Teaching Proceeds At MSU Practice, Rutland Departs
Again limited by NCAA-mandated work in helmets only, Croom and his staff used the time to work on the team's mental approach.
We're in the attitude adjustment stage right now, Croom said. We're trying to get a lot teaching done while we're in helmets with minimal contact. We're working on the little things, the details, getting the right foot work and hand placement. For some, it's been indoctrination.
One aspect of the game that Croom has been able to evaluate early on has been State's throwing game, and the head coach seemed well pleased.
Mike (Henig) is throwing the ball as well as he has since he's been here, Croom said. And I thought the receivers were better, a lot better than yesterday. But we still have a ways to go. We had some difficulty last year in man-to-man bump coverage, and that has been a concern of ours this spring.
Croom indicated that it was too difficult at this time to evaluate his linemen, saying that he'll be able to tell a lot more once that group dons pads for the first time. But they're running well, and not making dumb mistakes, like pre-snap penalties.
The head coach also announced that sophomore quarterback Tray Rutland (Decatur, Ga.) has decided to leave Mississippi State and transfer to another institution. The 6-1, 221-pounder, played in five games last fall, starting twice. He completed 20-of-48 passes for 151 yards, with four interceptions, before his redshirt freshman season came to an end when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury against West Virginia.
The Bulldogs take Wednesday off before returning to helmet-only work on Thursday. The team will finish the practice week Friday in shells (shoulder pads only).