My view is that MSU has been able to get away with not running Mellott much and with having him throw more passes (mostly shorter), but won't be able to win the big games, or all of them, without having Mellott run a lot more. At least, he's getting to work on his passing, and the team on its pass game. Presumably, that is coming along.
I call BS on Mellott playing the best football of his career. He is doing fine against crappy teams.
I just can see MSU's offense being as good by trading Mellott's running and speed, for whatever his passing games turns out to be. His run game is special; his passing game will never be close to anything special. I understand why the Cats are trying to do this, i.e. to preserve Mellott in general, as well as with Chambers gone.