First Look '09: Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State reached a New Years Day bowl last season for the first time since Nick Saban was head coach. Under uber-disciplinarian Mark Dantonio, the Spartans are entering what most in East Lansing hope is a renaissance period, where bowl games are common, and late season collapses are a thing of the past.

Of course, what would a Michigan State preview be, if I didn't shamelessly plug my perfect third place projection for the Spartans in 2008. I was the only non-MSU blog to peg the Spartans as the third-best team behind Penn State and Ohio State.

While I'm not so high on Michigan State this season, it should be another successful bowl season.

Smile? Harumph! - After coaching Cincinnati to two bowl games in three seasons as head coach, Mark Dantonio left to reign in an erratic Michigan State program that had gained a great reputation for gross underachievement. Known as a hardline disciplinarian, the defensive-minded Dantonio had the immediate impact the Spartan nation was looking for. Playing hard-nosed football, Michigan State was coached to two bowls the last two seasons. Most importantly, Dantonio showed his teams could live up to, if not exceed expectations. And if you ever see Dantonio crack a smile, it was probably an accident.

Dantonio brought in his coordinators from Cincinnati. OC Don Treadwell was the receivers coach at Michigan State from 2000-02 (Charles Rogers, anyone?), and OC with Dantonio at Cincy. Pat Narduzzi was DC with Dantonio at Cincinnati from 04-06.

Defense wins... hopefully - The Spartans will return eight starters from last year's not-terrible defense. Fortunately, the play makers all return, except for all-Big Ten safety Otis Wiley. Linebackers Eric Gordon, Greg jones and Chris Norman make up the second-best LB unit in the conference, and one of the best in the nation. In 2008, Jones became MSU's first first-team All-Big Ten LB since 2001. If the Spartans defense can at least match last year's 22 ppg, and grab a few more sacks (26 in '08), it should be enough to carry the team to a few low-scoring slug fests. I don't see why that can't happen.

Unfortunately, 97 percent of MSU's 2008 rushing yards, and 87 percent of its passing yards graduated. And yes, that wasn't a typo. Ninety-seven percent of the rushing yards are gone. The Spartans do return an experienced QB in Keith Nichol (Okla trans, 3 gms in '06), but could end up starting a true frosh at running back. This team could look a lot like Penn State's 2004 squad.

A schedule to run with - Michigan State could be 11-0 heading into its season finale against Penn State. Sounds crazy, right? But it's completely possible. The Spartans miss Ohio State this year, and outside of a trip to South Bend where MSU has won seven straight, there aren't a whole lot of road blocks.

The slate opens hosting Montana State (FCS) and Central Michigan, followed by trips to South Bend and Wisconsin, in a series where the visiting team has lost four straight. October will be the make or break month for MSU, as three of five are in East Lansing, including Michigan Northwestern and Iowa. Trips to Illinois (Oct. 10) and Minnesota (Oct. 31) are both manageable. If Michigan State can come out of October with a 4-1 record, a Big Ten title will be there for the taking.

November has Western Michigan coming to Spartan Stadium before a trip to Purdue. Then comes the big finish against Penn State. Chances are the Lions will be in the top 15, or even top 10 depending on how the Nov. 7 Ohio State game goes. If Michigan State plays beyond expectations in 2009, this could be the biggest PSU-MSU game ever.

From enemy territory: We had The Enlightened Spartan scheduled for this week, but something came up. We're still trying to get that set up and ready to go. So, stay tuned!

For more on Michigan State:

MSU 2009 Schedule
Complete Spring Game Coverage
First Look '08: Michigan State

More from First Look '09:
Indiana Hoosiers
Ohio State Buckeyes
Northwestern Wildcats
Michigan Wolverines
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Eastern Illinois Panthers
Illinois Fighting Illini
Iowa Hawkeyes
Temple Owls
Syracuse Orange
Akron Zips