Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has experience working with quarterbacks.
During his coaching career, Mullen has worked with several standout QBs, including current NFL starters Alex Smith and Dak Prescott, both of whom he credited for mastering the college game.
“You hear guys say the game slows down for them,” Mullen told the Clarion-Ledger. “That’s when it (happens)…Physics don’t change. No one physically slows down out there it’s just in their brain as they see it. The information goes from your eyes to your brain and your brain to your leg or your arm. The faster that clicks, the more that you’re going to get it.”
Prescott is arguably the greatest quarterback in Mississippi State history. But while he’s enjoying an outstanding rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys, the Bulldogs QBs have struggled while trying to escape his shadow.
“Nick made some big time plays during the course of a game. And then he makes some, as a coach, some head-scratchers,” Mullen said. “They seem a little bit more like head-scratchers because of the guy that was playing the year before.”
Mullen mentioned that Prescott’s instincts helped him on option plays and slant passes, two areas in which Fitzgerald has struggled during his first season as a starter.
“They’re tough for college quarterbacks in general,” Mullen said. “It’s reps. The one thing you can’t get enough of is reps and the more reps he gets, I think the more accurate he’ll be.“
Mississippi State is 2-4 (1-2 SEC) entering Saturday’s game at Kentucky.
Jason covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
