Michigan State Spartans
COACH AND PROGRAM
He seemed like the perfect fit. And, at least initially, he was.
Inside the Big Ten
Take an Inside look at the Big Ten with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports:
Illinois Fighting Illini
Indiana Hoosiers
Iowa Hawkeyes (free preview)
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan State Spartans
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Northwestern Wildcats
Ohio State Buckeyes
Penn State Nittany Lions
Purdue Boilermakers
Wisconsin Badgers
John L. Smith took over at Michigan State in 2003 and was an instant breath of fresh air for the Big Ten. He was funny and charming and self-deprecating. Smith told anyone who would listen that the L in his name stood for Lansing. Of course, he had used the same line at both Louisville and Utah State (Logan).
Coming from Conference USA's Louisville, he had an underdog attitude that helped him in his first season. Giving Jeff Smoker a second chance despite significant off-the-field issues, Smith pieced together an eight-win season that ended in the Alamo Bowl. It was his seventh postseason game in a row, one each at Utah State and Michigan State and five at Louisville.
Seemingly, he had the Michigan State program moving in the right direction. He was the perfect ying to the yang at Michigan, a school that has always had its way in recruiting a state loaded with players.
The 2004 misstep (5-7 overall, 4-4 in the Big Ten) was forgiven as a temporary glitch caused partly by the breaking in of new players. Four games into the 2005 season, it looked like Smith had the Spartans on their way to a Big Ten title.
The team knocked off Kent State and Hawaii in the first two games. No reason to celebrate. But the third game, a 44-41 overtime stunner at Notre Dame, got the nation talking about Michigan State. The chatter turned even louder the next week when the Spartans socked Illinois, 61-14.
But the 4-0 start soon was forgotten. Consecutive painful losses to Michigan and Ohio State sent the Spartans on their way to a 1-6 finish. Coming off the field at halftime against the Buckeyes, Smith berated his coaches for a last-second mistake. That sound bite was proof that all was not well in Smith's house.
In the final three weeks, all the Spartans had to do to earn a respect-saving bowl bid was win one game. They couldn't do it, losing a close game at Purdue (28-21), a not-so-close game at Minnesota (41-18) and a pack-up-the-uniforms game against Big Ten champion Penn State (31-22).
Considered for knighthood after his first season, Smith's future suddenly seems tenuous. Though the fans continue to show up at Spartan Stadium, they are grumbling.
"I've been with coach Smith a lot of years," Michigan State defensive coordinator Chris Smeland said. "We've had a lot of success. We'll put the pressure on ourselves to be better than we were."
Smith didn't panic after last season and dump all of his coaches. But he did have turnover, with three coaches moving on. That's the second consecutive season one-third of the staff has left.
The embarrassment of consecutive five-win seasons is tempered by the idea that it could have been so much better. Smith set a high standard for the program his first year and hasn't been able to reach that level again.
"There's some frustration that's been going on for us a little bit," Smeland said.
Not satisfied with all of the talent on hand, Smith added a pack of junior college players. Many of them will be on the field for the opener against Idaho. The winter and spring went well for the Spartans.
"I think this is the best offseason we've had," offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin said. "I don't think we had to motivate our kids. On offense, we're going to do it and we're going to do it better than we've ever done it before. We've got great leadership. They did it for us. That's when you start to win is when the leadership takes over.''
QUARTERBACKS
The guy taking snaps during the spring put a giant smile on Baldwin's face. Drew Stanton (6-3, 230) is back for his senior season and the coordinator has great expectations for him.
"I'm really excited about Drew," Baldwin said. "He's totally healthy for the first time. He showed tremendous leadership this spring. We replaced two coaches and there wasn't anything. We advanced even more and Drew allowed us to do that. I feel really comfortable that he's going to be as good as there is in the country at that position."
Stanton had a stellar junior season, completing 67 percent of his passes for 3,077 yards and 22 touchdowns. His 12 interceptions were higher than Baldwin would have liked, but the coaches hope the number falls.
When forced out of the pocket, the athletic Stanton makes it positive. He gained 338 rushing yards last season and scored four touchdowns.
"We will run him as the season goes on. We have to. That's a part of our offense," Baldwin said.
With his starting quarterback locked up, Baldwin spent April trying to find a consistent No. 2. And he has one in sophomore Brian Hoyer (6-2, 210).
"He definitely won the position," Baldwin said. "He was really accurate. He made good decisions."
Wanting to make sure the backups could handle the work, Baldwin took the "don't hit" red jerseys off the quarterbacks. Except, of course, for Stanton. "I think it helped convinced me, and it convinced Hoyer, that he's a player," Baldwin said. "We had to find out if we could run him a little bit, which we did with the quarterbacks. I think Brian Hoyer really shined."
One of the potential candidates to back up Stanton, Domenic Natale, left the program. He transferred to Rutgers in his native New Jersey and will sit out the 2006 season. "He felt he's not going to play being the third guy," Baldwin said. "You hate to lose people. The quarterbacks don't sit and wait."
Incoming freshman Conner Dixon (6-4, 182) will be given a shot at the No. 3 position behind Stanton and Hoyer. Redshirt freshman Clay Charles (6-1, 198) is also competing.
RUNNING BACKS
You know those cereal variety packs? That's the Michigan State backfield.
When the Spartans need a bruiser, they can use junior Jehuu Caulcrick (6-0, 245). "He's huge," Baldwin said. "He can come down hill. He's very hard to tackle. He matured and realized he better compete on every play."
In a need for speed, they can give the ball to sophomore Javon Ringer (5-9, 202). "He's electrifying," Baldwin said. "He can take the ball any time to the end zone. He's our fastest one and very explosive. He's a big-play type kid. He might take a 1-yarder 30 yards. He's very, very talented."
Redshirt freshman A.J. Jimmerson (5-10, 210) got the most action during the spring to "find out if he can get it done."
"He can," Baldwin said. "We're very pleased with him. He's not game-tested. He needs to get his pass blocking down a little bit better. But he can carry the ball and he can take it to the house."
Ringer led the team in rushing in 2005 with 817 yards. Caulcrick had the most touchdowns (seven) to go with his 478 yards.
The fourth running back is junior Brett Kahn (5-9, 175), who missed the spring with a shoulder injury.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
During the 2005 season, Matt Trannon (6-6, 227) was listed as a senior. But the Spartans have some bad news for the rest of the Big Ten: Trannon is back for another year.
NCAA rules dictated that Trannon needed to be on pace to graduate to get his final season. The team's No. 2 receiver did the job in the classroom.
When he isn't playing football, Trannon is a key player on Tom Izzo's basketball team. He broke his jaw during the basketball season but didn't miss a day of spring practice. "He's got to be our go-to guy," Baldwin said. "We think he's very talented. There has been some disappointment in some people's eyes, but I think he's grown up."
Basketball has played a part in Trannon's maturation, helping him improve his toughness and conditioning.
Trannon isn't the leading returning receiver, a title held by senior Jerramy Scott (5-10, 186). He had 49 catches for 722 yards and four touchdowns in 2005. Scott is moving high up the school's career receiving chart.
"We felt he had a real good spring," Baldwin said.
The coaches tried junior Terry Love (5-11, 172) inside to work in four-receiver sets. Otherwise, Love will be an outside receiver with senior Kerry Reed (6-2, 196), a junior college transfer who had 31 catches for 438 yards and five touchdowns in '05.
"I think we've got more depth at this position than I've ever seen," Baldwin said.
Michigan State brought in junior college transfer Devin Thomas (6-2, 216), who has three years of eligibility remaining.
"He's very physical and is extremely fast," Baldwin said.
COACH AND PROGRAM
He seemed like the perfect fit. And, at least initially, he was.
Inside the Big Ten
Take an Inside look at the Big Ten with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports:
Illinois Fighting Illini
Indiana Hoosiers
Iowa Hawkeyes (free preview)
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan State Spartans
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Northwestern Wildcats
Ohio State Buckeyes
Penn State Nittany Lions
Purdue Boilermakers
Wisconsin Badgers
John L. Smith took over at Michigan State in 2003 and was an instant breath of fresh air for the Big Ten. He was funny and charming and self-deprecating. Smith told anyone who would listen that the L in his name stood for Lansing. Of course, he had used the same line at both Louisville and Utah State (Logan).
Coming from Conference USA's Louisville, he had an underdog attitude that helped him in his first season. Giving Jeff Smoker a second chance despite significant off-the-field issues, Smith pieced together an eight-win season that ended in the Alamo Bowl. It was his seventh postseason game in a row, one each at Utah State and Michigan State and five at Louisville.
Seemingly, he had the Michigan State program moving in the right direction. He was the perfect ying to the yang at Michigan, a school that has always had its way in recruiting a state loaded with players.
The 2004 misstep (5-7 overall, 4-4 in the Big Ten) was forgiven as a temporary glitch caused partly by the breaking in of new players. Four games into the 2005 season, it looked like Smith had the Spartans on their way to a Big Ten title.
The team knocked off Kent State and Hawaii in the first two games. No reason to celebrate. But the third game, a 44-41 overtime stunner at Notre Dame, got the nation talking about Michigan State. The chatter turned even louder the next week when the Spartans socked Illinois, 61-14.
But the 4-0 start soon was forgotten. Consecutive painful losses to Michigan and Ohio State sent the Spartans on their way to a 1-6 finish. Coming off the field at halftime against the Buckeyes, Smith berated his coaches for a last-second mistake. That sound bite was proof that all was not well in Smith's house.
In the final three weeks, all the Spartans had to do to earn a respect-saving bowl bid was win one game. They couldn't do it, losing a close game at Purdue (28-21), a not-so-close game at Minnesota (41-18) and a pack-up-the-uniforms game against Big Ten champion Penn State (31-22).
Considered for knighthood after his first season, Smith's future suddenly seems tenuous. Though the fans continue to show up at Spartan Stadium, they are grumbling.
"I've been with coach Smith a lot of years," Michigan State defensive coordinator Chris Smeland said. "We've had a lot of success. We'll put the pressure on ourselves to be better than we were."
Smith didn't panic after last season and dump all of his coaches. But he did have turnover, with three coaches moving on. That's the second consecutive season one-third of the staff has left.
The embarrassment of consecutive five-win seasons is tempered by the idea that it could have been so much better. Smith set a high standard for the program his first year and hasn't been able to reach that level again.
"There's some frustration that's been going on for us a little bit," Smeland said.
Not satisfied with all of the talent on hand, Smith added a pack of junior college players. Many of them will be on the field for the opener against Idaho. The winter and spring went well for the Spartans.
"I think this is the best offseason we've had," offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin said. "I don't think we had to motivate our kids. On offense, we're going to do it and we're going to do it better than we've ever done it before. We've got great leadership. They did it for us. That's when you start to win is when the leadership takes over.''
QUARTERBACKS
The guy taking snaps during the spring put a giant smile on Baldwin's face. Drew Stanton (6-3, 230) is back for his senior season and the coordinator has great expectations for him.
"I'm really excited about Drew," Baldwin said. "He's totally healthy for the first time. He showed tremendous leadership this spring. We replaced two coaches and there wasn't anything. We advanced even more and Drew allowed us to do that. I feel really comfortable that he's going to be as good as there is in the country at that position."
Stanton had a stellar junior season, completing 67 percent of his passes for 3,077 yards and 22 touchdowns. His 12 interceptions were higher than Baldwin would have liked, but the coaches hope the number falls.
When forced out of the pocket, the athletic Stanton makes it positive. He gained 338 rushing yards last season and scored four touchdowns.
"We will run him as the season goes on. We have to. That's a part of our offense," Baldwin said.
With his starting quarterback locked up, Baldwin spent April trying to find a consistent No. 2. And he has one in sophomore Brian Hoyer (6-2, 210).
"He definitely won the position," Baldwin said. "He was really accurate. He made good decisions."
Wanting to make sure the backups could handle the work, Baldwin took the "don't hit" red jerseys off the quarterbacks. Except, of course, for Stanton. "I think it helped convinced me, and it convinced Hoyer, that he's a player," Baldwin said. "We had to find out if we could run him a little bit, which we did with the quarterbacks. I think Brian Hoyer really shined."
One of the potential candidates to back up Stanton, Domenic Natale, left the program. He transferred to Rutgers in his native New Jersey and will sit out the 2006 season. "He felt he's not going to play being the third guy," Baldwin said. "You hate to lose people. The quarterbacks don't sit and wait."
Incoming freshman Conner Dixon (6-4, 182) will be given a shot at the No. 3 position behind Stanton and Hoyer. Redshirt freshman Clay Charles (6-1, 198) is also competing.
RUNNING BACKS
You know those cereal variety packs? That's the Michigan State backfield.
When the Spartans need a bruiser, they can use junior Jehuu Caulcrick (6-0, 245). "He's huge," Baldwin said. "He can come down hill. He's very hard to tackle. He matured and realized he better compete on every play."
In a need for speed, they can give the ball to sophomore Javon Ringer (5-9, 202). "He's electrifying," Baldwin said. "He can take the ball any time to the end zone. He's our fastest one and very explosive. He's a big-play type kid. He might take a 1-yarder 30 yards. He's very, very talented."
Redshirt freshman A.J. Jimmerson (5-10, 210) got the most action during the spring to "find out if he can get it done."
"He can," Baldwin said. "We're very pleased with him. He's not game-tested. He needs to get his pass blocking down a little bit better. But he can carry the ball and he can take it to the house."
Ringer led the team in rushing in 2005 with 817 yards. Caulcrick had the most touchdowns (seven) to go with his 478 yards.
The fourth running back is junior Brett Kahn (5-9, 175), who missed the spring with a shoulder injury.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
During the 2005 season, Matt Trannon (6-6, 227) was listed as a senior. But the Spartans have some bad news for the rest of the Big Ten: Trannon is back for another year.
NCAA rules dictated that Trannon needed to be on pace to graduate to get his final season. The team's No. 2 receiver did the job in the classroom.
When he isn't playing football, Trannon is a key player on Tom Izzo's basketball team. He broke his jaw during the basketball season but didn't miss a day of spring practice. "He's got to be our go-to guy," Baldwin said. "We think he's very talented. There has been some disappointment in some people's eyes, but I think he's grown up."
Basketball has played a part in Trannon's maturation, helping him improve his toughness and conditioning.
Trannon isn't the leading returning receiver, a title held by senior Jerramy Scott (5-10, 186). He had 49 catches for 722 yards and four touchdowns in 2005. Scott is moving high up the school's career receiving chart.
"We felt he had a real good spring," Baldwin said.
The coaches tried junior Terry Love (5-11, 172) inside to work in four-receiver sets. Otherwise, Love will be an outside receiver with senior Kerry Reed (6-2, 196), a junior college transfer who had 31 catches for 438 yards and five touchdowns in '05.
"I think we've got more depth at this position than I've ever seen," Baldwin said.
Michigan State brought in junior college transfer Devin Thomas (6-2, 216), who has three years of eligibility remaining.
"He's very physical and is extremely fast," Baldwin said.
