Some random thoughts from Sunshine after watching the South Carolina game.
The Good
- Another great road win is in the books. Looks like the Hogs could be 4-0 (Mississippi State remaining) on the road this season. With a win next week against Tennessee, the Hogs could clinch the West the following week in Starkville. The way LSU played Saturday, let’s hope the finale in Little Rock doesn’t have to decide the Western Division.
- Game Ball to Casey Dick. The 11-20, 228 yards performance was great in relief of Mitch. Casey was prepared, ready, poised, came in and executed; just like he has all season when called upon. Very efficient…9 of his 11 completions went for first downs.
McFadden (4th highest single game rushing mark – 214 yards) and Monk (5th highest single game receiving – 192 yards) were machines. They can have a game ball, too. 
- Great to see Anthony Brown make a big play on the punt block for a safety. Brown, who has sacrificed for the team and played about six different positions, put his speed to good use and gave the Hogs momentum late in the second quarter. Nice job.
The Bad
- You’ve got to give it up to Captain Sam Olajubutu for his effort and desire to play with pain. However, I found myself wincing throughout the game watching Sam trying to chase down the ball carrier in space. He looked to be about 75% to me.
- The QB Controversy that will erupt this week, when our focus should be on the Big Orange.
- Costly win on the injury front looks like. Michael Grant’s knee injury looked horrible. McFadden’s ankle; Stephen Parker’s knee…let’s hope for a speedy recovery.
The Ugly
- Coach Herring’s stubborn refusal to get out of the man coverage and into a zone damn near cost us the game. The game plan against Newton obviously wasn’t getting the same results against the more accurate passer Blake Mitchell. Had the Hogs switched earlier, defended with 7 or 8, and dared Mitchell to run, the outcome would have been sealed sooner. Instead, we didn’t make the switch until six minutes were left in the game, and the score was 26-20. Darius Vinnett’s first career interception helped save us from losing, and saved Herring from having to further explain.
I disagree with your assessment of Herrings stubborn refusal. I have been told by coaches that you play your base defense until very late in the game to spring, in this case, the zone coverage. You do not want to give them time to adjust. I admit that I wanted it one series sooner. But when Mitchell through the pass he had no idea we had switched.
It wasn't stubborness it was coaching 101 I believe. The way Mitchell was throwing they would have attacked it differently and he would have figured out how to be successfull against the zone. Two ways of looking at it.
Wishark – I don't begrudge Herring the option to "spring" something on the opponent, at the right moment…I only wished it had been sooner!!! We were "dying a thousand deaths" watching that unfold.
Mitchell and Newton are diverse in their abilities. I wouldn't have played them the same.
All's well that ends well though.
Sorry, but I don't give Monk the game ball with this performance at all. He had 192 yards of offense but he probably should have had 292 yards. He missed two touchdown passes that should have been caught. Or at least prevented one of them from being intercepted. Also, caused Mitch to get YANKed by his lack of trying for the first interception.
Don't make him a hero when he almost was the GOAT!
I give Monk a game ball, granted he did miss the two passes and I agree that they should and could have been caught, but he's not going to catch every ball thrown his direction! Another thing is, there wasn't any way on God's green Earth that his "lack" of effort for Mitch's pass is what got him Yanked…it was the fact that the ball was intercepted 6 yards behind where Monk was at and also the previous games interceptions. They finally gave Casey Dick a chance, and he got to showcase to everyone what he could do! I think that is what won the game!