-
First spring pratice article.........
STARKVILLE ? Within minutes of the start of Mississippi State football?s first spring practice on Tuesday, quarterback Will Rogers was sprinting to the line of scrimmage, flashing hand signals to his receivers and shouting at his offensive line to get set. In the first look at a fresh season under head coach Zach Arnett and offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay, there was little time wasted.
The new regime wants to move with pace and purpose.
?We started practice really, really fast with some up-tempo plays ? good on go,? Rogers said. ?It was good to be out flying around with the guys and learning a new scheme.?
Barbay has wasted little time in throwing the playbook at his new roster. He had running back Jo?quavious Marks tossing reverses to receiver Lideatrick Griffin. He had defensive players slotting in at tight end. He had Vanderbilt transfer quarterback Mike Wright coming off the edge and burning defenders.
Though certain schemes are still incorporated, the true Air Raid run by former coach Mike Leach has been replaced by a system players such as Marks haven?t seen since high school. It also has created an external challenge for Rogers.
The Brandon, Mississippi, native came to Mississippi State to play in the Air Raid, and it?s resulted in him putting up impressive numbers and breaking records. It?s also placed the label of a system quarterback on him by many, which has given Rogers something to prove even with the regular season six months away.
?At the end of the day, you can play football or you can?t,? Rogers said. ?It?s football. I don?t care what system you?re in. You can throw and catch the ball, or you can?t.?
Welcome Mike Wright
The first question Rogers fielded about Wright was blunt: Mike Wright is a very different quarterback than you are, what?s that dynamic been like in the quarterback room?
?Are you saying I can?t run,? Rogers responded. He paused for a second.
?I?m messing with you, man," he followed up.
Wright?s rushing ability is new in an offense that has rarely attempted even a quarterback sneak since 2020. Rogers? last keeper with Leach came late in the Egg Bowl where he fumbled at the goal line.
Pushing for Rogers? starting spot won?t be easy for Wright, but it?s evident he can be utilized in special packages. His experience in the SEC is vital too.
Rogers cited Ole Miss as an example, with Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders and LSU transfer Walker Howard pushing for Jaxson Dart's starting job.
?If you?re a competitor, it really doesn?t matter,? Rogers said.
Old faces, new positions
Mississippi State has a pair of transfer tight ends from national championship participants on the roster. However, Georgia?s Ryland Goede and TCU?s Geor'Quarius Spivey won?t be available until the summer.
Barbay has taken players from Matt Brock?s defense to fill in. Linebacker Ty Cooper and defensive lineman Jacarius Clayton joined wide receiver Antonio Harmon and offensive tackle Malik Ellis in making the shift.
?They?ve done a really good job, and they?ve had a great attitude about it,? Rogers said. ?They?ve done everything coach has asked them to do. That?s all you can ask for in spring. Spring is a time where you?re trying to learn, especially now with a new system.?
Along with the increase in touches, the new system provides an extra blocker ahead of running backs.
?I haven?t ever followed a tight end,? Marks said. ?It?s another blocker getting downhill, so it?ll be good.?
"The QB and the receiver weren't on the same page there, but hey its only week eleven". (Jack Cristil)
-
What we didn't line up in the wishbone and run 5 straight Dive plays just to piss of KB and Todd/
-
-
If Harmon will buy in he could be a real player at that spot
-
Originally Posted by
Dawgface
No wishbone? Well crap.
We did run a play with 5-wide-runningbacks, tho***
-
Originally Posted by
BeardoMSU
We did run a play with 5-wide-runningbacks, tho***
And A TE blocking Sacrilege!!!
-
Senior Member
Originally Posted by
Dawgface
No wishbone? Well crap.
Wouldn't mind seeing some option plays thrown in occasionally. They come in handy and some pro teams use them a lot. If you catch the defense at the right time, option can rip off huge gains.
-
Originally Posted by
SpaceBully
Wouldn't mind seeing some option plays thrown in occasionally. They come in handy and some pro teams use them a lot. If you catch the defense at the right time, option can rip off huge gains.
Hell Rocky can go down and give a special training seminar on the veer/
-
It doenst matter what offense State runs......people will always
gripe about something.
Love All Worship One!
Go Dawgz!
-
It's clear from this article that the players have been told to lie and are not truthful with the fans. Obviously Barbary and Will Arnette are in over their heads and deserve to lose their jobs!!! They will be lucky to win one game next year running this ground and pound offense!
-
Originally Posted by
RockyDog
It's clear from this article that the players have been told to lie and are not truthful with the fans. Obviously Barbary and Will Arnette are in over their heads and deserve to lose their jobs!!! They will be lucky to win one game next year running this ground and pound offense!
Rep!!
-
Originally Posted by
GoDawgz
It doenst matter what offense State runs......people will always
gripe about something.
It doesn?t matter what State does in anything? people will always gripe. I have learned that from my time of perusing message boards. Our fan base thrives on having its panties in a bunch.
-
Originally Posted by
Saltydog
?I haven?t ever followed a tight end,? Marks said. ?It?s another blocker getting downhill, so it?ll be good.?
How dare he want to have an extra blocker!!! Doesn't he realize he should be catching 3 yard dump down passes instead?!! Oh, stop the madness!!
-
Originally Posted by
TrapGame
How dare he want to have an extra blocker!!! Doesn't he realize he should be catching 3 yard dump down passes instead?!! Oh, stop the madness!!
I hope he enjoys running against 8 man boxes due to the condensed offensive formations he will be playing out of as well as the offensive coordinator's stated philosophy of "everything begins with the running game. We have to establish the running game."
Last edited by KB21; 03-08-2023 at 03:53 PM.
#AirRaidForever!!#SwingYourSword!!#FireArnett
-
Originally Posted by
Rick Danko
It doesn?t matter what State does in anything? people will always gripe. I have learned that from my time of perusing message boards. Our fan base thrives on having its panties in a bunch.
Yep, some people thrive on being ticked off! They are only happy when they are mad at something ***** figure that one out! 
-
Originally Posted by
KB21
I hope he enjoys running against 8 man fronts due to the condensed offensive formations he will be playing out of as well as the offensive coordinator's stated philosophy of "everything begins with the running game. We have to establish the running game."
Shut up Drama Queen.
-
Originally Posted by
TrapGame
Shut up Drama Queen.
He apparently hasn't realized that the NFL wants running backs that can play in the passing game.
#AirRaidForever!!#SwingYourSword!!#FireArnett
-
Originally Posted by
KB21
He apparently hasn't realized that the NFL wants running backs that can play in the passing game.
Why not give it a chance? If the new offense fails, then most of us can eat crow and admit you were right. Until then, you have beaten this horse to death and into the dust. If your goal is to become the #1 poster on this board, you've got about 65K posts to go. Hail State!
-
Originally Posted by
KB21
He apparently hasn't realized that the NFL wants running backs that can play in the passing game.
Damn, if only he had played in a pass heavy offense for two years he'd have a chance. Well Woody, you heard the savant, go ahead and clean out your locker. No reason to play the game anymore.
-
Originally Posted by
KB21
He apparently hasn't realized that the NFL wants running backs that can play in the passing game.
Which NFL team do you scout for, Chief?
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules
Disclaimer: Elitedawgs is a privately owned and operated forum that is managed by alumni of Mississippi State University. This website is in no way affiliated with the Mississippi State University, The Southeastern Conference (SEC) or the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The views and opinions expressed herein are strictly those of the post author and may not reflect the views of other members of this forum or elitedawgs.com. The interactive nature of the elitedawgs.com forums makes it impossible for elitedawgs.com to assume responsibility for any of the content posted at this site. Ideas, thoughts, suggestion, comments, opinions, advice and observations made by participants at elitedawgs.com are not endorsed by elitedawgs.com
Elitedawgs: A Mississippi State Fan Forum, Mississippi State Football, Mississippi State Basketball, Mississippi State Baseball, Mississippi State Athletics. Mississippi State message board.
Reply With Quote
