First Look: Michigan State Spartans
There’s a team up north that is ready to blow up. No, it’s not Wisconsin. Nor is it Michigan. Why, it’s lowly old Michigan State. I’m not sure why, but I’ve hopped on the MSU bandwagon this season. No wait, I do know why. John L. Smith was the worst thing to happen in East Lansing since, well, there’s not much worse. He had a lot of flash, but was a bit too looney for the Spartans. Then in comes Mark D’Antonio. Former Ohio State defensive coordinator, former Michigan State assistant, fantastic head coach at Cincinnati. But most importantly, Michigan State is finding its identity once again. Punching opponents with the running game, playing disciplined defense, and led by a senior quarterback, this team is on the verge of something big in 2008.
1. Wait, is that Bill Bel... naahhh -- Mark D’Antonio never smiles. That’s a good thing for MSU. I haven’t seen a turnaround in team attitude like this since I started following college football. Under John L., MSU was all over the place with no direction. Quite the opposite under D’Antonio. In his first season, he managed to take a down-trodden program, known for its late-season implosions, and push them hard enough to reach the post season. No coach of the year awards, no fancy offense along the way. MSU did it by strapping it on and playing until the final whistle sounded each week. Sometimes that wasn’t enough (Michigan meltdown?), but other times, it worked like a charm (Penn State’s meltdown vs. MSU?). Almost half of MSU’s losses were within a touchdown. If D’Antonio can keep his players believing that MSU is no longer the little brother in Michigan (even though MSU lost in ’07), those close losses will turn into wins.
2. Ball catchers, anyone? -- All the parts would have been there for a fantastic offense, if WR Devin Thomas didn’t bolt early for the NFL and TE Kellen Davis had another year of eligibility. But, Thomas did, and Davis didn’t. So where does that put MSU going into 2008? Just fine. QB Brian Hoyer threw for 2725 yards and 20 touchdowns in ’07, and has the ability to match those numbers again, even without his primary targets from last season. Of course, this will largely depend on the production MSU gets out of senior RB Javon Ringer (1447 yds/6 tds ’07). Without bruising FB Jehuu Caulcrick (872 yds/21 tds ’07), can Ringer carry the load along? There’s no reason he should have trouble as the main guy. The offensive line is very solid, and should open enough holes. Yet if there’s one side of the ball no one will be paying attention to, even though they should be, is the defense. This is much more experienced that first thought going into ’08. The secondary returns three starters and the linebackers are quick and smart. Those two units were the cause for frustration last year, but should impress this season.
3. Schedule “Bears” down -- I’ve already called for Michigan State to pull the stunner at Cal to open the season. We’ll see how that one goes. But there’s much more to the ’08 slate than meets the eye. Even the two lightweights, Eastern Michigan and Florida Atlantic could give MSU fits. Ok, so maybe EMU won’t be so bad, but you know D’Antonio’s staff is quietly worrying about FAU. There are no breaks for MSU this year. Following Cal, EMU, and FAU, is a visit from Notre Dame. Away at a very dangerous Indiana team, homecoming against Iowa, then at Northwestern, all look like winnable games before the big showdown with Ohio State in East Lansing. Depending how that first stretch goes, MSU could actually be favored going to Ann Arbor the next week. If the Spartans don’t secure a bowl bid by that game, it could get ugly. MSU has to wrap up the season against Wisconsin and Purdue, then travel to a revenge-hungry Penn State crowd, where MSU hasn’t won since PSU joined the Big Ten.
Next week's First Look: Penn State's Bowl Options
-First Look: Indiana Hoosiers
-First Look: Iowa Hawkeyes
-First Look: Ohio State Buckeyes
-First Look: Michigan Wolverines
-First Look: Wisconsin Badgers
-First Look: Purdue Boilermakers
-First Look: Illinois Fighting Illini
-First Look: Temple Owls
-First Look: Syracuse Orange(men)
-First Look: Oregon State Beavers
-First Look: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
2 Commented on this story:
"Almost half of MSU’s losses were within a touchdown."
If by "almost half" you mean "all", you are correct.
If Ringer stays healthy and Hoyer learns how to go through a progression instead of locking in on one guy (who isn't there anymore, so maybe that will help), MSU could be pretty solid this year. Not Big Ten title good, but maybe January bowl game good.
You're right, I should have worded that differently. By "within" I meant "less than" a touchdown. Michigan and Wisconsin won by fewer than seven points. My mistake. And those two OT losses were just killer for MSU. But on your other points, I think you're right. Hoyer was too dependent on Thomas. And on the Big Ten Bloggers' preseason picks earlier this summer, I voted for MSU to finish 3rd in the Big Ten in 2008!
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