Re: tOfficial Spring Football 2015 Thread

[HT]

Hope we can add Orange, Fiesta, and Sugar Bowl logos to that wall.

[Guest]

Hope we can add Orange, Fiesta, and Sugar Bowl logos to that wall.

The True location for "those who stay".

[Ass Dan]

Hope we can add Orange, Fiesta, and Sugar Bowl logos to that wall.

The True location for "those who stay".

Gross. Do not want.

[Guest]

Michigan State's Mark Staten: Speaking of underrated offensive line coaches, Staten is another. The Spartans have fielded some of the best offensive lines in school history the past couple of seasons, and could be the best in the Big Ten this year with potential All-Americans in left tackle Jack Conklin and center Jack Allen. Michigan State's defensive coaches have earned most of the attention in East Lansing, but the offensive line's progress has helped the program take the next step into the elite.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/118006/underrated-coaches-in-the-big-ten

[Guest]

EAST LANSING -- Mark Dantonio discussed Michigan State's version of spring cleaning, that is, adjusting his roster to create the best opportunities for players and maximize the talent on the team.

The Spartans have had the highest retention rate among the public schools under Dantonio, and part of the reason is the staff's willingness to move players around and experiment.

The Spartans have great success with that sort of management.

Michigan State's David Beedle, Gerald Owens will play on both lines in Green-White game

[Other Teams Pursuing That]

So badass "we could play a game tomorrow"

Fucking right let's win it all

[Floyd Robertson]

How the Big 12's best offense made the Big Ten's best defense even better

After years of excellence, Michigan State's system gave up 603 passing yards in a shootout bowl win. Things had to change. They are.

[Guest]

The delusion is strong among so called reporters too.....

"I think there was a (negative) perception out there, and I'm one of the few guys — I shouldn't say it like that — I'm a believer that there's only one way to eliminate perception, and that's get better," Meyer said. "And I think Michigan State's done a lot to help the Big Ten Conference. They won the Rose Bowl the year before, and then they won a big bowl game this year.

"And then I think Ohio State's done our share. We did not win a bowl game last year, but then Wisconsin beating Auburn (in the Outback Bowl). So, yeah, I think obviously it's a one-year cycle, we've got to do this for a while. Where the SEC had I think a seven-year cycle going. So there's a lot of pressure on the Big Ten to keep it rolling, because it certainly did help change the perception."

Franklin was asked if the improved image can be traced specifically to OSU's national title or U-M bringing in Harbaugh.

I'll be very disappointed if there wasn't laughter on the call when this question was asked. Equating the hiring of a coach to a National Championship win....silliness.

Is Big Ten East toughest division in college football?

[Floyd Robertson]

The delusion is strong among so called reporters too.....

"I think there was a (negative) perception out there, and I'm one of the few guys — I shouldn't say it like that — I'm a believer that there's only one way to eliminate perception, and that's get better," Meyer said. "And I think Michigan State's done a lot to help the Big Ten Conference. They won the Rose Bowl the year before, and then they won a big bowl game this year.

"And then I think Ohio State's done our share. We did not win a bowl game last year, but then Wisconsin beating Auburn (in the Outback Bowl). So, yeah, I think obviously it's a one-year cycle, we've got to do this for a while. Where the SEC had I think a seven-year cycle going. So there's a lot of pressure on the Big Ten to keep it rolling, because it certainly did help change the perception."

Franklin was asked if the improved image can be traced specifically to OSU's national title or U-M bringing in Harbaugh.

I'll be very disappointed if there wasn't laughter on the call when this question was asked. Equating the hiring of a coach to a National Championship win....silliness.

Is Big Ten East toughest division in college football?

Urbz is so subtle with his "we did not win a bowl game last year" thing, like he's begging the question.

What did you win, Urbz? Just the fuckin' NC.

[Guest]

The delusion is strong among so called reporters too.....



I'll be very disappointed if there wasn't laughter on the call when this question was asked. Equating the hiring of a coach to a National Championship win....silliness.

Is Big Ten East toughest division in college football?

Urbz is so subtle with his "we did not win a bowl game last year" thing, like he's begging the question.

What did you win, Urbz? Just the fuckin' NC.

I think he was referring to them losing the Orange Bowl in Jan '14 when he said "last year". Technically this year they won 2 bowl games counting the semis and the Championship game.

[Floyd Robertson]

Urbz is so subtle with his "we did not win a bowl game last year" thing, like he's begging the question.

What did you win, Urbz? Just the fuckin' NC.

I think he was referring to them losing the Orange Bowl in Jan '14 when he said "last year". Technically this year they won 2 bowl games counting the semis and the Championship game.

You're probably right, but I like my interpretation better, where he's a smug, arrogant douchebag.

[Guest]

Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio has mentioned that McDowell is "playing well" and has "solidified himself" as a starter up front, but Calhoun cited McDowell this week as one of the players standing out to him during spring practice.

Added McDowell, MSU's No. 1 nose tackle this spring after playing in all 13 games as a reserve last season: "This Malik McDowell and last year's Malik McDowell are two different people. Trust me. Two different people."

The result is a better player, on what he says is a better and more versatile defensive line.

"It's ridiculous," McDowell said. "It's like we can all play every position on the defensive line. I can move out to end, (Lawrence Thomas) can move out to end, Shilique can actually move inside. It's just crazy how good we are."

MSU's McDowell says he's totally different in 2nd year

[InTenSity]

Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio has mentioned that McDowell is "playing well" and has "solidified himself" as a starter up front, but Calhoun cited McDowell this week as one of the players standing out to him during spring practice.

Added McDowell, MSU's No. 1 nose tackle this spring after playing in all 13 games as a reserve last season: "This Malik McDowell and last year's Malik McDowell are two different people. Trust me. Two different people."

The result is a better player, on what he says is a better and more versatile defensive line.

"It's ridiculous," McDowell said. "It's like we can all play every position on the defensive line. I can move out to end, (Lawrence Thomas) can move out to end, Shilique can actually move inside. It's just crazy how good we are."

MSU's McDowell says he's totally different in 2nd year

[Guest]

[Guest]

An official DeAnthony Arnett sighting......

The Spartans lost 2014 Big Ten Receiver of the Year Tony Lippett and Cotton Bowl hero Keith Mumphery to graduation, and rising senior Aaron Burbridge has been sidelined by an undisclosed lower leg injury.

"I'm still working on chemistry with Monty (Madaris), he's working with the ones and twos a little bit,'' Cook said. "DeAnthony Arnett, too, is stepping up, after not really playing as much last year he's working with the ones. I've had chemistry with R.J. Shelton, AJ Troup and Macgarrett Kings, but really there are some new guys, and (tight end) Jamal Lyles is coming along.

"Right now we're just trying to see who's going to step up and make some plays.''

Michigan State offense looks to see 'who's going to step up' against defense in second scrimmage

[Guest]

Spartan Football ‏@MSU_Football 52m52 minutes ago
Scrimmage No. 2 | Rushing Leaders: Madre London 18-100 (2 TDs), Gerald Holmes 12-45. #Spartans

Spartan Football ‏@MSU_Football 51m51 minutes ago
Passing Leaders: Connor Cook 17-of-26 for 178 yards (TD, 2 INTs), Damion Terry 6-of-10 for 52 (TD), Tyler O'Connor 3-of-7 for 25. #Spartans

Spartan Football ‏@MSU_Football 51m51 minutes ago
Receiving Leaders: DeAnthony Arnett 7-46, Macgarrett Kings 4-39, Jamal Lyles 3-57 (TD), AJ Troup 3-42. #Spartans

Spartan Football ‏@MSU_Football 48m48 minutes ago
Tackle Leaders: Montae Nicholson 4-6-10, Demetrious Cox 3-5-8 (PBU), Tyriq Thompson 3-3-6, Shane Jones 2-4-6, Montez Sweat 5-0-5 (2 TFL) ...

Spartan Football ‏@MSU_Football 47m47 minutes ago
Tackle Leaders (cont.): Darien Harris 0-5-5, Vayante Copeland 3-1-4 (TD recovery for TD), Jermaine Edmondson 1-3-4 (INT) ...

Spartan Football ‏@MSU_Football 46m46 minutes ago
Tackle Leaders (cont.): Shilique Calhoun 3-0-3 (1 sack for 6 yards), Malik McDowell 0-3-3 (INT). #Spartans

[Guest]

Spartan Football ‏@MSU_Football 1h1 hour ago
Thanks to interceptions by Jermaine Edmondson and Malik McDowell, a safety and a defensive TD, the defense won Saturday's scrimmage, 43-37.


Spartan Football ‏@MSU_Football 1h1 hour ago
Jermaine Edmondson's interception late in Saturday's scrimmage gave the Green team the lead for good at 33-31.



Spartan Football ‏@MSU_Football 1h1 hour ago
Madre London rushed 18 times for 100 yards, including TD runs of 1 and 2 yards, in Saturday's scrimmage.

[Guest]

EAST LANSING -- Michigan State's defense made it two wins in a row over the offense, and the Spartans did it by intercepting quarterback Connor Cook twice for the second week in a row.

Cornerback Jermaine Edmondson's interception sealed a 33-31 win at Spartan Stadium, according to a Saturday afternoon school release.

Edmondson is competing for a starting job in the secondary, hoping to maintain the momentum he carried out of the Spartans' Cotton Bowl win when the Canton, Ohio, product recovered an onside kick in the fourth quarter.

FWAA Freshman All-American defensive tackle Malik McDowell was also credited with an interception, one week after his fourth-down stop kept Madre London out of the end zone in the Friday, April 10 scrimmage, and led to the defense's win.

Michigan State defense makes it two straight wins against Spartans' offense in spring scrimmages

[Guest]

CoachD interview after scrimmage: https://twitter.com/MSU_Football/status/589527709295976449

Defense Rallies Past Offense in Second Spring Scrimmage, 43-37: http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041815aaa.html …

[Floyd Robertson]

That Malik McDowell INT must have been interesting.

[Floyd Robertson]

OSU spring game today.



Ohio State sets national spring game attendance record with 99,391 in attendance

[Guest]

OSU spring game today.



Ohio State sets national spring game attendance record with 99,391 in attendance

Poor Meeechigun.....both of their rivals leaving them behind.

[Guest]

Spartan Football ‏@MSU_Football 1m1 minute ago

Photo gallery from Saturday's second spring scrimmage: http://tinyurl.com/kl6jybw @mmitchellphoto #Spartans

[Guest]

Michigan State ‏@Michigan_State 22m22 minutes ago

Connor Cook as resilient and confident as ever after two interceptions in spring… http://bit.ly/1EYf86Q #Spartans

[Guest]

That Malik McDowell INT must have been interesting.

From the last link I posted:

On Saturday, coach Mark Dantonio said that cornerback Jermaine Edmondson made a great play, and another ball was intercepted by 6-foot-6 defensive tackle Malik McDowell, who snatched it out of the air.

Now I want to see it.....

[Guest]

From Shilique's Instagram - a picture from the Fan Day today.

[Guest]

EAST LANSING -- Shilique Calhoun had three tackles and one of the defense's three sacks in Michigan State's Saturday scrimmage, but the senior captain wanted to turn the attention to his younger teammates.

Redshirt freshman Montez Sweat, in particular, got some attention by recording five solo tackles, a sack and a forced fumble that led to a defensive touchdown in a 43-37 win for the defense at Spartan Stadium.

"Montez Sweat has had a great spring, (and) his attitude is amazing,'' said Calhoun, the 2013 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. " At the end of last season, Montez said he'd become a playmaker, and he's definitely stepped up and made an impact. I take great delight in seeing his development. He wants to become a major contributor.''

Michigan State redshirt freshman DE Montez Sweat draws praise, approval from Shilique Calhoun

[Guest]

EAST LANSING – It's the fourth and final spring football routine for Connor Cook at Michigan State, and that means more leadership, more ownership and one thing in particular he's hoping to see: failure.

Because every time MSU's defense takes it to MSU's offense, Cook has fewer concerns about the other side of the ball and more confidence he'll be quarterbacking a championship team in 2015.

"I'm pretty happy with how our defense looks right now," Cook said. "I had some second thoughts, some questions, I think everyone had some questions coming into the spring. But for how they've been playing, they didn't start too strong but as of late they've really, really stepped their game up. It's just encouraging."

Yes, MSU's offense faces questions as well — running back and receiver, to name the two biggest — with Saturday's spring game at Spartan Stadium (2 p.m., Big Ten Network, WJR) approaching. But the defense is losing an (expected) first-round cornerback for the second straight year in Trae Waynes, plus long-term stalwarts Marcus Rush and Kurtis Drummond, plus Pat Narduzzi, one of the sport's most coveted coordinators for the past several years.

MSU remains confident in defense despite key losses

[Guest]

Joe Rexrode ‏@joerexrode 19m19 minutes ago

Mark Dantonio asked about guys impressing. Jamal Lyles is first name he mentions. Arjen Colquhoun is second. Sweat, Cooper, Machado, too.

[Guest]

Joe Rexrode ‏@joerexrode 30m30 minutes ago

Mark Dantonio said Travis Trice and Branden Dawson will be the honorary captains for the football game.

[Floyd Robertson]

Mike Griffith ‏@MikeGriffith32 27m27 minutes ago
#MichiganState tailback target Abdul Adams plans to attend Green-White game: http://bit.ly/1GdRi8w 

[Guest]

Dantonio said all of his players are working hard, but when pressed for some new players who have jumped out at him, the head coach delivered on "The Drive with Jack" radio show on Lansing's 92.1, The Team.

"I look at our tight ends, Jamal Lyles is playing very, very well, (and) we've had Josiah Price and he's an outstanding player, but Jamal, he's 265 pounds, he's catching the ball effectively, blocking well and he's an athlete, so I think he's had a great spring,'' Dantonio said. "In the secondary, I think Arjen Colquhoun has had a nice spring, been very solid, he's always been a guy with great athletic ability and I think he has confidence and is playing at a high level.

"(Vayante) Copeland is playing well; he's playing as well as any of them and starting to make a move. He's gonna get on the field for us and make plays for us in some capacity.''

The Spartans' defensive line is considered by many to be the strongest unit on the team with players like Calhoun, rising seniors Lawrence Thomas and Joel Heath and freshman All-American Malik McDowell.

Dantonio added a couple more names to watch for and then identified yet another up-and-comer on the offensive line and some new playmakers.

"(Defensive end) Montez Sweat, and (Demetrius) Cooper has been very very sudden, so we have a lot of guys like that playing well,'' Dantonio said. "I've been impressed with our offensive line, guys like Miguel Machado starting to make a little bit of a push, knows what he's doing, big, athletic offensive lineman.

"(Tailbacks) Madre London, Gerald Holmes, have been impressive.''

www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2015/04/michigan_state_football_coach_91.html

[Guest]

EAST LANSING -- Coach Mark Dantonio and his staff have done just about all they can on the field to answer questions about how best to utilize personnel and manipulate schemes with Saturday's Green-White game fast approaching.

There will be more meetings and more minor modifications to follow, and players can improve through summer conditioning. But for the most part a pecking order has been set for the start of fall drills.

The Green-White game will offer some ideas as to what's ahead, but certainly not all. And there are some questions Dantonio can't answer right now even if he wanted to.

Here are seven questions entering the final week of spring drills:

7 big questions for Michigan State football as Green-White game approaches

[gomersbro]

Anyone know when the players draft is? I always find it interesting who the players select as you don't have to filter out the coaches' motivational techniques.

[Guest]

Anyone know when the players draft is? I always find it interesting who the players select as you don't have to filter out the coaches' motivational techniques.

I haven't seen that anywhere yet.

In unrelated news I see on twitter last night that Narduzzi is using the same techniques at Pitt that they've used here. Winners eating Steak/Lobster, Losers eating hot dogs/beans.

Pat Narduzzi @CoachDuzzPittFB · 15h 15 hours ago
Blue Team is eating Steak & Lobster.
Gold Team is eating Hot Dogs & Beans.
#H2P

Pat Narduzzi @CoachDuzzPittFB · 15h 15 hours ago
Winners and losers. #H2P

[HT]

A lot of these spring football updates make me feel some type of way.

[Guest]

Anyone know when the players draft is? I always find it interesting who the players select as you don't have to filter out the coaches' motivational techniques.

No time given - except that it's happening this week.

Many programs have player drafts for the spring game, and while it always comes off a fun event, there is a lot of value in it for coaches. It’s player evaluation from the players themselves.

Michigan State will hold its spring draft and game this week. It will be the 12th time Dantonio has used this format, dividing up the coaches and seniors and then letting the seniors pick the rest of the team. Every year, there are some picks that surprise media and fans — and even the coaches.

“Sometimes, I say, ‘Wow, that’s interesting,’” Dantonio said on The Drive with Jack Ebling. “Everybody sees things a little bit differently, and players see it a little bit differently than coaches. But they’re into it. They’re active. They like choosing. It’s something we’ve done for nine years now here.

Mark Dantonio: Spring game draft provides unique insights into players

[Floyd Robertson]

Michigan State QB Cook is looking strong this spring

East Lansing — Connor Cook has thrown four interceptions in two spring games, but heading into Saturday’s Green and White game, coach Mark Dantonio is far from worried.

That’s because the quarterback, entering his final season, has been “nearly flawless” for the bulk of spring practice.

“For the first eight practices he didn’t have a turnover,” Dantonio said Tuesday. “So sometimes they just come. Part of the game. Pressure, etc.”

[Guest]

“If you gave me a carton of ice cream I could eat the whole thing,” said Brian Allen.

The sophomore offensive lineman who enjoyed All-Big Ten freshman honors a year ago reflected on his first collegiate season and while he was pleased over all, there are a few things he wants to change.

“I gotta move my feet better,” said Allen. “Last year I was too fat, I really kind of let myself go at the end of the year… North Case hall cafeteria didn’t really do me any justice.”

The younger of the Allen brothers came in to MSU in the summer of 2014 at “about 295 or 300 pounds” but by the end of the year said he was up to “315, 316, somewhere around there.”

“I could feel just it in my feet,” Allen described. “A little slower moving, picking ‘em up, slowing (putting) ‘em down… so this year I gotta jump rope, I got all that stuff and I want to be able to move pretty quickly.”

Michigan State Football: Brian Allen ready to step up

[Guest]

Anyone know when the players draft is? I always find it interesting who the players select as you don't have to filter out the coaches' motivational techniques.

Looks like it's today.

EAST LANSING — It will be draft day for the Michigan State football team this afternoon at Spartan Stadium.

Coach Mark Dantonio divides his football staff, and they choose up the seniors for the annual Green-White game who in turn draft all the underclassmen to complete the rosters for the 2 p.m. split-squad game Saturday.

"It's a good indicator of where you stand among your teammates,'' said Michigan State rising sophomore offensive guard Brian Allen. "You don't want to get drafted last, and it's a competitive thing. You don't want to see someone who plays your position get picked before you.''

Michigan State football team set for Green-White game player draft at Spartan Stadium

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