Football
Big Ten Previews - No. 6 Michigan State (Tie)
By Tony GerdemanPredicted Finish 7-5 (3-5)
Two-Cent Overview
Quarterback Brian Hoyer and superstar tailback Javon Ringer return and they will be protected by an offensive line that replaces starters with semi-experienced veterans. There are receivers here to cause trouble for any team. The defensive line needs to replace last year's pass rush, but there is experience here as well. The linebackers are young, but--you guessed it--experienced. The secondary is having some issues with position switches and players on sabbatical, but there is depth here as well. This is a team looking to prove something--anything--other than what we already know about Michigan State football.
Schedule
Aug. 30 at California (W)
Sept. 6 Eastern Michigan (W)
Sept. 13 Florida Atlantic (W)
Sept. 20 Notre Dame (W)
Sept. 27 at Indiana (W)
Oct. 4 Iowa (W)
Oct. 11 at Northwestern (L)
Oct. 18 Ohio State (L)
Oct. 25 at Michigan (L)
Nov. 1 Wisconsin (L)
Nov. 8 Purdue (W)
Nov. 22 at Penn State (L)Goal
Head Coach Mark Dantonio says his goal is a National Championship, but I’m guessing he’d settle for a Michigan win.
Five Questions Looking For Answers
1. Will quarterback Brian Hoyer make people forget his bowl game performance?
2. Can running back Javon Ringer prove effective around the goal line?
3. How do you replace wide receiver Devin Thomas?
4. How do you replace 18.5 sacks from last year's starting defensive ends?
5. How much will the secondary miss Travis Key's leadership?Something To Look For
A secondary flux that could last all season long. Last week, free safety Roderick Jenrette left the team for personal reasons and even though it looks like he'll eventually be back, the void has caused some shifting. Starting cornerback Kendall Davis-Clark has moved to free safety for the time being and Ross Weaver, Chris L. Rucker and Ashton Henderson will all battle for two spots now instead of one. All three have started before, so there is experience. Otis Wiley is the strong safety and a veteran, though he did have a bit of a rough year last year at free safety. Perhaps strong safety is where he belonged all along. And once Jenrette comes back, everything gets fluxed up again.
Returning Starters
Seven on offense, six on defense and both kicking specialists.
Best Player
Running Back Javon Ringer. Ringer is the second-best offensive player in the conference and Mark Dantonio is expecting the senior to have his best season ever. Now with Jehuu Caulcrick gone, Ringer will finally be given more of a load, though with how much the Spartans run the ball, how much more can he handle? It will be interesting to see how he does in the power game, as he was usually watching from the sidelines during those times his first three seasons. Ringer is set for a monster season because not only is he an amazing running back, but there are enough weapons on this team that the defense can't focus solely on Ringer--though they will until quarterback Brian Hoyer burns them.
Second-Best Player
Linebacker Greg Jones. Jones was a true freshman last season and came off the bench for the first six games. After the Spartan defense gave up consecutive 600-yard offensive performances to Wisconsin and Northwestern, Jones was moved into the starting lineup. Before Jones became a starter, the Spartans were giving up an average of 381 yards of total offense per game (against the likes of UAB, Bowling Green and Notre Dame). While he was a starter, the Spartans only gave up 337 yard per game against the likes of Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan. Jones ended up leading the team in tackles with 78, including 4.5 sacks. Expect all of his numbers to improve this season now that the staff knows how to use him from the outset.
Best Chance For a Big Loss
at California. There's nothing like getting derailed before you even get chugging.
Most Important Game
Ohio State. There may not be a countdown clock to the Ohio State game, but no win will put you on the map quicker than a win over the Buckeyes. Heck, it sent an above average Illinois team to the Rose Bowl and has crowned the last two National Champions--now that‘s power!
Best Road Game To Pack Up The Family Truckster And Travel To
at Michigan. If ever there was an opportunity to win in Ann Arbor and bask in the deflated arrogance, this is the year.
Best Reason They Won't Be Undefeated
The second half of their schedule. As John L. Smith used to say, the best way to avoid the second half slump would be to play the good teams earlier in the schedule. Unfortunately for the Spartans, the back end is once again loaded. The final six games of the conference slate will all pose problems, but that doesn't mean they're unwinnable. I'm of the opinion that if you are a good team, you can beat a great team at home. But the combination of Ohio State and Wisconsin at home and Northwestern, Michigan and Penn State on the road is just too much to overcome.
Best Reason They Will Be Undefeated
The offense. Quarterback Brian Hoyer is seemingly only remembered for his bowl game performance where he went 14-36 and threw four interceptions against Boston College, and probably for good reason. However, before that game, Hoyer had only thrown seven interceptions and showed himself to be fairly poised and occasionally extremely accurate (14-17 against UAB and 20-23 against Indiana). Regardless of how he is remembered, this year he'll be better. Yes, they lose Devin Thomas and Jehuu Caulcrick, but there are talented replacements here. This offense will be able to score with anyone and then some.
Game They Shouldn't Lose, But Could
Notre Dame. Crazy things tend to happen in this game, and who knows, maybe Charlie Weis' decided schematic advantage will finally be back from the shop.
Player People Are Expecting Too Much From
Freshman Wide Receiver Fred Smith. Smith (6'2" 207) was the most ballyhooed recruit from this incoming class but he came in a tad overweight (220-ish) and now the dreaded phrase of "possible tight end" is being thrown around. I doubt very much that that will happen, however, since that's about the exact size that Devin Thomas played at last season. One other thing interfering with Smith, however, is that he's being outshined by fellow classmate Keshawn Martin. Martin is impressing in camp and has proven to possess soft hands and explosive ability. Eventually, Smith will show the same, but fans should probably give him some time.
Player People Will Be Pleasantly Surprised By
Wide Receiver B.J. Cunningham. Cunningham is a redshirt freshman who the staff struggled to keep redshirted last year. He is being counted on to fill some of Devin Thomas' void this year and if his time on the scout team last year and summer practice this year are any indication, he will not disappoint.
Best Newcomer
Defensive End Trevor Anderson. Anderson is a junior-eligible transfer from Cincinnati who followed Dantonio to East Lansing, but had to sit out last season per NCAA rules. This year, he's already established a place in the starting lineup and is looking to pick up right where Jonal St. Dic and Ervin Baldwin left off last year. In his two seasons at Cincinnati, Anderson totaled ten sacks, and Dantonio is pretty confident that those numbers will pick up in this defense.
Something They Do Well
Open well. In 2005, the Spartans started 4-0 and were ranked #11 when Michigan came to town and beat Michigan State 34-31 in overtime. In 2006, Michigan State started 3-0 before losing a stupendously horrendous game to Notre Dame 40-37 that essentially ruined the season for the Spartans and put the last rusty nail in John L. Smith's crazy, crazy coffin. Last season, Dantonio got Michigan State off to a 4-0 start before losing a heartbreaker at Wisconsin 37-34. If the leaves are still green on the trees, the Spartans have shown they can play with anybody.
Something They Don't Do So Well
Finish strong. In John L. Smith's first season (2003), the Spartans finished the season on a 1-4 bender with their lone win coming against a 3-9 Penn State team. In 2004, they finished 1-5 with their lone win somehow coming against the 4th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers. In 2005, the Spartans finished 1-6 after being ranked as high as 11th in the nation. And then 2006 put it all to shame. Michigan State ended the season on a 1-8 streak that made Prairie View A&M wince. Last season, however, Dantonio was able to guide the Spartans to a 2-3 finish. It looks like things are finally picking up, but then again, how could they not?
What's Improved?
Unpredictability in the passing game. Everybody wants to talk about the loss of Devin Thomas, however, there are good receivers here. Right now, there is essentially a starting three of Mark Dell, Deon Curry and B.J. Cunningham. Dell and Cunningham have exhibited the potential to pick up some of the slack left by Thomas, but nobody's going to single-handedly replace him. However, there is enough talent here that one receiver hauling down 80 passes isn't really necessary. A go-to guy may eventually emerge, like last year, but the good news for the Spartans is that there are several quality candidates for the job.
What's Gotten Worse?
Goal line offense. In Javon Ringer's first three seasons at Michigan State, despite being the most talented runner on the team, he was usually taken out of the game inside the ten-yard line. We have to assume this is mostly because the Spartans had the 250-lb ground grond Jehuu Caulcrick, who they used very effectively. Last season, Caulcrick had 21 rushing touchdowns--Ringer had six. In fact, Ringer is so rarely used around the goal line that he has more touchdown carries over forty yards (5) than he has touchdown carries of four yards or less (4). And amazingly, Ringer has only scored against two Big Ten teams -- Northwestern and Indiana. In his career, Ringer has a total of twelve touchdown carries. The Spartans need at least that many this year from Ringer.
Anything Else We Should Know About?
The linebackers. Greg Jones isn't the only linebacker of note, as Eric Gordon is also being counted on very heavily this year. Last season as a redshirt freshman, Gordon finished fifth on the team in tackles (62) and second in tackles for loss (6.5). Dantonio will again attack with Jones and Gordon and hopefully a third linebacker will step up. The original plan was to move Jones to middle linebacker, but the candidates for his vacated spot have yet to step up, so it looks like he's staying outside and little-used Adam Decker will assume the middle. Things may not be settled here until October.
Anything Else?
The close losses. One of the calling cards of great coaches are close wins. Last season, Dantonio's Spartans lost all seven of their games by a touchdown or less. Don't lose hope yet, however, as Dantonio's mentor Jim Tressel lost four of his five games by a touchdown or less in his first year at Ohio State. It only takes one play to turn a close loss into a close win. The Spartans aren't too far away from that.
One Prediction
Javon Ringer will rush for over 200 yards and three touchdowns against California.
Did you know (Media Guide factoid)
In Michigan State's history, Notre Dame alumni who became Spartan head coaches combined for a 92-42-13 career record; Michigan State alumni who became Spartan head coaches combined for an 82-93-4 record; Michigan alumni who became Spartan head coaches combined for a 21-26-1 record.
Coach Speak
On Rich Rodriguez, what Mark Dantonio says, "He's taken a program at West Virginia and built it to a national contender. I think without question that will be his quest to do it at the University of Michigan now."
On Rich Rodriguez, what Mark Dantonio means, "He's taken a low-level program at West Virginia and built it to a national contender. I think without question that will be his quest to do it at the University of Michigan now, which is also a low-level program."
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