Spartan Football Isn't Conceding Offensive Potency

There is little doubt which defensive unit will be the best in the Big Ten Conference this season. The Spartans were the best defense in 2011 and it appears that they are taking another step forward for 2012.

Buried in the body language of coaches and players is a little snicker. Sure it’s true that the offense can’t seem to find its rhythm this spring against the MSU defense, but they might just be playing the best defense in the country.

The confidence is there. The attitude and team unity is at all time high while MSU looks to answer some questions on the offensive side of the ball. How good is Andrew Maxwell? Will the offensive line become dominant with all of the experience and depth? Can our receivers be good enough to open things up for our running game? Who is going to stretch the field like BJ did a year ago?

Offensive Coordinator Dan Roushar shared a little bit with us regarding his deep offensive line. “I think our offensive line. They’re coming together. You see continuity, consistency… communication’s been good.”

Roushar is smiling a lot more than he was a year ago and for good reason. The line is youthful, but has some senior leadership and depth three deep everywhere. He also spoke a little bit about his young receiver AJ Sims. “He’s making catches. He’s been making plays. We’ve been pleased with his progress.  We got to continue to get him to play at a high level. He’s still got to learn… become a better blocker.”

Sims is MSU’s RS-freshman slot receiver. Like Keith Mumphery, who has drawn some rave reviews this spring, AJ Sims hails from Georgia as well.  Sims talked about his role of catching the ball over the middle. “The game is physical and I know that. Most guys kind of shy away from the middle, but that’s where the money’s made. It’s like an art… going across the middle. Some guys don’t like to do it. Like I say, you got to know what the play call is and if it’s across the middle you got to go get it.”

Practicing against MSU’s defense will undoubtedly make our offensive unit better. Sims talked about his hard hitting teammate Max Bullough and what it means to go over the middle this spring. “I remember one play when Max (Bullough) got me. Just in my mind as I was going to my spot… I was thinking about what could happen to me if I ran into him.  If I can take a hit from Max Bullough, I can take a hit from anybody.”

Sims like all of MSU’s young receivers is trying to develop chemistry with junior QB Andrew Maxwell.  AJ spoke briefly about Andrew. “Maxwell is a cool dude. We still got a lot of stuff to work on. Timing wise, we are getting a lot better.”

It will be difficult to shine against MSU’s defense this spring. The QB and receivers are a wholesale exchange from a year ago, but the running game and offensive line depth should make up for any deficiencies in the passing game.  A year ago everybody wondered how we’d ever move beyond the losses of Greg Jones and Eric Gordon. We told you we thought MSU’s LB’s could be better. I am not going to go out on a limb and say that MSU’s QB / receiving group will be better, however, they will be talented enough to win double-digit games again this season.