2009 Spartan Nation Football Profile: WR Mark Dell #2
2009 Spartan Nation Football Profile:Â WR Mark Dell #2
Height: 6’2â€
Weight:Â 194
2009 Eligibility:Â Junior
EXP:Â 2 Letters
Status: Backup WR
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Strengths: Mark Dell is, in my opinion, the second most talented player on the MSU football team. He has been blessed with all of the physical tools that a human can ask for. He has the frame, the speed, the strength, and all of the tools that it takes to be a great one in a long lineage of MSU WRs.Â
A great example of the talent of Dell was the first drive of the Cal game. The Spartans ran a nice play to B.J. Cunningham and he was able to gain nice yards all because of a great block by Dell. With all of the tools, the secret is mentally staying in the game. When he is on, there is none better: when he is on!
Weakness: That leads us to his being on. Dell drops too many passes and makes too many mental lapses and it hurts him. I know that several players and at least one coach were irate after the loss to Georgia at his seeming, “Lack of giving a (excrement), when we just got our (butts) kicked on national TV,†after the game in the locker room and outside of it.
I can’t and I don’t think others can figure Dell out. Like I have said before, he is one of the most talented players on the team and he has all the ability to be one of the best WRs that MSU has EVER had. Will he turn that ability in success? Only Dell knows.
He has to learn the difference between playing injured and hurt, and he can’t drop critical passes. To be great you have to make the plays. He has caused people to pull their hair out with some drops and stand in awe at some catches.
This is NO disrespect to B.J. Cunningham or Blair White. Both are ahead of him on the depth chart and neither have the raw physical talent of Dell. There is one play from last season that is indicative of a Dell mistake.
Against Indiana the Spartans had a 3rd and seven in the first quarter. Hoyer had great coverage and hit Dell perfectly in the hands with virtually no pressure around him. Unbelievably in one of the weirdest plays I have ever seen, it was like Dell was trying to set the ball up for a volleyball spike. He tapped it with his hands? It forced the Spartans to punt, but with no pressure and the way he “handled†the ball it was indicative of the unforced errors that he makes.
Sadly, there were many drops all season and time that he simply just didn’t play. I have received some emails from people who think I have been too critical of Dell both on the site and in the magazine.  Let me make this clear, I have no personal issues with Dell. I want him to do well.
I also know that his will be a short leash, and if he can’t play at a certain level there is a lot of talent at this position and patience will be thin with him in 2009.
Final Analysis: Contrary to some people’s assessment, I like Dell and I love to watch him play the game of football when he is on. I also know that for every game like Cal where he looks like all world, there are multiple games that he doesn’t.Â
2009 is a big season for him and I certainly hope he steps up, shows off the talent he has been given, and reaches the expectations that this staff has for him. To be frank, I just don’t know and I don’t think anyone knows. That is up to Dell and we shall see.
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