43 years of the same ole Spartans.

Many MSU fans repeatedly mention how the Spartans are a perennial .500 team when in their opinion should be much better. What are your reasons for believing that MSU is somehow above or on par with programs? Until the recent renovations of Spartan Stadium, this facility has been relatively ignored for the last fifty plus years. Besides changing from grass to artificial turf and back to grass, and removing the first several rows, the stadium has remained unchanged.

MSU built the Duffy Daugherty Building and finally had a training facility more representative of a large institution, compared to the antiquated weight room the players were forced to use at the stadium. It has been a quarter of a century since this facility opened, and very little has changed or been updated. Many of the other programs in the conference have not only built similar facilities in that time span, they have either updated or upgraded them their opening.

I am entering my forty-third season of following the Spartans, and have shared the ups and downs of this program. The biggest loss to the Spartan program to me was when John Hannah stepped down as university president. The program lost its most ardent supporter at a critical point in history. College sports would boom in the 1970’s and MSU did absolutely nothing to establish itself. This program fell from the ranks of the elite to an also-ran in a few short years.

The malaise that has been the Spartan program can be attributed to many things, poor coaching, probation, not keeping up with the times. Here is my evaluation of the eight coaches and the programs they ran during my forty-two years.

Duffy Daugherty:
When I started to follow the Spartans in 1964, MSU finished the season with a record of 4-5. I am sure the DE’s would have been calling for Duffy’s head because of his poor showing. The one thing I came to learn from my father (former college and semi-pro player, and in my mind a very astute football analyst) that year was that MSU was a very young team. The Spartans had lost a good many veteran players from the 1963 team, and Duffy was playing a bunch of inexperienced players by the name of Smith, Webster, Washington, Jones, Goovert, etc. Most of these guys were either first year sophomore players (freshman players were not eligible to play on the varsity), or juniors with limited experience. These guys made their share of mistakes, but you could sense that this group would mature. The 1965 and 66 teams were laden with talented upperclassmen with experience. Those two years were something special.

One knock I have against Duffy was it was either all or nothing for him. His model was always the same, take a group of players and work with them all the way through until they graduated and then start over. Duffy was most successful when he had a starting twenty-two who were upperclassmen. This routinely meant that there would be a sub .500 year or two before a break out year. I don’t know if it was the attitude back then, but there was little emphasis placed on depth and development. Part of the reason could be due to segregation, as many of the better black athletes from the south came north to play. When many of the southern programs began to allow blacks on their teams, Duffy no longer had a recruiting pipeline.

The last two years of the Duffy era should have been his swan song. The 1971 and 72 teams had numerous NFL caliber players on the team. Like before, these teams had a strong starting twenty-two who were experienced and talented, but very little in the way of depth. One or two injuries to the starting group at critical positions resulted in these teams from achieving their full potential. Duffy didn’t leave the cupboard bare for Denny, but most of what he had was unproven.

Duffy was an elite level coach when he had talent, but after the 1966 season he ignored the winds of change in society and college football, and he became very average.

Denny Stoltz:
Say what you want about Denny Stoltz, but if it wasn’t for being put on probation, he would have had a long and distinguished career at MSU. He was one of the new breed of coaches that understood the need to not only stockpile talent, but to rotate players into games to give them experience and the starters a breather. His 1974 and 75 teams won seven games, and he was beginning to develop the program depth that concerned Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler.
Stoltz was a strong recruiter and MSU wasn’t that far removed from its glory days of the mid-sixties that recruits were unfamiliar with its history.

The player scandals that lead to the program eventually being put on probation, and the subsequent penalties ruined the program. Stoltz had made inroads that upset Woody Hayes, and he feared MSU would return to power. Hayes wielded his influence in making sure MSU received an extremely harsh sentence by the NCAA. The last thing Woody wanted was more competition, and Stoltz had gained a toehold that Woody wanted undone.

Stoltz was an up and coming coach. He was building the foundation that would have allowed MSU to probably maintain a top-three level in the conference.

Darryl Rogers:
If there was any doubt that Rogers was an offensive minded coach, consider the fact that he had six or seven scholarship players who were recruited as QB’s.

Rogers was sort of a carpet bagger. He had never truly built a program, and he had limited recruiting experience outside of California. His recruiting was abysmal. Part of his recruiting woes were due to the label placed on MSU for being on probation, but a large part was that he just wasn’t very good at it.

His two most successful years 1977 & 78 were teams filled with Stoltz’s recruits who were now in their junior and senior seasons. The poor recruiting had al but wiped away the foundation that Stoltz had constructed. When Rogers bolted for ASU after the 1979 season he left little in the way of talent, and depth could best be described as marginal D1 talent.

Muddy Waters:
Nice guy, who was placed in a situation that he, was not equipped to handle. He may have been a successful DII or DIII coach (Whatever GVSU is), but he was lost when it came to performing all the other aspects outside of coaching. If it wasn’t for Coach Joe Pendry, I doubt MSU would have won any games under Waters. I don’t want to say the players disrespected Muddy Waters, but they knew he was a pushover and they used that against him.

Waters leaves the program with less talent than when he started, with many of the roster filled in with marginal MAC level talent.

George Perles:
As a Duffy prodigy he used the same method of taking a group of underclassmen and developing them to where they would be successful as juniors and seniors. His NFL connections helped him land some very good talent, but his lackadaisical attitude about OOC games was irritating. He considered them to be unimportant (except for Notre Dame), and it resulted in him having a 13-20-1 record. I can remember Perles being upset with his Rose Bowl teams #8 ranking, because he failed to realize that the pollsters took into account all games and not just the one George believed were the most important (read Big Ten).

He would eventually build sufficient depth that allowed him to have a successful run for three or four years, but his continued power struggle with the university and flirtation with the NFL resulted in his eventual collapse. The program was in shambles when he left, with the inmates running the institution.

Nick Saban:
Many here worship the ground that Saban walked upon. I too was a huge Saban supporter, especially for his dedication to conditioning. He like Stoltz understood that he need to build a foundation that would allow for continual, repeatable success.

As good as a coach as he was/is, he had several flaws that would hurt the program. He was a heck of a recruiter, but at times he went for the high risk athlete. Some of them made it; some of them didn’t, and for those who didn’t it severely hindered his goal of building a foundation. Another flaw he had was burning redshirts of his true freshmen players. Saban was a very good judge of talent and realized that MSU was nowhere near the talent level to compete on a yearly basis with UM, OSU, PSU. Many times his true freshmen recruits were better than the veterans, but in his drive to win quickly he sacrificed a year of eligibility and further delayed building a solid foundation.

His biggest flaw was his repeated flirtation with the NFL. Instead of squelching rumors when his named was being mentioned for an NFL opening he would take his time before he eventually said no. For all of you who believe that MSU should have thrown more money at Nick to stay when he jumped to LSU, you were mistaken regarding his motive. Saban was a good NFL assistant coach, and he wanted to return to the big leagues as a head coach. He wasn’t going to jump at just any opening it would have to be one where he would have total control of the operations. He also knew that having a National Championship on his resume would add additional clout. LSU afforded him that opportunity, and when the Dolphins came calling he had placed himself in the catbirds seat. I don’t blame Saban for wanting an NFL gig, nor do I despise him for leaving MSU. He manipulated the system to allow him the best opportunity to achieve his goal.

He was definitely one of the better coaches that MSU has had over the last forty-two years. When he had a solid level of first team talent he won, but even his 1999 team got embarrassed at Wisconsin and Purdue. He also had mental lapses against Northwestern, Purdue in 1997 and 98.

Bobby Williams:
The only thing I came remember about Williams is the strained expression on his face as if he was continually constipated. He and Frank Waters would have to go down as two of the most misguided coaching selections at MSU. Williams was in over his head from the get go. He wanted to be a players coach and have everyone like him, he opposite of Saban.

He had no clue on how to maintain, let alone build a foundation for a program. Even though he is credited with the 2000 recruiting class, much of the ground work was laid by Saban. Several of the assistants were instrumental in keeping some of the better players committed to MSU.
Upon his firing MSU was without any discipline, accountability, and most regrettably firm foundation.

John L Smith:
I can still remember what JLS said after being introduced as MSU’s next head coach. It was something to the effect that his reason for being hired was due to problems with the football program. I shudder to think what would have happened to him if Smoker was unable to return. Can anyone imagine how the season would have looked with Damon Dowdell or possibly true freshman, Sean Clayton under center the entire season? Going 8-5 in his first year was a testament to his ability to coach. MSU was rarely the most talented team (wins against Iowa and Minnesota most surprising), but he was able to scheme and get some breaks that helped MSU hold on to games they should have lost.

Smith’s 2003 team had many of the players from the 2000 recruiting class that were talented, but needed the guidance that was lacking under Williams.

The loss to LA Tech has been a rallying point for many of those who want JLS fired, but what it showed was MSU’s overall lack of talent in regards to depth. After Jeff Smoker got injured Smith had a choice to either play a redshirt freshman with little grasp of the offense, or a fourth year junior with some playing time. Looking back it probably would have been better to have inserted Stanton. He would have at least followed the directives of the coaching staff. In the end the starters on defense tired from having spent most of the second half on the field. There literally were no viable substitutes to spell the starters because the quality in the depth players was so abysmal.

2004 and 2005 continued to expose MSU’s lack of depth. The late game and late season fades were not surprising. I don’t know how many people expect 22 players to carry the weight of an entire season without eventually wearing down. The other problem is that some of these starters weren’t very good to begin with, but they were the best MSU had to offer.

Smith is proving he is a capable recruiter as witnessed by his 2004, 2005 and 2006 recruiting classes. He also has verbal commitments from some highly regarded players for 2007. He also has a proven track record of developing talent and turning around programs. JLS has taken the path of building a foundation that will stabilize MSU, and allow the program to maintain a continued high level of performance. As one very successful college coach said, "The better talent I recruit, the better coach I become."

I make no excuse for being a John L Smith supporter. His personal goal is to win a National Championship, and in order to do it will take laying the proper foundation that is conducive to bring about that goal. Maybe I am just a foolish old man, but after forty-two years of seeing the good and the bad that has been the Spartan football program, I can see the positive strides Mason, Smith and the Athletic Department are making to return MSU to a prominent position in the college football world.

2006 Conference outlook

1. Illinois: Has greatest number of returning starters, but the question remains about how capable are those players of playing Big Ten football. Zook has brought in a solid recruiting class, but it is going to take him at least four years to develop the talent necessary to compete on a yearly basis. They should be able to win at least two conference games (Indiana, Northwestern), while the will likely have three guaranteed losses (Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State), and three swing games (Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin).

2. Indiana: I for one am not buying into the hype that Terry Hoeppner is some QB coaching guru. The guy was fortunate enough to have an elite 11 QB fall into his lap at Miami (OH), but other than that, who has he developed? If he is able to transform Blake Powers into a draftable quality NFL QB my opinion may change, until then I don’t expect Powers to lead IU to many victories. If they sweep their OOC schedule that will allow them to equal last years output. Don’t see any winnable conference games on the slate. They have one swing game (Minnesota), but the remaining seven conference games will likely be losses.

3. Iowa: Their young 2005 defense has grown up and will not break down during critical junctures this year. Drew Tate and Albert Young will be an effective tandem in the Hawkeye backfield, and allow for a very productive offense. Because of Tate, I give the early season showdown in Iowa City against OSU a decided Hawkeye advantage. This is my pick for the conference champs. Iowa's schedule is favorable in that they should win six of their conference games (Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin), with only two swing games (OSU and Michigan).

4. Michigan: After the 1997 NC everyone hailed Jim Herrmanns the best young DC in the country. His defenses were never the same after Woodson left, and they too often were the reason Michigan lost critical games. With a new DC and eight starters returning, UM will field one of the better conference defenses. Offensively the load is going to fall upon Henne and Hart, operating behind a rebuilt OL. Scoring could be down, placing more of an onus on the defense to carry this team. Look for them to upset ND in South Bend. Five of the conference games should be wins (Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Wisconsin) with three swing games (Iowa, Michigan State and OSU).

5. Michigan State: Can MSU finally establish a relative level of consistency that will be maintained throughout the season? Offensively the Spartans will be strong with Stanton under center. With an established backup in Hoyer, OC Dave Baldwin will permit Stanton to once again be a dual threat. Defensively this team is young along the front four and in the secondary. This unit as a whole needs to step up and be physical with teams, a trait missing for several seasons. The Spartans have the capability of winning 8+ games, but will they? The Spartans should be favored in four conference games (Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern), but it is how they do in their swing games (Michigan, OSU, Penn State, Purdue) that will determine their fate.

6. Minnesota: No more Maroney, and losing Russell is going to hinder the Gopher running game. Losing three starting OL will also compound the problem as well. QB Bryan Cupito does not have the ability to carry this team alone on the strength of his passing, so scoring will be down. Defensively Minnesota has to rebuild its front four that will further burden a secondary that struggles to cover effectively. Their offensive losses are going to make it difficult on the Gophers as five of their games appear to be guaranteed losses (Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue). Three swing games (Indiana, Penn State, Wisconsin) will determine if they can be kept out of the cellar.

7. Northwestern: The tragic death of Randy Walker alone is going to make the 2006 season a difficult one for the Wildcats. They have to replace the key element of their offense from last year, QB Brett Basanez, with a very inexperienced QB. With most of the OL intact, expect the new QB to do allot less throwing and more handing off to 2005 freshman sensation, Tyrell Sutton. The defense returns eight, but lost its heart and soul with the graduation of LB Tim McGarigle. I can only find two possible wins on NU’s schedule, New Hampshire and EMU, as they will likely go 0-8 in the conference.

8. Ohio State: Losing nine players from arguably the best defense will be a huge undertaking, yet some have OSU playing in the BCS Championship. I don’t buy it. OSU was unable to get to the championship last year with a very experienced and talented team, and now people believe that the replacements will perform at a higher level? OSU will be good, very good, but not BCS Championship good. The question becomes can Troy Smith put this team on his back and win like Vince Young did last year? The Buckeye offense has playmakers in Ginn, Gonzalez, and Pittman to accompany Smith, but the offense alone won’t lead them to the BCS title game. Like Michigan the Buckeyes have five assured conference wins (Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State), and three swing games (Iowa, Michigan State, Michigan) that will determine if they will win the conference.

9. Penn State: Much like OSU the Nittany Lions lost a considerable amount of talent on defense, even though they do have the best defensive player in the conference returning in Paul Posluszny. Offensively PSU losses as much if not more with having to replace QB Michael Robinson, and four offensive linemen. Last year the offense finally came to life and actually put points on the board so that the defense would not be required to pitch a shutout every game in order to win. This year, not only will the PSU offense struggle to score, but their defense will in all likelihood give up more points than they have the past two seasons. PSU has one guaranteed victory (Northwestern), two losses (Michigan, Ohio State) and five swing games (Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Wisconsin). The end result will be PSU finishing at or near .500.

10. Purdue: No Michigan or OSU on the schedule, an entire defense returning, and an offense poised to make things happen. Everything was in place for the Boilermakers to not only vie for the conference title, but a January 1 bowl game was almost assured. All these advantages were for naught, as PU missed its first post season bowl game under Joe Tiller, and finished a disappointing 5-6. This year the Boilermakers have to rebuild heavily on defense, and hope that the offense will have enough opportunities to score. With a 13-game schedule, PU shouldn’t have too much difficulty in finding four conference wins (Minnesota, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Indiana), but Iowa will be a loss, leaving their three swing games (Illinois, Michigan State, Penn State) to determine if they can achieve 7 wins or more.

11. Wisconsin: The Bret Bielema era begins in Madison with a major rebuilding job on the offensive side of the ball. Bielema has to replace 8 departing starters from an offense that finished third in the conference in scoring. With QB John Stocco returning for his third year, and only two veteran offensive linemen up front, the Badgers will rely on their improving defense to keep them in ball games. The Badgers were young last year defensively, but they improved throughout the season, and dominated an Auburn offense in the Capital One Bowl. The entire front four returns, as do three members of the secondary. If the offense comes around this team is capable of winning eight games, if not, they will finish near .500. Conference wins (Indiana, Northwestern), losses (Iowa, Michigan, Purdue), and three swing games (Illinois, Minnesota, Penn State).

Michigan State Special Teams Preview

MSU’s 2005 Special Teams were in a word, abysmal. The field goal kicking unit converted on only 5 of 13 attempts, and had notable misses like the one in OT versus Michigan, and who can forget the Chinese fire drill that took place at the end of the first half against OSU.

Not to be outdone, the Spartan’s All-American punter Brandon Fields went from being an asset to a liability. He repeatedly misfired on opportunities. When the Spartans needed a big punt he would shank it. When they needed a coffin-corner kick, he would sail one out of the endzone. Consistently inconsistent was the best way to describe him

If you want to know how serious a dilemma MSU is facing in the placekicking department, there were eight kickers listed on the spring roster. That’s three more players than were listed at quarterback this spring. If John L. Smith is seeking suggestions on how to correct this problem, let me suggest that he hire Anthony Robbins to work with the kickers on the mental part of the game. As a former kicker, I studied under the guru of instruction on how to kick a football, Edward "Doc" Storey. Storey was a big believer in the technique of visualization. He wanted his students to "see" the kick in their mind before each attempt. Robbins teaches on a similar principle, instructing those to set a mental image in their mind of the perfect kick by detailing every aspect. After last season the only visual image I have is Lucy pulling the ball away just as Charlie Brown attempts to kick it and ends up falling flat on his back.

Todd Boleski’s powerful leg was on display in the spring game, when he booted several 50+ yard fieldgoals. As impressive as that may sound, it doesn’t measure up to actual game conditions where the kick will decide the outcome. Boleski or any other MSU kicker should seriously consider attending Dave Pelfry’s kicking camp this summer. The Spartans cannot afford another year like 2005. Incoming recruit Brett Swenson will have a shot at beating out all challengers, but it hasn’t been decided if he will be any more effective.

Heading into the 2005 campaign the punting game was supposed to be a strength. Brandon Fields was coming off a sophomore season where he led the nation in punting, and there was only speculation on much he would improve. I can only speculate as to the reasons why Fields punting fell apart. The one theory I believe caused his downfall was him trying to be too much of a finesse punter. He was trying not to out-kick his coverage, while improving the hang-time on his punts. This caused him to alter his natural approach and fouled up his mechanics. JLS has now decided to allow Fields to revert back his "grip-it-and-rip-it" style, and try to find another punter to handle short field situations much in the way Dave Rayner did in 2004. The much maligned John Goss could possibly handle this duty, but only if his fragile psyche has not been damaged to severely.

Going into the 2005 season there was some concern about who would replace Cobb as the kick returner. Cobb was a threat to take one back every time he touched the ball. Cobb provided MSU with field position, and forced opponents to alter how they would approach kicking to the Spartans. Not being able to find another player capable of routinely delivering the big return hampered the Spartans just as much as the kicking game itself. Demond Williams took a kickoff back for a score once in 2005, but other than this one instance the Spartans didn’t have any electrifying return man who would consistently take a kickoff past the 25 yard line.

MSU has not had a quality punt returner since Gari Scott, but hopefully that will change this year. Receiver Terry Love has displayed a wonderful open field running ability, as well as a nice set of hands. If he can display those same attributes returning punts, he may in fact help MSU win the battle of field position. Another possibility is sophomore Carl Grimes who has yet to see significant playing time in the receiving corps.

Another aspect of special teams’ play that JLS stresses is the punt block. Because of the issues with depth, especially at linebacker, and a lack of overall team speed, MSU was not very effective at applying pressure to the punter. This year expect to see a significant upgrade in the performance of this unit. Smith is experimenting with SirDarean Adams and Javon Ringer, by utilizing their speed off the edge to produce more blocks. I would also expect linebackers Adam Decker, A.J. Hawken, Josh Rouse, Tom Dance, and Steve Juarez to see significant playing time on special teams.

With special teams making up one-third of the formula for winning, MSU can ill afford another poor showing by this unit. The Spartans are not strong enough at this point where they can rely on one unit (primarily the offense) to carry the burden for the entire team. Defense is still a question mark, so that leaves special teams with the honor of possibly being the necessary edge required for winning games. Three questions that still need to be answered regarding special teams are: Can Fields return to his 2004 form? Can the Spartans find a kicker who can hit better than 50% on his attempts? Does MSU have a legitimate threat for a return man?

2006 Spartan Defense

The Spartan defense has been much maligned the last two year’s, and rightfully so. The aggressive, attacking, strip-the-ball, pressure the quarterback defense that was displayed in 2003, became a passive, hesitant, bend and break unit. The lack of a pass rush was only magnified by the horrible coverage, and sloppy tackling in the secondary that routinely got torched. It was apparent that MSU’s lack of depth, questionable talent, and speed all played a factor in the defenses inability to stop the opposition. I also believe there existed a bit of animosity/dissention on JLS’s defensive staff, especially between the line coach and Smith. The hiring of Derrick Jackson as the new front four position coach will hopefully pay dividends. He brings with him an enthusiasm not unexpected from a young coach looking to move his way up through the ranks and make a name for himself.

The Spartans were only able to record 36 sacks the last two years after totaling 45 for the entire 2003 season. Brandon McKinney’s never ending weight problem resulted in him never reaching his potential. MSU is still trying to find a viable RUSH end that has the speed to blow by defenders, as well as interior linemen capable of collapsing the pocket.

Jackson is taking a positive approach by becoming more focused on developing technique, and challenging each player to improve on a daily basis. One key that might help coach Jackson field a DL similar to what Spartan fans saw in 2003 is the fact that he not only has adequate numbers, but he has some young talent to work with.

The unquestioned leader of the front four is captain Clifton Ryan. Ryan has a reputation for being a tireless worker with a non-stop motor. That may be true, but I have not seen enough out of Ryan performance wise that makes me believe he is a dominant linemen. To me he appears to be stuck in neutral and just revving the engine. Maybe the loss of weight (down 10 pounds to 294) and moving him inside, along with the tutelage of Jackson, Ryan will finally make a believer out of me. Backing up Ryan is second year JUCO, Bobby Jones. Jones came to MSU after being rated one of the top JUCO defensive linemen in the country. It has taken him a year just to get into Big Ten playing condition, so his contribution is still under scrutiny. The other interior spot is being contested by David Stanton, a JUCO from the class of 2005 who played well at times last year, and 2006 JUCO, Ogemdi Nwagbuo, who enrolled early and was able to participate in spring practice. Nwagbuo has limited football experience, but Jackson believes if he can refine and develop his raw potential, he will make an impact in the rotation this fall. Improved play by Stanton will also allow MSU to redshirt some of the DT’s in this year’s class.

MSU is looking to upgrade the play of their defensive ends by attempting to introduce more speed off the edge. Sophomore Brandon Long is a lineman that Coach Jackson believes could make this a reality. Long, a converted high school linebacker has excellent speed and an explosive first step that allows him to get up the field and into the backfield quickly. What he needs to develop is better technique and the self confidence that comes with experience, as well as adding more size. At 237 he is a little too light to take on the massive offensive tackles he will be facing each week. Backing up Long are RS junior, Jonal St. Dic, and RS freshman, Reggie Graham. Graham is a tall, rangy DE with good quickness, but lacks weight and strength. He has the potential to become a Julian Peterson type DE/LB combination. Dic has the best strength of the three, but does not posses the speed of either Long or Graham, and is three inches shorter.

The STUD DE position is an open audition since Ryan slid inside. Sophomore Justin Kershaw and juniors Nick Smith and Derrick Outlaw are competing for the starting position. Kershaw emerged from spring ball as the starter heading into summer, but that was due to both Smith and Outlaw suffering injuries that forced them to the sidelines prior to the conclusion of spring practice. Kershaw is another young DL that hopefully Jackson can mold into a quality DE, as he appears to have the biggest upside. He has his weight up to 252, but could carry another 10 to 15 pounds. Smith’s potential has been limited due to injuries his first two years, while Outlaw is trying to regain his football instincts after trying to make it as a basketball player.

One other player worth mentioning is JUCO DE Ervin Baldwin. Baldwin won’t be available until preseason camp, but is said to be an extremely difficult lineman to block because of his combination of strength and quickness. The recent past has me wondering just how much of a contribution he will actually make, as several of the high profile JUCO defensive line recruits (Peko, and Jones come to mind) arrived lacking in strength, and the commitment to conditioning required to play in the Big Ten conference. Even if he does come into camp in peak physical condition, there is still the matter of him learning the defensive scheme.

There is plenty of potential and promise in this group even though no one has stood out as being the dominant linemen. A year of instruction was wasted in 2005 as the defensive line coach didn’t appear to be motivated to working with these young men. Thankfully he resigned. Coach Jackson is embracing the opportunity, and is being called upon to restore a pass rush that has been lacking the two previous seasons. If he is successful, the MSU defense will become a more formidable unit.

The linebacker position has experienced a lack of depth and quality talent for several years. That’s all about to change, as JLS has managed to stockpile several highly touted high school prospects to fill the void. This group is athletic, fast, but lacking in experience, as half the members are sophomores and below.

David Herron returns for his third and final season as the WHIP linebacker. His performance has steadily improved each year since being converted from fullback, but he is not the difference maker that an A.J. Hawk or Chad Greenway were for their respective teams. Backing up Herron are lightly used junior, Eric Andino, RS freshman Adam Decker and true freshmen, Josh Rouse. Decker received some accolades for his performance this spring by the coaching staff, and was one of the leading tacklers in the spring game.

The MIKE position is being manned by junior Kaleb Thornhill. Thornhill plays a more cerebral style, as he must make up for in smarts what he lacks in speed, and ability. Thornhill sat out the spring practice to recover from knee surgery. Steve Juarez spent a majority of his time with the first unit this spring in Thornhill’s absence. Juarez is a second year player who came to MSU from the JUCO ranks with a reputation as a speedy, agile, big hitting, linebacker. Another candidate is RS freshmen A.J. Hawken, who also had an impressive spring outing. True freshmen Eric Gordon, a 4-star rated recruit enrolled at MSU in January, and participated in spring drills. If he sees the field this year it will more than likely be on special teams.

The one defensive position that has continued controversy since it was implemented in 2003 is BANDIT. This position needs to be manned by someone with the speed of a DB, and the size and strength of a linebacker. Last year was the first time that MSU actually had an individual who fulfilled those qualifications. SirDarean Adams is a 6’, 230 pound, 4.4 speed linebacker, who struggles at times with the mental part of the position. Backing up Adams are junior Cole Corey, and sophomore Tom Dance. Corey is still waiting on a resolution from the court for an off the field high school incident that could result in jail time. Dance has the speed, but needs to add muscle to achieve an appropriate playing weight.

The added depth at linebacker will help MSU overcome any injuries that may occur besides allowing the backups to contribute on special teams. Decker, Hawken and Gordon appear to be the future of Spartan linebacking.

A great deal of MSU’s defensive struggles the last two seasons can be directly attributed to the secondary. The lack of depth and athleticism was repeatedly exposed as offenses were able to routinely make big plays. The staff used multiple combinations, and switched players from offense to defense in an attempt to shore up this unit. I always take as a sign of trouble true freshmen being inserted into the lineup over veteran players. Otis Wiley and Ross Weaver each spent time playing last year because MSU had run out of options. Their performances may have been no better that those they replaced (plenty of freshmen mistakes), however they did possess more speed, and athleticism. This year these two, a key JUCO addition, and some additional position changes are hopefully going to rectify the many problems associated with the Spartan secondary.

Ross Weaver was able to solidify his starting FC position with a solid spring, and was pushed hard by converted FS Greg Cooper. The position switch for Cooper appears to better suit his ability, however he and Weaver still have allot to learn about playing on an island, and there is still the matter of them performing at a higher level than what has been shown the past several years from others at this position.

The other corner position is being manned by returning starter, Demond Williams. To say Williams struggled last year would be an understatement, as he seemed to be out of position on many occasions, and his tackling was poor. Not the combination of abilities one desires in a cornerback. If Williams falters again the coaching staff will possibly look at putting Cooper on this side (depending on the performance of Weaver), or be faced with using inexperienced RS freshmen, Dan Fortener, or one of the incoming recruits.

MSU lost the brains of its defense the last three years with the graduation of SS, Eric Smith. Smith’s replacement Nehemiah Warrick has been the talk of spring ball. Warrick comes to the Spartans from the JUCO ranks, and brings more speed and play-making ability to the position than Smith. Warrick impressed coaches with his physical style and willingness to hit. His up tempo performance this spring was infectious to the entire defense, but it remains to be seen if this same attitude will carry over through the summer and preseason camp. Junior Mike Bell is Warrick’s backup at SS, as well as being #2 at FS.

The Free Safety position is being entrusted to sophomore Otis Wiley. The 6’2", 208 pound Wiley is the third member of the 2005 recruiting class to break into the starting lineup (Williams and Weaver are the other two). Weaver brings decent speed and athleticism to the FS position. As noted earlier, Mike Bell is the backup.

The entire secondary needs to show marked improvement individually and as a group if MSU is to have any chance of a winning record in 2006. This starting unit for the first time will consist totally of players recruited by JLS and his staff. Any deficiencies associated with these players will be directly attributed to Smith’s ability to judge and develop defensive talent.

This year’ defense, based upon personal, should reflect the attacking, aggressive unit of 2003. They also need to become more physical by punishing ball carriers and receivers. As is always the case, the front seven will determine the success or failure of the defense. Several keys to the defense performing at an acceptable level include: the front four supplying a strong up-field push and getting pressure on the quarterback. They also must be able to control the line of scrimmage and allow the linebackers room to roam by keeping blockers off of them. Linebackers, in particular David Herron and SirDarean Adams, need to make more plays and generate turnovers. The secondary has simply got to be able to cover better, period. Three of the four are 6’1" or taller, with only Williams and Cooper falling below that height. They need to turn some of those pass break-ups into interceptions, and possible scores.

2006 Michigan State Spartans Offensive preview

With Spring practice concluded I have a better idea as to how the 2006 Michigan State football team will look. This is a team at a crossroads of sorts, with a coach who has definitely up graded the talent level and overall team speed, but has not been able to establish the consistency I and other Spartan fans desire.

I make no excuses for being a John L. Smith supporter, as he came into a rats nest of issues (both personnel wise and mental/pschological)) when he inherited this program that has been neglected ever since John Hanna left as the University President in 1969. I, like other fans have grown frustrated with the mediocrity that has become associated with Michigan State football. Only since the hiring of Ron Mason as AD (another move I supported) do I believe that MSU is now taking appropriate actions to field competitive teams in all sports. The success of the mens and womens basketball programs are dually noted, and the turn around that the hockey program made this season was another indication that things are looking up. The final hurdle still remains the football program, where increasing ticket prices, along with the plea for funding of facilities upgrades still have the Spartans mired in the lower tier of the Big Ten.

Every year is critical if you are a Spartan football fan, because of the comparison between MSU and UM. The gap between the two programs grew increasingly wide during the Don Canham, Bo Schembechler years, as UM seized upon marketing and burgeoning college television industry. MSU has been playing catch up ever since, and at times they haven't decided to play at all. This year is especially critical for John L. Smith and his staff, as they enter year four of their restructuring of the program. Smith has resolved the issues regarding player academics, but the issue of the team psyche still appears to be a work in progress.

Smith has been refreshingly open about each of his MSU teams strengths and weaknesses. Last year he commented after the spring game that the defense was still susceptible to giving up the big play. Going into the 2005 season he again commented that the offense would have to carry the burden of this team, especially early, as the defense was not where it needed to be. This spring was the first time I heard him actually offer what could be construed as praise to his defense when he stated, "I think we're coming together on defense and starting to play with a little more of an attitude..." Smith recognizing a changed attitude is key, as MSU has not only lacked an air of confidence, but a physicalness that has been missing for far to many seasons. Basketball coach Tom Izzo admitted after its ouster from the NCAA's that his team lacked toughness. Like Izzo, Smith wants his team to be physical, but also have a vocal leader. He may have found both in the person of Juco newcomer, Nehemiah Warrick.

Okay, enough of the idle talk, let's get down to position evaluations, and what I believe you can expect from this years team come September.

Offensive Line: It all starts up front, and MSU is doing some renovating with having to replace three departed starters. I don't consider this a rebuilding project as MSU has the advantage of quality depth to fill the vacancies. Center John Masters has been in the program for three years, and will be taking over for Chris Morris. Masters has seen playing time as a reserve, but he will now be taking over the line calls on a permanent basis. Pressure to perform and maintain the level established by Morris will be key for Masters retaining his hold on the starting center position, for if he falters MSU is capable of sliding Kyle Cook over from his guard position to handle the chore. RSF Joel Nitchman made strides this year, but I don't believe he is ready to handle these responsibilities. Flanking Masters will be returning starter Kyle Cook, and RS sophomore Roland Martin. Cook is not flashy, but is a player who gives you everything he has on every play, with a real workmen like attitude. Martin's emergence on the other hand has been greatly anticipated ever since he signed his LOI. Named as one of the top OL recruits in the 2004 rankings, he has been humbled somewhat by having to wait his turn. He has trimmed down his weight, improved his strength, and now appears ready to become an integral part of the MSU blocking scheme. Martin will be lining up on the right side with another first timer, tackle Jesse Miller. The thought of two rookies on one side of the line is of some concern, but OL coach Jeff Stoutland has been very complimentary of Miller's work ethic and overall spring performance. Left OT will be manned by junior Mike Gyetvai, who played on the right side last year. Gyetvai has developed into a dependable tackle, but needs to maintain focus and a mean streak on every play. Depth for the OL appears to be the best it has ever been, albeit most of it is young and untested. If the starting five can maintain their health, this should remain a solid, dependable unit for the team.

Receivers: With MSU running multiple receiver sets it is criticle that this group have sufficient numbers, but it has lacked a true difference maker. Matt Trannon has shown glimpses of his potential, the kind that the NFL scouts are seeking, but for whatever reason he hasn't displayed a game in and game out attitude that makes you consider him in the same class as a Charles Rogers or Braylon Edwards. I for one am not waiting for him to have a break out year. There are for too many options available (Kerry Reed, Ryan Allison, Deon Curry, and newcomer T.J. Williams) that if Trannon doesn't routinely make more big plays, others should be considered. Z receiver Terry Love has become a favorite of mine. He possesses good route running with an ability to get open, and is reliable to make the catch, even in traffic. Once the ball is in his hands he also has displayed a knack for elusive open field running. The SLOT receiver is being held by steady Jerramy Scott. I believe Scott to have the best speed, and is sure handed, but needs to come up with more game changing catches. The TE position has become an enigma at MSU. JLS's offenses at Idaho, and Louisville used the TE much more effectively, and were known for creating mismatches in the center of the field. For the last three seasons the TE has not been a prevalent part of the offense. Kellen Davis possesses the height, speed and athleticism desired to create coverage issues, but he and the other TE's only caught a total of 23 passes out of the 381 pass plays. That figures into less than 6 percent of the total offense, which is an under utilization in my estimation. Dwayne Holmes is the second TE option, but after him the depth drops off quickly. Jamar Jones status is uncertain, as he has considered leaving the program, making incoming freshmen, Charlie Gantt, and Sam Gardner the only other scholarship TE's. Both are likely a year away from seeing the field, and are not expected to make a significant impact this season. The addition of T.J. Williams, and DevinThomas could provide the big play receiver that has been missing. Ryan Allison is one player that could see more involvement in the offense. He reminds me of a younger Kirk Gibson, possessing similar size and speed.

Running Back: MSU has decided to retain its three back rotation using Javon Ringer, Jehuu Caulcrick, and A.J. Jimmerson. Ringer emerged as the top running threat last year, rushing for 817 yards and an average of 6.7 yards/carry. Caulcrick's involvement in the offense diminshed as Ringer become more of the Spartan every down back, but once inside the redzone he was used, scoring 7 TD's last season. A.J. Jimmerson will replace Jason Teague as the third member of the group. He received the bulk of the carries this spring, and his performance warranted praise. This groups combined output should fall within the 2000 to 2500 yard range, with at least one of the backs rushing for 1000 yards alone. Reports out off spring practice indicate that Caulcrick has added a significant amount of weight, and did not apppear to have the same speed and quickness. If true, don't be surprised to see his role further reduced.

Quarterback: Last year everyone worried what would happen to the Spartan offense if Drew Stanton was lost to injury. Without an established backup, Stanton significantly curtailed his running in the open field, that limited his overall effectiveness. He did become a better passer as a result, but the reduced threat of him running allowed defenses to move more men closer to the line of scrimmage. The result was teams blitzing more, and when injuries to the OL began to take its toll later in the year, sacks increased. All spring JLS worked at establishing a competent backup between the two contenders, Brian Hoyer and Dominic Natale. Hoyer's additional year of experience paid off, as he displayed a better understanding of the offense. In the event that Stanton was to go down to injury this season, MSU will at least be secure in knowing that they have a quality signal caller who can step in. The depth at quarterback is the best it has ever been, and with the Dixon Connor arriving this September, and already receiving a verbal commitment from highly touted 2007 recruit Keith Nichol, things appear to be settled for the foreseeable future.

The Spartan offens averaged 33.8 points per game in 2005, a mark that they could better if the OL develops. MSU has the benefit of an experienced senior quarterback, quality skill position players, and one true game changing player in Javon Ringer. I expect the coaching staff to allow Drew Stanton to utilize his running skills much in the same way he did in 2004, now that the fear of not having a viable backup has been alleviated with the development of Hoyer. It's difficult to imagine that Javon Ringer was not at 100 percent last year, as he showed outstanding cutting ability, and straightline speed on more than one occassion. Ringer admitted that at times he did not do all that he was capable of for fear of making mistakes, but now that he understands the offense and his role, he is ready to rachet up his performance. The receiving corps appears to be set, but finding a true game breaking receiver that can dominate an opponent would greatly influence how teams could defend the Spartan offense. A more involved role by the TE's would also add to the dilemma that defensive coordinators would encounter when playing MSU. Overall there appears to be a significant amount of quality depth so that an injury or two to the starting eleven will not impact the Spartans as in years past.