"Youngstown State. This damned well better be a case of MSU SMASH." It wasn't. Point of fact, analogies of old people fighting for a glass of ovaltine with their canes and walkers came to mind. Analogies of going to the dentist so you have healthy teeth for the next six months come to mind. It was pretty much as unsatisfying as a win of the 28-6 variety comes to be. Our offense was somewhere between ineffective and brilliant. Our defense. I'll get to that.
1.) Offensive Line Smash: McGaha looked completely overwhelmed at LT. The rule of thumb applies, if you can't beat YSU at LT, you will not beat OSU. He was yanked in favor of Dan France during the game and I suspect that arrangement will be permanent. France looked raw and had his own issues, but I think given that he is a RS-Soph I'd rather have him in at LT even if McGaha is like 6 percent better. McGaha is a five year program guy and the only offensive tackle recruit from the class of either 2007 or 2008 who's contributed at OT.
2.) Defensive Line Smash: Zero sacks. This is a dink and dunk team, the kind that generates a lot of yardage on us. Counting in the stands I usually didn't get past two seconds when the QB dropped back to pass before he let go. Still zero sacks. This is a difficult thing to decide whether to be disappointed about, we weren't really blitzing and when we were, there was no zone blitz, we weren't flooding a single gap. Still I was really hoping the DL wouldn't need help to generate significant pressure on Youngstown State.
3.) Does Nick Hill Fit the Bill? 2 carries for 7 yards. Both in the last couple of minutes of the game. He might well be as good as advertised, but I don't think good enough to see carries in front of Baker, Bell and Caper.
4.) How badly are we going to miss Greg Jones and Eric Gordon? Max Bullough tied Greg Jones career high for tackles in a game. Allow me to repeat, in his first collegiate start at Mike, Max Bullough matched Greg Jones career high for tackles in a game. This is simply put, better than anyone could have hoped for. It seemed like there was a lot of late and obvious communication about what play the defense should be running. I don't know if this falls to Bullough or not, but it would be good to see those calls made moments sooner so the D has time to read the plays. Jitters would be a fair assessment.
We're going to miss Eric Gordon this year. I didn't see anyone who obviously stepped up in his place. The season and the linebackers are young, let's see what happens.
5.) Can we run for 300 yards? Ouch. 159 yards is still not bad, but we threw a lot more than I was expecting.
Bonus Observations
Laces Out Dan
If that was anything other than a botched snap, I'll eat my hat. Conroy was drilling them pre-game from 50 yards out.
I like everyone else with a pair of eyes, felt like the defense played some sloppy football last night. Lots of guys were out of position. The tackling was sloppy. The tackling was frankly appalling at times. Still. They gave up six points and I am the biggest believer that is the only defensive stat that matters. More importantly, I thought they didn't open their playbook at all. Each blitz was straightforward, it was the linebacker coming through their obvious gap. It seemed like there was little or no stunting, the goal of the game was keep the plays in front of you and don't let up yardage and don't open the playbook. Mission accomplished. Still, tons of room for improvement here.
Secondly, I was really hoping that we'd be finished with the Kirk Cousins flailing against good coverage. He played a bulletproof 18 of 22 for 240 and a TD, but it concerns me that with good coverage he still cannot throw the damn ball away. Maybe this is a coaching thing, I have no idea.
I'm looking forward to a more even-keeled effort on both sides of the ball next week against FAU. If not, then we can all start to worry a bit.
Update #1: The Sunshine Piece
In re-reading the article this morning I realized I forgot to include some of the things I was really happy about.
If you haven't heard about it yet, Arthur Ray got the start at Left Guard on Friday night. This was purely ceremonial as I think the cancer has ravaged his leg beyond the durability needed for a Big Ten Season at LG. There's a lot of heartwarming going around here, to Joel Foreman for letting him start, to Coach D for not flipping his scholarship to Medical DQ a long time ago, but most importantly to Arthur Ray. I don't think this could have happened to someone more determined to make good on his scholarship. If he can get a medical redshirt and a sixth year of eligibility, I wouldn't count him out of playing next year. Not because the depth chart favors him, but because I won't bet against a kid who's been through that. The young man has a bright future in front of him.
B.J. Cunningham. I was talking with a friend on Friday morning who has Cunningham in a College Fantasy Football league. He said he started Cunningham on Friday night. I laughed condescendingly because I was thinking you silly bastard, they're going to run for 1400 yards on Friday night and throw twice. Not only did they throw plenty on Friday night, BJ Cunningham had half the catches. He looked like a man among boys.
Skyler Burkland. I think we may have a four year starter at RT folks. He looks like the real deal. We just have to keep him healthy now. We've been absolutely ravaged at OT during the Dantonio tenure.
Blake Treadwell. If Treadwell is the back-up, I cringe to see what Travis Jackson will be. Treadwell plays hard and runs angry. I like the cut of his jib.
3 Stars: Arthur Ray, B.J. Cunningham, Max Bullough
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
Youngstown State: 5 Key Things
Here at A Beautiful Day For Football we're still finding our feet a bit. This is a series I'd like to do on the Friday before a game.
Youngstown State. This damned well better be a case of MSU SMASH. I'd drop an App State highlight here, but you know until a lifetime of games have been played where MSU doesn't lose to it's 1-AA teams, let's keep the hubris to a dull roar. Still, some value can be gleaned from watching us SMASH.
1.) Offensive Line Smash: We return Joel Foreman and Chris McDonald at the Left and Right Guard positions. We are starting new blood at LT, C and RT. So there are two obvious questions. How's our running between the tackles? I think keeping your guards should help with this a bunch, but we shall see. Then the real and more serious question, how will Jared McGaha protect Kirk Cousins blindside? If he can't save Cousins from the Penguins how will he do against Nebraska?
2.) Defensive Line Smash: Narduzzi has said that a lot of the pass struggles in 2009 could be directly tied to the DLs inability to get pass rush with the front four. Much about our DL has been praised and promoted. I think that praise is just and this line is for real. Still if you take our Gholston, Rush, Worthy, White line and compare it to the Lions VandenBosch, Suh, Williams and Avril. The Leos average D-lineman goes 290. The average Spartan D-Lineman 289. Our defensive line has NFL size. But how does the speed carry over? If the speed is even sort of there. Please look out Big Ten.
3.) Does Nick Hill Fit the Bill? A lot of positive scuttle has come out of fall camp about Nick Hill. With YSU in particular this should be a great place to see Nick Hill get a lot of carries. I'd really like to see a strong effort from him today. And I think we will.
4.) How badly are we going to miss Greg Jones and Eric Gordon? Tonight, probably not a lot. I like many others think that Max Bullough has a chance to be BETTER than Greg Jones when he leaves MSU. For now I would settle for 80 percent as good. Tonight will tell how close we are. It sounds like we'll be platooning linebackers all night and seeing who does best.
5.) Can we run for 300 yards? We damn sure oughtta and I think we will.
Final Score MSU 45 YSU 10.
Youngstown State. This damned well better be a case of MSU SMASH. I'd drop an App State highlight here, but you know until a lifetime of games have been played where MSU doesn't lose to it's 1-AA teams, let's keep the hubris to a dull roar. Still, some value can be gleaned from watching us SMASH.
1.) Offensive Line Smash: We return Joel Foreman and Chris McDonald at the Left and Right Guard positions. We are starting new blood at LT, C and RT. So there are two obvious questions. How's our running between the tackles? I think keeping your guards should help with this a bunch, but we shall see. Then the real and more serious question, how will Jared McGaha protect Kirk Cousins blindside? If he can't save Cousins from the Penguins how will he do against Nebraska?
2.) Defensive Line Smash: Narduzzi has said that a lot of the pass struggles in 2009 could be directly tied to the DLs inability to get pass rush with the front four. Much about our DL has been praised and promoted. I think that praise is just and this line is for real. Still if you take our Gholston, Rush, Worthy, White line and compare it to the Lions VandenBosch, Suh, Williams and Avril. The Leos average D-lineman goes 290. The average Spartan D-Lineman 289. Our defensive line has NFL size. But how does the speed carry over? If the speed is even sort of there. Please look out Big Ten.
3.) Does Nick Hill Fit the Bill? A lot of positive scuttle has come out of fall camp about Nick Hill. With YSU in particular this should be a great place to see Nick Hill get a lot of carries. I'd really like to see a strong effort from him today. And I think we will.
4.) How badly are we going to miss Greg Jones and Eric Gordon? Tonight, probably not a lot. I like many others think that Max Bullough has a chance to be BETTER than Greg Jones when he leaves MSU. For now I would settle for 80 percent as good. Tonight will tell how close we are. It sounds like we'll be platooning linebackers all night and seeing who does best.
5.) Can we run for 300 yards? We damn sure oughtta and I think we will.
Final Score MSU 45 YSU 10.
No Longer In Wait, It Has Arrived
January 2nd, 2011. I sat thinking deep dark thoughts about College Football. Alabama's defense had injured both of our starting quarterbacks on their way rolling us 49-7 or 1000 to -3 which would have been more reflective of the actual state of affairs. With four first round draft picks and a conscience pure as the driven snow and no impropriety whatsoever, Alabama destroyed MSU in the bowl game. The memory of a magic 11-1 season was soiled in a flash.
An obvious *alleged* cheater had won the Heisman and was en route to winning the national title. We all smiled for Cam Newton, who honestly doesn't seem like a bad dude, just you know a cheater, *allegedly*. Auburn went on to win with it's future vacated national championship against Oregon who by the way *allegedly* went out and purchased the services of Lache Seastrunk. So Cheater V. Cheater. Who to root for: Asteroid. Interesting side note: If Auburn and Oregon have to vacate their 2010 wins, wouldn't that make TCU the national champion? Think hard about which rules to selectively ignore NCAA. MSU got dicked out of the Rose Bowl(I'm not implying we'd have won either, but I'd have liked to find out) by OSU's cheating scandal.
It was a dark January and the Lions were on the uptick. I thought about abandoning it all and rooting NFL from here on out and admiring both NCAAF and NFL from a distance. We pay thousands of dollars between season tickets, parking, tailgate supplies. * Every year, we spend 2000 dollars on activities related to Spartan Football and finally I saw last year for the first time, the game is rigged. The SEC is the king, not because of SEC Speed ™ but because of looser admission standards, shoddier self-reporting of violations, oversigning and the improper use of Medical Disqualifications *allegedly*. As the off-season progressed Yahoo aka the NCAA watchdog, reported violations of the major sort at OSU, Miami and Oregon. Notice who's missing there? But I digress.
* - For those of you who read this, the Mrs. has considered putting up the occasional tailgate recipe on here, thoughts?
Then the long hot football drought of summer set in and it began creeping back in. MSU picked up some recruiting wins, news started coming out of camps and I started getting back that itch. As I got tired of summer, I started thinking about how much I enjoy watching Big Ten football while you have a fire going in late fall. Remembering how much I enjoy walking in with the band because it sounds like they're marching in from hell. How you walk across the Red Cedar and you turn to your left and see the Stadium for the first time through the trees. How the tailgate is your own personal cheers and you say hello to your tailgating neighbors all over again. How my wife had contractions for our second baby after Little Giants. How we watched Larry Caper run right to set up a field goal, but instead run right over a Michigan defender on his way to the end zone.
Today is a day where I can relate to being a fan of ANY College Football Team, from USC to Coastal Carolina to Michigan. I know what this day means to me, and what it means to so many other college football fans. We wait and wait and wait and today we're no longer waiting, it has arrived. The deep dark thoughts of the offseason don't matter today(although they have made me a different fan this year). The predicting and tea leaf reading don't matter anymore either, now it's watching our favorite sport unfold in one of our favorite places in the world.
It's A Beautiful Day For Football.
An obvious *alleged* cheater had won the Heisman and was en route to winning the national title. We all smiled for Cam Newton, who honestly doesn't seem like a bad dude, just you know a cheater, *allegedly*. Auburn went on to win with it's future vacated national championship against Oregon who by the way *allegedly* went out and purchased the services of Lache Seastrunk. So Cheater V. Cheater. Who to root for: Asteroid. Interesting side note: If Auburn and Oregon have to vacate their 2010 wins, wouldn't that make TCU the national champion? Think hard about which rules to selectively ignore NCAA. MSU got dicked out of the Rose Bowl(I'm not implying we'd have won either, but I'd have liked to find out) by OSU's cheating scandal.
It was a dark January and the Lions were on the uptick. I thought about abandoning it all and rooting NFL from here on out and admiring both NCAAF and NFL from a distance. We pay thousands of dollars between season tickets, parking, tailgate supplies. * Every year, we spend 2000 dollars on activities related to Spartan Football and finally I saw last year for the first time, the game is rigged. The SEC is the king, not because of SEC Speed ™ but because of looser admission standards, shoddier self-reporting of violations, oversigning and the improper use of Medical Disqualifications *allegedly*. As the off-season progressed Yahoo aka the NCAA watchdog, reported violations of the major sort at OSU, Miami and Oregon. Notice who's missing there? But I digress.
* - For those of you who read this, the Mrs. has considered putting up the occasional tailgate recipe on here, thoughts?
Then the long hot football drought of summer set in and it began creeping back in. MSU picked up some recruiting wins, news started coming out of camps and I started getting back that itch. As I got tired of summer, I started thinking about how much I enjoy watching Big Ten football while you have a fire going in late fall. Remembering how much I enjoy walking in with the band because it sounds like they're marching in from hell. How you walk across the Red Cedar and you turn to your left and see the Stadium for the first time through the trees. How the tailgate is your own personal cheers and you say hello to your tailgating neighbors all over again. How my wife had contractions for our second baby after Little Giants. How we watched Larry Caper run right to set up a field goal, but instead run right over a Michigan defender on his way to the end zone.
Today is a day where I can relate to being a fan of ANY College Football Team, from USC to Coastal Carolina to Michigan. I know what this day means to me, and what it means to so many other college football fans. We wait and wait and wait and today we're no longer waiting, it has arrived. The deep dark thoughts of the offseason don't matter today(although they have made me a different fan this year). The predicting and tea leaf reading don't matter anymore either, now it's watching our favorite sport unfold in one of our favorite places in the world.
It's A Beautiful Day For Football.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Miami: South Beach
If you haven't heard by now Miami is in a lot of trouble for being a naughty program. Convicted Ponzi Schemer Nevin Shapiro has decided to come forward admitting to many millions of dollars of improper benefits he provided for players from 2002-2010. "Lil' Luke" as he was known in team circles was guilty of three things, 1.) Having a nickname that made him sound like the member of the Sopranos that gets kicked in the nuts all the time and then his scene "magically" gets cut from the show. 2.) Funding many acts that are both illegal in terms of NCAA Bylaw and that are ACTUALLY illegal. 3.) Being that guy, who goes on a "shooting rampage" and then "turns the gun on himself". If you're going to be a jerkass and mess up your favorite team, speaking as a fan, keep it to yourself instead of securing yourself a book deal and ruining everyone else's good time.
I've wondered for years why kids continue to take their talents to South Beach. Urban Dictionary defines "I'll be taking my talents to South Beach" as:
1. To inform someone that the current situation is no longer working.
2. F*** off.
3. You're not doing it for me anymore, or what you offer is lacking.
What the other schools were offering was indeed lacking and this helps explain why from 2006-2010 Miami was averaging a 14th place recruiting class while finishing with a crap record. A question in my mind though, is that there are schools that finished in front of them in recruiting with far more middling success on the field. What are those schools doing? But I digress.
This article sums up how I have felt about Football and Men's Basketball for a couple years now. It is brilliant. Do you believe in earning money for doing good work? Do you think it's fair that with my favorite Greg Jones jersey the only person in the entire world who cannot make money on that jersey is Greg Jones? Yeah me either. If any article can change your mind on a scholarship being adequate compensation for football players generating 100 million dollars in revenue for their school, it's this one.
The kids at Miami committed a series of very serious violations. Death penalty to Miami football serious violations. After reading what I have in this article and several others, after spending many hours debating that a scholarship is not adequate recompense while the school makes millions of dollars on the backs of these kids. The only thing I feel firmly planted in saying on the subject is that many of these violations are ridiculous and that most things in life, you can watch the show and enjoy or you can peel back the facade, see the dirty underside and learn to love it anyway. That's what I've done with college football.
I've wondered for years why kids continue to take their talents to South Beach. Urban Dictionary defines "I'll be taking my talents to South Beach" as:
1. To inform someone that the current situation is no longer working.
2. F*** off.
3. You're not doing it for me anymore, or what you offer is lacking.
What the other schools were offering was indeed lacking and this helps explain why from 2006-2010 Miami was averaging a 14th place recruiting class while finishing with a crap record. A question in my mind though, is that there are schools that finished in front of them in recruiting with far more middling success on the field. What are those schools doing? But I digress.
This article sums up how I have felt about Football and Men's Basketball for a couple years now. It is brilliant. Do you believe in earning money for doing good work? Do you think it's fair that with my favorite Greg Jones jersey the only person in the entire world who cannot make money on that jersey is Greg Jones? Yeah me either. If any article can change your mind on a scholarship being adequate compensation for football players generating 100 million dollars in revenue for their school, it's this one.
The kids at Miami committed a series of very serious violations. Death penalty to Miami football serious violations. After reading what I have in this article and several others, after spending many hours debating that a scholarship is not adequate recompense while the school makes millions of dollars on the backs of these kids. The only thing I feel firmly planted in saying on the subject is that many of these violations are ridiculous and that most things in life, you can watch the show and enjoy or you can peel back the facade, see the dirty underside and learn to love it anyway. That's what I've done with college football.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The Predictive Preseason Pecking Order
I'm taking a break from Assume the Position today, if I don't get some work done, I'll be assuming the position later on this week with my boss.
I've always thought that preseason rankings are crap. This appears to be a widely held belief among many people who believe in science, logic and all other things represented by sanity and not magic. I find this year's preseason ranking of our Spartans about as exciting as all of the mosquitoes that have returned to mid-Michigan in the past couple of weeks. On a side note, it's occasionally difficult not to cackle with glee when the light is making mosquito popcorn outside.
The Spartans are exiting the preseason ranked 17th according to the USA Today poll. In the last nine years the 17th ranked team in the USA Today Poll has finished 9-4, 9-4, 11-3, 12-1, 11-3, 9-3, 8-4, 10-3(Oh Minnesota, you had Glen Mason and he made magic out of manure for you) and 10-3. The Preseason 17th ranked team has finished ranked two of the nine years, once 6th and once 21st. If you take the W-L records of those teams that would average out to 10-3 for us this if we finished ranked 17th. The W-L records of those who were preseason 17 are as follows: 6-7, 12-1(ranked), 11-2(ranked), 6-7, 6-7 , 5-6, 5-6, 8-5, and 7-6. Applied to this year's schedule that averages out to: 8-5. So what does all this mean? Precisely Diddley.
Therein lies the problem. If we finished 17th that mentally correlates to being the best 9-4 team in college football(bowl win), an average 10-3 team(maybe a bowl win or good loss) or the worst 11-2 team(bowl game spanking) in college football. I personally don't like being the worst 11-2 team in College Football, I'd rather be the 10-3 or 9-4 team, it's more representative of who you are.* Yet, recent past history points to what we should expect this year is a team that goes 8-5 with a lot of boom or bust potential for 6-7 or 11-2.
- Note: That line of thinking is waived if we make or win the Rose Bowl or the National Title game.I'm good with being the worst undefeated team in College Football going into the National Title game.
This ultimately is my reason for not appreciating the magic behind preseason rankings. They're not reliable and in the case of the 17th rank in the USA today poll since 2002, they're more predictive that your team will not finish ranked than that they will. I'd be thrilled with a 10-3 season as the final 17th ranking would predict for these Spartans. I'd be pretty unimpressed with an 8-5 finish particularly if that did not include a bowl win. Yet, that's what the ranking over the last nine years truly predicts for a 13 game season.
So Spartan fans, expect 8-5 and love you some 10-3 or better when it comes. Tell your Michigan rooting neighbor that being ranked 17th for us or anyone else is crap and if they press the point ask them how being ranked helped them lose to us 34-17 last year when they "outranked" us. And should things come unglued and some moron on Big Ten Network is discussing how our season exploded if we're 5-5 playing Indiana on November 19th, know that our average is still within reach OR if we drop the last two and finish 5-7 we're not the first, or the last to suffer the Preseason Ranking affliction. Finally, if we P4RB the way we know how we have good company in our friends from TCU and BYU who have taken their 17th Preseason Ranking and achieved anyway!Think Lebowski In short or long, the preseason rankings, mean nothing and are nothing. If you're going to enjoy any magic, enjoy the magic of a college football game.
I've always thought that preseason rankings are crap. This appears to be a widely held belief among many people who believe in science, logic and all other things represented by sanity and not magic. I find this year's preseason ranking of our Spartans about as exciting as all of the mosquitoes that have returned to mid-Michigan in the past couple of weeks. On a side note, it's occasionally difficult not to cackle with glee when the light is making mosquito popcorn outside.
The Spartans are exiting the preseason ranked 17th according to the USA Today poll. In the last nine years the 17th ranked team in the USA Today Poll has finished 9-4, 9-4, 11-3, 12-1, 11-3, 9-3, 8-4, 10-3(Oh Minnesota, you had Glen Mason and he made magic out of manure for you) and 10-3. The Preseason 17th ranked team has finished ranked two of the nine years, once 6th and once 21st. If you take the W-L records of those teams that would average out to 10-3 for us this if we finished ranked 17th. The W-L records of those who were preseason 17 are as follows: 6-7, 12-1(ranked), 11-2(ranked), 6-7, 6-7 , 5-6, 5-6, 8-5, and 7-6. Applied to this year's schedule that averages out to: 8-5. So what does all this mean? Precisely Diddley.
Therein lies the problem. If we finished 17th that mentally correlates to being the best 9-4 team in college football(bowl win), an average 10-3 team(maybe a bowl win or good loss) or the worst 11-2 team(bowl game spanking) in college football. I personally don't like being the worst 11-2 team in College Football, I'd rather be the 10-3 or 9-4 team, it's more representative of who you are.* Yet, recent past history points to what we should expect this year is a team that goes 8-5 with a lot of boom or bust potential for 6-7 or 11-2.
- Note: That line of thinking is waived if we make or win the Rose Bowl or the National Title game.I'm good with being the worst undefeated team in College Football going into the National Title game.
This ultimately is my reason for not appreciating the magic behind preseason rankings. They're not reliable and in the case of the 17th rank in the USA today poll since 2002, they're more predictive that your team will not finish ranked than that they will. I'd be thrilled with a 10-3 season as the final 17th ranking would predict for these Spartans. I'd be pretty unimpressed with an 8-5 finish particularly if that did not include a bowl win. Yet, that's what the ranking over the last nine years truly predicts for a 13 game season.
So Spartan fans, expect 8-5 and love you some 10-3 or better when it comes. Tell your Michigan rooting neighbor that being ranked 17th for us or anyone else is crap and if they press the point ask them how being ranked helped them lose to us 34-17 last year when they "outranked" us. And should things come unglued and some moron on Big Ten Network is discussing how our season exploded if we're 5-5 playing Indiana on November 19th, know that our average is still within reach OR if we drop the last two and finish 5-7 we're not the first, or the last to suffer the Preseason Ranking affliction. Finally, if we P4RB the way we know how we have good company in our friends from TCU and BYU who have taken their 17th Preseason Ranking and achieved anyway!Think Lebowski In short or long, the preseason rankings, mean nothing and are nothing. If you're going to enjoy any magic, enjoy the magic of a college football game.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Assume the Position: Wide Receivers
This is part 4a of an ambitiously stated seven part series. This series will focus on introducing MSU fans to their position group players. It is not intended to replace the quality analysis that media types can provide, but we give it our best shot. We'll work backwards from the most stable position groups to the more dynamic ones so we can write about the most volatile groups last.
The Spartans return all but one starter last year from the Wide Receiver position. Mark Dell is now catching passes from Tim Tebow in Denver. The core group of BJ Cunningham, Keshawn Martin and Keith Nichol returns for 2011 and is looking to mess some folks up. This group at first glance should be as talented as any in the big 10. As always we proceed alphabetically.
Juwan Caesar
Juwan Caesar is a Floridian transplant who is going to learn what cold is this winter. He committed to Michigan State in January over offers from West Virginia, Illinois and Minnesota. Despite his "meh" offer sheet, the staff and media seemed particularly excited for his commitment. He sports elite size at 6'4 and 210 and seems to run pretty fluidly.
2011 Prediction
Caesar seems far from a shoe-in to play this season. With a deep WR group in front of him there's no moral imperative to burn his redshirt. He would be a logical backup to Cunningham, Fowler and Nichol so if the injury gods strike maybe he sees the field. Otherwise it's probably a redshirt this year.
B.J. Cunningham
B.J. Cunningham is a redshirt senior who will be one of our starters this upcoming year. Last year BJ really emerged as a redzone threat for us scoring 9 TDs in 2010, tied with Titus Young and A.J. Green for 27th nationally. Cunningham is a big-bodied wide receiver at 6'2" and 215. The most amazing thing about Cunningham in 2010 though was how he became a clutch receiver for us. Need a 3rd and 6, BJ Cunningham will catch that slant for you.
2011 Prediction
Cunningham will be the man this season. I look for a Devin Thomas type dominance from him when the ball goes his way towards the end of the season. I do not expect his numbers to be as gaudy on account of the plethora of targets that Cousins has to throw to. Cunningham will catch touchdowns, he will get us out of 3rd and long and he will run block. Expect big things from him this year.
Bennie Fowler
Bennie Fowler is another man among children in terms of physical stature. As another 6'2" 215 lbs kind of guy, he'll be another of those big bodied wide receivers that Dantonio loves. He saw limited action in 2010 as a redshirt freshman in a VERY deep playing group. He amassed 14 catches for 175 and a TD.
He also was the recipient of the other trick play in 2010.
I felt like Dantonio was a bit overly smug about the success of this play. It was a well-thrown ball by Bates coupled with a good catch by Fowler with impending collision that made the play. I'm pretty sure everyone knew the fake was coming.
2011 Prediction
Fowler will see increased playing time in 2011 although I don't know if he'll be a full-time starter. He showed some promise as a kick returner towards the end of the season in 2010. If Cunningham, Martin and Nichol are injury-free this season, you might see a smaller dose of Bennie Fowler this year. If they get dinged up even an average amount you'll see plenty.
This year as a redshirt sophmore I expect him to get plenty of touches as a WR, KR and even a few at RB, his high school position. Think WR sweeps to the Nichol/Cunningham side of the field. Bennie Fowler will be a star on this team in 2012, the question is will he be one in 2011? Magic 8-ball says.... Yes.
Takudzwa Kubvoruno
Kubvoruno is a walk-on to MSU starting in 2011. He had interest in MSU, CMU and Army but no scholarship offers from those three. He has probably the raddest YouTube highlight reel of any walk-on in MSU history.
I've seriously seen actual non-pornographic movies with worse production than this.
2011 Prediction
I do not expect Kubvoruno to contribute in 2011. While he or any other walk-on WR could be the next Blair White, for him to see the field this year would really need to involve major catastrophe. Even worse than the 2008 Michigan Offense.
Keshawn Martin
It's simple. Keshawn Martin is the most fun I have had watching a Spartan football player since Drew Stanton. You just do not know what he's going to do next. Each play could be the play where he pulls up and gets his Denard on, or he might just have Nichol block out for him while he slips around for 10-20 yards. Statistically, Martin has never been a huge producer for MSU, but you cannot leave him unattended or you will pay.
2011 Prediction
Martin will continue his defense-frustrating ways in 2011. Offenses will need to account for all of the various ways he can get you. He is our jack of all trades and honestly just a boatload of fun to watch. In short, expect his trend of 500 yards and 5 or so TDs to continue, but expect to watch him continue to abuse defenses that he catches napping. I expect a grand sendoff for this young man on Senior Day.
Keith Mumphery
Keith Mumphery was a member of the class of 2010. He selected MSU over Arkansas, the other MSU and Nebraska. He's another 6'0, 200 lbs guy but what makes him an interesting future WR is that he's very fluid and speedy in and out of his cuts. Mumphery comes into this season as a Redshirt Freshman and may push for playing time.
As with all freshman that have yet to hit the field....
2011 Prediction
Keith Mumphery will definitely see playing time against some of the preseason tomato cans and perhaps more if injuries or he REALLY excels in the position. Like Caesar though, he will spend most of 2011 being developed to really be someone in 2012 and beyond.
Keith Nichol
Nichol like Kirk Cousins has one of the most interesting stories on the team this year. Originally committed to Michigan State, he switched his commitment to Oklahoma, played against Sam Bradford to win the starting job. Lost to the eventual first pick in the NFL draft, and ended up transferring back to Michigan State to compete against Kirk Cousins in the QB position. There he battled valiantly to win the spot in 2009 and ended up at WR after rathergate. He started at WR in the bowl game against Texas Tech and did a nice job playing a position there was no design on him playing later in the season.
Last year, he had 22 receptions for 264 yards and a TD. These numbers are not particularly impressive. What is impressive though is that Keith Nichol is a supremely good run-blocker.
Keith Nichol in run blocking is like all three Hanson brothers. Also, Glenn Winston on the off chance if you're reading this, fighting is better done on the field.
2011 Prediction
Keith Nichol will be our third receiver this year and figures to spend a lot of time playing against teams where we run a lot. I suspect he'll go around 4-5 hundred yards and 4-5 TDs. I'd suspect he'll remain our third-string QB as well.
Kyle Nichol
Kyle is a walk-on and Keith's younger brother. At 5'9" and 180 he's not really got the physical stature to compete for playing time. I have every confidence he's every bit the warrior his brother is, but I suspect we'll never really find out.
2011 Prediction
I suspect you'll see Kyle on the field for a "brothers" play on Senior Day.
Chris D. Rucker
The "other" Chris Rucker was a member of the class of 2007. He was brought in at receiver although he too has dabbled at Corner throughout his career at MSU. Brought in as a speedster his role was going to be to stretch the field. He didn't play in 2010 and played in only two games in 2009. He had one catch against Montana State, the third MSU, for 21 yards and one catch against Wisconsin for 8 yards and all I remember is probably 3-4 drops with one or two in the end zone.
2011 Prediction
If you haven't seen the field in four years at MSU, you're probably not going to see it in the fifth. Rucker is one of the guys a team depends on behind the scenes, but his play this year should be limited to special teams and senior day.
Andre Sims Jr.
Sims is kind of a carbon-copy of Chris D. Rucker although the early word out of camp is that he is turning some heads already. At 5'8", 180# he's a guy who will need to find the hole in the zone and get there before everyone else. His highlight film would indicate he has the ability.
2011 Prediction
It sounds like Sims might be making enough noise that he may not be redshirted. That would REALLY be saying something given the playing group in front of him. If he's not redshirted, expect him to spend some time returning kicks and playing special teams with the occasional appearance in a 4 or 5 wide set. Sims could be playing the role of Keshawn Martin in 2012 and I'd be a-ok with that.
Brad Sonntag
Sonntag is another walk-on for MSU. A program guy who has played all 5 years at the WR position. He's primarily been a special teams guy in 2009 and 2010. I believe he played WR in the Rather Bowl in 2009, but he did not catch a pass. Sonntag is an effort guy and effort guys always make the team a bit better.
2011 Prediction
Expect Sonntag's contribution on Special Teams to continue this upcoming year. I don't expect him to see the field at WR except perhaps on Senior day.
AJ Troup
Troup is a true freshman walk-on for Michigan State this year. At 6'2 and 202 he has the body frame to play the position. I was going to drop his Senior Year highlight reel here, but he put his home phone number in it. A two-star recruit with offers from Northern Iowa and North Dakota, he decided to eschew all that and play for the Spartans.
So this will have to do...
2011 Prediction and Beyond
AJ Troup is the kind of kid that has Blair White written all over him, he'll redshirt this year, play some special teams next year and maybe in a couple of years crack the two deeps at the WR position. This is the kind of kid that makes teams great. The kid who works 3-4 years to get the chance to play and when he does, look out. This year, just a redshirt, in 3 years though, maybe a pleasant surprise starter.
Best Case Scenario: We have between four and six Wide Receivers who would start for most Big Ten teams. With that in mind, the coaching staff is able to distribute catches such that no one is getting the ball too much. This with a dominant ground game makes our offense impossible to stop as Dantonio has pointed out, every defense has a weakness. The deep and varied array of talent makes it too difficult for teams to stop our WR group.
Worst Case Scenario: Cunningham and Nichol are injured early on in the season, which leaves no one to participate in run-blocking for our running backs. Martin and Fowler while extremely talented are asked to do too much. Also, Kirk Cousins DOOM.
Overall Assessment:
The Spartans have probably the deepest group of Wide Receivers in the Big Ten this year. They can kill you in possession, they can kill you with speed, they can kill you in run support. Barring significant injury, you can expect this group to be among the nation's most dangerous WR groups. They will contribute significantly towards Michigan State's final record this year. They are flatly excellent.
The Spartans return all but one starter last year from the Wide Receiver position. Mark Dell is now catching passes from Tim Tebow in Denver. The core group of BJ Cunningham, Keshawn Martin and Keith Nichol returns for 2011 and is looking to mess some folks up. This group at first glance should be as talented as any in the big 10. As always we proceed alphabetically.
Juwan Caesar
Juwan Caesar is a Floridian transplant who is going to learn what cold is this winter. He committed to Michigan State in January over offers from West Virginia, Illinois and Minnesota. Despite his "meh" offer sheet, the staff and media seemed particularly excited for his commitment. He sports elite size at 6'4 and 210 and seems to run pretty fluidly.
2011 Prediction
Caesar seems far from a shoe-in to play this season. With a deep WR group in front of him there's no moral imperative to burn his redshirt. He would be a logical backup to Cunningham, Fowler and Nichol so if the injury gods strike maybe he sees the field. Otherwise it's probably a redshirt this year.
B.J. Cunningham
B.J. Cunningham is a redshirt senior who will be one of our starters this upcoming year. Last year BJ really emerged as a redzone threat for us scoring 9 TDs in 2010, tied with Titus Young and A.J. Green for 27th nationally. Cunningham is a big-bodied wide receiver at 6'2" and 215. The most amazing thing about Cunningham in 2010 though was how he became a clutch receiver for us. Need a 3rd and 6, BJ Cunningham will catch that slant for you.
2011 Prediction
Cunningham will be the man this season. I look for a Devin Thomas type dominance from him when the ball goes his way towards the end of the season. I do not expect his numbers to be as gaudy on account of the plethora of targets that Cousins has to throw to. Cunningham will catch touchdowns, he will get us out of 3rd and long and he will run block. Expect big things from him this year.
Bennie Fowler
Bennie Fowler is another man among children in terms of physical stature. As another 6'2" 215 lbs kind of guy, he'll be another of those big bodied wide receivers that Dantonio loves. He saw limited action in 2010 as a redshirt freshman in a VERY deep playing group. He amassed 14 catches for 175 and a TD.
He also was the recipient of the other trick play in 2010.
I felt like Dantonio was a bit overly smug about the success of this play. It was a well-thrown ball by Bates coupled with a good catch by Fowler with impending collision that made the play. I'm pretty sure everyone knew the fake was coming.
2011 Prediction
Fowler will see increased playing time in 2011 although I don't know if he'll be a full-time starter. He showed some promise as a kick returner towards the end of the season in 2010. If Cunningham, Martin and Nichol are injury-free this season, you might see a smaller dose of Bennie Fowler this year. If they get dinged up even an average amount you'll see plenty.
This year as a redshirt sophmore I expect him to get plenty of touches as a WR, KR and even a few at RB, his high school position. Think WR sweeps to the Nichol/Cunningham side of the field. Bennie Fowler will be a star on this team in 2012, the question is will he be one in 2011? Magic 8-ball says.... Yes.
Takudzwa Kubvoruno
Kubvoruno is a walk-on to MSU starting in 2011. He had interest in MSU, CMU and Army but no scholarship offers from those three. He has probably the raddest YouTube highlight reel of any walk-on in MSU history.
I've seriously seen actual non-pornographic movies with worse production than this.
2011 Prediction
I do not expect Kubvoruno to contribute in 2011. While he or any other walk-on WR could be the next Blair White, for him to see the field this year would really need to involve major catastrophe. Even worse than the 2008 Michigan Offense.
Keshawn Martin
It's simple. Keshawn Martin is the most fun I have had watching a Spartan football player since Drew Stanton. You just do not know what he's going to do next. Each play could be the play where he pulls up and gets his Denard on, or he might just have Nichol block out for him while he slips around for 10-20 yards. Statistically, Martin has never been a huge producer for MSU, but you cannot leave him unattended or you will pay.
2011 Prediction
Martin will continue his defense-frustrating ways in 2011. Offenses will need to account for all of the various ways he can get you. He is our jack of all trades and honestly just a boatload of fun to watch. In short, expect his trend of 500 yards and 5 or so TDs to continue, but expect to watch him continue to abuse defenses that he catches napping. I expect a grand sendoff for this young man on Senior Day.
Keith Mumphery
Keith Mumphery was a member of the class of 2010. He selected MSU over Arkansas, the other MSU and Nebraska. He's another 6'0, 200 lbs guy but what makes him an interesting future WR is that he's very fluid and speedy in and out of his cuts. Mumphery comes into this season as a Redshirt Freshman and may push for playing time.
As with all freshman that have yet to hit the field....
2011 Prediction
Keith Mumphery will definitely see playing time against some of the preseason tomato cans and perhaps more if injuries or he REALLY excels in the position. Like Caesar though, he will spend most of 2011 being developed to really be someone in 2012 and beyond.
Keith Nichol
Nichol like Kirk Cousins has one of the most interesting stories on the team this year. Originally committed to Michigan State, he switched his commitment to Oklahoma, played against Sam Bradford to win the starting job. Lost to the eventual first pick in the NFL draft, and ended up transferring back to Michigan State to compete against Kirk Cousins in the QB position. There he battled valiantly to win the spot in 2009 and ended up at WR after rathergate. He started at WR in the bowl game against Texas Tech and did a nice job playing a position there was no design on him playing later in the season.
Last year, he had 22 receptions for 264 yards and a TD. These numbers are not particularly impressive. What is impressive though is that Keith Nichol is a supremely good run-blocker.
Keith Nichol in run blocking is like all three Hanson brothers. Also, Glenn Winston on the off chance if you're reading this, fighting is better done on the field.
2011 Prediction
Keith Nichol will be our third receiver this year and figures to spend a lot of time playing against teams where we run a lot. I suspect he'll go around 4-5 hundred yards and 4-5 TDs. I'd suspect he'll remain our third-string QB as well.
Kyle Nichol
Kyle is a walk-on and Keith's younger brother. At 5'9" and 180 he's not really got the physical stature to compete for playing time. I have every confidence he's every bit the warrior his brother is, but I suspect we'll never really find out.
2011 Prediction
I suspect you'll see Kyle on the field for a "brothers" play on Senior Day.
Chris D. Rucker
The "other" Chris Rucker was a member of the class of 2007. He was brought in at receiver although he too has dabbled at Corner throughout his career at MSU. Brought in as a speedster his role was going to be to stretch the field. He didn't play in 2010 and played in only two games in 2009. He had one catch against Montana State, the third MSU, for 21 yards and one catch against Wisconsin for 8 yards and all I remember is probably 3-4 drops with one or two in the end zone.
2011 Prediction
If you haven't seen the field in four years at MSU, you're probably not going to see it in the fifth. Rucker is one of the guys a team depends on behind the scenes, but his play this year should be limited to special teams and senior day.
Andre Sims Jr.
Sims is kind of a carbon-copy of Chris D. Rucker although the early word out of camp is that he is turning some heads already. At 5'8", 180# he's a guy who will need to find the hole in the zone and get there before everyone else. His highlight film would indicate he has the ability.
2011 Prediction
It sounds like Sims might be making enough noise that he may not be redshirted. That would REALLY be saying something given the playing group in front of him. If he's not redshirted, expect him to spend some time returning kicks and playing special teams with the occasional appearance in a 4 or 5 wide set. Sims could be playing the role of Keshawn Martin in 2012 and I'd be a-ok with that.
Brad Sonntag
Sonntag is another walk-on for MSU. A program guy who has played all 5 years at the WR position. He's primarily been a special teams guy in 2009 and 2010. I believe he played WR in the Rather Bowl in 2009, but he did not catch a pass. Sonntag is an effort guy and effort guys always make the team a bit better.
2011 Prediction
Expect Sonntag's contribution on Special Teams to continue this upcoming year. I don't expect him to see the field at WR except perhaps on Senior day.
AJ Troup
Troup is a true freshman walk-on for Michigan State this year. At 6'2 and 202 he has the body frame to play the position. I was going to drop his Senior Year highlight reel here, but he put his home phone number in it. A two-star recruit with offers from Northern Iowa and North Dakota, he decided to eschew all that and play for the Spartans.
So this will have to do...
2011 Prediction and Beyond
AJ Troup is the kind of kid that has Blair White written all over him, he'll redshirt this year, play some special teams next year and maybe in a couple of years crack the two deeps at the WR position. This is the kind of kid that makes teams great. The kid who works 3-4 years to get the chance to play and when he does, look out. This year, just a redshirt, in 3 years though, maybe a pleasant surprise starter.
Best Case Scenario: We have between four and six Wide Receivers who would start for most Big Ten teams. With that in mind, the coaching staff is able to distribute catches such that no one is getting the ball too much. This with a dominant ground game makes our offense impossible to stop as Dantonio has pointed out, every defense has a weakness. The deep and varied array of talent makes it too difficult for teams to stop our WR group.
Worst Case Scenario: Cunningham and Nichol are injured early on in the season, which leaves no one to participate in run-blocking for our running backs. Martin and Fowler while extremely talented are asked to do too much. Also, Kirk Cousins DOOM.
Overall Assessment:
The Spartans have probably the deepest group of Wide Receivers in the Big Ten this year. They can kill you in possession, they can kill you with speed, they can kill you in run support. Barring significant injury, you can expect this group to be among the nation's most dangerous WR groups. They will contribute significantly towards Michigan State's final record this year. They are flatly excellent.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Assume the Position: Running Backs
This is part 3b of an ambitiously stated seven part series. This series will focus on introducing MSU fans to their position group players. It is not intended to replace the quality analysis that media types can provide, but we give it our best shot. We'll work backwards from the most stable position groups to the more dynamic ones so we can write about the most volatile groups last.
Our running back situation is probably the best it's been since I started following MSU football during the days of Sedrick Irvin. We're deep at running back and we have varying skill sets at running back. This is a position of strength for MSU in 2011 and probably even moreso in 2012. This group has the ability to make right a bad day at the office.
A video is worth a 1000 words.
Edwin Baker
Baker came to Michigan State after being offered by nearly every school in the country. In 2009 he was still recovering from an ACL tear, and his carries were artificially lowered by that injury. In 2010, Baker emerged as our workhorse back sharing carries primarily with Larry Caper. His 1201 yards were good enough to make him 26th overall in yardage. Not bad for a guy splitting carries three ways. He showed himself as the most complete back of our three, expect that trend to continue this upcoming year.
2011 Prediction
Baker was the lead back in our three man rotation last year after getting picked third in the 2010 Spring game. I think that really served as a wake up call to him and it showed on the field last year. I expect Baker's improvement to continue in this upcoming year. He is an outside Heisman candidate at this point and I'd expect to see him continue playing at that level. Should he assemble a 1500 yard 15+ TDs type season I think you would see him leave for the big leagues. So I say with enthusiasm, Edwin Baker, I hope this is your last season at Michigan State. I think it will be.
Le'Veon Bell
Bell was an early enrollee in the class of 2010. He had offers from MSU and a couple of MAC Schools. His commitment led to a lot of hand-wringing by the Spartan faithful so how did he do in 2010? Well he was on the Freshman All-Big Ten Team. In fact, from here on out under-recruited overly hand-wrought types will be referred to as having the Bell effect. Bell played amazingly the first half of the year, routinely getting 6 or 7 yards on 3rd and 2, towards the end of the season he had a more difficult time picking up the same down and distance.
2011 Prediction
Bell was the surprise of MSU's football team last year, he might have been the surprise of the whole Big 10 last year. This year, I'd expect him to show a more steady effort statistically throughout the year. I'd not be surprised to see the trend be that he actually loses some of the highs as he learns to run smarter protecting himself from injury a bit better but that will make him a lot more effective later in the season. Last year he went for 605 yards and 8 TDs. This year I expect to see 800 yards and 10 TDs.
Larry Caper
Larry Caper was our workhorse back in 2009 as a true freshman. He really carried the load for our team in the first half of the season. As Baker's injury healed up mid-way through 2009 the workload got distributed more evenly. In 2010, the script was flipped, Baker was healthy the whole season while Caper was injured early on and ended up as the third of our three back rotation. In 2010, Caper emerged more as a third down back and receiving threat which is the one thing he definitely did as well as Bell and Baker in 2010.
2011 Prediction
The murmurs out of fall practice are that Caper is back and is ready to play some football and as good as any of our other RBs. I have a hard time seeing us playing a three back rotation where all three backs get 33 percent of the carries and I have this weird feeling that Caper will be the one left out. His prowess as a receiving threat might make him the go-to back on 3rd and more than 3. He also could see a lot of fourth quarter carries as a fresh set of legs this upcoming year. I'm rooting for this kid a lot actually, between him and Bell I think there's a real pair of fan favorites.
Nick Hill
Nick Hill came to Michigan State as a member of the class of 2010. He had a single redeemable offer good at any MAC school, Stanford and MSU. He was redshirted last year and that was pretty much it for him.
2011 Prediction
This year he figures to be a factor on kick returns and maybe see sometime as a change-of-pace back. I think his carries will be limited this year on account of the logjam in front of him. I like Hill a lot, but if Baker doesn't leave after this year, I think Hill is a likely candidate to transfer. He's too talented to be the fourth string guy, but not talented enough to be a huge figure in the three headed tailback monster.
Jeremy Langford
Jeremy Langford came to Michigan State as a member of the class of 2010. He had a single redeemable offer good at any MAC school, Colorado and MSU. He attended the same school as Keshawn Martin and is faster in a straight line according to his AD. Not as good in and out of cuts.
2011 Prediction
This year he figures to be a factor on kick returns. He's really an athlete as much as anything though, so maybe next year he's a DB, this year he's a running back, maybe he's a WR in a couple years following. I think any 2011 contribution will be limited to purely special teams.
Worst Case Scenario: Our depth at running back is superior not just in the Big Ten but nationally. I think you'd need to have three season ending injuries before Nick Hill or whoever the survivor is would be being asked to do too much. Worst Case Scenario - Two of our starters go down early in the season and the offense doesn't recover.
Best Case Scenario: Baker moves from being an outside Heisman candidate to actually a Heisman candidate without the qualifier. Bell continues as our Caulcrick battering ram. Caper emerges as a true third down threat on every play. Nick Hill sees time in the fourth salting leads away and as our home run threat. The running backs group combines for 2500 yards and 30+ TDs. This is not as unlikely as I think we'd all think. Last year they all combined for 2300 yards and 23 TDs and we STILL had trouble on 3rd and short as the season wore on.
Overall Assessment:The running back position is at an unprecedented level of depth since I started following MSU football. This position group will make our offense successful this year as opposed to being successful because of our offense. I honestly expect the "Best Case Scenario" this year. I think this group is that good. Baker will do well enough to play on Sundays in 2012 and Caper, Bell and Hill will shine with their moments in the sun this year. This is going to be fun. In the words of TO "Getcha Popcorn Ready!"
Our running back situation is probably the best it's been since I started following MSU football during the days of Sedrick Irvin. We're deep at running back and we have varying skill sets at running back. This is a position of strength for MSU in 2011 and probably even moreso in 2012. This group has the ability to make right a bad day at the office.
A video is worth a 1000 words.
Edwin Baker
Baker came to Michigan State after being offered by nearly every school in the country. In 2009 he was still recovering from an ACL tear, and his carries were artificially lowered by that injury. In 2010, Baker emerged as our workhorse back sharing carries primarily with Larry Caper. His 1201 yards were good enough to make him 26th overall in yardage. Not bad for a guy splitting carries three ways. He showed himself as the most complete back of our three, expect that trend to continue this upcoming year.
2011 Prediction
Baker was the lead back in our three man rotation last year after getting picked third in the 2010 Spring game. I think that really served as a wake up call to him and it showed on the field last year. I expect Baker's improvement to continue in this upcoming year. He is an outside Heisman candidate at this point and I'd expect to see him continue playing at that level. Should he assemble a 1500 yard 15+ TDs type season I think you would see him leave for the big leagues. So I say with enthusiasm, Edwin Baker, I hope this is your last season at Michigan State. I think it will be.
Le'Veon Bell
Bell was an early enrollee in the class of 2010. He had offers from MSU and a couple of MAC Schools. His commitment led to a lot of hand-wringing by the Spartan faithful so how did he do in 2010? Well he was on the Freshman All-Big Ten Team. In fact, from here on out under-recruited overly hand-wrought types will be referred to as having the Bell effect. Bell played amazingly the first half of the year, routinely getting 6 or 7 yards on 3rd and 2, towards the end of the season he had a more difficult time picking up the same down and distance.
2011 Prediction
Bell was the surprise of MSU's football team last year, he might have been the surprise of the whole Big 10 last year. This year, I'd expect him to show a more steady effort statistically throughout the year. I'd not be surprised to see the trend be that he actually loses some of the highs as he learns to run smarter protecting himself from injury a bit better but that will make him a lot more effective later in the season. Last year he went for 605 yards and 8 TDs. This year I expect to see 800 yards and 10 TDs.
Larry Caper
Larry Caper was our workhorse back in 2009 as a true freshman. He really carried the load for our team in the first half of the season. As Baker's injury healed up mid-way through 2009 the workload got distributed more evenly. In 2010, the script was flipped, Baker was healthy the whole season while Caper was injured early on and ended up as the third of our three back rotation. In 2010, Caper emerged more as a third down back and receiving threat which is the one thing he definitely did as well as Bell and Baker in 2010.
2011 Prediction
The murmurs out of fall practice are that Caper is back and is ready to play some football and as good as any of our other RBs. I have a hard time seeing us playing a three back rotation where all three backs get 33 percent of the carries and I have this weird feeling that Caper will be the one left out. His prowess as a receiving threat might make him the go-to back on 3rd and more than 3. He also could see a lot of fourth quarter carries as a fresh set of legs this upcoming year. I'm rooting for this kid a lot actually, between him and Bell I think there's a real pair of fan favorites.
Nick Hill
Nick Hill came to Michigan State as a member of the class of 2010. He had a single redeemable offer good at any MAC school, Stanford and MSU. He was redshirted last year and that was pretty much it for him.
2011 Prediction
This year he figures to be a factor on kick returns and maybe see sometime as a change-of-pace back. I think his carries will be limited this year on account of the logjam in front of him. I like Hill a lot, but if Baker doesn't leave after this year, I think Hill is a likely candidate to transfer. He's too talented to be the fourth string guy, but not talented enough to be a huge figure in the three headed tailback monster.
Jeremy Langford
Jeremy Langford came to Michigan State as a member of the class of 2010. He had a single redeemable offer good at any MAC school, Colorado and MSU. He attended the same school as Keshawn Martin and is faster in a straight line according to his AD. Not as good in and out of cuts.
2011 Prediction
This year he figures to be a factor on kick returns. He's really an athlete as much as anything though, so maybe next year he's a DB, this year he's a running back, maybe he's a WR in a couple years following. I think any 2011 contribution will be limited to purely special teams.
Worst Case Scenario: Our depth at running back is superior not just in the Big Ten but nationally. I think you'd need to have three season ending injuries before Nick Hill or whoever the survivor is would be being asked to do too much. Worst Case Scenario - Two of our starters go down early in the season and the offense doesn't recover.
Best Case Scenario: Baker moves from being an outside Heisman candidate to actually a Heisman candidate without the qualifier. Bell continues as our Caulcrick battering ram. Caper emerges as a true third down threat on every play. Nick Hill sees time in the fourth salting leads away and as our home run threat. The running backs group combines for 2500 yards and 30+ TDs. This is not as unlikely as I think we'd all think. Last year they all combined for 2300 yards and 23 TDs and we STILL had trouble on 3rd and short as the season wore on.
Overall Assessment:The running back position is at an unprecedented level of depth since I started following MSU football. This position group will make our offense successful this year as opposed to being successful because of our offense. I honestly expect the "Best Case Scenario" this year. I think this group is that good. Baker will do well enough to play on Sundays in 2012 and Caper, Bell and Hill will shine with their moments in the sun this year. This is going to be fun. In the words of TO "Getcha Popcorn Ready!"
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