STARKVILLE — The final week of spring practice, as Mississippi State defensive coordinator Todd Grantham sees it, ends the period of learning. The only thing left is mastery of what has been taught.
Grantham hopes to see signs of that mastery from his defense at 3 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network) in the MSU football team’s Maroon & White Game on Saturday at 3 p.m (SEC Network) at Davis Wade Stadium.
The scrimmage is part of Super Bulldog Weekend, which also features the MSU baseball, softball, and men’s tennis teams play at home.
“I think we’ve got to become a better situational football team,” Grantham said. “We have to understand what it means in the red zone, what they want to do. Third down is third down, but you have to understand down and distance and what’s going to happen relative to the sticks. Those are the things we have to continue to work to get turnovers, get in position to make plays.”
Grantham made that comment last weekend after MSU’s second spring scrimmage last weekend. He and MSU coach Dan Mullen agreed the offense bested the defense in the scrimmage.
Grantham will continue to work to improve the Bulldogs’ pass rush. He has been seen in practice working with edge rushers. Defensive line coach Brian Baker said Grantham is very hands-on when it comes to pass rush coaching.
“We have had some rush. I think we have to work to continue our pocket collapse,” Grantham said. “We have enough guys that we’ll have different personnel groupings on the field to get fast guys out there. We have a ‘Rabbits’ package where we can get four guys that are pretty fast out there at the same time.”
MSU quarterback Nick Fitzgerald feels the pass rushers have improved.
“I hate that man,” Fitzgerald said. “That’s one of the craziest defenses I’ve ever gone against. You think they’re bringing a blitz from one side. Then all of a sudden they’re bringing four guys from the other side.”
Fitzgerald said the offense will run its most basic, fundamental plays against that defense. He said his goal is to see consistent execution from all positions.
Returning without Ross
In addition to being MSU’s top receiver in all categories, Fred Ross also was MSU’s most-used punt returner, returning 15 for 85 yards. With Ross having completed his eligibility, the Bulldogs will have to find a replacement.
“We’ve got Donald Gray working back there and Gabe Myles back there catching kicks along with Keith Mixon,” running backs coach and special teams coordinator Greg Knox said.
Knox said the Bulldogs also will try incoming freshmen as returners.
MSU also will have to replace Brandon Holloway, last year’s top kick returner. He led the 2016 Bulldogs in returns (16) and kick return yards (370).
New offensive threats
MSU hopes to replace two with one in the running back corps.
The Maroon & White Game could be the first shot for Dontavian Lee to prove he can take on a larger role after the loss of senior running backs Ashton Shumpert and Holloway. Lee is getting healthy and impressing Knox.
“That ankle injury held him back as far as making cuts,” he said. “I think now that he’s healthy, he’s dropped a couple of pounds so he’s making sharper cuts.”
Knox added Lee will compete for the starting job with Aeris Williams and others when fall practice begins in August.
The same could be said for redshirt freshman wide receivers Reggie Todd and Osirus Mitchell and early enrollee freshman Austin Williams, who are competing for playing time behind Gabe Myles and Donald Gray.
MSU loses defensive back
MSU confirmed Thursday night defensive back Jamoral Graham is no longer on the roster. Graham led last year’s team in interceptions with three, returning one of them for a 38-yard touchdown against Massachusetts. Graham also led the team in passes defended (eight) and tied for the team lead in pass breakups (five). Graham was a converted wide receiver who also saw time as a kick returner early in his career before becoming a full-time defensive back.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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