More notes from Day 1 of MSU’s fall camp

There was much for Jeff Lebby to discuss at the first day of fall camp on Thursday, even more than the need to develop depth and trust within the team. Here are some other things that stood out.

Preparing for physicality

Lebby wants the team to be physical, and fall camp will present the opportunity to build that trait. More will be apparent once the team puts on full pads.

“We're going to tackle in five different situations through fall camp, which is quite a bit," he said. "But we've got to get what we need while, at the same time, getting the right guys on the bus and making sure we're fresh and we're fast and we're ready to roll that first Saturday.”

Those situations will include three scrimmages and “things that will be live in practices”.

A familiar resemblance

It’s no secret that, throughout his career, Lebby has valued speed, especially on offense. He and assistant coach Philip Montgomery have talked about how the current group reminds them of the 2013 and 2014 Baylor Bears, back when Lebby was the running backs coach.

During those two years, Baylor led the country with 600 yards and 50.3 points per game.

“Guys that have just elite track speed, but they're football players, and that's, again, that's a win for us,” Lebby said. “We’ve got really fast guys that love to play football, and that's what we're looking for.”

A steady presence

Canon Boone, who was recently named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, has been a steady leadership presence for his fellow offensive linemen.

Boone, the lone returning starter from last year’s front five, has “been the same guy every single day” and is taking advantage of the opportunities presented to him.

“That's what I love about his story because he's got a great story,” Lebby said of the center. “So I appreciate just who he is, his consistency, and it's huge to have him anchor that offensive line for us.”

Time to go do it

During assistant coach media availability on Monday, running backs coach Anthony Tucker said how, because this is Lebby’s third season, “there’s not a ton of new.”

Lebby sees it as a big plus, as it gives the Bulldogs an opportunity to take what he’s instilled to another level now that it’s been so long. It goes back to one of his first goals when he took the job: building something sustainable.

“There's no question we've got the best roster that we've had. There's no question we've got the best staff that we've had, and for us, it's Day 1 in this climb in this process,” Lebby said. “But we're so much further ahead than we were a year ago, and obviously two years ago, it’s not a comparison. So it's time to go do it.”

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