Michigan State 2018 Season Thread

[bayareabadger]

That is actually more than I would have thought anecdotally.  I guess perhaps adjusted for expected Big XII pass rate it feels lower.

Shoot, that should be how often they run in throwing spots. I was surprised too. I think its because even when they throw, it feels like it's a tailback doing it after faking a run. 
Some of their top receivers have solid target numbers, but it tends to be clustered on one or two. Being the No. 3 wideout there doesn't get you much work. 

[ELA]

Some good news, MSU has hired fired Kent State head coach Paul Haynes to replace Harlon Barnett as DB coach.  He was Tressell's DB coach from 2005-2010, and then became DC in 2011 when Fickell became HC.  He left after the year, and was DC at Arkansas for 2012 before getting the head coaching job at Kent State.

Still two positions to fill, being Snyder's vacancy when he followed Barnett to FSU, and the new 10th position.

Sounds like the most likely scenario involves the return of Don Treadwell, and the hiring of CMU assistant Archie Collins.

Treadwell confirmed.  Sounds like he's the 10th coach.  Will handle ST, and also be the "freshman" coach, in charge of helping the new kids acclimate to the team.

[ELA]

Ugh, and Chuck Bullough to round out the staff?

He's certainly qualified to simply be a DE coach, he's been DC at both UCLA and Syracuse, and a ton of time as an NFL position coach, but I liked the talk of some fresher blood, like Archie Collins from CMU.  Treadwell OR Bullough?  Sure.  Both?  No thanks

[PortlandSpartan]

Very disappointed Collins didn't get a spot.  Maybe he will when Duzzi is coach.

[ELA]

Hmmm, per reports, both OL coach Mark Staten and QB coach Brad Salem were offered jobs at other schools, and declined to stay at MSU.

So we are at 4 of 9 assistants offered jobs elsewhere this season (2 left, 2 stayed), while last year MSU fans were outraged that Dantonio kept his entire staff.

Funny how that works.

[ELA]

I'll post this here instead...

I wonder how long we have now on Dantonio or Izzo.  Both are in their 60s, both are now facing the prospects of a new boss.  Obviously neither was going to be replaceable, but I thought both had elevated the attractiveness of the job far above where   they were when they were hired.  With Hollis leading the search I trusted that it would probably go ok.  Not even slightly sure anymore.  You'll have a new face in charge, and you have a lot of negative stigma.  A lot depends on how much either wants to keep going.  4-5 years from now, this could be old news as far as MSU's rep.  If this hire is a year from now?  Yikes.  Don't forget the absolute train wreck MSU athletics was for basically 20 years before Hollis came in 2007.  The only thing they got right was promoting Izzo from within, and that was more luck than anything. How many high major programs promote from within anymore?  Particularly the late 80s/early 90s was an absolute power grab cluster.

[ELA]

RS frosh OLB Darien Clemons transferring

Was the first defensive player to commit to the 2017 class, but never had any other interest from non-MAC teams.  He tore his ACL his senior year, and it's unclear how well he bounced back from that.  But he missed 2016 with an ACL injury, 2017 redshirting.  My guess is he goes FCS, otherwise he's sitting out 2018 too, and I can't imagine much FBS interest anyway.

[ELA]

Woo hoo, got some football news.  Position changes, but I'll take it.

Emmanuel Flowers moved from CB to WR and Austin Andrews from CB to RB.

Both redshirted as freshmen last year, RB depth is woefully thin, so all bodies needed there.  CB has quickly become the deepest position on the team with probably my favorite group of CBs (at the time of commitment) that Dantonio has ever brought in coming in in the fall.

Mufi Hill-Hunt, coming off his second bad knee injury is up over 300 lbs and is going to move inside.  That's not so much a move of need, as I'm wondering how much of that weight gain is desired, and now you have a big kid, coming off two knee surgeries, carrying a lot of extra weight.  I'd be surprised if he really gets much PT going forward, he seems more likely to retire than to contribute.

[ELA]

Jalen Watts-Jackson confirms that he is seeking a grad transfer.  Oddly, the play that he will always be famous for, ended with him fracturing his hip, missing a year, and never really able to become a contributor again.  He'll never have to buy a drink in East Lansing for as long as he lives though.

[ELA]

Justice Alexander, who I thought was the most underrated recruit MSU signed that class, but hasn't really emerged, seems to be having himself a big spring.  Finally.

[ELA]

So a Spring Game in below freezing temps, should be well attended.

But for good measure, the main route into EL from SE MI, I-96, is completely closed indefinitely due to an accident.

[Temp430]

My Sparty spring game take aways:

Returning 19/22 starters.
LeWerke looked mid-season form
Will contend for Big Ten championship.

[ELA]

Depth is still a major issue.  They had terrible injury luck in 2015 and 2016.  Last year they were about as fortunate as it gets when it comes to injuries.  They stay healthy, they should be contending.  But if injuries creep in, as those things tend to even out, they could unravel quickly.

[847badgerfan]

Seems to me MSU will be a great team if it can stay healthy.