Answering your Michigan State Football Questions and Emailsâ€¦

Hey Hondo, what do you feel is the current pulse of this team? Dan from Chicago

I think they are feeding off of the adversity from both the reality of injuries and negativity of both fans and pundits. If anything, they are bonding closer.

Hi Hondo, I have a very good friend on the Purdue roster who disclosed to me that some of his teammates feel disrespected when MSU "takes its foot off the gas" (his words, not mine) while playing against improving programs. He claims it fueled his coaches to go after MSU with everything they had in the second half to prove that they were not going to be treated as the second-tier team. Terence Gipson

Good for them. Any motivation they had worked.

Hondo, can you shed any insight on the WR and the depth chart. Doesn't appear that anyone other than Burbridge is doing much...and I thought this group like the RB's would see production from multiple individuals. Eddie R

No. Not at this point. Someone there has to step up because as the teams get better they are going to have Burbridge in over and under coverage to blanket him. I want to see more calls with TEs over the middle and some wheel routes from the backs, but no doubt WRs must step up and get targeted.

Hi Hondo, after watching the first games, I'm not getting the sense that we are playing as much press on the corners. What are your thoughts? Derek Selig

I asked Dantonio and you are correct. Part of the issue is safeties not making some of the right calls. Montae Nicholson has been moved DOWN the depth chart and RJ Williamson is out, so we shall see how this gets corrected.

Iâ€™ve written before asking about promises for more game experience for backup quarterbacks. So Iâ€™m glad to see others join in. If the noise becomes loud enough maybe the coaches will hear it. However, to me it is not just about preparing for next season. While that is reasonable Iâ€™m also concerned if something should happen to Cook in a critical game THIS season. I think it would be unfortunate to toss either TOC or Terry into a critical situation without the benefit of more game experience. Have you ask Coach D about this again? Thanks, Tim San Diego

Dantonio admitted to me that he is â€œdisappointedâ€ that there has not been reps for the backups, and since it would appear that a blowout is not on this teamâ€™s radar right now, I would like to see them simply designate a particular series each game for a rep. Bobby Bowden at FSU used to designate the 1st drive of the second quarter regardless of the game.

How much have the injuries on both sides of the ball affected the play calling? The offense seems to be saving the play book and the defense has had to shuffle so much in the back 4, are they able to execute what we normally see the No Fly Zone Spartan Secondary do, game in and game out? Joe P

It has no doubt. I asked Dantonio about it this week and he acknowledges that. Cook only rolled in the 2nd half vs Purdue. I expect some more vertical this week vs. Rutgers.Â Dave Warner told me earlier today that they are going to look for the vertical and passing game to expand.

Hondo, Wobbly passes, low, high and late. Really tells me how bad the non-playing quarterbacks must be. You have to see the instant replay to see this. L Johnson

I have had a college coach from another team tell me with the emphasis Dantonio gave prior to this year wanting reps for the backups and a lack of them getting them, that he feels (he has NOT spoken to Dantonio; it is a private admission) that he isnâ€™t sure either one will lead the team next year. Not sure I agree, but an interesting observation from someone with no rooting interest.

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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