiting LSU.
A positive sign for State, though, will be if Henig can sidestep a stout Tigers defense regarded as one of the nation’s best and is ready to lead the Bulldogs offense the rest of the season.
When Henig, a fourth-year junior quarterback, leads the MSU offense onto the field against the No. 2-ranked Tigers at Scott Field, it won’t be his first moment in the spotlight. He’s started nine games in two years, including the season opener last year against South Carolina.
But Henig suffered a broken collarbone in the opener last fall, punching a hole in any chance the Bulldogs had of establishing early momentum.
“This is a pretty big stage for us and for me,” Henig said. “We opened up against South Carolina on national TV last year, but this is different because of who we’re playing.”
It’s different for Henig because he appears to be healthy again after missing a large chunk of last season with the collarbone ailment. And it’s different for the Bulldogs because for the first time in coach Sylvester Croom’s four seasons, there’s cause for cautious optimism.
After getting hurt in the opener, Henig missed the next six games and State went 1-5. He returned against West Virginia when Bulldogs senior Omarr Conner got injured and started the next six games — compiling 1,145 passing yards and eight touchdown passes.
Sparked by Henig, MSU nabbed two victories — including a memorable 24-16 stunner at Alabama and narrowly lost to Georgia and Kentucky by three points each. Henig had the best games of his career against Georgia and UK — 234 yards and then 384 yards and three TDs. As impressive as those two breakout performances were, Henig was also intercepted twice in each game.
“We saw what we could do last year toward the end,” Henig said. “We showed we could play with anybody. We finished the season at a stage where we know can play together as a team. We learned how good we can be and I learned how important it is to limit my mistakes because everything I do as a quarterback can make a difference in a close game.”
Croom is certainly counting on Henig making a difference.
This year is the first time the Montgomery, Ala., native went into the preseason having to fight for the starting job, although the Bulldogs went into camp with a junior-college transfer (Josh Riddell), a walk-on (former Southeastern Louisiana backup Zack Harrington) two true freshmen (Wesley Carroll, Chris Reif) to push him. Riddell was suspended last week, leaving Carroll as Henig’s leading understudy.
But Croom sounds like a coach expecting big things from his veteran quarterback. He said Henig is “better mentally” and has learned how to reconcile his strong arm with the risks available to him.
“He’s more disciplined about executing the offense,” Croom said. “He’s got to be smart about how he takes licks, how he goes down. He shouldn’t take any unnecessary hits.”
Having an experienced supporting cast in front and around him should give Henig more of a comfort level than last year.
State returns 10 offensive starters, including the leading rusher from last season (Anthony Dixon, 668 yards, nine TDs) and the top three receivers (Tony Burks, 35 receptions for 850 yards and five TDs; Lance Long 25-177, 1 TD; and Jamayel Smith 20-335, 2 TDs).
“We’re a whole different team. We don’t even look like the same guys,” Henig said. “Wide receivers are making plays, Anthony is in great shape and running well. … There’s just a lot more confidence and a better feeling than we had last year.”
This week, however, there’s also the matter of contending with an LSU defense regarded as one of the country’s best.
In three games against the Tigers under Croom, the Bulldogs have struggled toffensively. State has carved out only 585 yards on 153 offensive snaps vs. LSU in that span and has scored only 17 points on offense, 24 overall.
Henig came off the bench to go 2-of-4 for 32 yards in 2005.
“We’ve seen them on film and we know they’ve got a fast and aggressive defense with hard hitters,” Henig said. “We’ve done all we can to prepare. This will be a good experience for me to see how ready I am and it’s a chance for us as a team to see how good we can be this season.”