It’s Go Time

Finally, it’s game time. That dark period known as the off season has officially come to an end. Like the rest of the Spartan Nation, I have something new

Finally, it’s game time. That dark period known as the off season has officially come to an end. Like the rest of the Spartan Nation, I have something new and exciting to look forward to this weekend. There’s playing time at stake, all over the field. 

While Head Coach Mark Dantonio has named Kirk Cousins the starter for Montana State, that competition is not over. In fact, competitions all over the field are really set to begin at a new level. If deciding between Cousins and fellow So. QB Keith Nichol really is too close call right now, the best chance for a clear separation to reveal itself will come with game action. Both QBs should get a fair number of reps over the first couple weeks of the season, knowing that every one will count towards naming a true starter. 

While I don’t necessarily believe competition brings out the best in people, it does bring out the truth. Like Bill Parcells says, you are your record. The first few games of the season should provide a sufficient playing record for Spartan coaches to evaluate. Hopefully a clear leader will emerge quickly out of the next phase of this competition. But if one doesn’t separate soon, Spartan fans shouldn’t panic. There’s enough time to get it all straight before we’re too deep into the conference schedule and meaningful games.

The RB competition looks lively as well. It appears RS Fr. Caulton Ray will lead a four pack of potential ball carriers into week one. Though Glenn Winston still has to make up for lost practice time, he is scheduled to play. The Spartan Nation remembers his explosive athleticism displayed on a few kick returns last year, and wants to see how he adjusts to being back on the field again Saturday.

Anticipation for the arrival of Fr. RBs Edwin “Rock” Baker and Larry Caper has built since their commitments last fall. Their initial location on the depth chart is a promising sign for their futures. As with the competition between Nichol and Cousins, it’s best for the RB competition that a record of in-game performance will be built early in the year. We’ll be looking for RB unit to develop a rhythm as they are substituted in and out of Spartan scoring drives. 

More than the individual competitions for playing time, the Spartans must not forget to compete with Montana St. That must be the primary focus Saturday. While a focus for this year’s team is to “play up” in big games, Coach D does not want his players to play down to their competition level on any given week. Playing down to an opponent’s competition level has plagued Spartan football in the past. It’s made games that should’ve been easy victories into ugly wins, and too many others into season crippling defeats.

The Spartan Nation wants to see this 2009 team develop a killer instinct right from the get go. It’s a lot easier to develop a killer instinct and then have pull back from showing up an opponent up than it is to lack a killer instinct and then try to hurry one into existence to close out a resilient opponent. If this team is going to compete for championships, it needs to develop and demonstrate a killer instinct early on.

Coach D addressed this concern on the weekly media teleconference by saying simply “we have to perform on the field” each week. He explained the best way to avoid playing down to the level of your competition was to take it one game at a time. But he noted this one will be special to the many Spartans who’ll be playing their first game in Spartan Stadium, and the Seniors who’ll be running out to their last home opener.

Montana St. is a team the Spartans should beat handily. That’s not a slap at the other MSU; they’re just playing the game on such a different level. Division 1 and Division 2 programs (or whatever they call them now) are setup so different in so many ways. But that doesn’t mean the game Saturday won’t be competitive at all. Montana St. hung around a while with Minnesota last year. And it doesn’t mean the Spartans should come out with anything less than their best effort. As Coach D reminded the media again Tuesday, “we’re still building a foundation…we’re not there yet.” 

Construction picks up again at high noon on Saturday. Bring your work gear, Spartan Nation.