Joe Moorhead may have been in Starkville for several months now, but Tuesday was the first opportunity he was given to take his team out onto the field and see what he has to work with heading into the 2018 season. While first days rarely go as smoothly as desired, Mississippi State’s coach appeared pleased coming off the practice field in Starkville for the first time this week.

The first-year MSU coach offered up these comments on the first day of the on-the-field transition going on in Starkville.

“You’ve got special teams, offense, and defense. It was for all of us going a million miles an hour today because you’re teaching and learning essentially a new language and a new way to practice,” Moorhead said. “So from every small detail of the practice scripts and where we’re at on the field, the clocks and the drills and how we want things done; under circumstances for it being brand new for day one I was pleased but not satisfied.”

While the effort of his team was by no means poor, Moorhead gave the impression he’d like to see it kicked up a notch as his team grasps what the coaches are asking of them.

“At this point it would be a stretch to say great. I’d say I was pleased with the effort. I’d say I thought the execution and the learning was good,” he said. “We talk about preparation, effort, and execution. And I thought the coaches did a good job providing the information to the kids in the meetings. And then, coming out and applying it on the field. There were some assignment busts in all three phases. But that’s to be expected. But for like I said day one with a brand new offense, defense, special teams, we’ll look at the film and clean it up. I thought it was a very positive first day and something to build off of.”

As for the new terminology the team must learn, Moorhead noted some of the players have to learn non-verbal communication due to the speed of his offensive system.

“I think you do both at once. For us on offense we’re no-huddle. So a lot of it for skill guys is hand signals so you’re essentially learning sign languages. And then for the guys up front you’re learning verbal communication. So it’s kind of a two-pronged thing there.

“And then defensively it’s how you set the front; how you set the overages; and what the adjustments are and things like that. There’s a bunch of different ways to play quarter/half coverage, but whether it’s a color or a number that’s what kind of the difference in translation is. I think for our kids defensively I believe the fifth defensive coordinator in five seasons? This is them learning a fifth different language.”

During his post-practice media availability, Moorhead revealed that touted incoming freshman March Murphy will start his Mississippi State career at defensive back. He will also be given looks on special teams, potentially as a returner.

Senior defensive back Brandon Bryant did not make an appearance at practice, which was due to academics, according to Moorhead.

“Brandon, we’re holding him out. He’s got some business to take care of off the field academically,” he said. “We’re going to let him handle that and take it day by day. And when he handles his business we’ll get him back on the field.”