The Governor's Grades Heading Into Big Ten Competition

The Spartans take a 4-0 record into Camp Randall this weekend. I have to say that I am not shocked, but truly impressed with the Spartans so far this season.

The Spartans take a 4-0 record into Camp Randall this weekend. I have to say that I am not shocked, but truly impressed with the Spartans so far this season. Who would have thought that MSU would be in a position to compete with Wisconsin and truly make it an interesting game at the time Dantonio was hired? I certainly didn’t. Most of the national publications had MSU going into Madison with a 2-2 record and thought a bowl game for these Spartans would be a gift created through overachievement and lucky breaks. As I look at MSU and their personnel, here is what I have to say about the Spartans at each critical position. I will be breaking down the offense today, the defense tomorrow and special teams on Friday. Please keep in mind, the grades I am assigning each unit are based upon my own opinion and Michigan State’s potential to improve and play sound football at every position.

QUARTERBACK: Brian Hoyer leads this unit with solid numbers. He has 56 completions having thrown the ball 98 times with a completion percentage of 57%. He has thrown for a total of 769 yards through four games averaging 7.8 yards per completion. He has thrown 7 TD’s against 3 INT’s with a QB rating of 140.5. In other words, Hoyer’s performance has been more than serviceable. He is playing within the offense and taking the yards the defense gives him. He does have a tendency to lock onto one receiver at a time and has been intercepted when he fails to look defenders off of his primary target. I expect Hoyer’s numbers to continue to be solid with a 2:1 ratio of TD’s to INT’s throughout the Big Ten season. In order for MSU’s quarterbacking to improve, Hoyer must do a better job of looking off defenders and checking down to his 2nd and 3rd reads in a more timely fashion. Hoyer has got to get more receivers the ball and continue to release the ball with more precision and timely throws. The good news is that Hoyer makes solid decisions and hasn’t shown he is mistake prone and will lose a close game with a critical error. The bad news is that he hasn’t shown the ability to take MSU the length of the field under two minutes when a winning “game on the line” drive is needed. Not because he lacks the skills or leadership, but because he has not been in a critical position yet this season. MSU cannot afford to sustain an injury at this position with true freshman Nick Foles being an unproven untested commodity. There is little doubt that Foles is the QB of the future after Brian graduates next year. Hopefully Foles plays in games when MSU has a comfortable lead. MSU will struggle to move the ball if Hoyer gets “banged-up”. A healthy Hoyer = a solid offense.

GOVERNOR’S GRADE: B-
End of season prediction: B

WIDE RECEIVER: Devin Thomas is a stud. Kellen Davis is a “freakish” athlete. Both of them will play on Sunday and both have an opportunity to find their way to the All-Big Ten list at the end of the season. What about the rest of the Spartan receivers? Mark Dell caught his first TD this last weekend in South Bend. Terry Love is still getting comfortable with the offense and TJ Williams status as a WR is incomplete. Curry has dropped too many passes and the rest of MSU’s reserves have not been on the field enough to evaluate. What happens when we run head-on into a defense that has a CB that can match up with Devin? Will TJ Williams get into the game more often and show off those “big time” skills we saw a year ago? Are there more plays in Treadwell’s book that will find there way to Kellen Davis’s hands? Who is going to step up as MSU’s third receiving option? There are a lot of questions yet to be answered with this unit. They'd certainly warrant a better grade if MSU develops a consistent third receiving option. Someone other than Thomas and KFD have got to become consistent if MSU is to become an upper tier Big Ten offense.

GOVERNOR’S GRADE: C+
End of season prediction: B+

RUNNING BACKS: Jehuu Caulcrick and Javon Ringer are off to a solid start. The tandem has 700 yards rushing this season averaging about 4.7 yards per carry. Jehuu continues to improve as a straight-ahead, downhill runner while Javon looks to become a consistent game breaker. Much of MSU’s success running the ball will hinge upon the offensive line’s health and ability to gel. The fullback position has been run as a three-member committee with Hawken looking to gain more consistency. Pritchett shows that he is willing to stick his head into the hole and create a collision while Hawken shows he can become a true receiving threat in the flat. McPherson is trying desperately to share the snaps with his fullback brethren, but may not have the upside of the other two FB’s that dot the I formation.

GOVERNOR’S GRADE: B
End of season prediction: B+

OFFENSIVE LINE: This is a group of men still learning on the job. Throw into the mix a rash of leg injuries and you have to think the offensive line has done their job as well as we could have possibly hoped. Nitchman has been a pleasant surprise for the Spartans at center and Mike Bacon is currently this team’s unsung hero. Left tackle Pete Clifford been consistent and solid through four games. His counterpart Jesse Miller who anchors the right tackle position has been good at times, but struggles against quick pass rushers. Roland Martin’s injury is a public unknown. Gytevai had a strong showing against ND this past weekend. He looked comfortable at RG and will be difficult to unseat. Kenny Shane’s injury status is purely speculation at this point. I am guessing he sustained a knee sprain and will be available in the next couple weeks. This is only speculation, I have no insider scoop so don’t ask me for one. The MSU pass protection could have been better against Pitt. Pitt has an excellent pass rusher that gave MSU’s right side fits all day long. Much of MSU’s success at the point of attack will hinge upon the offensive line’s health and ability to gel. The good news is that MSU has shown the ability to run the ball in the fourth quarter and salt games away. The bad news is that we cannot afford another injury to this offensive front and the competition gets tougher in the trenches starting this week. If Martin and Shane are able the patch themselves up in the coming weeks, MSU’s OL depth just took a huge step forward. I think it is going to be very difficult for John Masters to reclaim his starting job. “Nitch” is arguably MSU’s most consistent lineman and gets better every week. Nitchman’s cerebral approach makes him a likely candidate to move to OG if another injury is sustained. Masters is certainly serviceable and could play well enough to win if Nitchman is needed on the left or right. Versatility is the name of the game and these guys have shown to be just that. They will be the most improved unit at season's end.

GOVERNOR’S GRADE: C
End of season prediction: B