Spring Football

[LuciousGameWinner]

Any word on the QB situation? I haven't really kept up with any articles about the team. I did see a tweet that the defense beat the offense in a closed scrimmage, which I don't think anyone is shocked by. Defense should be 2013 good.

 

[johnny2x2x]

O'Conner has looked the best so far, he is our starter.

LJ Scott has been a monster. And the LBs have been flying around with Andrew Dowell getting a lot of love.

Of the freshmen on campus, Donnie Corley is getting talked about the most. He's simply a superior athlete. Raquan Williams is the RS freshman getting mentioned the most and he's expected to be in the DT rotation this Fall.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Damnit I was hoping O'Conner wouldn't get the nod. That means a new QB for two straight years, possibly 3...

 

[johnny2x2x]

Lewerke has been making some noise too though. O'Conner starts, Terry gets an opportunity a few series a game. And Lewerke gets mop up duty.

O'Conner has the strongest arm in the team and he's mobile. Not sure what his touch is like, but he's got a chance to be really good.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Supposed to be great weather for the Spring. Here's what we are hearing lately.

Donnie Corley continues to impress, he's the first name the players are talking about. He might start. O'Conner has been sharp and is a leader, he's out QB. LJ Scott is having a great Spring. The LBs are the best as a group we've ever had here. Joe Bachie is an early enrollee who has impressed, but the LB group is too deep for him to see the field this year. Thiyo Lukasa lost some bad weight and could challenged to be that 8th or 9th offensive lineman. Copeland is back at 100% and looks faster and stronger than last year. Demetrius Cooper is having a consistent Spring, Cooper actually has more raw ability than Calhoun, he just needs to bring it every play and to stay healthy. He's going to be a threat for 10 sacks this season. Cassius Peat will be in the DL rotation, he's made a big leap. The TEs might finally be healthy, best group in the conference if they are. Finley is close to being a full go, he's participating in most of the drills, but might not be ready to scrimmage.

There's a lot to be excited about, the defense could be really special. O'Conner could put up some great numbers this season. Overall, it's a mature program that seems to reload with better and more talented players than the ones we lose. We're past the point of getting 3 and low 3 star recruits to over perform their tankings and now have mostly high 3 star and 4 star kids.

 

[gotime909]

Sweat and Evans are no longer with the program.


http://michiganstate.247sports.com/Bolt/Evans-Sweat-leave-MSU-football-program-44889424

 

[Sbee]

Sweat and Evans are no longer with the program.


http://michiganstate.247sports.com/Bolt/Evans-Sweat-leave-MSU-football-program-44889424

Too bad, Evans had star potential and sweat was the next in line to be the Dantonio 2 star sleeper. It really sucks to lose these two because they would have played a lot, Evans likely starting.

I do give Dantonio credit for drawing a line in the sand and having the stones to kick them off when they cross it. Space eater dt's and 6'6" athletic defensive ends don't grow on trees. Whatever they did was bad but not bad enough to show up on a police report

 

[johnny2x2x]

Too bad, Evans had star potential and sweat was the next in line to be the Dantonio 2 star sleeper. It really sucks to lose these two because they would have played a lot, Evans likely starting.

I do give Dantonio credit for drawing a line in the sand and having the stones to kick them off when they cross it. Space eater dt's and 6'6" athletic defensive ends don't grow on trees. Whatever they did was bad but not bad enough to show up on a police report

They were participating in Spring practice. Leads me to believe the timing of this indicates grades are the issue. I'm sure the staff gets in semester updates on the academic progress of the players, with only a few weeks left in the semester they probably got word that it's too late for them to bring their grades up to pass classes they couldn't fail.

Evans is a big loss as he would have at worst been our 3rd DT, he was a load.

 

[Sbee]

They were participating in Spring practice. Leads me to believe the timing of this indicates grades are the issue. I'm sure the staff gets in semester updates on the academic progress of the players, with only a few weeks left in the semester they probably got word that it's too late for them to bring their grades up to pass classes they couldn't fail.

Evans is a big loss as he would have at worst been our 3rd DT, he was a load.

I know there were academic problems with Evans all along, had some trouble qualifying and must have continued to struggle. there was a chance he was going to the NFL after this year no matter where he would have been drafted, college life and going to school weren't for him.

These guys were both potential starters but if you let a couple of kids screw up with unlimited chances you end up with a roster full of screw ups.

 

[Spartan23MSU]

Ill have to say the last month has been a kick in the sack for MSU sports (including the first round bounce). The big picture isnt bad by any means but a few key things happened/didnt happen thats going to cost us a few games .

 

[Sbee]

Ill have to say the last month has been a kick in the sack for MSU sports (including the first round bounce). The big picture isnt bad by any means but a few key things happened/didnt happen thats going to cost us a few games .

Long term we'll be fine at DL but this sets us back in the short term. Evans was an all freshman big ten guy last year and was dominant at times, like against OSU. Raquean Williams is supposedly dominant so far but he's a RS freshman, I'd expect him to be like Evans last year.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Evans was an absolute beast. I know the girl that tutored him his freshman year. She said he was a funny guy who didn't take school too seriously. So I'm assuming he got kicked because of grades. I wonder where he will end up, I'm sure he's an NFL guy though.

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

What are the projected starters, or will we not know until end of summer?

 

[Sbee]

What are the projected starters, or will we not know until end of summer?

the spring depth chart had Knox and Malik listed as the starters at DT, of course MM will start. The rotation there will likely be Malik, Raquean Williams, Kevin Williams for sure, other guys that may make a push are Enoch Smith, Kyonta Stallworth and possibly some freshmen like Mike Panisuik or Naquan Jones

 

[LuciousGameWinner]

Is Ed Davis a guaranteed starter?

 

[Sbee]

Is Ed Davis a guaranteed starter?

Actually no, he missed a year and our linebackers are really strong with bullough, dowell, reshke, and Frey. I guess starting vs not starting isn't a huge deal, Davis will play but it's unsure how much will be in the base package vs obvious passing downs

 

[johnny2x2x]

Not a ton of surprises for the starters as we have a lot of players with starting experience coming back. My guess at starters and their backups who will play the majority of our games.

WR Shelton, Barksdale
WR Davis III, Madaris, Chambers
WR Corley, Stewart
TE Price, Lyles,
LT Finley, Padla
LG Allen, Beedle
C McGowan
RG Clemens, Higby
RT Kieler, Machado
QB O'Connor, Terry
FB D Williams, Sokel
RB Scott, London, Holmes

DE Cooper, King
DT R Wiiliam/K Williams, E Smith Jr
DT McDowell, Stallworth, Owens
DE Bowers, Jones, D Alexander
STAR- Reschke/Dowell
MIKE- Bullough, S Jones
WILL Davis/Frye, Thompson
CB Hicks, Smith, Butler
CB Copeland, Edmundson,
SS Cox, Willis
FS Nicholson, The Legend JWJ, Morrisey

KR Shelton
PR Stewart
P Hartbarger
K Geiger

Several others will play special teams. I really think we play over 50 players each game, we've got a ton of depth. It's all about getting production from the D line to win the Big Ten Title, the rest of the team is pretty loaded.