News and Notes From Spartan Football 04/16/10 Edition

  Keshawn Martin has really stuck out this spring. He has all the athleticism in the world. If he can get better with the nuances that the position and

 

 

Keshawn Martin has really stuck out this spring. He has all the athleticism in the world. If he can get better with the nuances that the position and his coordinator Don Treadwell demand, the sky is the limit. Dantonio is often guarded with praise and for him to give it like he is with KMART says a lot. 

 

On top of the praise that Dantonio bestowed, KMART is also getting a lot of attention from Don Treadwell, “I think he is really coming along and doing the little things that wide receivers have to do to improve every day.”

 

Josh Rouse is the fifth year senior first string FB. He has had a sensational spring. In fact, in the MSU offense the FBs get the opportunity to occasionally catch a pass, but not a chance to run. They are primarily blockers. He recently got up to address the team and according to Dantonio, “Included himself with the offensive line.” Dantonio loved it and said, “Maybe we’ll give him the ball.” Coach Dantonio jokingly inferred that maybe he will get some carries. It was a lighthearted moment, but don’t mistake that for any less than what it was. FB is one of the most critical spots in this offense and Rouse has stepped up. In fact, Dantonio referenced how well he is playing, but he also is leading and that is priceless.

 

Coach Dantonio says every year that, “You are only as good as your seniors.” If Rouse is an example of what this class will step up and offer then 2010 should get back on track from last year’s disappointment.

 

The longer the spring progresses the more impressed the staff is with the linebackers group. Top to bottom there may be some as good, but there is none better in the nation. They are solid. Eric Gordon and Greg Jones are such good leaders and the others are following and listening.

 

Eric Gordon told me, “Greg and I are really trying to help them all. The best thing is that they are listening. Seniors can do all the right things, but they are listening and love the game, and that makes our job easier.”

 

Tyler Hoover has shown this spring that he has really listened to the staff. Hoover is a great kid and smart. We have commented many times that he has to learn to play with his pads at a lower level, a great difficulty for big tall guys. He has worked on it, but this spring he is actually playing with them lower and not having to think about it as much. Hoover should have a good spring and he is one guy who I will be watching closely at the spring game.

 

I wrote yesterday about Brad Salem’s tremendous impact on the running backs. I will say it right now that you will see a RB performance from Caper and Baker along with Nick Hill and LeVeon Bell that will be noticeably better. That is all Salem. He is a phenomenal teacher and has really gotten the attention of the entire staff and team.

 

It is no secret that as the defensive backfield goes in 2010, so goes the Spartans. Johnny Adams is the starting CB and is really showing off his skills. He has tremendous acceleration. Why is that so critical?  When a WR stops and goes the DB has no clue where he is going. With the ability to stop and get to top speed with great acceleration that is what separates good DBs from average. Add to that his great ball skills that we constantly harped on all last year as lacking and Adams has a monster upside. Dantonio went on to praise his toughness and aggressiveness. One thing that DBs with good ball skills and acceleration often lack is the nose for the ball to step up and make the tackle or offer run support.  Adams craves contact and if he can take his performance this spring and continue to perform at that level come fall, the Spartans are well on their way.

 

Dan Conroy and Kevin Muma continue to battle. Dantonio said something yesterday that seemed to get little attention, but I thought it was one of his biggest quotes. When asked when the position battle may get settled he said, “Probably August and maybe early in the season.” I can tell you this. Muma and Conroy need to step up and one of them needs to win it. If neither has stepped up and won the job by the end of the spring, look for Mike Sadler to enter the race.

 

Mark Dantonio is desperately attempting to get his “best athletes” on the field. To have one of the strongest and most athletic players on the field at WR in Keith Nichol demonstrates that. When a reporter asked him if things with Nichol don’t work out at WR if he would go back to QB Dantonio ended all speculation by saying emphatically, “He will be on the field.”

 

I mentioned Johnny Adams and how well he has looked, but so has Marcus Hyde. He had 15 tackles in the recent scrimmage, but the most important aspect is that he has been solid and consistent all fall. Otis Wiley is a great friend so I mean no disrespect with the following observation. He could make great plays. The thing that hurt Wiley was doing it all the time. Consistency is what makes great players. Often fans see a few plays and forget it is the consistency of doing it all the time.

 

Greg Jones is the model player when it comes to consistency. He is the same every game, every practice and that is what makes him great. Hyde has been consistent all spring and that has really raised some eyebrows.