|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
June 7, 2005Michigan State coach says Spartans must stay healthy in 2005Quarterback Stanton a big key for the SpartansByRecord-Eagle sports editor TRAVERSE CITY - John L. Smith said he has a new rule for his Michigan State football players. "It's the not get hurt rule," he said. "They're not allowed to get hurt. We need them to stay healthy and play." Smith, who was in town Monday for an alumni outing at the Traverse City Golf and Country Club, made the comment in jest. But he is concerned about his team's lack of depth with the college season less than three months away. "The biggest key for us is staying healthy," Smith said. "Our (scholarship) numbers are not quite back (to the 85 limit). We need one more good recruiting year. "Right now, there are a couple places where we are very thin and if we lose a guy we're in big trouble. "If we can stay healthy, though, we have a chance to be pretty good." The one player Michigan State can ill afford to lose is quarterback Drew Stanton, who has suffered knee and shoulder injuries the last two seasons. Stanton played in 10 of 12 games a year ago, passing for 1,601 yards and eight touchdowns and rushing for 687 yards and five scores. The Spartans, who finished 4-4 in the Big Ten and 5-7 overall, were 0-2 without Stanton in the lineup. Now that backup Stephen Reaves is no longer on the team, Stanton is the only quarterback who has taken a snap in a college game. The junior's development was one of the positives in the 2004 campaign. "Stanton has to stay on the field," Smith said. "If he's out there, and if he stays healthy, then we have a chance to win. He's starting to develop a great grasp of the offense. He understands the things you can do, the things you can't do, the things you shouldn't do. He's outstanding." Smith said he would like to find playing time for one of his young untested quarterbacks - red-shirt freshman Brian Hoyer or true freshman Domenic Natale - early in the season "to get them ready." Smith likes his deep receiving corps - and he's hoping sophomore Kellen Freeman Davis can step it up at tight end. Smith expects senior Jason Teague to be the primary ball carrier with 235-pound sophomore Jehuu Caulcrick providing relief. "I'd like to see Caulcrick get over his freshmanitis and be the physical player he can be," Smith said. Defensively, the Spartans need to improve a unit that allowed 31 points or more in six games. Smith is concerned about depth at linebacker and cornerback and he's hoping at least two junior college recruits can make a contribution on the line. "We have to get better defensively," Smith said. "I think we're going to be good enough offensively to put some points on the board, but for us to be real good, and win a championship, we've got to be better on defense. We're a ways away. We're still young and growing (on defense)." Michigan State was susceptible to the big play last season. "The thing that's upsetting is to play and play and play, then give up the big one; play and play and play, then give up the big one," he said. "That's what we did last year. If we can avoid that and keep the ball in front of us, and make (the opponent) continue to work for a score, then I think we'll be OK." The junior college recruits Smith's counting are linemen Bobby Jones, Jonal Saint-Dic and David Stanton and cornerback Demond Williams, who could also help in the return game. Smith recruited seven junior college players in all. "We had to fix (Drew) Stanton's class," Smith said. "Stanton's class had about eight kids in it. We had to go and get some junior college players to bolster that class." Smith said ideally he would like to keep classes similar in size. "The key is to recruit about 17 kids a year and not have a lot of attrition," he said. "If we can do that, then we'll have some stability in our classes. "We're still six under the maximum (85 limit). Another good recruiting class of about 25 kids and we should have that number back up. "I didn't expect to go out and recruit all these junior college players. We thought we could come in and build with freshmen. "After this year maybe we can wean ourselves from the junior college ranks and be in a position where we only have to take one or two at the max per year." Smith said Michigan and Ohio State "athletically" are the class of the Big Ten - with Iowa knocking on the door. But watch out for Purdue, the coach said. "This is a great year for Purdue because they don't play Michigan or Ohio State," he said. Michigan State gets a break, too. The Spartans do not play Iowa or Wisconsin. "It's a better schedule (than last year)," Smith said. "But not as good as Purdue's."
|
|
