Since Mullen took over in 2009, running the ball well has always been a priority. Even when pocket passer Tyler Russell was the starting quarterback, running the ball was an important part of MSU's offense. As you can see in the chart below, that is no longer the case.
| Year | Rush Attempts | Pass Attempts | Rush Percentage |
| 2009 | 555 | 266 | 68% |
| 2010 | 619 | 288 | 68% |
| 2011 | 513 | 349 | 60% |
| 2012 | 424 | 424 | 50% |
| 2013 | 527 | 429 | 55% |
| 2014 | 578 | 423 | 58% |
| 2015 | 112 | 151 | 43% |
Take these numbers with a grain of salt, because the NCAA counts sacks as rush attempts.