Like Painting Disneyland
April 19, 2022 | Football, Joel Coleman
Second scrimmage shows more Bulldog improvement, but there always remains room to grow.
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State held its second scrimmage of the spring on Tuesday and all around Davis Wade Stadium, there were signs of a team that's matured.
There was junior quarterback Will Rogers, completing 14 of his 22 passes for 155 yards and four touchdowns. Third-year receiver Jaden Walley had a couple of scoring catches. Veteran linebacker Nathaniel Watson notched a pair of sacks.
This is a team in which the core is no longer the group of wide-eyed youngsters MSU head coach Mike Leach took over back in 2020. Many are now proven, experienced performers.
No matter how proven they are though, there's still, well…more to prove.
"[What we're looking for is] still elusive, but less elusive than it was," Leach explained. "You're always fixing something. It's like painting Disneyland. I read a thing. As a kid I went to Disneyland so I read the brochure all over the place. They start painting one side every night, and they never stop. They just keep rolling. So, whatever you're looking at out there, they're successively painting it. That's kind of like football. Constant state of corrections."
Never settling. That, maybe above all else, is what's made Leach one of the winningest college football coaches there is. Everyone, from the upperclassmen to the rookies, have areas to sharpen.
Those figurative blades have indeed gotten sharper over recent weeks. Leach saw more evidence of it in Tuesday's scrimmage, but the progress dates back to the start of spring practice last month.
The offensive line continues to solidify.
"I think Dolla Bill [Kwatrivous Johnson] has looked really good there," Leach opined. "I think [Percy Lewis] is ahead of schedule. I think – maybe it wasn't apparent to everybody – but we thought [Albert Reese IV] has a chance to do a lot of good things. Sometimes what Albert is doing is a little clouded by the fact he goes against [linebacker Tyrus Wheat] a lot. So, I do think they've done some pretty good things there…Other guys that could figure in at tackle are Nick Jones and Kameron Jones. Both have done it and they both do some good things. The battle there [at offensive line] is to try to get the five best on the field. Then [Steven Losoya III] has done a good job at center. Then of course [LaQuinston Sharp] kind of leads the group. He's the quarterback of the O-line and does a good job of it."
State's receivers are getting better as well with some of the group getting helped by one of those veterans that has put in the time himself trying to master Leach's Air Raid offense. Longtime Bulldog pass catcher Austin Williams is frequently passing along his wisdom to others.
"Austin actively goes out there and coaches them," Leach explained. "Then other guys have kind of taken that approach, too. They're actively getting coached by these guys and I think it's helped. It's helped them do some good things."
Perhaps or perhaps not due to words of wisdom from Williams or others, newcomers at receiver contributed to MSU's offensive cause on Tuesday. Transfer receiver Jordan Mosley had a pair of touchdown catches. Fellow transfer Justin Robinson had one.
But as Leach has often said, a good scrimmage happens when both sides of the football have reason to be mad. Well, the State offense had periods of frustration Tuesday when the MSU defense displayed its own progress.
De'Monte Russell, Jack Harris and Wheat all had sacks, illustrating how dangerous State's first couple of levels can be.
"Our first group at D-line is hard to move the ball against," Leach said. "They're awfully disruptive…[They can] line up in zero or man and blitz guys and just know they're going to get home. Now those linebackers can pick their gap and unload and come in on the running back."
Putting offenses under pressure of course increases the likelihood for turnovers. State's defensive backs got a couple of those on Tuesday as Jackie Matthews and Esaias Furdge both had interceptions.
It was more evidence of this team getting to where Leach wants it to be.
"You see good things out of a lot of guys," Leach said. "The question then becomes, can they do it every time? So, we're battling that."
Put another way, the paintbrushes remain out. And in fact, with Leach at the helm, they'll never be put up. There's always another coat to layer on.
Players Mentioned
