Mike Leach talks improved running game, OL ahead of scrimmage
By Keith Farner
Published:
Mike Leach sees Mississippi State having an improved running game this season, and the next time he can measure improvement comes in Saturday’s scrimmage.
Leach said that he’s looking for steady improvement.
“Then was we go into Mock Game Week, where all the periods are the same as game week, then we have to make some decisions,” Leach said. “We’d like to be in a good position to do that. Have a good crisp, well-executed scrimmage.”
Asked about the running game, Leach sees an improvement from last season.
“We utilize it all the time,” he said. “I think it will be effective. We’ve gotten better up front, we’ve gotten better at running back, and we did in the course of the season.”
One of those players in the mix in the running game is offensive lineman Charles Cross.
“Well, he was good last year, I thought,” Leach said. “But he’s bigger now, faster now, and also has a lot more reps. The off-season is a big part of that. Last year, we didn’t have much of an off-season. We didn’t have the first off-season – you didn’t have spring. And we sorta had a second off-season, and sorta would be generous. The off-seasons are really important and I think that’s helped elevate us too.”
Leach also described what a successful scrimmage would be, and it’s competitive at every level.
“Execution on both sides of the ball, which pretty much means both sides are pissed, because they would have liked more plays…would have like to be more explosive…more success on their side of the ball,” Leach said. “Competitive, dynamic consistent play, that isn’t streaky or in spurts.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
