Head coach Jeff Lebby recaps Mississippi State’s first training camp scrimmage

On Sunday evening Mississippi State held its first scrimmage of training camp and the scrimmage also capped off the second week of training camp. Afterwards, head coach Jeff Lebby met with the media to discuss his thoughts on the scrimmage among other topics:

Q: A lot of camp is about retention and staying healthy. How did you feel that went in the scrimmage today?
Lebby: We are healthy (knock on wood) and that’s a great thing when you look at it nine days into camp. I think our guys have taken to the culture, the recovery and finding time to make sure they are doing everything they possible can to get themselves ready for the next day’s practice. The growth in that has been fun to see and has been really good.

The retention piece of it, installs have been heavy. We’ve put a lot on them. We want to create some stress and want to see how they are going to respond. As you can imagine, there’s been some good and some not so good. Ton to clean up, ton of work to day. But againm our guys right now are dialed in to get better.

Q: Any guys or group stand out to you today in the scrimmage?
Lebby: What I love, defensively, is found a way to create turnovers and some negative plays. For me, that was a great thing to see. On the defensive side of the ball, they got their hands on the ball, made plays, created some huge momentum plays in the scrimmage. That was good to see and it was a unit. Kelley Jones had a scoop-and-score touchdown from 56 yards, which was great to see. Again, just guys making plays and we’ve talked about that non-stop. When you’re in position to make it, man, we got to make it. So again, we were far from perfect but we’ve got a chance to build on that.

Q: Have you seen a difference in the defense?
Lebby: I think it’s a more-connected group as much as anything. I saw something that was different from what I’ve seen. The players made a decision today as we walked over today from the Seal to get here to the stadium, the entire defense walked together. Nobody left without the other. That was good to see. I think there is connection over there. There is some trust being created inside the unit. There’s accountability and that’s what we’ve got to have to have a chance.

Q: Your thoughts on the offense?
Lebby: Yeah, the frustrating thing today, offensively, was not taking care of the ball. We did some really things, created a couple of explosives, did some decent things in the run game. But turnovers were the story of the day. The ball is the program and we got to make sure we are taking care of it. We’ve done a pretty good job throughout fall camp of doing that with nine practices in. But that was the story today.

Q: What have you seen from Fluff Bothwell since he arrived and what role do you see him playing?
Lebby: A guy that is going to be incredibly involved. I talked about the running back room in the spring and Fluff is serious about being great. He’s had a great camp, great start to it, great nine days. Excited about Fluff and what he is going to do for us.

Q: How do the installs this year compare to last year?
Lebby: I think the cool thing is we got more guys getting more reps. So there is more tape to watch, there’s more film, there’s more going on because from a roster standpoint, we’ve been able to practice the way we need to practice just to give ourselves a chance. With a lot of newness, a bunch of the defensive guys were here in the spring. Offensively, the line of scrimmage and the tight end position, a lot of those guys are new. They are nine practices in and again, I think and I talked about it Day 1, that’s where we got to make a huge amount of growth as fast as we possibly can and getting those guys on the same page.

Q: What are your impressions of the guys on the offensive and defensive line?
Lebby: I think again we will have to watch it to evaluate it the way we need to evaluate it. I know nine days in, the physicality of practice is completely different from what it was. Again, there has to be that to have a chance. We’ve got that right now. I love how hard our guys are practicing. On the offensive line, we’ve got to come together as a unit. Who are the top eight guys, top seven guys, that can go play winning football throughout the season for us. That is probably the biggest strain for us, offensively, right now.

Q: Are there any guys starting to separate themselves on the offensive and defensive line so far?
Lebby: There really has been. There’s been a good core group of guys on the defensive line that have done a really good job. I am going to wait to name names until we get through next week’s scrimmage and get two weeks into this thing. But I think the best part of what’s going on with the defensive line right now is we are really going to have the ability to play 10-11 guys and play winning football with 10-11 guys. So that is great for us, is huge for us. We need them to keep coming. We need great competition so that we have the ability to roll guys, be fresh and play hard.

Q: Are you surprised how running back Seth Davis has recovered from his tough knee injury
Lebby: Probably the coolest story, the most special story of fall camp to me. Here’s a guy that’s gone through what he’s gone through and is still battling the things he is battling. Pretty special, pretty amazing. What a great testament to who he is as a person, as a competitor. I think what an incredible example for our football team to see. Love who he is, love that he is with us and able to practice, and go out and compete as he’s trying to work back to being himself.

Q: Art Briles was at practice last week. Are there any boundaries for that at practice?
Lebby: Coach was being here with family. I think that was addressed and we want family at practices. We want family at scrimmages. That for me is special and that is how it is going to continue.

Q: How is it to separate wanting the offense and defense to both do well?
Lebby: Yeah, it’s a fine line. I think for me, of course, I want to see the negative plays, see us getting the ball out, creating turnovers. We talked in the team meeting today about winning percentage and the turnover battle. If you can be +2, +3, your win percentage is going to be over 80%. So stressing that and that’s both sides of the ball. Creating that awareness non-stop is critical for us as we move forward. But there is a fine line in that.

Q: How do you think the process went today in a game-like atmosphere?
Lebby: Again, there’s going to be a ton to clean up. But our communication, obviously, both sides of the ball having coaches up in the box, having coaches downstairs, having the I-pads, having a full game day from a communication standpoint, we’re in a really good spot. I think having the ability to be in Year 2 and having the staff back, being Year 1 for us from an Oline standpoint but spent six years with (Phil Loadholt) before that, so that is incredibly seamless. But we are in a great spot from that standpoint.

Q: Has Trevion Williams taking a step forward this year?
Lebby: Bam Bam (Williams) just continue to get better and make plays. I think for him it is exciting because he is now in Year 2 of the defense. He has settled in and he is a guy I think has gotten better and better. He is one of those guys we mentioned in the 10-11 guys earlier and he is definitely one of them and has done a really good job. He’s got to continue to keep coming, keep pushing, But I like where he’s at and I like where that room is at.

Q: How does an improved tight ends room upgrade this offense?
Lebby: It creates freedom, that’s what it does. As a playcaller when you have multiple tight ends that can go execute a lot of different things, it creates freedom. So that room has been upgraded in an incredible way since June 1. Fired up about Max (Reese) and Sam (West) being here, two unbelievable kids that are talented kids and love football. I am excited about that group.