Dropped passes no longer haunt Dogs

[DKW 86 7,431]

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll...365/1079/SPORTS

Dropped passes no longer haunt Dogs

By Ian R. Rapoport

irapopor@clarionledger.com

STARKVILLE — For the first week of practice, Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom could not talk about his receivers without adding a caveat.

He'd mention how Tony Burks was improving or how Omarr Conner was consistent. And then Croom would add this: "We still have too many drops."

That refrain has not left his lips recently, and for one good reason.

"They're just not dropping the ball as much now," he said. "Our receiving corps is catching the ball better. They are starting to get comfortable."

With that, Croom listed several reasons for the improvement.

Players are running routes better, with better timing, so they are in a better position to receive a pass. They are in better shape, because as he said, "it's hard to catch a pass when you're tired." And, the comfort level is increasing, so there is less thinking and more reaction.

But those aren't the only reasons. One is because the receiving drills are starting to pay off. Receivers coach Guy Holliday said in the last three practices, there has been only one drop in all of the team work, and the drills have helped.

Some times, they catch tennis balls or bricks. One drill has the players standing with their backs to a JUGS machine. The ball is "thrown," and then they turn and catch.

"To improve reaction time," Holliday said.

Each ball is painted a specific color on the tip, and each tip has four numbers. When players catch the ball, they call out the color and numbers. That's to improve focus and make sure they watch it all the way in.

"Coach Holliday, man, he loves that JUGS machine," receiver Lance Long said. "But it's been helping out a lot. A lot of receivers drop passes when they take their eye off the ball. This helps us focus."

Croom and Holliday mentioned Burks, the junior college receiver, and freshman Keith Mills as those who've improved to become as consistent as players like Conner and Long.

Holliday estimates that his players catch close to 100 balls a day. And many more than they used to.

.