Re: tOfficial Spring Game Thread

[BtothejizA]

Ezra making a case for that 2nd corner spot.

[JEK]

Defense looks solid. Four picks, and multiple sacks/hurries despite lack of blitz packages.

[Guest]

You're both trying too hard.

Multi-quote   

  

[pulling69]

Price is the real deal at TE

[Pervis Muldoon]

I remember last years game and how horrible maxwell looked. He really slowed down the offense. Both qbs look great. Our qb position is awesome.

The entire passing game was bad in last year's spring game. Maxwell and Cook were bad, and the receivers dropped everything. I'm pretty impressed with everyone today. This a a really good team with a lot of depth.

[BtothejizA]

Kind of sucked about the running clock. I want more football.

[JEK]

Great throw by O'Connor, even better play by Hicks.

[tanfan!]

Hicks = no fly

[Pervis Muldoon]

Ezra making a case for that 2nd corner spot.

That will be a tough battle. He and Hicks both looked good. I'd give the edge to Hicks, just for the fact that he was drafted before Ezra.

[Youngblood 96]

[J T]

Lots of empty seats in the upper levels of the south end zone behind the person who took this pic.  I'd guess 30-35K myself.

[Stoops21]

So should we be concerned about the defense and the secondary? I thought the defense played well but wasn't as dominate as years past.

Thoughts?

[BtothejizA]

So should we be concerned about the defense and the secondary? I thought the defense played well but wasn't as dominate as years past.

Thoughts?

No.

[JEK]

So should we be concerned about the defense and the secondary? I thought the defense played well but wasn't as dominate as years past.

Thoughts?

Secondary had 5 picks and several PBUs. Safeties got beat a couple times. It happens.

Remember, we only need to be better than the offense we're facing. Outside of Oregon and OSU, I'm not too worried about things.

[He Got It!]

that ring   

[Spartan Pride]

Lots of empty seats in the upper levels of the south end zone behind the person who took this pic.  I'd guess 30-35K myself.

They always exaggerate the numbers it seems so if there's been 25-35k in the past (according to exaggerated standards), the exaggeration they will use should be atleast 40,000

[J T]

They always exaggerate the numbers it seems so if there's been 25-35k in the past (according to exaggerated standards), the exaggeration they will use should be atleast 40,000

15-20 empty rows between the top row where I was standing and the first people you see in the foreground. This was with 59 seconds to go in the first half.

[tTito]

Just got home. Had a blast. What a great day!

[bullwrinkle]

Just got home. Had a blast. What a great day!

Where is your detailed in depth discussion of the spring game, including analysis of individual players and the overall coaching schemes? If this is all you are going to bring, then you must be a homo. Go back to tRCMB.  

[tTito]

Where is your detailed in depth discussion of the spring game, including analysis of individual players and the overall coaching schemes?  If this is all you are going to bring, then you must be a homo.  Go back to tRCMB.  

The most compelling statistic from my point-of- view is that I ate 2 bratwurst, one hot dog, about a pound of potato salad, pasta salad, and half a bag of El Matador chips with my home-made guacamole. 

I hate discussing football.

[tanfan!]

Secondary had 5 picks and several PBUs. Safeties got beat a couple times. It happens.

Remember, we only need to be better than the offense we're facing. Outside of Oregon and OSU, I'm not too worried about things.

Plus we didn't have any blitz packages.  I want our O line to pass block.  Happy with the play.  It wasn't like we lit it up and scored 40 points. Its was 13 to 13 for most of the game. I don't know why some of your are concerned. I'm not and I'm the biggest douche on here.

[DWags]

They always exaggerate the numbers it seems so if there's been 25-35k in the past (according to exaggerated standards), the exaggeration they will use should be atleast 40,000

I'll let you guys count heads but in my 52 years and in the plethora of spring games I've attended, nothing comes close to the amount of people there.

The overall point should be made that there is a buzz about MSU football and a paradigm shift in this state. Dantonio has created something here. I never thought I'd see it in my lifetime. I'm enjoying the hell out of it.

[DWags]

Plus we didn't have any blitz packages.  I want our O line to pass block.  Happy with the play.  It wasn't like we lit it up and scored 40 points. Its was 13 to 13 for most of the game. I don't know why some of your are concerned. I'm not and I'm the biggest douche on here.

We blitzed. Filled run gaps. That's a stout D out there. Remember we had studs on both sides. Together it's going to be very good.

[tanfan!]

We blitzed.   Filled run gaps.  That's a stout D out there. Remember we had studs on both sides.  Together it's going  to be very good.  

Hicks looked great out there. Several break ups that would have been catches. the coaching of the CBs is outstanding. I thought the interior line D played well to. I don't know why Cane bitched at all. I loved that game.

[J T]

First play, Edmonson pick off O'Connor.  Not good for TOC.

Got clocked just as he released the ball. (disclaimer: all pics I'll be posting in this thread were taken by me)





Edmondson with the return:

[J T]

Wow.....and a great start for Terry.

Breaking free (slightly OOF as I accidentally back-focused.   )






Coach D with a big smile on his face as Terry runs in for a score.

[Macks]

Terry is a big dude. Thought it was a perfect troll that he scored on the first play.

Overall, I thought it was a good, even game both ways. Offense made some plays, defense made some plays.

Some individual standouts:

Tony Lippett - Clearcut #1 guy, I don't think i've ever seen as much improvement over a season for a WR as he made last year. Finally realizing he's huge with some good speed and he attacks the ball at the catch point.

Josiah Price - Came on strong towards the end of last year. He looks like he's taken the next step. Made some sick catches, big body guy who could be a strong redzone asset again. Cook's favorite safety valve.

Demetrius Cooper - So quick for a DE. Probably going to be a rotational passing down guy like Calhoun was in 2012 because then we don't have to worry as much about his run defense and such, but wow. He abused Finley (who is still raw) time and time again.

Darian Hicks and Ezra Robinson - I think these two are going to duke it out for the #2 spot. Both looked very good. Robinson has a little more size but Hicks seems a little more fluid. Either should be as good as Waynes was last year.

DT Joel Heath - Heath was winning most of his battles in the interior. Think he had a couple TFLs and a sack too. Looked pretty disruptive at times and he didn't get moved around too much.

[Snake Plissken]

Tony Lippett - Clearcut #1 guy, I don't think i've ever seen as much improvement over a season for a WR as he made last year. Finally realizing he's huge with some good speed and he attacks the ball at the catch point.

Lippett has to stop dropping so many catches.

[Macks]

Lippett has to stop dropping so many catches.

I don't remember him dropping more than maybe 1 ball this game? He had like 7 or 8 receptions I think including a couple tough ones. Drops haven't been a big issue for him since the early half of 2013 IIRC.

[Snake Plissken]

I don't remember him dropping more than maybe 1 ball this game? He had like 7 or 8 receptions I think including a couple tough ones. Drops haven't been a big issue for him since the early half of 2013 IIRC.  

I think he dropped a couple in the first half...one of them right in his hands. It's only the spring game so I hope it's not a reoccurring issue.

[Macks]

I think he dropped a couple in the first half...one of them right in his hands. It's only the spring game so I hope it's not a reoccurring issue.

Could be, I may have missed it. I remember he dropped the first pass when Terry switched to Green which went right through his hands, and then he followed it up with a beautiful overhead fingertip grab tiptoeing the sideline. Lippett was clutch against Nebraska, OSU, and Stanford on 3rd downs. For sure the go-to guy I think.

Mumphery is more interesting. Sometimes he makes big plays (huge TD vs. OSU) but sometimes he just disappears for huge stretches.

[JEK]

I don't know why some of your are concerned. I'm not and I'm the biggest douche on here.

  

It was exactly what you wanted to see out of a spring game. There were great plays made on both sides of the ball. While we will likely take a slight step back on defense, I think we could be a more balanced team overall this year.

[Macks]

Good mix of grear offensive plays (some deep passes, some great catches, some elusiveness by QBs) plus some great plays by the defense (few sacks, run defense dominated, 5 INTs). When it's Spartan vs. Spartan it can be a great play AND a mistake on both sides. Who cares - that will get ironed out. I tend to think the defense still looks a little better overall than the offense but a big part of that was the split OL - more depth on the DL than OL. Still, some of the young guys like Kieler and McGowan looked pretty good. Team looks like they're playing at a pretty high level considering it's only spring ball. Summer conditioning and fall camp will work out the kinks.

[J T]

  Cook's celebration.  Green secondary looking lost.

First, the cheerleaders start to celebrate as Burbridge runs in Cook's pass for a TD.




And Cook's celebration:




Shelton about to catch the ball of the white team's kick off following the Cook-Burbridge TD:

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