Online Now 2573

Camp Competition No. 3: Left Guard

Jack Allen

Redshirt frosh Jack Allen will push for a starting role

Spartan Tailgate continues its countdown of the top five position battles in fall camp with a look at Blake Treadwell and the competition at left guard.

Dan Kilbridge

    • I really hope Klatt can excel as the FG snapper and get some nice PT. This line is deeper then ever and I'm sure that some short rotations with keep these guys fresh.

      spartan 4show ●

    • spartan 4show said...

      I really hope Klatt can excel as the FG snapper and get some nice PT. This line is deeper then ever and I'm sure that some short rotations with keep these guys fresh.

      Would be interesting to go with a 'Goal Line' OL and put in McGowen and Conway on the R side and Fou or Burkland at right TE.

      I'd really like to see Fou used as a run blocking TE occasionally.

      Pylon St8ofmind

    • Dan, is there any chance of France starting at LG if Burkland can beat him out at LT? Personally, it seems like a long shot, but this conversation a few months ago between Rocky and CBD always sticks in my mind:

      CoachedByDuffy:
      Don't be surprised if the starting OL this season is :
      LT - Burkland
      LG - France
      C - Jackson
      RG - McDonald
      RT - Fonoti

      SpartanRocky:
      I'd be surprised; France successfully held off Burkland at LT this spring. Burkland's "natural" position has been RT, but that's the same with Conway and the staff didn't want 3 of the top 4 OTs at one spot. Remember the talk of McDonald playing OT last year? That never materialized. I know there was some talk of France at OG, but he's the #1 LT as of right now.

      CoachedByDuffy:
      You'll be surprised Andrew. The starting OL I projected above is how the staff thinks the competition will turn out this Fall. The staff feels that Skyler Burkland is their most talented OL.
      The staff also feels that Dan France @ LG is a more powerful option than Blake Treadwell.

      The part in bold above really surprised me. Any truth to that?

      Ringer23 ●

    • Ringer23 said...

      Dan, is there any chance of France starting at LG if Burkland can beat him out at LT? Personally, it seems like a long shot, but this conversation a few months ago between Rocky and CBD always sticks in my mind:

      CoachedByDuffy: Don't be surprised if the starting OL this season is : LT - Burkland LG - France C - Jackson RG - McDonald RT - Fonoti

      SpartanRocky: I'd be surprised; France successfully held off Burkland at LT this spring. Burkland's "natural" position has been RT, but that's the same with Conway and the staff didn't want 3 of the top 4 OTs at one spot. Remember the talk of McDonald playing OT last year? That never materialized. I know there was some talk of France at OG, but he's the #1 LT as of right now.

      CoachedByDuffy: You'll be surprised Andrew. The starting OL I projected above is how the staff thinks the competition will turn out this Fall. The staff feels that Skyler Burkland is their most talented OL. The staff also feels that Dan France @ LG is a more powerful option than Blake Treadwell.

      The part in bold above really surprised me. Any truth to that?

      A lot can change over several months so if that was the staff's opinion it may be different now. But I wouldn't be surprised if that were the starting o-line come Boise State. I think a lot will depend on Treadwell's performance as well as Burkland's, but France is versatile enough to play either position. I agree that Burkland was the most promising young lineman before the injury last year and should get a legitimate starting shot this fall.

      We'll hear from Dantonio tonight and offensive line coach Mark Staten is also available for interviews, so I'll make sure to get the latest there and post what I find out.

      Dan Kilbridge

    • Dan Kilbridge said...

      We'll hear from Dantonio tonight and offensive line coach Mark Staten is also available for interviews, so I'll make sure to get the latest there and post what I find out.

      Thanks, Dan. I appreciate it.

      Another crazy scenario to think about is if Burkland and Allen are both too good to keep out of the starting line-up. Could it actually be possible that both France and Treadwell aren't starting come August 31?

      Ringer23 ●

    • Ringer23 said...

      Thanks, Dan. I appreciate it.

      Another crazy scenario to think about is if Burkland and Allen are both too good to keep out of the starting line-up. Could it actually be possible that both France and Treadwell aren't starting come August 31?

      Whatever happens, it is SOOOOO nice to be talking about TOO much talent from our back-ups to keep them off the field, and TOO many options for our starting 5 upfront this year, and its not because we are scrambling to fill SOOO many spots. We have 1 spot to fill with the best combination of 5 players. This OL and this program has come a LOOOONG way.

      Double_Spartan ●

    • I'm curious, with shaky depth at DT and so much competition on the OL, why hasn't there been more talk of Treadwell moving back? He was effective there as a freshman, which is really impressive looking back, but it seems like he is locked in on offense. Is that a personal preference, or has just become much better suited to the OL over time?

      MSUcnturyclub19

    • Double_Spartan said...

      Whatever happens, it is SOOOOO nice to be talking about TOO much talent from our back-ups to keep them off the field, and TOO many options for our starting 5 upfront this year, and its not because we are scrambling to fill SOOO many spots. We have 1 spot to fill with the best combination of 5 players. This OL and this program has come a LOOOONG way.

      Yup, no more crossing our fingers desperately hoping that 2 Star kids from New Hampshire develop into quality B10 offensive tackles. It's a nice feeling.

      MSUcnturyclub19

    • MSUcnturyclub19 said...

      I'm curious, with shaky depth at DT and so much competition on the OL, why hasn't there been more talk of Treadwell moving back? He was effective there as a freshman, which is really impressive looking back, but it seems like he is locked in on offense. Is that a personal preference, or has just become much better suited to the OL over time?

      Uhh, we're pretty damn deep at DT.

      svenski84

    • MSUcnturyclub19 said...

      I'm curious, with shaky depth at DT and so much competition on the OL, why hasn't there been more talk of Treadwell moving back? He was effective there as a freshman, which is really impressive looking back, but it seems like he is locked in on offense. Is that a personal preference, or has just become much better suited to the OL over time?

      It has sounded in the past like it's personal preference.

      As far as the DT depth goes, I wouldn't call it "shaky." All indications are that the young players they have are talented, they're just inexperienced.

      msusnee ●

    • msusnee said...

      It has sounded in the past like it's personal preference.

      As far as the DT depth goes, I wouldn't call it "shaky." All indications are that the young players they have are talented, they're just inexperienced.

      Yeah, I should revise that to read "Shaky only by the standards of the current MSU program; in other words, "stacked" by pre-Dantonio standards."

      I think we can all agree that it's the defensive position with the most question marks, though. Hoover is experienced but playing a new position that his body isn't ideally suited for, ARW is a good player but hasn't been a star, Kittredge has good practice reviews but hasn't done it on a B10 field, Reynolds might be playing WR tomorrow for all we know, etc.

      MSUcnturyclub19

    • MSUcnturyclub19 said...

      Yeah, I should revise that to read "Shaky only by the standards of the current MSU program; in other words, "stacked" by pre-Dantonio standards."

      I think we can all agree that it's the defensive position with the most question marks, though. Hoover is experienced but playing a new position that his body isn't ideally suited for, ARW is a good player but hasn't been a star, Kittredge has good practice reviews but hasn't done it on a B10 field, Reynolds might be playing WR tomorrow for all we know, etc.

      Thing is, Treadwell wasn't a great NT when he was in there. Serviceable, but not much beyond that. He probably has a higher ceiling on the OL.

      Still think France is your starting LT vs. Boise, but hey, if I'm wrong and he's at OG, that means MSU has a pretty darn good player at LT.

      SpartanRocky

    • SpartanRocky said...

      Thing is, Treadwell wasn't a great NT when he was in there. Serviceable, but not much beyond that. He probably has a higher ceiling on the OL.

      Still think France is your starting LT vs. Boise, but hey, if I'm wrong and he's at OG, that means MSU has a pretty darn good player at LT.

      So Rocky, if France is at LT and Treadwell is a LG, then Burkland is on second string? Or could Burkland challenge Fou for RT?

      152 Gunson

    • 152 Gunson said...

      So Rocky, if France is at LT and Treadwell is a LG, then Burkland is on second string? Or could Burkland challenge Fou for RT?

      Burkland would be second string LT. Conway is Fou's backup. Conway is strictly a RT.

      This post was edited by Macks on 8/8/2012 at 7:24 PM

      Macks ●

    • Macks said...

      Burkland would be second string RT. Conway is Fou's backup. Conway is strictly a RT.

      Did you mean to say LT there for Burkland?

      Ringer23 ●

    • Ringer23 said...

      Did you mean to say LT there for Burkland?

      Yeah my mistake, that was a typo.

      The reasoning is that Conway can only play RT, and Fonoti started last year at RT. Having 3 of your top 4 OT on one side doesn't make sense. So Burkland will back up France at LT.

      Macks ●

    • This post is for members of SpartanTailgate or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

      svenski84

    • This post is for members of SpartanTailgate or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

      Macks ●

    • This post is for members of SpartanTailgate or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

      Ringer23 ●

    • This post is for members of SpartanTailgate or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

      msusnee ●

    • This post is for members of SpartanTailgate or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

      Hank Moody ●

    • This post is for members of SpartanTailgate or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

      Ringer23 ●

    • This post is for members of SpartanTailgate or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

      haslett3

    • This post is for members of SpartanTailgate or All Access VIP members only. Start Free Trial

      Fort Wayne Dave

Already have an account? Sign In

Add a comment
Want to be involved in the discussion? Start Free Trial
Michigan State
247Sports
Features
Resources
Connect

247Sports In partnership with CBS Sports