The Outlook Moving Forward: Fall Camp & the Wild Card Wideouts

Coming into 2013 there isn’t much of a “sure thing” on the Offensive side of the ball. From the shaky Offensive Line trying to rebuild itself to the

Coming into 2013 there isn’t much of a “sure thing” on the Offensive side of the ball. From the shaky Offensive Line trying to rebuild itself to the unknown starter at the Quarterback position, question marks appear across the entire field. That doesn’t mean there isn’t real talent on that side of the ball, just that there’s a heap of uncertainty and a lot to shake out during the heat of August.

Perhaps no playing group was as disappointing as the Wide Receivers were in 2012. Following a shaky start against Boise St. that saw the unit bailed out heavily by Dion Sims and Le’Veon Bell, things slid downhill from there. Drops piled up, lineups shuffled with the wind, and no one stepped forward to lead the group early on.

As the season progressed, Keith Mumphrey became the team’s top possession receiver, Aaron Burbridge flashed the makings of the next great Spartan Wideout, and Bennie Fowler got his groove back coming off the mid-career injury that threatened what once looked a budding “All-Conference” type player.

There’s talent beyond those top three, however, and plenty of opportunities to come. Mark Dantonio recently told Spartan Nation “we’re going to use a lot of 3-Wide Receiver sets,” and that he can “clearly see 8 or 9 guys” in the regular playing group. Dantonio’s broad message to the unit at this point is clear: play more consistently in games.

Monty Mandaris wants to join that playing group as a Red-Shirt Freshmen. “Last year he had a real bad ankle sprain that put him out 6 weeks basically, so then we ended up Red-Shirting him,” Dantonio explained. “He’s a big body guy, he can catches the ball very well, he can accelerate,” he added. But you never quite know what you’ll get out of a player until you see him on the field in a game, making Mandaris fit nicely as a Wild Card-Wideout in the 2013 Fall Camp shuffle. “I think he’s got to have a good Fall Camp…can’t make the mental mistakes, the mental busts that a young player makes, but he’s got a lot of ability and I’m very excited about him. I think he’s got a tremendous future.”

Macgarret Kings debuted again Central Michigan last September and looked like he might make an impact for the rest of the year. Instead he burnt away a Red Shirt with the type of frustration and growing pains we’ve seen from young players before. “I think he’s grown up, I think he understands what he has to do,” Dantonio said reflecting on what Kings must do to become a consistent producer. “He’s got to get it and go…this isn’t High School anymore, you can’t just shake everybody. You’ve got to get it, and get “north.” If Kings can make that kind of transition, which is not an uncommon necessity, the Spartans may have found their next “big play” guy.

Of course there’s more than just those two looking to make the core playing group. Tony Lippett has played on both sides of the ball for the Spartans, and though Dantonio admitted Lippett “didn’t play as well last year as he thinks he can play,” he’s been impressed this off season and believes the Senior is ready to have his best year. Lippett had better, or he probably won’t be much of a factor catching the ball this season.

DeAnthony Arnett is another curious case from 2012. After transferring from Tennessee and receiving a special exemption to play immediately, many in Spartan Nation expected big things from Arnett right away. Instead, 2012 was largely a lost year for the High School star from Saginaw. “He’s confident, he’s made the plays on the field more consistently,” Dantonio said about the difference in Arnett from a year ago. “He needs to have that break out type year,” he added. You’d have to think Arnett feels the same, but he needs to keep from trying too hard and pressing too much, or he’ll end up rather frustrated for a second straight year.

Arnett is far from the last guy that will push to catch balls out wide this fall. Others include A.J. Sims and even Trey Waynes, the Defensive Back. “He can go play Wide Receiver for us if we need him too, he’s got great ball skills,” Dantonio said. Though their lineup is uncertain right now, their skill level really is not a big concern. “Come out on the practice field and you watch our Wideouts, I don’t think you’ll see an absence of talent…(but) you’ve got to be consistent.”

That consistency is under heightened examination again now that Fall Camp has begun. The most important question facing the Offense this Fall Camp might not be who will throw the ball, but rather who will be out wide catching it. MSU must get significant production out of their Wideouts if they’re going to compete for Championships again come November.  There’s no way the Offense can get out of “3rd gear” without it. And there’s no way to find the desired run-pass balance without consistent and dependable production from the Wideouts.

Recruiting star-rankings and past performances are pretty much meaningless now. The Wideouts are starting fresh under new Co-Offensive Coordinators, working in what promises to be a somewhat evolved Offense. “Guys now have experience coming back. They’ve made mistakes, they’ve dropped some balls, but they’ve very, very capable,” Dantonio wrapped up. “I think now is the time that they have to rise to the occasion.” It’s up to the players now to transform their unit from a handful of Wild Cards into a fully stacked deck.

P.A.T. (Perhaps Another Thought…)

1. There’s still time for the NCAA to correct the “Targeting Rule.” As it’s set to be implemented now, there’s a really good chance the “Clowney Rule” (as I believe we’ll come to call it) will ruin someone’s season. When Officials question a hit, they should send an electronic signal to an Off Field Booth Official who would review the play in both real time and slow motion once to determine if a violation occurred. This is not a decision that should be made on the field, and should not slow the game down like I believe it will. Unless the game’s leadership comes correct and fixes the “Clowney Rule” immediately, expect it to be a major issue this year in College Football.
2. Unless something substantial is done to address the overall Game Day entertainment environment around Spartan Stadium, I would expect in person attendance to continue to decline for all but the truly “marquee” matchups. Taking shots at paying customers who chose not to show up is not the answer. Innovation and evolving with the modern entertainment times probably is.

* Find me @JPSpartan and also inside the Phalanx Forum