News and Notes from Spartan Football: August 24, 2015 Edition

In today’s column, I am going to use a bullet point format updating you on several issues. • Dantonio calls this part of the camp “In the grind.” This

In today’s column, I am going to use a bullet point format updating you on several issues.

• Dantonio calls this part of the camp “In the grind.” This is the difficult time right now. The coaches already have a feel for the depth chart, and practice gets rolling now more towards opponents such as WMU, the Oregon spread, and the very difficult Air Force scheme. Next week it is all WMU, but for the first time it isn’t all MSU now.

• “We are getting better,” was the war cry last week from Dantonio. I have known him a long time and late last week you could sense a confidence I had not seen prior in any of his camps this early. That was telling.

• I have told you many times it is often what Dantonio doesn’t say or how he says things that matters more than what he actually says. When asked about camp he said two things, essentially the same thing, but for him to repeat it, it is insight as to why he is so confident, “How we’ve handled our business…Sense of maturity.” Whether it is coming in with everyone passing the conditioning test or the sense of retention from older players and the help from older players, this team is ready.

• Last year on the first day of camp it was clear this team had maturity issues. Not the case with this one. This team is dialed in.

• “We have talent, but talent only takes you that far.” With that quote Dantonio showed you why he has a lot more Saban and Izzo than most people think. His team is very talented. The most talent he has ever had but he doesn’t let them rest on that. He is pushing for more. That quote is the Izzo equivalent of, “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.”

• “Excited how they are handling themselves,” again was more verbiage from Dantonio as to how his team is taking care of business. He is exuding confidence that they are grasping what is at stake. Last year’s team didn’t. Coming off the Rose Bowl, some key players (it wasn’t the entire team) where more like entitled fraternity brothers and that isn’t the case this season.

• Mark Dantonio’s offensive line is set. The starting five are written in granite as long as none suffer major injury. OL Coach Mark Staten and Dantonio would like to go eight deep. So who are the final three? Well, Dantonio says there may be as many as five more or ten deep. Dantonio was asked and said, “Miguel Machado, Dennis Finley (little bit), Beedle BIG UPSIDE VERY ATHLETIC could be, MAYBE Clemmons (nicked up a couple of days), Benny McGowan is the 5th guy.” You can play 10 guys for sure. It is hard to get meaningful reps that deep if all guys stay healthy, but that was some of the best information Dantonio gave last week. Especially the information on David Beedle.

• Demetrius Copper is playing well per Dantonio. That is critical as MSU must develop the DE spot this season. They are barren next year with LT and Shilique Calhoun leaving. All eyes should be on this year, but if you take a yearly interest in the program pay close attention to the DE backups this season.

• Raequan Williams has been great. You could hear the anxiety in Dantonio’s voice about playing him this year. “Capable, but don’t know.” There is no doubt just three years ago he would have played. He is that good, but the Spartans are so deep on the DL that he may not get enough reps to justify his playing. I would expect a redshirt, but it isn’t an easy decision. He is a star in the making.

• Gerald Owens is a perplexing player. At 275 pounds Dantonio added, “Quick bodied very athletic. Cassius Peat same way.” Owens will play. He has dynamic upside because he is an athletic freak of nature for his size. He is the fastest DL on the team (albeit smaller at 275), but if he can continue to learn technique, he reminded one long term Spartan who watched practice, “A lot like Charles Haley with the speed and athleticism. He’s raw, but dripping with potential.”

• It should make every Spartan really take notice at the fact that just a short number of years ago MSU would have had to play so many of these young guys, that now they are just trying to create reps for. It is the unsung story of Dantonio’s success: depth.

• Enoch Smith had hernia surgery. He is back in pads. This is a young man that most thought would play early in camp last year as a true freshman, but was set back and never really recovered from a mental grasp. Once you slow down for an injury and you aren’t grinding in camp it is amazing how much you missed. I heard it once said, “More is caught than taught,” and I agree. Smith has to grind, because he has the talent, he now has to be on the field. He’ll get there.

• With really only one guy out, that is Ed Davis, the Spartans have responded well and done well in the injury department. We will find out today if any nicks from the scrimmage Saturday will translate to big time long term injuries. I am not anticipating any big ones at this point.

• Dantonio bristled when asked late last week about Delton Williams and if he has shown a better attitude. In my opinion that was never his issue. Dantonio fired back, “Delton very good attitude. Great to have back. He is right here.” Williams is the most rounded of all the Spartan backs. Madre has the most speed, but you can’t play at MSU at the RB spot and not pick up blitzes. Not just pick them up, but pick up the right one. He is faster than Williams, but not as good of a blocker or as good of a bruiser. Gerald Holmes is not as fast as Madre, but is better at picking up the blitz. He isn’t Delton, so is he a third string or a two behind Williams? LJ Scott may be the best running back of them all. He flashes greatness. One long time Spartan said to me, “There are times he looks like Zo (Lorenzo White) and there are times he looks like LeVeon. He is rough, but you can see if he don’t redshirt come middle of the year he will be the best back.” That is the issue. Does Dantonio red shirt him because he isn’t in the top two now, or play him. Playing him would almost certainly mean he would get number two reps, but you saw last year with Langford, Hill, and Williams at three, it is hard to get the third guy reps and Williams has to play.

• Josiah Price should have the middle name of leadership. On the field and off the field, he has grown into an amazing young person. He has a calm demeanor, but he just gets better. Dantonio declared about Price, “Great camp, EXTREMELY SOLID.” Emphasis per Dantonio.

• I mentioned prior that Dantonio love the maturity of this team. He was asked if it improved the off season and he let you in a little bit on the psyche of this team. “Always been a good attitude.” I think as soon as the Cotton Bowl ended this team had learned from last year and took a business mentality. It is impressive.

• “A lot of guys have made moves,” is how Dantonio described camp. This camp has had a lot of grinding. Guys are working so hard and that comes naturally in a program like Dantonio’s where he doesn’t care about star rankings and there is zero sense of entitlement. This program is built on hard work. This team is putting it in.

• Mark Dantonio’s philosophy is that you play six wide outs. Five of those are set if they stay healthy. Those are AJ Troup, DeAnthony Arnett, Aaron Burbridge, RJ Shelton, and Macgarrett Kings. So who will be number six? Monty Madaris is battling. He is a very talented player that could have played in the SEC or any other conference. They would love to see him make a move BUT don’t count out true freshman Felton Davis. He has come into camp in super shape, made some great catches, and has earned a shot. The downside is that with being the sixth wide out does that justify a redshirt? Just like Raequan, perhaps getting on several special teams units may help their case to play now, but those two will play in the NFL and very well will redshirt.

• Andrew Dowell was praised by his head coach calling him, “Active, mature, get off blocks, motor, shock power, run his feet, good ball skills. I would anticipate he’ll play for us.” This true freshman has come in and pushed everyone. I haven’t seen this much genuine hype about a freshman linebacker since Max Bullough. This young man has a big football IQ and is a physical monster.

• Dantonio wants a six guys DB set. Right now that is Arjen Colquhoun, Jermaine Edmondson, Vayante Copeland all at the CB and Montae Nicholson and RJ Williams at the safety. Demetrious Cox is playing and getting major reps at both spots. That is an impressive list. Also, Darian Hicks is improving every day giving the Spartans a legit seven player deep rotation.

• Jake Hartbarger, in the first scrimmage, booted one from deep in his own endzone OVER 70 yards in the air and it went past the returner for an 86 yard punt. Multiple people at the scrimmage told me this and two told me it was downed at the five yard line. While I was not there to see it (closed to the media), Hartbarger has been solid. He struggled this spring some and last year often, but don’t let the big smile and blonde hair fool you. Hartbarger (Heartbreaker) is committed to his task and perhaps NO ONE has had a bigger improvement since the end of last season than Jake. There was some real concern and he has to do it during game time, but there is a sense of calm as it relates to other people’s worries, that weren’t there to start camp.

• YAC is what Dantonio craves. When he watches his running backs he wants yards after contact and Delton Williams brings it. London can run like a gazelle in open space, but Williams can run through people. London will learn to run tougher as he grows (he is only a redshirt freshman), but the way Delton thumps and the way Dantonio craves that clearly gives him an edge. Delton does not have the job as the #1 yet, still a battle but an edge.

• I asked Dantonio about London, LJ, and Gerald and the young guys learning blocking schemes. He said, “Last thing to come (picking up blocking assignments), Delton been actively coached for 2 years.” He admitted right there that Delton was ahead of everyone else and should be. He’s been here longer.

• One other note about the young backs and picking up blitzers. “Not can they do it, but can they get it right.” That is the biggest question right now for Madre, Gerald, and LJ on a team that will throw the ball a lot this year.

• I mentioned earlier about LJ Scott possibly developing into the best RB not by the start of camp, but certainly by the end of the year and the pickle that puts the staff in when thinking about a redshirt. Dantonio said, “LJ impressive stay square get up the field, he’s ready to play football.”

• Andrew Dowell and Drake Martinez both are playing star. That should tell you how good Chris Frey, Jr. has looked at money.

• This is one I am going to have to see, but I like the way Aaron Burbridge and Macgarrett Kings have approached this camp. So does Dantonio who called out that unit saying, “Receivers will be a strength active down the field.” You can’t play WR at MSU if you don’t block and to their credit, Coach Samuel has a group of thumpers. You will see some opponents’ DBs getting physically beat up this year.

• Right now this week, those freshmen on the bubble are going to face one big thing. As they start practicing specifically for WMU, Oregon, and Air Force Dantonio wants to see, “Can freshman take us adding new things?” All the freshmen being considered to not red shirt have proven they can physically do it; this week is about the mental. Do they have the mental maturity?

• True freshman WR Felton Davis has shown, “Consistency. Line up, down the field,” per Dantonio. He gets the game. I already said he is a future NFL player, but in going over my notes Dantonio asked a simple question. If you don’t redshirt him will he get, “Enough reps? Enough time?” In his battle with Monty Madaris that is big.

• One last note. I am sorry this has gone so long.