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  • G&W_Roses said...

    I am very optimistic regarding Kittredge. While he was not the most highly touted recruit in HS, his film shows that he can blossom into a solid B1G player.

    I think he can be a Kevin Pickleman type of player. He is more athletic than Pickleman. If he can start as a true freshman in the SEC, he can be a good player in the B10. He wanted to play defense. That was part of the reason he left Vandy.

    signature image

    Spartan8Ball

  • G&W_Roses said...

    Gholston, Rush, Hoover, Calhoun, Heath, Knox, Freeman, Drone, Calero, Lyles? on the outside. Drone has played NT, DT, and both DE positions, however.

    Rashad White, Kittredge, Clemons, Scarpinato, Ramando, Reynolds?, Treadwell?, Fennel? inside.

    Gholston looks like he is ready stardom, after his All B1G sophomore campaign. I think he can have an All American type season. Anyone think there is a chance he sticks around for his senior year? It seems improbable, but there is always a chance.

    Rush is not far behind. He is a much different type of player than Gholston, as he uses leverage to his advantage and is one of the better bull rushing ends I think we have seen in a Spartan uniform.

    I don't think Hoover makes a PERMANENT move inside, but I see him getting the majority of his playing time at DT. I think he will have a great, productive year.

    We have all heard the excitement come from Dantoino and Duzzi in regards to Calhoun. This guy would have been a big time recruit if he had been more fundamentally sound coming out of HS. He is a freak athlete, and there is no doubt that his talent is through the roof.

    I don't know too much about Joel Heath and Damon Knox, maybe you guys could fill me in there?

    Freeman was a guy that would have a been a big time recruit, like Calhoun, but for different reasons. Dantonio has said that he is very disciplined and knows the playbook as well as anyone. He has also mentioned that he has the ability to drop back into coverage.

    Drone is not spectacular, but very reliable and looks good when he gets reps. I like shuffling him throughout the line, as we have used him in the past.

    Calero is an old school B1G "high motor" guy. No, not because he is white. (DP show, anyone?) He accelerates off of the line quickly and has a "can't stop, won't stop" mentality. I think he pushes for reps this fall, with a solid spring and summer.

    I think Lyles redshirts, as he will have a hard time seeing the field no matter what position he ends up at. (LB or DE).

    Rashad White has the talent and ability, just needs to lose a few pounds. It'd be nice to see him shed 10-20lbs. this offseason and I think he can do it. Duzzi has said that he can be just as explosive as Jerel was.

    Kittredge is a guy that has played in the SEC and brings solid speed for a DT. He was recruited by other SEC schools, as well as MSU and Notre Dame coming out of HS.

    Brandon Clemons was a highly touted recruit from PA, last year. He is very strong, and has very good feet for a guy his size. I think he sees significant playing time this coming season.

    I have a feeling that Reynolds and Treadwell are on the D-Line for good. Treadwell was very explosive his freshmen year and has only gotten better/faster/stronger, etc. since then. He is coming off of an injury riddled season, so we we'll have to see how that plays out. For those of you who don't remember, Micajah Reynolds played with Chris Norman in HS for the HS USA team, or something rather. He definitely has the skills and talent, I just hope that he can move quick enough.

    I think Fennel RS's, and makes an immediate impact the following year. After only playing true American football for one year, it will make it easier for him to adjust to B1G football with a year of learning.

    Scaprinato and Ramondo are two other guys that I am not very familiar with. Where do you guys see these two fitting in?

    Let me know what you guys think, and feel free to critique anything I have said.

    Go Green!

    Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! One of my favorite subjects next to discussing the kicking game, the defensive line.

    Not that this is the be all end all, but I fully expect MSU's defensive front to receive mention in multiple preseason magazines "Top Ten Units." Last year they didn't receive any mention, even with though Worthy did receive some preseason recognition, but coming of the Outback Bowl performance Gholston, White, and Rush form a strong neucleus that warrants mention.

    Three of the starting four are pretty much set, but finding that fourth member to help accentuate this group will be interesting. Who will it be? Hoover? Kittredge? Drone? One of the RS freshman? Who ever it is won't be saddled with having to be "The Man," all that will be required is that they provide a solid, consistent, level of play. If they do end up having a Worthy/Gholston/Rush like impact all the better.

    Depth is going to be interesting because of, and in my best Joe Pesci imitation from the movie My Cousin Vinnie, "Yoots." MSU's two deep unit will be made up primarily of redshirt freshman. There are a two players, Calero and Freeman who have been in the program longer, but Calero has no experience and Freeman seems to have been passed by many of the underclassmen so his contribution may be limited.

    This will be a year where all of the underclassmen have an opportunity to make some noise and gain a measure of separation from the others. Of the nine who will potentially be seeing their first action as a Spartan (Calero, Calhoun, Clemons, Fennel, Heath, Knox, Kittredge, Ramando, Scarpinato) Calhoun appears to have received the most notice by the coaches, followed by Heath (pre back injury), Kittredge, Heath, Clemons and Ramando. I am not counting Scarpinato this year since he sat out last year recovering from surgery. If two or more of the eight can exhibit a level of performance comparable to what Worthy and Rush achieved as redshirt freshmen MSU should be in good shape. Worthy showed flashes as redshirt freshman but was nowhere near the level he performed at last season. Rush had an exceptional year, but like Worthy, still has room to improve going forward. Solid, incremental, displays of improvement over the course of the season will be greatly appreciated.

    Allow Fennel and Lyles a year to develop, and hopefully land four strong defensive line recruits and the program will sustain success going forward.

    Spartan4ever

  • Tressel wants Lyles at linebacker.

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    Spartan8Ball

  • juggle

    We have a number of proven playrers: White (very good) Gholston (OMG), Rush (very good) . Hoover (has played well and started at this level), Drone (played inside and outside), Reynolds (has played on both sides of the ball), Kittredge has started for an SEC team (albeit is as as an OT) and you add the redshirt depth.

    All linebackers and most of the Defensive Backfield returning. Plus promising new recruits

    OK.....

    northandwells

  • G&W_Roses said...

    I am very optimistic regarding Kittredge. While he was not the most highly touted recruit in HS, his film shows that he can blossom into a solid B1G player.

    I don't know, kid was an Under Armor All American . . .

    Michigan State does not and will not run the 3-4 defense.

    SpartanRocky

  • SpartanRocky said...

    I don't know, kid was an Under Armor All American . . .

    Really? hmm. I don't remember that, thanks for letting me know. I know that he was passed up by most of the SEC and B1G schools.

    Rocky, do you think that it is safe to say Kittredge will start right off of the bat? Assuming that he has a solid spring and summer.

    GW_Roses127853

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