Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Quick Quotes From Football’s Tuesday Media Session
September 23, 2020 | Football
STARKVILLE – Seniors K.J. Costello, JaVonta Payton and Kobe Jones along with sophomore Martin Emerson met with the media on Tuesday night. Payton and Costello spoke on the new offense Mississippi State fans will see this year, while Jones and Emerson discussed the defenses' growth on the field.
Emerson's job during fall camp quickly moved from learning a new scheme into being a mentor for the young cornerbacks room. His running mates on the depth chart include a pair of true freshmen in Decamerion Richardson and Emmanuel Forbes, along with sophomore Esaias Furdge, who has played just two career games in two seasons on campus.
"I know I am still a young guy, but I can't really think like that, because I am one of the more experienced guys on the back end [of our defense]," Emerson said. "I want to be a vocal leader and lead by example. Show everybody the way of the Bulldog by giving everything I've got every day.
"I have been in those shoes before. I feel like [the young guys] are ready for the challenge. They play [extremely hard] every day and they just have to come out and execute. [As a young player] You just have to make sure you are doing your job."
Emerson's growth has been noticed by his teammates. Jones noted how the sophomore's approach has built confidence for the rest of the defensive unit.
""He's taken tremendous steps going forward, especially vocally," Jones said. "He's a great leader, and especially being a great model for the young corners. He's showing them how to be a competitor and wake up and be that guy that you say you're going to be every day. That's Martin Emerson. When you're on the field, you're confident that you have that guy playing for you. He's going to give you everything he's got on every play."
"I think we're definitely getting closer, Jones said. "It's probably one of the best team chemistries I've had since I've been on the team here. I feel like we're making good progress in that way."
The senior defensive end attributed much of that to head coach Mike Leach's team meetings setting the tone and expectations for practice.
"Coach Leach emphasizes our philosophy every chance he gets," Jones said. "When he's in front of the team and he's talking, he lets us know the mindset we have to approach every day with, the focus points for every day. Everybody in the building will be on the same page, full force."
For Payton, the new offense brings its challenges and rewards. One thing he pointed to was opportunity to catch more balls, while also pushing him to be better at reading defenses and finding the open space sit in zone coverage.
"For me personally, this is a new offense," said Payton. "All of the guys, from when we got here in June until now, all of us have really picked it up and are confident. [We are just trying] to get it right and make corrections and do what is needed to get the job done."
He's so excited about the new opportunities in the Air Raid, that he's asked for extra film study.
"I asked for the [Graham Harrell] tape," Costello said. "I wanted to see who was the most successful in the system. Who exactly was the most successful? I was able to see with my own eyes Gardner [Minshew II] and [Anthony] Gordon, but I was on the sideline game planning against them. I wasn't watching them play. I had those two, and then I wanted something a little bit further back in time to see how this offense could potentially evolve or stay the same."
Leach later told him he'd actually picked a really great comparison to focus in on. Harrell threw for 5,705 yards at Texas Tech in 2007. Only one other quarterback under Leach has surpassed that mark. Leach especially wanted Costello to pay attention to Harrell's movements in the pocket and how he took what the defense gave him on any play.
"Coach Leach has an incredible memory bank to say the least. I think a lot of coaches do. It's almost Sean McVay-like. He's out there talking details from 10 years ago. I love watching the Texas Tech tape ."
State kicks off the 2020 campaign on Saturday against No. 6/5 LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The game will air at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.
Young Leader in a Young Secondary
When the 2020 season kicks off in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Saturday for Mississippi State, the Dawgs will line up in a 3-3-5 defense. That scheme boasts five defensive backs, with one of those being Emerson, the sophomore cornerback who started five games last season as a true freshman.Emerson's job during fall camp quickly moved from learning a new scheme into being a mentor for the young cornerbacks room. His running mates on the depth chart include a pair of true freshmen in Decamerion Richardson and Emmanuel Forbes, along with sophomore Esaias Furdge, who has played just two career games in two seasons on campus.
"I know I am still a young guy, but I can't really think like that, because I am one of the more experienced guys on the back end [of our defense]," Emerson said. "I want to be a vocal leader and lead by example. Show everybody the way of the Bulldog by giving everything I've got every day.
"I have been in those shoes before. I feel like [the young guys] are ready for the challenge. They play [extremely hard] every day and they just have to come out and execute. [As a young player] You just have to make sure you are doing your job."
Emerson's growth has been noticed by his teammates. Jones noted how the sophomore's approach has built confidence for the rest of the defensive unit.
""He's taken tremendous steps going forward, especially vocally," Jones said. "He's a great leader, and especially being a great model for the young corners. He's showing them how to be a competitor and wake up and be that guy that you say you're going to be every day. That's Martin Emerson. When you're on the field, you're confident that you have that guy playing for you. He's going to give you everything he's got on every play."
Building Chemistry
Jones was also asked how the team has grown closer during camp. He left no doubt that the Bulldogs are all on the same page."I think we're definitely getting closer, Jones said. "It's probably one of the best team chemistries I've had since I've been on the team here. I feel like we're making good progress in that way."
The senior defensive end attributed much of that to head coach Mike Leach's team meetings setting the tone and expectations for practice.
"Coach Leach emphasizes our philosophy every chance he gets," Jones said. "When he's in front of the team and he's talking, he lets us know the mindset we have to approach every day with, the focus points for every day. Everybody in the building will be on the same page, full force."
New Scheme, New Opportunity
There are many things that will be unique about the 2020 season, and for Payton, he will be playing in the Air Raid offense – or a scheme of its type for that matter – for the first time in his life, while also becoming the first MSU football student-athlete to don the number zero.For Payton, the new offense brings its challenges and rewards. One thing he pointed to was opportunity to catch more balls, while also pushing him to be better at reading defenses and finding the open space sit in zone coverage.
"For me personally, this is a new offense," said Payton. "All of the guys, from when we got here in June until now, all of us have really picked it up and are confident. [We are just trying] to get it right and make corrections and do what is needed to get the job done."
"I'm kind of a football nerd."
If there's anything we've learned through his first two press conferences it's that Costello loves film. He really loves film. The graduate transfer quarterback admitted to being a bit of a "football nerd" and said he could discuss the philosophy of Leach's system all night.He's so excited about the new opportunities in the Air Raid, that he's asked for extra film study.
"I asked for the [Graham Harrell] tape," Costello said. "I wanted to see who was the most successful in the system. Who exactly was the most successful? I was able to see with my own eyes Gardner [Minshew II] and [Anthony] Gordon, but I was on the sideline game planning against them. I wasn't watching them play. I had those two, and then I wanted something a little bit further back in time to see how this offense could potentially evolve or stay the same."
Leach later told him he'd actually picked a really great comparison to focus in on. Harrell threw for 5,705 yards at Texas Tech in 2007. Only one other quarterback under Leach has surpassed that mark. Leach especially wanted Costello to pay attention to Harrell's movements in the pocket and how he took what the defense gave him on any play.
"Coach Leach has an incredible memory bank to say the least. I think a lot of coaches do. It's almost Sean McVay-like. He's out there talking details from 10 years ago. I love watching the Texas Tech tape ."
State kicks off the 2020 campaign on Saturday against No. 6/5 LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The game will air at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.
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