Answering your Michigan State Football Questions and Emailsâ€¦

Hondo, I am fired up for Dallas. The Cotton Bowl is a legendary game and to be at Jerryâ€™s World against a Texas team is terrific. I donâ€™t understand why so many people are disappointed? Keith L.

Great question. I think that many people wanted the playoff and that is understandable, but it wasnâ€™t like MSU went 8-4 or 9-3. Isnâ€™t it amusing Keith, when you step back and think how far Dantonio has brought MSU football in his tenure that those seasons are looked down at? Secondly, Izzo recently was ribbing me saying, â€œHondo would prefer all bowls be played in the U.P.â€ I agree with Tom and I hate warm weather, but I think some folks were also disappointed that MSU is not in Miami. All said, if MSU wasnâ€™t going to be in the CFB I would have picked this bowl. I think it is going to be a great time.

Hondo, I am disappointed in the performance of Mike Sadler. He was so talented and rising until his injury and then he plateaued. Was there any discussion of not redshirting Jake Hartbarger? Bill in Alpena

Hi Bill, love where you live. First, on Jake there was no chance unless Sadler was unable to go. Secondly, Mike has plateaued the last two years, but he is still performing at high level and HE IS NOT WELL. Mike remains injured for two seasons now. Disregard when you hear people say he is healthy. I AM GOING TO SAY A LOT when his time is done. He has not been healthy since his first surgery and he has been a complete warrior. All guts. He is loved for his sense of humor; he is undervalued for his toughness.

Hondo, do you think we will see any new plays against Baylor? Something to juice it up with or to find them flat footed and unprepared for? Gary Mann

Yes, of course.Â They do every bowl and this will be no exception.

Hondo, I read that Jack Conklin will declare for the draft as soon as the year is over. How do we replace a star LT? This is devastating. Lance

What you need to replace is who you are listening to. Jack isnâ€™t even thinking about it now. I canâ€˜t say that about all those who might be eligible, but I can with Jack. Not even in his thought process.

Hondo, I was thinking about Connor Cook and several players who might leave early for the NFL. Why doesnâ€™t Dantonio just refuse to let NFL scouts on campus for practice and to be around the inside of the football offices? They have to fuel it. Harland Ruhl

First of all, banning NFL scouts is not the answer. Programs kill one another in recruiting telling the recruits how open or closed with the NFL that a program is. Every player or nearly every player at this level wants the NFL. Whether the dream is realistic or not is another article. Secondly, the scouts would shock most of you in what they think. Most of the time young men people think should go would be told to come back. The problem is fans and friends who act like if you donâ€™t you are a failure. Whatever decision Connor or any of this yearâ€™s eligible to declare players make will be good for them. I have always maintained it is not a decision to be made by coaches or fans, but the young man, and we always support them at Spartan Nation.

Hondo, I canâ€™t wait for your Cotton Bowl scouting report, can you give me one early nugget? What is the #1 key? Chris P.

Yes, I can give you one on each side of the ball. On D, MSU must get pressure. If the Baylor QB has time to throw the game is over. On offense, the name of the game is rushing. Baylor will sell out to make MSU pass and stop the run. Usually in that case I say pass to run. MSU must be committed to the run and short passing game. Plenty more to come a few days before the game.

There you go everyone. That is your weekly MSU football questions and answers article. Make sure you send your questions to SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com and put in the subject line Football Q/A. Thank you.

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