News Notes and Thoughts from the Start of MSU Football

News Notes and Thoughts from the Start of MSU Football First I am shocked at how fast my inbox fills up with pretty much the same question. “Who is making

News Notes and Thoughts from the Start of MSU Football

First I am shocked at how fast my inbox fills up with pretty much the same question. “Who is making an early impact/shining at practice.” I don’t really understand that. They are in shorts. Shorts. Not hitting and this is a game based on blunt force brutal trauma. Way early to be making huge observations. Coach Dantonio even said, "It's tough to say in shorts." I agree. Now there are some things we can ascertain.

 

      1.     Edwin “Rock” Baker is a good running back. He has got a lot of hype and his talent warrants it.  He is also coming off an inury and           I think people need to remember that.Â

2.     Larry Caper is a name to remember as I have told you many times and I stand by that. He is a very fluid back and I expect him to be a force to be reckoned with when pads come on. Caper could be the back that emerges once the dust settles this preseason.

3.     J'Michael Deane has his foot in a boot. He has an Achilles issue and how fast he can rehab will be big. Dan Roushar was impressed with his effort after the spring at RT. They thought that they had some better options at RT so with his performance, moving him to a thinner RG spot may have been a bigger help. He spent a lot of time learning guard after the spring workouts and this certainly is a set back. The Spartans have some OL depth, but getting Deane back is important.

4.     Ishmyl Johnson has had his ups and downs and it is disappointing. He is a super kid and it really appears that he took this off-season to heart. He has always looked the part, but he has grown into a beast. Mark Dantonio informed us yesterday that he benches 470 pounds! I told Ish what Coach had sad and congratulated him at practice. “I’m ready,” was his response. Ish is a unique mix of strength and speed. If he an continue to take coaching he could very well be, “That guy,” that everyone is clamoring for on the DL.

5.     One is the number. Coach D was asked by a reporter if ten was the magic number for this year’s team. He quickly made it known that MSU was going to only worry about number one. Montana State. The Spartan Nation should have no and I mean ZERO worries about that game. This coach will not let his team over look them. Montana State shouldn’t circle that game on the schedule. It won’t be pretty.

6.     Spartan TE Brian Linthicum had a great observation. In case you didn’t know he transferred from Clemson. He told me, “When I was at Clemson they told me that they knew what they had with my talent at the tight end spot, but they still didn’t adapt their scheme or game plan to any strengths, not just mine unless it fit their predetermined scheme. Here at MSU, they will change anything if they can gain an advantage or take advantage of another team’s weakness. Or to just maximize one of our teams strengths. To me that is just great coaching and at Michigan State people are talking about the talent and I think we should really be talking about great coaching. That is why this program is on the rise.”

7.     Joel Foreman was freshman All American and as the starting LG. There has been some who wondered if he would take that early success and not work as hard to keep getting better. Something that both Foreman and I found preposterous. Even so I asked Joel. “Football is who I am. If anything I worked harder. I want to get better. People naturally look up to the starters and being young, I have to work harder to keep that respect and I want to be the very best that I can.”

8.     We have talked for months that the TE spot is the deepest of any team in the Big Ten and possibly the nation. As good as Celek, Gantt and Linthicum are (and don’t forget Sims) these guys are all rooting for each other. In fact, Gantt told me, “I can’t wait. We have a lot of talented and good guys and you will see Coach get the most out of us even with a lot more two and three tight end sets.”

9.     B.J. Cunningham talked openly about the dropped passes of the WR group last season and how Coach Treadwell has addressed it. “He has made it clear. If you don’t catch the ball he is right away going to take you out and replace you with someone who can. He won’t tolerate it this year and I won’t.”

10. Dan Enos who loves MSU and this program as much as anyone isn’t afraid to speak about RB Glenn Winston. He said, “I am very proud of him. He is taking it day to day. He did all that was asked of him on and off the field to get back. He did and I just couldn’t be more proud of him.”

11. Coach Dantonio started redecorating the individual position meeting rooms with some extra motivation. He has in each position room the picture of guys who made all Big Ten at that position and/or the guys that have been drafted in the NFL at that spot.

12. Earlier in the summer when I was writing individual profiles and scouting reports I mentioned that the Spartans would use Keshawn Martin in some wildcat. Coach Dantonio addressed that. “Every program will have some form of that…we will be no different.”

 13.Lastly when there was a huge uproar when some people thought William Gholston (MSU 2010 commitment) was thinking of going elsewhere. When I talked to him and calmed the waters, I mentioned about the MSU defense and how last year they had transitioned some to the 3-4 and having Brandon Long stand up. I also said they would do more this season with Trevor Anderson and even more in 2010. DC Pat Narduzzi was very excited talking about it.Â

 

I will have a lot more video up later today and all week for that matter.Â

On Thursday I will have an article on Colin Neely. He told me a great story you don't want to miss.

With Football Underway the Spartans are Getting Ready for a Big Season