Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
Leach Pleased With Bulldogs' Energy, Intensity
August 09, 2021 | Football
STARKVILLE – Footballs have been flying since Mike Leach's Air Raid offense returned to the practice fields last Friday.
Mississippi State donned pads for the first time on Sunday and the past two days have seen the competition climb to new levels.
"We've had pretty good intensity," Leach said. "We kind of come off the throttle when we're tired but I do think the energy out here has been really good."
Leach loves competition and his practices this fall have certainly reflected that. Through the first four practices, the offense has competed against their defensive counterparts and points awarded on a rep-by-rep and drill-by-drill basis until an overall winner is decided at the end of practice.
The winning side is rewarded by not having to do up-downs. However, some of the winners still decide to join their teammates anyways before organizing some player-led drills to conclude the day.
Monday's practice went down to the wire with the defense winning with a red zone stop on the final play of their daily scrimmage.
But in Leach's eyes, the Bulldogs still have plenty of work left to do before their season opener against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 4.
"The biggest thing is we've got to be consistent," Leach said. "We're a streaky team right now. We are able to put together plays on either side of the ball in succession, but we don't have that consistency that we need to get."
State still hasn't named a starting quarterback among the seven signal callers on its roster. Leach, who also serves as the quarterbacks coach, stated on Monday that the starting role remains open but that returning starter Will Rogers and South Alabama transfer Chance Lovertich – both of whom hail from Brandon – are at the top of the race.
Leach does not yet have a timeframe on when he will name a starter.
"It's circumstantial but we need to push it," Leach said. "We've got quite a few more practices to do it but there will come a time where we have to make a decision of how to split the reps different."
Rogers started the final six games last season and was the only quarterback in the NCAA with over 1,000 passing yards and no interceptions during November while leading the country with 121 completions that month.
Lovertich started one game and appeared in five others last fall at South Alabama after transferring in from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he led that breed of Bulldogs to a 12-0 record and a NJCAA national championship in 2019.
"Lovertich has steadily improved," Leach said. "I thought he had a really good day today. He's triggering quicker than he did in the spring, so he just needs to keep improving."
Two other transfers that have had an instant impact on the receiving corps early on in camp are Jamire Calvin and Makai Polk.
Calvin played in Leach's Air Raid system at Washington State where he hauled in 92 career passes for 980 yards and five touchdowns. He caught a career-best 42 passes for 497 yards in Leach's final season in Pullman in 2019.
"He's a real sudden guy and is real good coming out of his cuts," Leach said. "He can stop and go real fast. He just needs to be a consistent guy and also gives us a little depth."
Polk arrived in Starkville this past spring following his sophomore season at California. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder was the Bears second-leading receiver last fall with 17 receptions for 183 yards and a score during an abbreviated four-game season in 2020 due to repeated run-ins with COVID-19.
Polk has been one of Mississippi State's primary targets in camp, especially in red zone situations.
"He's improved since spring," Leach said. "He's good at playing the ball in the air. He needs to push through and be the same guy at the end of the work as he is at the beginning."
The Bulldogs will continue practicing on Tuesday and Wednesday before observing their first NCAA mandated day off on Thursday.
Mississippi State donned pads for the first time on Sunday and the past two days have seen the competition climb to new levels.
"We've had pretty good intensity," Leach said. "We kind of come off the throttle when we're tired but I do think the energy out here has been really good."
Leach loves competition and his practices this fall have certainly reflected that. Through the first four practices, the offense has competed against their defensive counterparts and points awarded on a rep-by-rep and drill-by-drill basis until an overall winner is decided at the end of practice.
The winning side is rewarded by not having to do up-downs. However, some of the winners still decide to join their teammates anyways before organizing some player-led drills to conclude the day.
Monday's practice went down to the wire with the defense winning with a red zone stop on the final play of their daily scrimmage.
But in Leach's eyes, the Bulldogs still have plenty of work left to do before their season opener against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 4.
"The biggest thing is we've got to be consistent," Leach said. "We're a streaky team right now. We are able to put together plays on either side of the ball in succession, but we don't have that consistency that we need to get."
State still hasn't named a starting quarterback among the seven signal callers on its roster. Leach, who also serves as the quarterbacks coach, stated on Monday that the starting role remains open but that returning starter Will Rogers and South Alabama transfer Chance Lovertich – both of whom hail from Brandon – are at the top of the race.
Leach does not yet have a timeframe on when he will name a starter.
"It's circumstantial but we need to push it," Leach said. "We've got quite a few more practices to do it but there will come a time where we have to make a decision of how to split the reps different."
Rogers started the final six games last season and was the only quarterback in the NCAA with over 1,000 passing yards and no interceptions during November while leading the country with 121 completions that month.
Lovertich started one game and appeared in five others last fall at South Alabama after transferring in from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he led that breed of Bulldogs to a 12-0 record and a NJCAA national championship in 2019.
"Lovertich has steadily improved," Leach said. "I thought he had a really good day today. He's triggering quicker than he did in the spring, so he just needs to keep improving."
Two other transfers that have had an instant impact on the receiving corps early on in camp are Jamire Calvin and Makai Polk.
Calvin played in Leach's Air Raid system at Washington State where he hauled in 92 career passes for 980 yards and five touchdowns. He caught a career-best 42 passes for 497 yards in Leach's final season in Pullman in 2019.
"He's a real sudden guy and is real good coming out of his cuts," Leach said. "He can stop and go real fast. He just needs to be a consistent guy and also gives us a little depth."
Polk arrived in Starkville this past spring following his sophomore season at California. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder was the Bears second-leading receiver last fall with 17 receptions for 183 yards and a score during an abbreviated four-game season in 2020 due to repeated run-ins with COVID-19.
Polk has been one of Mississippi State's primary targets in camp, especially in red zone situations.
"He's improved since spring," Leach said. "He's good at playing the ball in the air. He needs to push through and be the same guy at the end of the work as he is at the beginning."
The Bulldogs will continue practicing on Tuesday and Wednesday before observing their first NCAA mandated day off on Thursday.
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