2010 Spartans.. SpartyMSU's Thoughts on the Team...

Spartans head into the 2010 season a better team than they were in 2009.

Frankly, we were surprised at the outcome of the 2009 season.  It seems as though the team was just a little short in many games.. Just missing by a smidge.  From the stands, it didn’t look coaching was the issue, positions were manned well, but possibly just losing a little focus during the games, football plays were missed……  Maybe locker room distraction, personality issues  ???

They lost 5 games by an average of a field goal and a little bit..  SpartyMSU was set for a possible 11 – 1 record last year, and they ended up 6 – 6..  Losses were close, but they were “Ls” none the less.

This year should be different for the Spartans , since they are better in all aspects. The Defense can do nothing but improve.  There is some impressive freshmen this year such as Max Bullough and William Gholston, just to name a couple.

SpartyMSU is predicting a 9 – 3 season this year.   We still believe they could have gone 11 – 1 last year.. But again.. Like they say Football is a game of inches…  This year there should be many post game celebration tailgates..   At least we’re planning on it…

2010 will be like the Battle of Midway.. it’s the turning point in the Spartans war to gain national prominence… Everyone is behind Coach Dantonio, the program, the team.  2009 was a blip.. Dantonio never said that there would be no steps backwards in the march of forward progress… So Forward we go...

Whats got us excited this season:

1)      The pass catchers..  Last year’s top 5 receivers  return… They put on an impressive aerial show in 2009 and we will miss our favorite Blair White. On top of several  guys returning and we have an addition in WR redshirt  Bennie Fowler.   Back on the field this year: TE Brian Linthicum (2009: 2 TDs, 20 recpts for 266 yrds) , Garrett Celek (1 Td),  and our favorite Charlie Gantt (2 TDs, 22 recpts,348yrds) .  SpartyMSU’s  Senior Member Gavin,  said he lifted with Charlie at the “Y” ,  and he is looking forward and ready for the season… 

WRs -  B.J. Cunningham (641 all purp. Yrds in 2009) , Mark Dell (449 all purp. Yrds.), and stud Keshawn Martin (who had 1451 all purpose yds) are all back..  Back up QB Keith Nichol is at WR this year, with his athleticism, and play knowledge, I think he will make a heck of an impact.  Keith did look good at spring ball.   But, what happened to Fred Smith ??

This is the most talented group, and the reserves are just as good.. Many choices to throw to this year..  I expect the areal attack to be at a minimum as strong as 2009 but, and probably much  better…

2)      QB… As a sophomore Kirk Cousins is a rising star in the  Big Ten. Flash forward, one year later, he will be better at field decisions and more accurate.  Can’t take too much away from the young man since he lead last year’s Spartan passing assault to #2 in the Big Ten last year, and number 3 in total offense…  As a  Junior signal caller, nothing but positives coming from him this year. Sure, the occasional pick is inevitable, but, overall, he’s the man.. He is picked as the Big Ten’s 21st overall player by Adam Rittenberg…  He is clearly the Spartan starter.

Behind him is Back up Andrew Maxwell (6’3 – 200) and Joe Boisture (6’5” – 205). Both played well in the spring game, I  liked what I saw… QB is a solid position for years to come…

3)      RB: Larry Caper and Edwin Baker..  I expect the typical Soph. year growth for these guys.  Caper and Baker are nothing but talented with improving field smarts.  I only hope holes will open up for them so they can show their stuff. Remember Caper’s  23-yard touchdown in overtime against Michigan last year…  Addition thought: Nick Hill could just move in to a starting rotation as well…

4)      LB… #53 All American Stud Greg Jones…. Arguably the best Line Baker in the Big Ten and possibly the NCAA…. #1 tackler for the Spartans.. He was fun to watch last year, and really glad he decided to stay in school for his senior year and not enter the NFL draft. Phil Steel has said that this is the 6^th best LB corps in the NCAA..  Greg is joined by experience with:  Eric Gordon, John(the Missile) Misch, Max Bullough,  Steve Gardiner, Chris Norman, Jeremy Grainer… Depth, skill, and leadership… Strong, very strong crew….   Could Jones get a Heisman ??? Possible.. Yes, possible…

5)      DE:  True Freshman William Gholston has me excited..  At 6’7” – 237.. he might just make an impact off the get go…  If he makes the starting rotation, and I hope he does.. Tyler Hoover  (6’7” – 270) will be a good complement. Although Tyler didn’t really make any headway last year as I hoped.. Possibly this year is his coming out party, and what better way to do it than with Gholston…   Colin Neely (played in 13 games, 12 starts – 24 tackles, 3 sacks,4 hurries, 1 break up)  is a only returning starter DE. Colin seemed to be a level headed, “A” ranked DE. The group is rounded out with backups Jonathan Strayhorn (13 games last year, 1 sack), Drone, and Cory Freeman.

Whats got us a little antsy this season:

Important Note: Of the top 20 tacklers on the team, 13 return, and all of the top 5 tacklers return…

1)      D  Line.. I.. gotta put pressure on the QB… returning Front is Jerel Worthy (played in 13 games, 11 starts, 27 tackles, 5 sacks,1 hurry 2 breakups ), Soph. Blake Treadwell (played 9 games 2009), Kevin Pickelman (played in 12 games last year) , joining the group is Dan France , Micajah Reynolds, Cameron Jude.  This spring Dan France was the first DT drafted, does this mean he will give the starters a run for their money…. But, since they were last in conference pass defense there wasn’t a big push up front…

But, this year, is a little different… … they will be better… they are better.

2)      The secondary at times looked great.. and at times look horrid… Frankly,  I thought they would have been good last year.. I was WRONG… The team only had six picks all season…  Plus remember that haunting 2009 stat: Last in the Big Ten in pass defense…

This is a new year… can’t be last 2 years in a row… at Corner Johnny Adams is back, along with Chris L. Rucker, and tall Michael White,. Safety is Marcus Hyde, Jarius Jones, Free Safety Trent Robinson. As a fan, I am not sure what to say or expect until I see them on the field starting Sept. 4…

3)      O Line… The other area of slight concern.. I have to admit, I feel a little less unsure about the Offensive front..  Good News = Everyone has experience, and all have played in front of Cousins last year…  With the high powered offence last year, and with the experience coming back its a good thing.  Bad New =  we did lose C Joel Nitchman, and LT Rocco Cironi.. and it hurts, but, we should be OK..   Have to wait to confirm my assumptions here also.  Note: only allowed 12 sacks all year on Kirk Cousins,…

Probably manning the line is: D.J. Young (13 games last year, 11 starts), Jared McGaha (13 games in 2009), John Stipek (7 games in 2009), Joel Foreman (12 games, 12 starts)

4)      Kicking…. DNBTU is gone.. Dead Nuts Between the Uprights-  Brett "Money" Swenson has gone to the Pros… as expected… Now he needs to be replaced.. Holding my breath…  I wasn’t too impressed by what I saw in the Spring game..  As Spartans we are used to a history of talented kickers.. 

All in all.. a good squad this year.. , in fact, we think they’ll be pretty good this year,  end up 3^rd in the Big Ten..

We’re putting 2009 behind us and moving forward..

The Season prediction based upon the team and the opponents in 2010..9 – 3.. 

Details on this to follow yet this week…

Sparty On !!!