Spartans Put Successful 2008 Football Season Behind as They Prepare for 2009

Spartans Put Successful 2008 Football Season Behind as They Prepare for 2009 Â The Spartans enter the 2009 football season having lost a QB, RB and a right T

Spartans Put Successful 2008 Football Season Behind as They Prepare for 2009

 

The Spartans enter the 2009 football season having lost a QB, RB and a right T and G. There are other losses on the DL and in the secondary, but the offense will garner much of the attention.

 

They have been getting up and working out just after 5 a.m. in an off-season regiment that is making many of them, shall we say, less than comfortable. One player told me this week, “They are all over us. We thought it was hard the first two seasons of winter workouts and now I wish we had them back. They (Dantonio and staff) want no excuses for a step back even with the losses and we are working our (butts) off.”

 

I will get into spring football and take a look at many angles in the March Spartan Nation Magazine that will be coming out prior to camp, but in this article we will look at some interesting tid bits.

 

Ishmyl Johnson came to MSU and had to sit out a season. He is the kind of kid with a huge heart that you look at physically and have no doubt he has the tools to play. Ish struggled to see the field last season as a DE, but this spring he will be getting a lot of reps at DT to see if he can transition and use some of his speed inside. They are excited to see what he can do and if he can listen and be coachable. It could be a good move.

 

Chris McDonald is a name you need to write down and not forget. He impressed the coaches last season (red shirt scout team), and more than once there were conversations about breaking his red shirt. He played strong and tough and the staff made the right choice to save his year of eligibility. He will get a lot of looks on the OL at RT, RG and even C. He will make it very difficult for the Spartans to keep off of the field. He has a high motor and plays like a beast.

 

With Dantonio being 2-2 in producing freshman All Americans, don’t be shocked if he (McDonald) makes it this season. What makes McDonald tough to peg is that he has the ability to play both sides of the ball. The staff would like to see him find a hole and plug in on the OL. One coach on the staff told me, “You love kids like that and all that you have to do at his age is find a hole and plug him in for four years.” Although certainly Joel Nitchman did well, he could take reps at C or maybe even RT with Jared McGaha solidifying the RG.

 

Who knows? It is so early, but if you’re a Spartan fan, this is the most exciting spring since George Perles’ first season and certainly it is going to be a dogfight.

 

Don’t miss the March Spartan Nation Magazine! We will go much more in depth on Spartan Football for the spring. If you haven’t signed up, click on the EMAIL Hondo ICON on the left and send your Name, Address, City, State and Zip today. As with all of the features here at SpartanNation.com it is totally free and we won’t sell your information to anyone.