MSU Red Cedar Message Board

Wait. So you can disconnect your "fanboyism" . . . yet insisting that an unproven QB will provide no drop-off from the prior year's starter? That's interesting.

I do think Maxwell will have a better running game to work with, as well as an established defense. That should ease the transition. Still . . . .

WR: Step down, as things stand right now.

TE: Question mark

Yep, pretty much.

The OL development intruiges me. It did seem by seasons end, they had developed into a pretty cohesive unit. Now they have guys back from injury, and I don't think the loss of Foreman hurts too much.

One guy nobody is really talking about his Hoover at DT. Step up or down from Pickleman?

Rocky -- rating ND as a push -- is that after accounting for Aaron Lynch's transfer?

What's the word on Klatt -- is he injured?

My take:

OL- We have 5 returning players who were first year starters last year. I see all of them making big improvements. I also think McDonald will make a slight improvement as well, but already pretty good. Losing Foreman hurts, but by the end he was dealing with so much pain that he has since retired from football. The dropoff between him and his replacement might not be as great as we think. Overall, the offensive line is going to be a big plus compared to last year.

TE- while I think Sims is the most talented TE to play for us since KFD, he has yet to put it together, add to that the lack of depth behind him and MSU is going to take a fairly sizable step back at this position. This is especially true since we like to run so many two and three TE sets with the extra TE motioning as a H-back.

FB- Fortunately, I think we will be more versatile at FB. Anderson was a wrecking machine for us last year, but Palazeti is more fundamentally sound, can catch the ball out of the backfield, and is still big enough to deliver a whallop at 250 lbs. Could be the most versatile FB of the Dantonio era. So let's call it a push.

RB- this is a tough one as their performance is so reliance on the O line. I think our talent level is actually worse this year, but I think our production will be better. I think Bell could have an All-American caliber season. I think Caper has a nice balance of size and speed to put up some big numbers of his own. Bell is a slippery, elusive back who can get tough yards. However, none of them have quite that home run ability that Baker has. Losing him limits our big play potential in the run game to some extent.

WR- obviously a step back here from am experience standpoint and likely from a production standpoint as well. That being said, from a physical standpoint, this group is actually better than the group that just left. Of the guys departing, the only one who was considered to have blazing speed was Martin. From what has been witnessed and what the coaches are saying, every single returning WR has speed to burn. That could pay huge dividends when defenses geared to stop our run game get beat deep on play action.

QB- This is another area where it has to be analyzed at different levels. From a physical tools perspective, Maxwell is superior to Cousins in every way. He's bigger, faster, and has a stronger arm. Is he as accurate? We shall see. How is his decision making? We shall see. I don't think understanding of the offense will be an issue as he is in year four with the program.

The one big issue is leadership. Cousins was a natural leader. I know for some, replacing that leadership is their biggest worry in regards to Maxwell and the team as a whole. Well I'm here to report that Maxwell won't be the leader Cousins was. Nor should he try to because he doesn't have to be. Good leadership from the QB position comes in many forms. Sometimes it is the polished speaker who is active in the communication like Cousins. Sometimes it is the unassuming, lunch pail, blue collar type guy like Hoyer. Sometimes it is the fiery, sacrifice my body for the team, gunslinger like Stanton. All three were different and all three were effective. Maxwell doesn't have to be Cousins. He just had to be himself.

I see the QB as a slight downgrade with a potential for a push wife the offense should be able to lean more on the running game.

Overall- Thanks to an improved running game, I think this offense ends up being more effective this year than last.

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.

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.
Note : The staff never seriously considered moving Chris McDonald from OG to OT last season. That was all media talk and speculation.

This. Burkland will be the backup at both tackle spots this year and the starter at RT next season. He won't play LT until after France leaves.

Kicker - push from last year.

Hmmm, sounds exactly like something I posted on page 1 of this thread...and that I really like the idea of.

And btw, I believe Hill has the same burst and big play potential as Baker, and I also believe Caper will have a great year if he stays healthy, was just reported he is putting in a ton of work right now, perhaps the most of anyone on the team, and is focused and determined.

Not ruling it out, but it'd surprise me at this point.

Hill could definitely provide some of what Baker did. I know MSU is looking for that home-run hitting RB.

I've seen Maxwell play numerous times at Midland. I know what he capable of. Sunshine blowhards are still emotionally attached to Cousins. News flash, Maxwell has better physical talent. Cousins said it this offseason.