MSU Red Cedar Message Board

That's sounds awesome. Nice job.

My comment didn't suggest anything to say I was hating on Maxwell

Definitely agree with the improvement on the o-line.. especially if you compare early last year to what one might expect early this year. Biigggg difference.. oh... and you forgot to mention prior 4 star C-G Nate Klatt in the playing group who would have started last year were it not for injury. Also, realy would like to see Reynolds in at OG next to France/Burkland...talk about a mauling left side of the line that would be! Geeesssh! Don't know what to make of Treadwell, except now that they moved him over to O line last year State could really have used him to move in from a year at DT this year. Oh well.

If you had to look at all the units of an offense and were told you could only improve at 1 for the year O line would be it for me. Great o-line can make up for a world of pedestrian or inexperience-related performance at all the other positions. Conversely, you can have all world RBs, WRs, TEs and QB and they won't do squat if you have a poor O-line.

Unfortunately I believe he O line is pretty much it for improvement this year on the O.

RB - would have put this in the definite improved column this year because I believe Caper is a realy gifted back with size (recall he was the original starter before being hurt 2 years ago). Much better at seeing the seams and cutting than Baker ever was. Unfortunately, .. I thought his injuries were just tick tack shoulder, ankle kind of stuff and it turns out that he had a concussion.. more than one. That is never a good sign. Each Concussion you get makes it much more likely for another. I really fear that LC might have to hang it up if he gets his bell rung one more time. Without Caper, State really has no #2 for a 1 -2 punch with Bell.. .. not sold on Hill as anything more than a special plays back. Langford and Tompkins will be too inexperienced too as would Ed Davis should he switch from LB.

TE - have to worry that the staff went out at the last minute and signed a JUCO TE well after signing day. That is a red flag to me about the status of the position. Can't count on Frosh there at all ...too small.. too inexperienced. Even if Sims comes back totally healthy, loses weight, really dedicates himself at the level of his talent, that is only 1TE. Dantonio, if you noticed, really likes to have three to rotate in. Right now, TE#2 is a walk on.

WR - huge question mark as far as what they MIGHT do. Could be very good. But I'd say the unit takes a step back this year only in the sense at who you are comparing them too. Cunnigham, Martin and Nichol were the best 1, 2, 3 receiver group I believe the Spartans have had in a long long time. This years WR could be quite good...but no way should anyone expect them to be at the level of last year's contingent.

A few things.

1. Doing WAY too much stargazing in regard to Klatt. He was third string last year behind Treadwell and Jackson BEFORE his injury last year so I don't know where you got the notion that he was going to start last year. Currently, he's listed as the 3rd string center behing Jackson and Ruhland. Klatt, for whatever reason has just not put it together and has essentially been passed on the depth chart at both the center and guard positions. He's going to end up as one of those "program guys" who provides quality depth but little more unless something drastic changes with him.

2. Treadwell is our starting LG going into the fall so it shouldn't be hard to figure out what to make of him.

3. Reynolds is at DT and is likely to stay at DT from now on so that's sort of a non-starter.

+1 to you sir.

I think the potential is certainly there for the offensive line to be dramatically better. Remember that there were five players who started at some point last year who had never started before and four of those players are currently listed as starters. There is a lot of development that can take place between your first and second year of getting first string reps. Let's look at them individually

France- last year he did a decent job at LT after being switched to offensive line during 2010 bowl practices. That's not a lot of time to go from backup DT to starting LT. Since then, France had an entire season on offense where he did show improvement, 2011 bowl practice, and 2012 Spring ball to refine his techniques. He still has a few more months to condition his body and work some more. I think you will see him transition from an adequate tackle to an above average one this year. Big step.

Treadwell- currently penciled in as the starting LG, he too got moved from D late in the game. With a full offseason to work on things, he has the potential to have a big improvement in his game.

Jackson- started at center during his redshirt freshman year. He played woefully undersized last year at 275, however thanks to great Ohio coaching he was an effective technician for a youngster. With another year with coach Mannie, he's already added 5 lbs of weight as he continues to develop physically and he will continue to refine and improve his technique as well. Another guy who should make a big leap.

Fonoti- another guy who will probably change physically from 2011. This winter was his first real introduction to Mannie's conditioning program. His body is going to be different because of it. Secondly, this year he will already have an understanding of the playbook from the first snap of fall camp unlike last year where he was learning the offense on the fly. Another potential big development guy.

Burkland- he will be first guy off the bench at either tackle position. Has starting experience and, as a redshirt sophomore, he's just now entering that phase oh his career where physical, mental, and technical maturity start coming together for an offensive linemen. Rarely do you see truly standout players on the line who are younger. Burkland would be a starter on most big ten teams. The fact that he's a backup is a testament to just how deep we are on the line right now.

Wow Rocky, way to go way too far to say that "The line will be much much better than last year but not quite as good as the elite."

Probably going from the 6th best line in the conference (last year) to the 2nd or 3rd best this year.

DONE.

I don't agree that Foreman's spot will be a down grade. Great Spartan, very good player, but his ceiling was not very high and he was playing EXTREMELY hurt. Obviously another guy matching his accountability and intelligence, not his physical attributes is the issue, but I'm really not concerned.

Also, freaking GIANT upgrade in overall depth, and experience in the unit, and I really think Jackson is going to be an 'All Timer' level of good. I remember watching the Michigan game with my buddy and singling out Jackson freaking man handling Mike Martin on an inside run, solo, R-Fr vs Senior NFL Prospect.

I think by now you know that brevity is my sworn enemy

when exactly does the staff tell you this?

me thinks the voices are coming from inside your own head.

whoa there buddy

I like your enthusiasm but running over Boise does not mean we can run over Ohio State and Wisconsin.

For the record, I think we will run on everybody, just saying that Boise is not a good measuring stick Maybe ND.

One good thing about the schedule is that MSU should have a pretty realistic view of the OL after the first 5 games: Boise, ND and tOSU.

I'd hope MSU can run on a Boise St. team replacing 4 SR DL. ND running that 3-4 is a pain. tOSU returns 8 or 9 starters off of last year's D, and that D was pretty good. That could end up being the best D MSU sees during the regular season, unless Nebraska takes a couple steps forward.