Saturday's full pads practice was Moorhead's third MSU practice.
Moorhead Puts Bulldogs Through First Full Pads Practice
March 24, 2018 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – For the first time since the TaxSlayer Bowl on December 30, the full pads were on for Mississippi State as the Bulldogs wrapped up the first week of spring football under first-year head coach Joe Moorhead.
With Saturday's practice open to the public, Moorhead put State through a two-hour workout, improving in all three phases. The team portion was a "thud" scrimmage. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald participated in nearly all facets of the practice with the exception of team periods that included a pass rush.
Fitzgerald continues to recover nicely from a broken ankle he sustained last November. He enters his senior campaign as one of the top quarterbacks in all of college football.
Moorhead and the Bulldogs will practice twice next week – Tuesday and Thursday – before Easter break. Four weeks from today, MSU is seeking to shatter a school record for spring game attendance when it hosts the Maroon and White Spring Game at 3 p.m. CT on April 21 in Davis Wade Stadium.
An announced attendance of 36,357 in 2011 is the current school record. Admission is free for the annual Super Bulldog Weekend event.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.
Below are quotes from quarterback Nick Fitzgerald:
On practicing again …
"It feels good. I'm glad to be out here again. It feels great. Obviously, I love football. I love being out here. Sitting on the couch wasn't for me."
On his pace in practice …
"I would rather be my comeback and say slow down then hey, you are a little slow out there."
On if he has any pain ..
"You get sore a little after practice. You get ice, but other than that, I haven't had any pain, and I am feeling really good. I'll be 100 percent by August."
On his routine in practice …
"I do everything at practice when there is not a live rush. Anytime that we go against the defense where there is going to be a live rush. It's not worth the risk of getting rolled up on. I would rather get mental reps and make sure I get a lot of work over the summer. I understand it. I am making sure I get my mental reps that way physically when it catches up, I will be ready to go."
On his first time running again earlier this winter …
"It was a great. I came out here and put a video on Twitter. I was so excited, I wanted to share it with the world. It was definitely a big accomplishment and a happy day. I had to go through a lot and fight through a lot to get there."
On his current arm strength …
"I think of it as I probably have the freshest arm I have had since I have been here. Having to sit out and not being able to do much, I had a lot of time to get me some rest since last season. I didn't have much time to go out there and throw too much. Coach (Anthony) Piroli has done a really good job of giving us a quarterback circuit for shoulder care."
On his relationship with Coach Moorhead and the offensive staff …
"It's awesome. They are very, very, very smart. They are really intelligent guys. They are definitely very passionate. They are very, very complimentary and supportive. They tell us what they see. They tell us the good things. They tell us the bad things and are very straight up about it. Ultimately, I feel like we are going to be in good position with them. They are going to put us in a position to win and get us plays."
On quarterbacks coach Andrew Breiner …
"We are as close as can be. He came in the first day, and we sat down and talked a bit. We got to know each other, and it has flourished from there."
On his goals the remainder of the spring …
"Coming out of spring, I want to have a very, very good knowledge of the offense. I want to have a base knowledge of all the plays, know how to run them, the technique. That way over the summer we can get into more detailed parts of it. That way come fall camp, we are ready to go."
With Saturday's practice open to the public, Moorhead put State through a two-hour workout, improving in all three phases. The team portion was a "thud" scrimmage. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald participated in nearly all facets of the practice with the exception of team periods that included a pass rush.
Fitzgerald continues to recover nicely from a broken ankle he sustained last November. He enters his senior campaign as one of the top quarterbacks in all of college football.
Moorhead and the Bulldogs will practice twice next week – Tuesday and Thursday – before Easter break. Four weeks from today, MSU is seeking to shatter a school record for spring game attendance when it hosts the Maroon and White Spring Game at 3 p.m. CT on April 21 in Davis Wade Stadium.
An announced attendance of 36,357 in 2011 is the current school record. Admission is free for the annual Super Bulldog Weekend event.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.
Below are quotes from quarterback Nick Fitzgerald:
On practicing again …
"It feels good. I'm glad to be out here again. It feels great. Obviously, I love football. I love being out here. Sitting on the couch wasn't for me."
On his pace in practice …
"I would rather be my comeback and say slow down then hey, you are a little slow out there."
On if he has any pain ..
"You get sore a little after practice. You get ice, but other than that, I haven't had any pain, and I am feeling really good. I'll be 100 percent by August."
On his routine in practice …
"I do everything at practice when there is not a live rush. Anytime that we go against the defense where there is going to be a live rush. It's not worth the risk of getting rolled up on. I would rather get mental reps and make sure I get a lot of work over the summer. I understand it. I am making sure I get my mental reps that way physically when it catches up, I will be ready to go."
On his first time running again earlier this winter …
"It was a great. I came out here and put a video on Twitter. I was so excited, I wanted to share it with the world. It was definitely a big accomplishment and a happy day. I had to go through a lot and fight through a lot to get there."
On his current arm strength …
"I think of it as I probably have the freshest arm I have had since I have been here. Having to sit out and not being able to do much, I had a lot of time to get me some rest since last season. I didn't have much time to go out there and throw too much. Coach (Anthony) Piroli has done a really good job of giving us a quarterback circuit for shoulder care."
On his relationship with Coach Moorhead and the offensive staff …
"It's awesome. They are very, very, very smart. They are really intelligent guys. They are definitely very passionate. They are very, very complimentary and supportive. They tell us what they see. They tell us the good things. They tell us the bad things and are very straight up about it. Ultimately, I feel like we are going to be in good position with them. They are going to put us in a position to win and get us plays."
On quarterbacks coach Andrew Breiner …
"We are as close as can be. He came in the first day, and we sat down and talked a bit. We got to know each other, and it has flourished from there."
On his goals the remainder of the spring …
"Coming out of spring, I want to have a very, very good knowledge of the offense. I want to have a base knowledge of all the plays, know how to run them, the technique. That way over the summer we can get into more detailed parts of it. That way come fall camp, we are ready to go."
Players Mentioned
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