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MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

September 2, 2010

With the high expectations gone, Spartans could be a dark horse

For the first time, there was some grumbling for the Mark Dantonio era. It started with how the Spartans coach handled some fairly serious disciplinary issues and carried over into the season. Mental mistakes led to an extremely improbable collapse against Central Michigan in Week 2, followed by a late interception that lost a game in South Bend.

The Spartans snuck into the postseason at 6-6 – a sizable disappointment for a team expected to contend for a Big Ten title.

High expectations and Michigan State don’t seem to mix, regardless of the coach. So with the team back under the radar in 2010 and much of the top talent back from year ago, the Spartans could be the dark horse in the conference.

ON OFFENSE

It wasn’t a spectacular start for Kirk Cousins at quarterback, but for a sophomore who dealt with an ankle injury early in the campaign, his 19 touchdowns to nine interceptions were solid.

The Spartans lose leading receiver Blair White, who overachieved to the tune of 70 catches, nearly 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the team in every category. Michigan State still has plenty of talent at receiver in B.J. Cunningham, Mark Dell and Keshawn Martin. Add in a dangerous tight end in Charlie Gantt and the Spartans’ passing game has the potential to be one of the best in the league.

The running backs are much younger, but the potential is there. A pair of sophomores, Larry Caper and Edwin Baker, will split most of the carries. Caper led the team in yards (468) and TDs (six) on the ground, with Baker not far behind in yardage.

Things are more unsettled on the offensive line. A trio of senior starters is gone from last year, leaving guard Joel Foreman as the most experienced man in the group, entering his third year as a starter. Fellow senior D.J. Young switches from right tackle to left, leaving the right guard and tackle positions very much up for grabs.

ON DEFENSE

Once again, the heart of Sparty’s defense will be Greg Jones, who led the league in tackles a year ago, racking up a whopping 154. A first-team All-American, Jones was named Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season.

Senior Eric Gordon (92 tackles) returns to flank Jones on the outside, with sophomore Chris Norman likely to step in at the other spot.

But the biggest problem a year ago was the pass defense, which gave up more touchdowns through the air than any FBS team in the nation not named Idaho. That’s 32 scores surrendered against just six interceptions.

Much of the blame fell on the secondary, which returns cornerback Chris L. Rucker and safety Trenton Robinson, as well as part-timer Marcus Hyde.

While the play in the secondary was subpar, the Spartans’ poor pass rush contributed to the woes. Tackle Jerel Worthy returns, as does end Colin Neely, who sat out of spring ball.

OUTLOOK

The Spartans have done well on the recruiting trail the past two years, but there’s the sense that they haven’t taken full advantages of Michigan’s many woes to carve out a bigger spot for themselves in the state.

A third straight win over the Wolverines would help that cause. Games at Iowa and Penn State will be difficult, but MSU does get to avoid Ohio State. A 5-3 mark in the conference sounds about right with a favorable shot at a New Year’s Day bowl to boot. Michigan State has a chance to be the most improved team in the league in 2010.

-- Derek Levarse

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