2010 Spartan Nation Football Profile: Jon Misch LB #36

 

Jon the Missile Misch is ready for a big senior campaign. Photo courtesy of MSU SID.

Expectation: Strong second string defensive player and solid special teams’ player. Work ethic and attitude have him competing for starts.

 

Height:  6’2”

 

Weight:Â 212

 

2010 Eligibility:Â 5th year senior

 

EXP:Â 3 Letters

 

Status: Misch is an incredible example of being all heart. He has had multiple opportunities to quit and get bitter and doesn’t. He keeps fighting. He keeps working. If the season were to start today he would be one of the starting three LBs. Can he hold that? There is a lot of talent pushing at LB to get on the field, but the fact that this undersized player is still in the mix is simply amazing.

 

Strengths: Speed and guts. Let’s look at the Purdue game. First and ten for the Boilers at their own thirty, 9:33 to go in the first quarter. Misch is playing the LOB and the ball goes AWAY from him off the Purdue LGs outside hip. He reads it, sheds a blocker, and makes the tackle for NO GAIN.

 

It is plays like that from Misch that get attention on film. He didn’t blow the guy up with a Sportscenter type highlight hit, but his ability to read, accelerate and make the tackle for no gain is simply amazing. His speed and ability to read are what year after year brings him back to the playing rotation.

 

Another example is from the Notre Dame game. In the second quarter with 7:53 left the Irish had a second and ten at their own 45. Misch is in pass defense on a WR. The throw goes away from him, he has his eyes up, sees it, and accelerates down the field to assist on the tackle. That is something you expect from a safety, not a LB. 

 

Weakness: Misch will, at times, allow his speed to also become his enemy. He will fail to make the right read and be out of position. His speed is his biggest strength and at times his biggest liability. When he makes the wrong read he is WAY out of position.

 

If he were 20 pounds heavier his playing time wouldn’t even be in doubt. Last year they did every thing to stop him from bouncing his foot because of the large amounts of calories he was burning with his nervous energy. MISCH TALKS ABOUT IT WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE FOR AN EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW. He has to have superior technique because he is smaller because one lapse allows him to be pushed around.

 

Misch is high strung and that can lead to concentration gaps. Added to his speed that can spell disaster in some situations.

 

Final Analysis: Misch is a great contributor on special teams as well as on defense. He is one of the most popular and respected players on the team and when he gets on the field he makes plays. With a future in coaching if he wants one, this MISSLE is the quintessential student athlete and will make a gigantic contribution on and off the field for the Spartans in 2010.

 

Coming up next: WR/QB Keith Nichol