Mississippi State has a SEC-caliber D-line, RB group, and a pair of promising young QBs, but that's about it when comparing them to LSU's amazing depth at nearly every position. Junior RB Anthony Dixon showed again why we have him so highly-rated here at CDS, but he couldn't do enough against LSU's NFL-caliber defense to get the Bulldogs over the hump. Part of that is because his counterpart (in size and power) on the Tiger's squad, Jr. RB Charles Scott, matched him blow for blow. This was kind of a grind it out game for the most part, with the exception of Demetrius Byrd's 44-TD catch and run for LSU. Great game for scouting. Tons of talent to assess.


SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Mississippi State Conference: Southeastern Columnist: Craig Strachan

Derek Pegues 3 5' 10.0" 196 4.45 S 2009: Far and away the best defensive prospect for the Bulldogs. Is an average safety in most aspects, but what really enhances his value is his kick return ability. Gets to full speed very quickly. Shifty in the open field. As a pass defender, he shows adequate (but not great) coverage ability. Very perceptive in positioning himself. Ball hawk. Not the strongest tackler around, and a Charles Scott stiff arm showed how NFL backs will run him over. Will be over-drafted for his kick return ability. Definitely not a Top 100 overall package. Career nickel back and possibly KR. GRADE: Neutral

Anthony Strauder 53 6' 3.0" 295 5.20 OG 2009: Very average game for Strauder. He struggles driving bigger people (and LSU has lots of them) off the ball. Sets up well in pass pro and has decent OG PP instincts and technique. Tied the match up with Marlon Favorite at times. Pauses oddly before striking when pulling. Misses blocks in PP occasionally. Better overall run blocker than pass defender, despite tech. Gets destroyed pulling too shallow by DTs who hit him while perp. to the LOS. GRADE: Slightly negative

Jamar Chaney 22 6' 1.0" 236 4.56 WR 2009: Didn't see him. Don't think he played. Thought I heard he was injured?

Jamayel Smith 89 6' 0.0" 183 4.45 WR 2009: DNP. Don't know the story here.

Tim Bailey 39 6' 2.5" 254 4.80 DE 2009: Tough, older Iraq War II veteran. Built up body. Dedication to the craft is exemplary, but he still has a ways to go in terms of his development as a player, and is a little old now...Tightly wound. Productive and intense. Makes plays against bigger people, and understands the use of leverage. Shuffles well. Gets upfield and goes to the sidelines. Much better player than athlete. No upside. Smallish. GRADE: Neutral

Jessie Bowman 94 6' 0.4" 315 5.14 DT 2009: Capable, legit SEC-caliber DT. Holds his ground most of the time in the running game. Serviceable job in SY and goal line. Got ridden completely downfield by Black once, and looked bad. Flattened by Johnson a couple times, but that is going to happen to plenty of NFL linemen next year. Able to get under the pads and win his share of the one-on-ones. Not much of a pass rusher. Looks like a very late pick or UDFA who has a chance of making the 4-3 DT rotation on a team with a weak D-line group. GRADE: Neutral

Charles Burns 92 6' 2.2" 265 4.90 DE 2009: Probably the one guy with some upside on the Bulldog D-line. Has enough size to be a 4-3 DE candidate, and enough tenacity to be a tough cut. Shows some upfield penetration and some diagnosing skills. Usually in the right place. Tough to cut because he protects his legs. Gets his arms up and deflects passes. Nothing to write home about, but just a steady football player who has a chance to be a better pro than college player. GRADE: Slightly positive.

Dominic Douglas 10 6' 2.0" 235 4.65 LB 2009: Overlooked guy. Not really flashy. Straight ahead run defender. Stuffs the run pretty well, and he did OK against Scott who is as big as any NFL back out there right now. Doesn't do much in pass defense. Not real instinctive. Not real fluid or fast. Just a run stuffer. Not a big hitter. Decent 2-down candidate for a 3-4 defense that rotates LBs. Career backup. GRADE: Neutral.


Jasper OQuinn 23 5' 9.3" 184 4.50 CB 2009: Was not involved that much in this one. Was beaten early by LaFell, but had a nice tackle in the second half. Not sure if they were avoiding his side or not. Not enough looks for a grade.

Keith Fitzhugh 1 5' 10.3" 205 4.60 SS 2009: Undersized but will give you what he's got. Really competes in the running game. Better player than athlete or workout warrior. Had a decent PD in the first half and 5 tackles. In the mix. Not shy. Not a sure tackler and not big enough to think he could do much more than get a look. Too small for NFL SS, and not a good enough cover/hands guy for FS. GRADE: Neutral

Anthony Dixon 24 6' 0.7" 238 4.55 HB 2010: Involved in the passing game, and displays average RB hands. N-S pounder who can occasionally bust a longer one. Not a home run threat. Not real shifty. Has a nice head bob, though. Runs with authority. Not a slow starter. Gets off quickly and really hits. Good lean. Breaks tackles. Very productive (26th career rushing TD came in this one). Finishes runs and punishes defenders. Great size/speed ratio. Has a better burst than you might think. Not as tall, but runs a little like Eric Dickerson. Battle-tested against the best, and has always produced. GRADE: Positive


College: Louisiana State Conference: Southeastern Columnist: Craig Strachan

Tyson Jackson 93 6' 4.5" 292 5.00 DT 2009: Shows both amazing potential, and questionable consistency. Plays very well in spurts, then coasts. Played DE in the 4-3 at LSU, and may stay there. Has the size to be looked at as a coveted 3-4 DE too, though. Makes tackles at the LOS. Anticipates count well, and, when in his groove, is the first man off. Doesn't get enough penetration for his size and skill set. Not sure, honestly, what to attribute that to. Can tackle just with those strong hands. Very nice swim. Hustles in spurts. Protects legs. Upside is huge. Downside is huge. I'd still "gamble" in the second round. GRADE: Slightly positive

Marlon Favorite 99 6' 1.0" 295 4.95 DT 2009: Steadier player than Jackson with both less upside and downside. Gives you what he's got on a consistent basis. Solid UT skill set. Not going to be a real pass rush threat. Maxed out body. Slow spin move, but I like the intent. Nothing but a straight ahead bull rusher and single-gap run defender really, but the motor is solid. Won't hurt a 4-3 rotation. GRADE: Neutral

Herman Johnson 79 6' 7.0" 379 5.25 OG 2009: Big Baby is just fun to watch. Nightmare to be lined up across from though. Can NOT be beaten with a power rush. Moves well for those dimensions. Not as much of a pile driver in the running game as you would think a guy his size should be. Doesn't make a solid pop on run contact, and doesn't churn that much. Better pass pro OG at this stage, but you get the feeling he will eventually do it all. Had a FR which shows he has movement skills and decent instincts. Some suddenness there. Could probably be a ROT got a running team too. Maxed out size, and may have to watch the weight. Not fat now, however. Athletic freak for his size. When he seals you, you stay sealed. Huge upside, and only needs to polish his run blocking game/intensity some to develop into a Pro-Bowl caliber OG or ROT. GRADE: Positive

Trindon Holliday 8 5' 5.0" 159 4.21 WR 2010: World class blazer who gives added value because he can catch a little. Primary value is as a kick returner. Doesn't get it done with moves though. More of a pure speed guy. Tiny. Average hands. Tough for his size. Can absorb a hit due to size/weight ratio. Not just a track guy, but not really ever going to be anything but a KR at the next level, except perhaps on gimic plays or in a really gimmicky offense of some sort. GRADE: Neutral

Ciron Black 70 6' 5.0" 327 0.00 OT 2010: As good as the top senior OTs in PP most of the time. Huge wingspan, and eats ground quickly when dropping. Movements are a tad herky jerky. Still developing into his body? Gets done what he sets out to do, not sure he always sets out to do the right thing though. Misses on the second level. Hooks DE and gets away with it. Cuts well. Maintains close contact in PP--maybe too close for speed rushers at the next level. Cuts well. NFL size and tenacity. A bit more of a project, perhaps, than Oher, Smith and Monroe, but as good as some of last year's first round OTs. GRADE: Positive



Demetrius Byrd 2 6' 2.0" 200 4.39 WR 2009: Hardly involved in the first half, but showed he is a willing an effective blocker. Started getting some action his way in the second half and took full advantage. Shines on crossing patterns. Snatches the ball on the run and keeps motoring. Fast and smooth. NFL skill set. A virtuoso with the football after the catch. Good enough size and speed to be a #2. Does not have Harrison hands or world-class explosiveness despite the straight-ahead time. GRADE: Slightly positive

Richard Dickson 82 6' 3.0" 240 4.75 TE 2010: DNP
Al Woods 97 6' 4.0" 323 0.00 DT 2010: DNP
Danny McCray 44 6' 1.0" 212 0.00 S 2010: DNP

Kirston Pittman 49 6' 1.0" 250 0.00 DE 2009: Nothing to write about physically, but plays above his measurables. Effort guy in the pass rush who comes without hesitation. Pass rush is his game though. Will not help you in the running game, and does not possess any measurable that makes you think he can be a 3rd-pass rush specialist, or OLB-conversion candidate--though that is his only hope, probably. Straight-linish. Decent finisher. GRADE: Neutral

Darry Beckwith 48 6' 1.0" 232 4.55 LB 2009: DNP either...Can you track down an injury report or suspension story on some of these guys, Craig?

Brandon LaFell 1 6' 3.0" 195 4.48 WR 2010: Offensive star of the game. #1 on this team, pushing Byrd to #2. Great size. Naturally fluid and very good hands. (Not exceptional hands though...) Sets down in zones. Beats the jam despite being lean at this level. Very quick. Quicker than fast. Smart. Really knows how to set up a DB and how to get open. Cleverness is his forte, and size and speed give him a chance to be an eventual NFL #1. Glad he has a year to mature, and he should definitely take it. GRADE: Positive

Brett Helms 74 6' 2.0" 285 5.05 C 2009: Very adequate NCAA Center. Does everything unremarkably. Part of a unit. Does nothing to stand out or to hurt you. Solid run blocker. Shows some natural leadership instincts. Camp guy. Be on the phone within 10 minutes of pick 265...GRADE: Neutral

Colt David 6 5' 9.0" 175 4.80 K 2009: Made FGs of 38 and 39 yards. Right down the middle with room to spare. Does not kick off. Gotta do both...GRADE: Slightly negative.

Ricky Jean-Francois 90 6' 3.0" 281 4.96 DT 2010: Needs 20 pounds, but has the rest. Very active and shows good penetration skills. Has a better upside than I thought. If he is truly 4.96, he will play on Sundays. Had a QBH, a sack and a couple tackles before being injured late in the first half. DNR. No idea of the severity. Motor impressed me. Shows some emotion and intensity out there. MUST get bigger, but has the frame. GRADE: Neutral

Curtis Taylor 27 6' 3.0" 204 4.55 S 2009: Goes for the kill shot and doesn't always wrap. Decent run supporter who didn't show me anything in pass D...but I didn't see him in a position to be able to show me either. At his height, I want to see him in a jump ball situation with LaFell. Never happened. GRADE: Incomplete

Charles Alexander 91 6' 3.0" 310 0.00 DT 2009: Fills a hole. Should do more with his size. Has enough toughness to be a rotational 4-3 DT. I wouldn't draft him until the 6-7th though...Will not be a pass rush threat, and 4-3 rotational DTs are a dime a dozen. GRADE: Slightly negative

Jacob Cutrera 54 6' 4.0" 236 0.00 LB 2010: Nice size and intensity, Sure tackler. Goes hard every play. Makes plays on the edges and in the backfield. Needs another year to fill out the body and the resume. Tons of upside. Want to know the 40...GRADE: Slightly positive

Keiland Williams 5 5' 10.7" 224 4.48 HB 2010: The kind of guy who just needs reps. Lost a tough battle with Scott for the #1 job, but has better NFL edge-rushing skills. Doesn't have quite the size, and thus, the toughness between the tackles. Better moves than Scott. Slightly better speed I would think, also...Used as a KR. Very few reps to evaluate in this one. GRADE: Neutral


OTHER NOTES:

Mississippi State:

Take a look at DT #90 Cortez McCraney's stat line and size and see if it shows database-caliber numbers, CJ. He always seems to make a play or two whenever I watch MSU.

LSU:

Charles Scott: I am going to go ahead and add him to the dbase, because I want him in the 2010 HB rankings right now. When he just goes he buries defenders. Too much dancing at the LOS at times. Does well with quick tosses. Good eyes. Can break the big ones. Nimble for his size. Prototypical NFL size. Need a 40...

Darry Beckwith re-aggravated a knee injury against S.Carolina and has been limited since. Scott ran a 4.54 at a HS combine when he was 15+ pounds lighter, he's 4.58ish now I'd bet.

Who does Bailey remind you of?

This goes back a ways. But how about A.J. Jenkins, Fullerton State, Class of '89

AJ Jenkins went to the same JC as me, Merced College. Ruben Droughns also attended MC, as well as Duke Ferguson of the Tony Dorsett trade back in the day. AJ Jenkins also played for the Steelers for a minute or two.

Awesome, I wondered if I was the only greybeard around here who would remember A.J.!

Unfortunately, I fear Bailey's NFL career may wind up being as long and illustrious as was A.J.'s.

Steve, just wanted to say thanks again for covering this game for me. I'll get the top 100 ranked guys from this game written up at some point this week, and I'll get your notes taken down for the other guys too.