College Football Analysis: Thursday Night Theory

There is always so much to say and only so much time to say it in. The 2007 college football season has officially commenced and many of the outcomes of Thursday's night slate of games were very predictable, the only one that many might not have predicted was Kent State defeating Iowa State on the road. If you followed the Golden Flashes at all last season, you would realize they had a very good team, a sound defense and a very slippery signal-caller, which made that upset more than realistic. Let's get down to it, shall we?

(2)Louisiana State 45 Mississippi State 0
Initial thoughts, I have to give alot of credit to Mississippi State's quarterback Michael Hening, even though he did throw six interceptions and take them out of this game. He was bruised and battered for the entire game and was limping to the sideline on nearly every play. That LSU defensive front was leveling him on nearly every play, but he kept getting back up and taking his punishment like a true warrior. There was one hit where I saw him get sandwhiched in between two LSU defensive lineman in which both players delivered crushing hits on both sides of him. I got alot of respect for him, even though he did cost them the game. Nobody else was really getting anything going for the Mississippi State offense, so Hening really had no other option but to air it out. LSU did an excellent job of turning the interceptions into points, and that in the end is what really cost the Bulldogs.

They also could find no answer for Early Doucet, who Flynn hooked up with several times. There were no surprises there, Flynn spent extra time working with Doucet in the off-season and it is pretty clear he is his favorite target out there! He was nailing Doucet with those crossing routes and the Bulldogs couldn't stop him. Doucet ended up hauling in 9 passes for 78 yards and 1 touchdown. We should see a huge year from Early Doucet, first because the chemistry between him and Flynn is nearly flawless and the second reason is because Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis are off to the NFL, leaving Early as the only primary receiver.