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johnny2x2x
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Disappointing end to the basketball season, but it's time to move on. The Spring game is next weekend and this football team is fairly loaded. Some story lines for fans to pay attention to next Saturday.
Pass Rush- Justice Alexander is the name coaches are talking about the most, he's got the length and athleticism to be a factor at SDE, he's 6-5, 257 lbs and can move. He could push Jakub Panusiuk for the starting spot there. Willekes holds down the other DE spot and should be solid again. The DTs are the strength and Williams, M Panusiuk, and Naquan Jones make up the best trio of DTs in the conference. They will eat blocks and get push all year. Brandon Randle has moved to the MONEY LB position, he's meant to play this spot and is maybe the best overall athlete on the team. I look for Randle to be the breakout player on the team and lead us in TFLs and maybe sacks.
LB is a deep group, along with Randle, Tyriq Thompson is going to be a pass rushing threat. Between the 2, I don't think there's any doubt we've upgraded from Fry. Bachie is a monster in the middle and has the speed and size to take it to the next level there. Dowell is one of the hardest workers on the team and provides leadership at the STAR position, but he will split snaps with Antjuan Simmons who was coming on strong last season, he's got DB speed and gives us a missile back there. Byron Bullough is a solid backup at the MIKE. LB is the most athletic group Dantonio has ever had here and there are NFL players across the group.
DB is a very deep group with some star power. David Dowell had a break out season and is a ball hawk at FS. Willis is solid and provides leadership at SS. Dominique Long is the popular pick for breakout player, he has NFL size and speed at LB and was a special teams star last season. Look for Long to take snaps from Willis as the season moves along. Xavier Henderson is an early enrollee who will see the field. Matt Morrisey and Grayson Miller provide depth and experience at safety and can play closer to the line too. Corner is loaded as well, Josiah Scott got overlooked last season and was as good as any cover corner in the conference. He's going to be a star. Justin Layne is a future NFL corner IMO, he has the size and speed you want and was darned near elite as the season wore on last year. Tyson Smith is good enough to start for most Big ten teams. early enrollee Kalin Gervin is the fastest player on the team and is going to be a stud here. The dark horse and the name the coaches keep bringing up is Shakur Brown, they think he could be great. Tre Person might have pushed Scott to start had he not gotten hurt. It's a highly competitive group with a ton of talent.
O line is the break out group for me. Technique was good last season, they were just too young and needed another year of strength and growth. We've got 7 O linemen with starting experience. Chewins will play closer to 300 lbs this year and start at LT. Beedle will displace Higby at LG. Matt Allen and Higby will battle for the starting center spot. Jarvis has the RG spot locked down. Campbell showed NFL potential at RT and will really benefit from a year of getting bigger and stronger. Jordan Reid saw plenty of time last season and will see quality series every game, he's a great athlete and just needs to add size. The name to watch out for is Matt Carrick, he missed all of last year with a knee, but the staff thinks he could push to start and he's huge at 6-4, 328 lbs. Of the freshmen, James Ohonba at 6-5, 360 lbs has the best chance to see the field. I believe Staten is the best O line coach in the country and this unit could be elite in 2018.
WR returns the top 3 in Davis III, Stewart, and White. Should be as good of a group as there is in the conference. Look for Larees Nelson to get more snaps in the slot. Cam Chambers has all the tools to be a great Big Ten WR and he'll get more targets this season. CJ Hayes is a name I expect to make some noise next weekend. Javez Alexander and Julian major are early enrollees that could push to be in the rotation. It's a loaded group and gives Lewerke plenty of big and fast targets.
TE is a group that could break out. Sokol is a good blocker, but average as apass catcher. Matt Dotson will get more targets than Sokol this season. Noah Davis is a good blakcer, and Chase Gianacakos is the 6th OL/TE we use is running sets. Trenton Gillison is the freshman who I don't think will redshirt, really a mismatch, has the size and speed to be as good as we've had here.
LJ Scott returns as the feature RB, he'll get 1000 yards this season. Connor Heyward is going to be a weapon and he's one of the fastest players on the team even at 228 lbs. He's my pick for breakout offensive player, he's got some Le'Veon Bell in him. Weston Bridges is the elusive speed back we need, but he's battled injury and is finally fully practicing although he probably gets held out next weekend.
Lewerke is the returning star QB, he should be getting more hype as he's a super star in the making. Rocky Lombardi has been getting a lot of buzz and I'm anxious to see him throw it next weekend. Theo Day is a future starter and has elite tools.
All specialists return.
Team should expect big things. It's still going to be a group with very few seniors. I think Spartan fans should be expecting a 10-2 or 11-1 season. The new staff should really help overall, Bullough is going to be a big difference maker with the DEs. How the DBs do under Haynes is something to keep an eye on, he has a ton of talent to work with and Dantonio is the DB guru.
Pass Rush- Justice Alexander is the name coaches are talking about the most, he's got the length and athleticism to be a factor at SDE, he's 6-5, 257 lbs and can move. He could push Jakub Panusiuk for the starting spot there. Willekes holds down the other DE spot and should be solid again. The DTs are the strength and Williams, M Panusiuk, and Naquan Jones make up the best trio of DTs in the conference. They will eat blocks and get push all year. Brandon Randle has moved to the MONEY LB position, he's meant to play this spot and is maybe the best overall athlete on the team. I look for Randle to be the breakout player on the team and lead us in TFLs and maybe sacks.
LB is a deep group, along with Randle, Tyriq Thompson is going to be a pass rushing threat. Between the 2, I don't think there's any doubt we've upgraded from Fry. Bachie is a monster in the middle and has the speed and size to take it to the next level there. Dowell is one of the hardest workers on the team and provides leadership at the STAR position, but he will split snaps with Antjuan Simmons who was coming on strong last season, he's got DB speed and gives us a missile back there. Byron Bullough is a solid backup at the MIKE. LB is the most athletic group Dantonio has ever had here and there are NFL players across the group.
DB is a very deep group with some star power. David Dowell had a break out season and is a ball hawk at FS. Willis is solid and provides leadership at SS. Dominique Long is the popular pick for breakout player, he has NFL size and speed at LB and was a special teams star last season. Look for Long to take snaps from Willis as the season moves along. Xavier Henderson is an early enrollee who will see the field. Matt Morrisey and Grayson Miller provide depth and experience at safety and can play closer to the line too. Corner is loaded as well, Josiah Scott got overlooked last season and was as good as any cover corner in the conference. He's going to be a star. Justin Layne is a future NFL corner IMO, he has the size and speed you want and was darned near elite as the season wore on last year. Tyson Smith is good enough to start for most Big ten teams. early enrollee Kalin Gervin is the fastest player on the team and is going to be a stud here. The dark horse and the name the coaches keep bringing up is Shakur Brown, they think he could be great. Tre Person might have pushed Scott to start had he not gotten hurt. It's a highly competitive group with a ton of talent.
O line is the break out group for me. Technique was good last season, they were just too young and needed another year of strength and growth. We've got 7 O linemen with starting experience. Chewins will play closer to 300 lbs this year and start at LT. Beedle will displace Higby at LG. Matt Allen and Higby will battle for the starting center spot. Jarvis has the RG spot locked down. Campbell showed NFL potential at RT and will really benefit from a year of getting bigger and stronger. Jordan Reid saw plenty of time last season and will see quality series every game, he's a great athlete and just needs to add size. The name to watch out for is Matt Carrick, he missed all of last year with a knee, but the staff thinks he could push to start and he's huge at 6-4, 328 lbs. Of the freshmen, James Ohonba at 6-5, 360 lbs has the best chance to see the field. I believe Staten is the best O line coach in the country and this unit could be elite in 2018.
WR returns the top 3 in Davis III, Stewart, and White. Should be as good of a group as there is in the conference. Look for Larees Nelson to get more snaps in the slot. Cam Chambers has all the tools to be a great Big Ten WR and he'll get more targets this season. CJ Hayes is a name I expect to make some noise next weekend. Javez Alexander and Julian major are early enrollees that could push to be in the rotation. It's a loaded group and gives Lewerke plenty of big and fast targets.
TE is a group that could break out. Sokol is a good blocker, but average as apass catcher. Matt Dotson will get more targets than Sokol this season. Noah Davis is a good blakcer, and Chase Gianacakos is the 6th OL/TE we use is running sets. Trenton Gillison is the freshman who I don't think will redshirt, really a mismatch, has the size and speed to be as good as we've had here.
LJ Scott returns as the feature RB, he'll get 1000 yards this season. Connor Heyward is going to be a weapon and he's one of the fastest players on the team even at 228 lbs. He's my pick for breakout offensive player, he's got some Le'Veon Bell in him. Weston Bridges is the elusive speed back we need, but he's battled injury and is finally fully practicing although he probably gets held out next weekend.
Lewerke is the returning star QB, he should be getting more hype as he's a super star in the making. Rocky Lombardi has been getting a lot of buzz and I'm anxious to see him throw it next weekend. Theo Day is a future starter and has elite tools.
All specialists return.
Team should expect big things. It's still going to be a group with very few seniors. I think Spartan fans should be expecting a 10-2 or 11-1 season. The new staff should really help overall, Bullough is going to be a big difference maker with the DEs. How the DBs do under Haynes is something to keep an eye on, he has a ton of talent to work with and Dantonio is the DB guru.
