Michigan State 2017 Season Thread

[ELA]

Hopefully a fresh start to this thread washes away the filth of the old one.

As camp closes in, I think obviously the biggest concern for MSU across the board is depth.  Even the areas where they look ok, guys are going to have to take a lot of snaps and they can't afford injuries.

Probably running back, with Scott, Holmes and London all returning is the only position with talent and depth.  I guess quarterback too with Lewerke and Terry, and possibly deWeaver, although I hope it doesn't come to that.  I like Lewerke a lot, and Terry probably has more experience than any backup QB in the conference, and that's all you can really ask for from a backup QB.

I like the top end talent at WR, the interior of both lines, and CB.  But, again, no depth.

The tackles and the safeties have the potential to be ok, but they have a lot to show.

I'm very nervous about what we can even hope to expect from the TEs, DEs and LBs.

Bringing in all of these last minute kickers also makes me question how little Coghlin has shown them.

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd figure that if Lewerke went down, he'd be replaced by the unknown (deWeaver) before the known (Terry). Terry's been like a version of Nick Sheridan with Tate Forcier legs. Mildly compelling but not worth it.

[ELA]

Both players were injured for basically the entire offseason.  Not getting a spring this year I assume will impact the RS frosh far more than the 5th year guy.

Obviously it depends on what they show through the fall, and where the season is.  If they are still playing for something and Terry looks to be ahead, I think he'll be the guy.  This staff shows an unhealthy loyalty to upperclassmen as well.

[Anonymous Coward]

Just watched BTN's Monday media days thing (Original football content is on TV again!). I doubt this is informative about who the coaches put behind Lewerke (and may have just been an oversight) but when Gerald Holmes  was asked about the QB depth, he talked at some length about Lewerke and how deWeaver is "right behind him," with no mention of Terry.

[CatsbyAZ]

Does the whole season come down to Lewerke? The way the coaches were praising him at yesterday's conference it might as well. Last season he was the most effective passer on the field, but that's the point, question is him staying on the field.

[ELA]

Does the whole season come down to Lewerke? The way the coaches were praising him at yesterday's conference it might as well. Last season he was the most effective passer on the field, but that's the point, question is him staying on the field.

Maybe not the whole thing, but the team certainly looked a lot better with him out there.  I don't think it's any coincidence that Dantonio's two worst teams (2012 and 2016) were the two years he didn't have Hoyer, Cousins or Cook under center.

[ELA]

Tyson Smith cleared to open practice with the team.

Because aside from all of the injuries last year, the losses, the arrests, the defections and the academic casualties, our starting CB also had an offseason stroke.

[ELA]

Tyson Smith cleared to open practice with the team.

Because aside from all of the injuries last year, the losses, the arrests, the defections and the academic casualties, our starting CB also had an offseason stroke.

And True freshman DE Lawshawn Paulino-Bell, who stayed longer in Florida recovering from a hospitalization following a jet ski accident

because #offseasonfromhell

[ELA]

QB Us?

[ELA]

I'm going to choose to believe that having two true freshmen OL in the two deep is a sign of their advanced development, and not how desperately thin we are there.

[847badgerfan]

Young ones on the OL can be a good thing, in all honesty. If they are close to ready now, they will be solid by November and even better next year.

[ELA]

Young ones on the OL can be a good thing, in all honesty. If they are close to ready now, they will be solid by November and even better next year.

We had two great freshmen on the line last year, including a true freshman.  Too bad he hated playing football, and decided to try playing low level hoops instead.

[PortlandSpartan]

Probably just excitement for the season finally starting to ramp up, but I'm getting the feeling we might be pretty solid this year.  Definitely will need some breaks in the health department, but I think the core of the team is talented.

[ELA]

Probably just excitement for the season finally starting to ramp up, but I'm getting the feeling we might be pretty solid this year.  Definitely will need some breaks in the health department, but I think the core of the team is talented.

I'd sign up for 6-6.


We had great luck with injuries in 2013 and 2014, and paid for it with the worst two seasons of injury luck I can recall in 2015 and 2016.  Hopefully that shifts back the other way.  If they stay healthy, 8-4 is doable.  If not, it'll be another 3-9 season.