Going 2-0 this week would be huge for Izzo and his cagers.  LINK

Spartans Pushing Hard for Defensive Tackles

Since his arrival on campus Head Football Coach Mark Dantonio has made significant upgrades in many areas of the Michigan State program. Perhaps the most noticeable improvement has come in recruiting. MSU already has a very strong 2009 incoming class, but with scholarships still available the coaching staff is looking to put the finishing touches on this years group, especially on the defensive line.

Defensive Tackle has become the primary fixture of the staffs attention recently with some very talented recruits still available. Spartannation.com has learned that  the staff has put extra attention towards reeling in top flight D-Lineman.

There are still plenty of space eaters available, such as 4-Star Lendell Buckner, and 3-Star’s Raynard Randolph and Deion Roberson.

Randolph, one of the top unsigned defensive lineman in the country, plans to take official visits in January to NC State, Penn State, Illinois and Michigan State. The 6-2, 300-pound doesn’t have a favorite listed but has narrowed his choices to those four as well as keeping his home state school, Maryland, in the fray.

Roberson, listed at 6-3 270-pounds, has offers from many schools including Duke, East Carolina, Louisville, Maryland, Memphis, NC State, West Virginia and Michigan State. What’s most impressive about Roberson is that he was injured for much of his Tucker High School team’s season, a season in which they won the Georgia class 4A State Title, yet still garnered so many offers. He has already paid an official visit to Louisville and plans to also visit NC State and West Virginia. No word yet on his talks with MSU but the process is just beginning for the talented Mr. Roberson.

The most interesting case of these three is Lendell Buckner. Once committed to play for Illinois, Buckner has been wavering over the past few months as to whether playing for Ron Zook is the right fit for him. Buckner has proclaimed a strong desire to play in the Big Ten putting MSU squarely in the thick of his recruitment. The coaches from East Lansing were some of the first to contact Buckner when they heard of his possible exodus from Champagne. Buckner has expressed interest in MSU, Michigan and has already taken an official visit to Wisconsin. SpartanNation.com has also learned that he has a visit to MSU planned.

As the scholarship numbers start to dwindle watch for MSU coaches to pay close attention to the defensive tackle spot as well as being on the look out for a kicker and possibly a top notch athlete if one falls into their lap the way Keshawn Martin did last year.

SPARTAN FOOTBALL: Wow, am I proud of these guys for at least reaching their goals of first, finishing and winning their close games, and secondly, getting to a New Year’s Bowl game. The better news is the future looks bright with only thirteen seniors leaving but those thoughts are also tempered realizing that it will include a couple of guys that will be harder to replace than you think in Javon Ringer and Brian Hoyer.

After getting blown out in their big games earlier in the year, they not only kept it competitive, but you could argue they could have won had they come up with some better game-planning and execution in the red zone. Twenty-six times they snapped the ball in the Georgia end of the field in the first half, but could only muster 23 yards and six points. After that happened, it was only a matter of time before you knew Georgia was going to put something together offensively and that the Spartans had probably squandered opportunities they might not get back.

I think the most frustrating part of the game was when the Spartans had cut the lead to 17-12. Some Spartans fans were getting really excited and I said, “Hold on, have you ever seen a Narduzzi touchdown?” What’s that,” they asked. “That’s this phenomenon that happens with MSU football that whenever the MSU offense scores a touchdown, they quickly give one up on defense to negate the score they just received.”  Of course I have been talking about this all year but they looked at me like I was nuts until Georgia took the ball and promptly drove the ball down the field and scored to put the game out of reach. As the Bulldogs scored, I looked at them and barked with my best Bo Schembechler impression,

“THAT, is a Narduzzi touchdown.” This guy had a puzzled look on his face and asked, “How did you know that was going to happen?” I said, “It’s not a secret son, they do this every game, you just have to pay attention.” Which really was the major disappointment for me in that, faced with opportunity to dig deep and have fire in the belly in this game, they failed yet again to at least give the offense a chance to win the game. However, give Narduzzi and the staff credit. They shut down Moreno for the most part, and took away Massaquoi and Green for most of the game. In fact, it was the offense that really failed to capitalize on their great and many opportunities to win this game.

How does the Spartan football team improve for next year? Offensively it will not be just about replacing Ringer and Hoyer, but getting schematically better. The passing game, especially in the red zone, leaves much to be desired. Opposing team have jumped routes all year and like I said last year and this year, the patterns aren’t really fooling anyone. No double moves or hitches or imagination in the passing game. In addition, no established hot receiver patterns that effectively can move the ball when there is heat. Georgia was blitzing all day and essentially there was no check down options where you felt MSU could move the ball and hit a receiver in stride. This is not just a Hoyer problem as many want to believe, although he has a tendency to overthrow receivers. If they put the new QB’s into this same schematic offense, there will be similar problems. Things have to change. By the way, the trick plays should trick someone shouldn’t they? Those need to be looked at as well.  Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol should provide adequate help. Running back help may come from the true freshmen or perhaps Glen Winston is he gets his problems straightened out.  He has a nice combination of power and speed.

In my preseason preview of the Spartan offense I mentioned that MSU lacked both explosiveness and game changing ability with the loss of wide out Devin Thomas. I found it ironic that at the end of the season, and in the fourth quarter, broadcaster Todd Blackledge made the same assessment. Look, it’s as simple as this the Spartans have some quality

‘possession’ type receivers but nobody that will scare you. I can also say the same of any

recruits that have verbally committed to MSU to this point as well. Both the offensive and defensive lines have to get better. Ken Mannie does a good job with conditioning and endurance, and likes to say we are developing football players and not power lifters, but the inside trench players on both sides of the ball need to get stronger and more physical since  they were handled many times in the big games. Mannie needs to take a different approach with the interior linemen and develop some lower base power.

Speaking of defensive linemen, the Spartans would be wise to recruit some impact players their and at wide receiver. MSU is looking at converting some of their highly-touted linebackers form a year ago to defensive end, and perhaps that will help, it worked with

Brandon Long, but when you play better teams, that puts you at a size disadvantage. Plus, if MSU is ever going to compete on a bigger stage, they will need difference makers along the defensive line. They really never replaced Jonal St Dic and Ervin Baldwin, and now they have more losses this year on the defensive front. It seems like they have recruited some decent offensive linemen but no impact defensive linemen outside of perhaps Corey Freeman. Tyler Hoover from last years class is going to have to step up.

I thought special teams in terms of kicking/punting the ball, and in kick and punt coverage, the Spartans were pretty good. I think where they lack is in a true explosive return man on punt returns and kick returns (although MSU had a pretty good kick returner in Glen Winston before his situation came to light). Their fakes punts leave a lot to be desired and they seldom block kicks. So there is lot of room for improvement here. Finding a kickoff man for Boleski will be important to. You don’t want to waste Swenson’s leg for that.

Perhaps Johnny Adams could return punts since he was such an electric punt returner in

High school.

SPARTAN BASKETBALL: Apparently someone must be reading our website because that is as good a basketball effort as I have seen in some time from MSU in their victory over Minnesota. For once it was a throwback to the glory days of Mateen Cleaves. The Spartans locked down the paint against the Gophers, for the most part limited perimeter opportunities, hit the offensive glass, and they ran the floor with regularity. Kalin Lucas is quickly gaining maturity and confidence in running the show, and Durrell Summers is as good as anyone in the country in the open floor and in filling the lane. Goran Suton can hit the perimeter shots with regularity now ala AJ Granger (although he needs a little work around the rim if you saw him miss a dunk and a couple bunny attempts), and Travis Walton is an excellent defender. Throw in Morgan, Roe, Ibok, Allen, and others and you have the making of a Final Four team IF they play consistently, and by that I mean, they continue to play defense, especially on the perimeter.

By the way, when is the last time you saw the Spartans hit the offensive glass the way they did against Minnesota? Overall, MSU had a 49-27 rebounding advantage and a 23-11 offensive rebounding advantage. As you know, I called them out when they didn’t perform and like to “keep it real” when I have to, but at the same time, when they play up to their potential, you have to give them credit. Great job guys. Yet, let’s keep in mind that it is one game and MSU’s achilles heel since 2000 has been a lack of consistency. Keep it going.

DETROIT TIGERS: I have a few belated thoughts on the Tigers moves as well. I know I said you have to have pitching and defense and be strong up the middle to win baseball games, but maybe I should add an addendum. The guys you bring in have to HIT a little bit. Come on now? Adam Everett? He hit .213 with two homeruns and 20 rbi’s in 2008. You can say he was injured last year, but he was also is a career .246 hitter. They also added catcher Matt Treanor, who had two homeruns, 23 rbi’s, and batted a whopping .238 for Florida last year. They also added another catcher in Gerald Laird, who is a lifetime backup and .255-career hitter. I get the feeling that these new additions aren’t going to scare anyone, especially the Yankees or the Red Sox, and that Dave Dombrowski is losing whatever touch he had with the Florida Marlins. Pitcher Edwin Jackson was added to the starting rotation, which should help some as well, right? Fans facing an economic crunch should be able to save some sports entertainment dollars supporting these guys and the Lions.

Hunters get ready, it’s time for some fresh pork backstraps.  No need to hire folks, let the hunters do what we do best.  LINK

Player of the Week:
Raymar Morgan , Michigan State

Junior - Forward

Canton, Ohio / McKinley HS

Michigan State’s Raymar Morgan garners his first weekly laurel of the season after leading the Spartans to a pair of road victories to open conference play last week. The junior forward averaged 16.0 points and 11.5 rebounds over two games.  In a win at No. 21 Minnesota on Wednesday, Morgan posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. In Saturday’s contests at Northwestern, Morgan netted 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, leading the squad in both categories. He shot nine-of-13 (.692) from the field, including two-of-four from behind the arc. The double-doubles were the fifth and sixth, respectively, of his Spartan career. For the week, he shot 13-of-24 from the field (.542). He averaged 4.0 offensive rebounds per outing as the Spartans out-rebounded their two Big Ten opponents by an average of 20.5 boards. The distinction marks the third career weekly award for Morgan, who was previously recognized in November 2007 and January 2008.

Last Michigan State POW: Goran Suton (March 3, 2008)

Spartan Football Finishes Laying the Foundation in 2008

In the interest of full disclosure, I am going to write in much more detail in the first issue of Spartan Nation Magazine (available for free starting in late January), but here are some of my thoughts and comments from the 2008 season after the Capital One Bowl.

I have a good friend whose wife and family started getting sick.  Living in a large home on several acres, he began to question what was happening.  Much to his chagrin his home, after a lengthy process he found out, was full of mold.  They had to completely tear down his home, including tearing up the foundation and taking away the dirt that the house sat on.  He had to completely rebuild.

That, my friend, is what Mark Dantonio inherited when he took over MSU, a broken and ruined program.  There was a lack of talent, but there were also some kids with big hearts.  This program needed the complete foundation and all the dirt hauled away.

What Dantonio did was try to rebuild trust with a group of young men that were wounded.  He talked frankly and openly.  Dan Enos had given a rousing speech in the last game of the old regime at PSU and he kept Enos.  That was a great move in that the players loved and trusted him.  Dantonio let his team know that his coaches would be demanding, but any type of demeaning coaching would get a coach fired.

He spoke with complete honesty, never sugar coating anything, and although they didn’t always like what he said, they respected him.  He sat down with one player that told him his goal was to play in the NFL.  Dantonio told him, “Judging on your film, I would concentrate on your grades.”

The 2007 team overachieved and that was a nice start; a start that, to be frank, would have been wasted if they had failed to reach a bowl this year, which it obviously wasn’t wasted.  The Spartans overachieved in 2008.  The Spartans saw against PSU and OSU that although they were in the hunt, they didn’t have the horses or the depth to fight against championship caliber teams that were loaded top to bottom.  In both games you saw the direction the Spartan Nation is headed, but the gap that has yet to be closed.

I predicted the Spartans would go 8-4 in 2008 and head to an Outback Bowl.  If that had happened, the Spartans would have faced and beaten South Carolina.  Instead, they overachieved more than I had thought they would and faced a UGA team that was the preseason number one, and if not for 22 season ending injuries, very well could have been playing in a BCS game.

The Spartans were the team that played disciplined and avoided the stupid mistakes.  Georgia didn’t, but they had such a massive amount of talent that the Spartans were able to hang around, but in the end the Bulldogs won.

The Spartans will not meet nine regular season wins in 2009 as they did this year.  They will, however, get to a bowl game and the goal for that year will be a bowl game and a win.  This team is building for a 2011 Big Ten Title, and although that still is three seasons away, Spartan fans need to take heart.

Next season there will be huge gaps to fill.  I will get into those in detail in the magazine.  They will, however, add depth and experience and start to build with a foundation that is sturdy and strong.  Some Spartan fans will be delusional and expect more.  After years of frustration that simply isn’t smart, although it is understandable.

The 2009 spring football season is the most anticipated of my lifetime and the future is brighter than at any time since Duffy retired.  Mark Dantonio and his staff have made all the right moves and are headed in the right direction in recruiting and on and off the field.

We can take away a real sense of faith, and most of all tangible proof of where we are headed.  The Spartans will have a rebuilding year next year and fans must remember that only the foundation is built now.  Nothing else.  By overachieving this season many won’t look at that with appreciation, instead they will have a false sense of arrival.

Anyone who has ever built a house will tell you that if you tried to move in with only a foundation, it sure can get cold.  Rejoice Spartan fans and appreciate the journey.  In 2011 we will be what OSU and PSU are this season.  We aren’t there yet, but the journey will make that even more incredible.

I left the Florida Citrus Stadium fired up about being at the Capital One Bowl, proud to be a Spartan, and most of all full of enthusiasm and excitement for where we are headed.  We’re not there, but it is now visible on the horizon and it isn’t a mirage.

We are building one step at a time.  No shortcuts.  It takes a little time, but with a coach that is staying for the long haul I would just as soon build for his future and ours.

This team lacks depth and still lacks talent at many spots.  They will fill the holes and only experience can prepare players for that.  With that said, I agree with many of the players who after the game told me that they wish spring ball was starting now.

I agree, but the journey is still so much fun, for those that appreciate it and embrace it.  

He made his mistakes, but NO ONE can question his character and integrity.  LINK

Spartans Continue March Towards a Big Ten Title.  LINK

Improvement Continues For the Spartan Nation’s Biggest Rival.  LINK