Mississippi State coach Mike Leach is set to coach in his first Egg Bowl this week, and he noted that the Ole Miss offense, including wide receivers and quarterbacks impress him the most.

“I think they run well, we have to keep track of them,” Leach said Wednesday on the SEC coaches media teleconference.

The Bulldogs have shown improvement in recent weeks, especially last week against Georgia, despite having limited numbers.

“I felt we played really hard, we had 44 (players),” Leach said. I thought we improved but we have to keep playing better. I thought they practiced hard last week, played well despite being shorthanded, we played a complete game. We didn’t win but we competed.”

One of those areas was offensive line as MSU has shown marked improvement.

“I think it was huge,” he said. “I think that was one of the biggest differences. We were tough enough to play together. Moving forward, that’s a step we have to take, even by a bigger margin than we did. It was a step in the right direction.”

About rivalry games, Leach said, “On one hand, you only have a week to prepare but it gets everyone fired up to play.”

About QB KJ Costello, Leach said, “He comes and goes, we’ll have them battle it out to see who comes out on top.”

Leach also shared his Thanksgiving Day plate, and where he ranks the holiday across the entire year.

“White meat with gravy, stuffing, not too much because you need space for the good stuff. Green beans, mash potatoes, black berry pie,” he said. “Behind Christmas, Halloween and Fourth of July, probably 4th. Well, then there’s New Year’s. It’s in the top 5.”