Mark Dantonio Knows that He Has a Need For Speed on His Roster

If you watched the Spartans this season, there was one thing particularly clear:Â the Spartans have more speed since Mark Dantonio arrived, but not enough.Â

If you watched the Spartans this season, there was one thing particularly clear: the Spartans have more speed since Mark Dantonio arrived, but not enough. Coach Dantonio has made it a priority to add speed since he arrived, and a close look at the 17 commitments for the 2010 class show that they intend on bringing more.

 

Now don’t get silly and think that I am saying they are looking for 300-pound offensive lineman that can run a 4.4 because we know that can’t happen. They are, however, looking to upgrade their speed at every spot.

 

Let’s use the MSU offensive line in 2009 as an example. It was painful to watch. They lacked athleticism and frankly the skill necessary to be a top-flight team. In the January Spartan Nation Magazine I will address “What went wrong in 2009” and give more detail. For now it is suffice to say that the 2010 unit will be younger but considerably more athletic and faster. 

 

You can see what Keshawn Martin brought to the table for the Spartans and a healthy Edwin ROCK Baker in the Alamo Bowl. Looking at the commitments for the 2010 class you can see speed, speed and more speed.

 

2010 is not going to be a championship team. The Spartans are still a year away from competing at that level. One of the biggest reasons for that is the speed gap. The Spartans are gaining ground and will get there.

 

For now, Spartan fans need to watch what the staff is doing. You started to see the speed factor this season as Blake Treadwell and Jerel Worthy both had great rookie campaigns on the DL and you will see more in 2010.

 

The 2009 class had speed at every position. The 2010 class already has more and a look at whom the Spartans are targeting early for 2011 shows the trend even with more detail. 

 

When the Spartans take the field for spring ball, they will have the fastest group of linebackers in the Big Ten. Greg Jones coming back is huge, but the good news is that the Spartans will be young and fast. That group alone should take major strides, along with more speed on the way for the DL that red-shirted this season, and you can’t help but already be thinking ahead.

 

So, now we understand that depth of the rebuilding process Mark Dantonio inherited and we’re watching as they put together what is going to be in the future an impressive group of fast athletes at every position.