Spartan Football News and Notes 04/10/10 Edition…

Henry Conway being out for the spring hurts. He is an excellent athlete and should be fine competing in the fall. It simply hurts from a reps standpoint. Â

Henry Conway being out for the spring hurts. He is an excellent athlete and should be fine competing in the fall. It simply hurts from a reps standpoint.

 

Coach Dantonio is impressed with the effort and athleticism of his team. He thinks the effort has been, “Excellent.”

 

Dantonio listed QB, RB, WR and LB as this team’s strengths. Cousins is without a doubt the guy. If he were to get a serious injury Nichol would then step up. If there were nothing serious, you would see Maxwell. Dantonio called Maxwell, “Solid,” and Spartan Nation has already reported about his performance.

 

Dan Conroy and Kevin Muma are doing very well. They are hitting about 80% of their kicks, but the true test will be in scrimmages. “I want to see how they do in the spring game and with some pressure,” was how Dantonio described the battle.

 

Coach D gave us his starting OL, but I can assure you that it is far from settled. He suggested that DJ Young and Joel Foreman on the left, John Stipek in the middle and Chris McDonald and J’Michael Deane on the right. 

 

So far this spring he feels like his team has learned and is learning some tough lessons. They have had a great focus, guys have been stepping up, they have some good leadership, and they feel like they have to regain respect.

 

Marcus Hyde and Trenton Robinson are solid at the safety spot. Johnny Adams and CLR are the top CBs. Those four are pretty set. The battle will come for the twos.

 

Dantonio talked about it and as good as LeVeon Bell and Nick Hill have been, there is a distinct step up with Caper and Baker. Those two are solid stars.

 

The Spartans are going to create ways to get the ball to Nichol. As stated by Spartan Nation before, he has really turned a lot of eyes with his play and has instantly stepped up as the go-to-guy.

 

True freshman Max Bullough has brought great instincts and toughness to practice. He has really put some great hits on people. He is in the two deep, but according to Dantonio, “Will play next year.”

                       

Blake Treadwell has had a great spring. This is his second go around as far as a season, but his first spring and just like during the season, seems to get better each time he steps on the field.

 

The Spartans have some good talent with the first and second string. The two deep is even younger and that may create some headaches in 2010, but is good news for the future.

Trenton Robinson gave a frank answer when I asked him his strength and weakness. He told me speed and speed are the answers. He added his mind to the speed weakness and he is right. He has great athleticism, he has to learn to use his mind with those instincts and he could be great.

 

The offensive line was not top (starters) to bottom (backups) the most close-knit unit in 2009. That is changing. DJ Young says that the entire unit has been having cookouts and creating a family atmosphere. That is good news.

 

Blake Treadwell looks and plays like a junior this spring. He credits, “Playing last year really helped me a lot.”

 

Chris Norman talked about his struggles last season. “The learning curve was really steep. At times it was a bit overwhelming. I am very comfortable now.”

 

Larry Caper had a magical 2009 season as a true freshman. The only negatives were at times he delayed making the cut and going and holding on to the football. He addressed both of them, “I am working on to holding the ball and understanding assignments.”