The Wheels Of The Air Raid
October 12, 2022 | Football, Joel Coleman
Success of Dillon Johnson and running backs takes MSU offense to another level.
STARKVILLE – In the Air Raid offense, running backs have to be versatile – no questions asked.
They have to catch. They have to block. And, yes, of course – even in an offense known for the passing game – they have to run.
Mississippi State back Dillon Johnson loves to do all of the above to help the Bulldogs win however he can. But he can't hide it. He's a big fan of getting to live up to his position's name.
"Every running back loves to run the ball," Johnson said with a big smile.
There've been lots of smiles from Johnson and MSU's running backs these days. And why wouldn't there be? The position group's success in 2022 has allowed the Bulldog offense to become more threatening than ever before under Leach.
While quarterback Will Rogers has vaulted himself into the Heisman Trophy discussion with his arm, some of his biggest weapons have been the legs of Johnson, Jo'quavious Marks and the Dawg runners.
"Anytime Woody [Marks] or Dillon can get the ball in their hands, I think we're in good hands," Rogers said. "Having backs that compliment each other well and can run, it just helps our offense go even more.
"The more we can run the ball and the more we can really get extra [defensive] guys in the box, the more it's going to open up a passing lane or something like that."
Rogers has found passing lanes galore as he's racked up a country-leading 2,110 yards through the air. That success is a large credit to Rogers, but there's no denying how big of a part Johnson, Marks and the rest have played – causing opponents to have to respect both MSU's passing and rushing attacks. Foes can't afford to sell out in either direction.
If Rogers and the receivers are the wings in the Air Raid, the running backs are the wheels. It all works together to make a complete machine that can do it all.
"I just think it gives so much balance to the offense where it just makes it very difficult to stop and takes State to another level," ESPN's Tim Tebow said of MSU's rushing attack last week when he was in Starkville to help host SEC Nation.
Added fellow ESPN broadcaster Jordan Rodgers: "I think the narrative that [MSU is] running the football more, they're not…It's not they're running more. They're more effective. The scheme is better. They're more physical up front. The backs play a part of that. Will plays a part in that as well, getting them in the right looks."
The results speak for themselves.
The Bulldogs are coming off a week in which they ran for 162 yards against Arkansas. It stands as State's highest single-game total under Leach, and it came just one week after MSU put up 144 yards on the ground against Texas A&M – now the third-highest single-game total of the Leach era.
Averaging 104.8 yards per game rushing, the Dawgs are running the ball at the highest clip of any Leach-coached team since his Washington State group back in 2016. MSU has 18 runs of 10 or more yards this season through six games after posting just 23 in 13 games last year and 20 in 11 games back in 2020.
"Those guys are warriors back there," Leach said of his running backs. "You want them to have the ball."
Johnson has been particularly strong this year. In SEC games, he ranks fifth in the league in rushing yardage and is one of just three players to log 200 or more rushing yards with three or more touchdowns on the ground in conference action.
No wonder Johnson is smiling so much.
"[Running backs coach Jason Washington] preaches and Coach Leach preaches that we've got to be able to run the ball for us to take our game to the next level," Johnson said. "That's basically what we've been trying to do. The offensive line has done a great job making holes for us and creating one on one matchups with the safeties. Me and Woody and [Simeon Price] and [J.J. Jernighan] and all of us, we're just trying to take advantage of those opportunities when we get out in the open field with a safety."
Take advantage the Dawgs indeed have, and it's making the team stronger and stronger.
It's ironic isn't it? The better MSU gets on the ground, the higher in the sky the Air Raid flies.
"I think if you're Mississippi State, take it, take it, take it, take it, take it," Tebow said of using the run when it's there. "When you do it, it opens up the rest."
