WATCH: Head coach Jeff Lebby recaps Mississippi State's first training camp scrimmage

On Sunday morning at Davis Wade Stadium, Mississippi State held its first scrimmage of training camp and it featured game-like situations along with situational drives. Following the scrimmage, head coach Jeff Lebby met with the media to share his thoughts:

Q: What were your general observations of the scrimmage?
Lebby: Probably the thing I liked the most about today is I felt both groups did a better job of just playing the next play. When things were maybe not going good, finding a way to settle back in and just playing the next play because that’s the only play that matters. I was proud of our guys for that because there was some great back-and-forth. There were some great moments defensively, and some great moments offensively. But I felt like our leadership showed up when things weren’t perfect on their side of the ball and we were able to get things back on track in both phases, which was good.

Q: Before watching the film, were there any particular guys that stood out to you?
Lebby: I will have to go back and watch the tape. The big plays and the explosive plays are ones that obviously stand out to you. Some missed opportunities at times, and then had some opportunities, defensively, to get off the field at times. That’s what you want, what you like. We got to learn lessons today and not when we get into the season. That’s what today was for.

Q: On Wednesday you talked about cleaning things up pre-snap. Did you get that done today?
Lebby: At times. We still have a ways to go. We got to do a great job of being disciplined and making sure penalties play no part in our game. Until that part is perfect, because to me that is playing with great focus and understanding of how we need to play and how we need to operate. But until that is truly perfect it won’t be a good enough.

Q: Defensively, is anybody starting to separate themselves at certain positional battles?
Lebby: As you look at it, we’ve been rolling so many guys to get so many reps because we are trying like heck to create great depth. There are guys that are practicing than the others. Those guys have to practice better just like the best players on our football team. They’ve got to practice better every single day and that’s our expectation. That’s what we need our entire football team to understand. I won’t point anyone out and that will continue to be. We’ve got to be able to go play with 22 guys on each side of the ball, not to go play with but to win with. That’s where we got to get.

Q: How close are you to settling the two-deep?
Lebby: We really won’t set the two-deep until we get to game week. There’s a ton of opportunity between now and then. We’ve got a lot of guys on campus that got here on June. Most of our football team was here in the spring but there’s guys that got here in June that need those reps, need that work. We need to know exactly what we have so we are putting the right guys on the bus every single trip whether that’s at home or going on the road. Making sure from a team standpoint we got the right guys to go execute and play clean. So all of those things matter.

Q: We’ve talked to the offensive line transfers and how quick they’ve bonded. How do you feel that group is coming along?
Lebby: I think the group is really taking great strides since we ended spring ball, maybe the group that’s made the most improvement from the end of spring to fall camp and it’s continued to get better. Appreciate their spirit, their work ethic and their toughness. They are a tight group for a bunch of guys that haven’t known each other for a long time. Cody (Kennedy) has done an incredible job with that group and creating that. That’s been huge for us.

Q: How’s the punting competition coming along?
Lebby: It’s wide open still. We’ve got a chance to have a couple of different guys depending on situational and what we’re trying to get done and trying to pin a ball inside the 10 or are we backed up and punting the ball out of our own end. So it’s got a chance to be a couple of guys. Really, the punting and kicking competition is wide open and a great race. We want settle on that until (game week).

Q: Branden Jennings looks different from his juco season last year with his burst. What have you noticed from him?
Lebby: Yeah he’s a guy that’s gotten better every single day. He’s settling in. He’s got some understanding of the expectations. He’s got some understanding of the defense and how he needs to play as he’s playing inside our scheme. I’m excited about Branden. That dude loves football. He’s got great physicality and he’s a big, physical athletic guy. Hope he continues to trend in the direction he’s trending in right now and get better every single day because he’s one that has a chance to help us.

Q: How is the chemistry with you and your quarterbacks?
Lebby: Absolutely. There is no guess work in that. That is a definite.

Q: How helpful is it for Isaac Smith to be healthy now and learn from last year’s experience?
Lebby: It’s huge for Isaac and every single one of our guys. Understanding how we are going to play defense, understanding the scheme, understanding the expectation and knowing you just do your job every single snap. It’s truly simple as that. Where do I fit in the scheme, go do my job, protect the stress and Isaac has continued to get better and better in that role.

Q: What has Albert Reese brought to the table so far?
Lebby: Consistency, steady, tough, attitude, energy, effort. Name an intangible and he’s got it. That’s the kind of guy you want to go coach every single day. He’s got great position flexibility and a guy that I love to coach. He’s done a great job for us so far.

Q: The players have said they are getting used to the offensive tempo. How would you assess where they are in that aspect?
Lebby: Offensively we got a long way to go. We got to get a heck of a lot better. Understanding how to play with firm feet, understanding the cleanness of how we need to play. Just because you play fast doesn’t mean it’s sloppy. The detail and the execution is where it ends. At the end of the day we have to play with great detail. We have to execute and then tempo we can use as an edge. But you can’t use tempo as an edge if you can’t execute and play with detail. Again, we’ve got a ways to go and I’ve got a ton of confidence that we’re going to be able to get there. But again, it’s not just about the first 11. The next 11 are just as important playing in the league we play in.

Q: Are your scrimmages game-like or more situational?
Lebby: They’re game-like and then the situations we need we will get. So it’s a little of both. Today with the 1s we got 6-7 open field drives and then we got different situational things whether it’s coming out in 2 minute (drill), short yardage, goal line. Finding a way to get in those situations that you got to get.

Q: How are defensive linemen Kedrick Bingley-Jones and Sulaiman Kpaka coming along?
Lebby: They’re doing a good job. We’ve got guys that are practicing the right way and we need more constantly and that’s the expectation. Our guys up front and the defensive linemen, we’ve got to be able to roll guys and play multiple guys. The last thing you want is to get off the field and a guy has played 55-60 snaps. That does not bode well for success, especially in our league. So we got to have guys to be able to play and have everybody being at the same level when we’re out there.

Q: What are your expectations for Isaac Smith and his role on defense?
Lebby: He’s going to be a huge part. Obviously, he’s a safety for us and he’s going to be able to move around and do some different things. A guy that’s got some leadership skills and a guy that plays the game the way you want it to be played. He will be a big part.