Michigan State basketball is using injuries to galvanize the team

Embed from Getty Images The Michigan State Spartans have been without Joshua Langford for a few weeks. That was the first blow for a Michigan State team that was struggling with consistency. Now without the services of Nick Ward Michigan State is being tested.

Tom Izzo, is a very good basketball coach. Tom Izzo is not a wizard. There is no magic wand that can be waived to make injuries go away. If that was the case coaches would line up for one.

The Spartans are learning to fight through their limitations. Losing two top players can be crippling to a team. “It’s going to bring our team closer together,”  Izzo said. “Whether we’ll have enough, I don’t know. We’ll find out, but I’m not counting us out.”

Depth is  critical to the overall health of any team. Even when the depth is a young player who has yet to see major game action. Still in their past two games Michigan State has fought through and won.

That is the good news. They have found players that have been pressed into action and have responded in a short period of time.  They have struggled at times but that is to be expected.

Now Tom Izzo and his Spartans will be tested. Sunday in Ann Arbor. Michigan State minus their two stars will face top ten Michigan. It will be a very tall order for Izzo’s bunch. Michigan is very good. Not to mention the game is on the Wolverines home court.

If there is one thing to remember it is this. Never count a Tom Izzo coached team out. No matter the odds, no matter who is playing and who is not. The Spartans will be ready for their in-state rival in a HUGE Big Ten showdown.

Michigan State is more than capable of  providing a convincing response to any and all questions fans and media have about the health and depth of their team. Do not count Sparty out. It could be a fatal mistake.

5 freshmen who could play this fall for Michigan State football

Embed from Getty Images Two areas of need for the Michigan State Spartans were offenive and defensive line. With a solid recruiting class, those units have seen an influx of talent. The Spartans have other areas of need as well. So who could help them from the 2019 class?

Michael Fletcher, a 6-foot-5, 240 pound defensive end. Michigan State needed a complement to go with Kenny Willekes, Fletcher fits the bill. Michael has size and speed to work his way onto the field and into the defesive line rotation early in Spring and Fall camp. He should see action for the Spartans in 2019.

Two wide receivers could vie for playing time as well. The Spartans were woeful at the wide-out position during the 2018-19 season. Tre’Von Morgan, at at 6-6, 215 has great size and is fast. He should develop into Michigan State’s deep threat.

Tre Mosley, is another receiver who should help the passing game. He is hands down the fastest of all the Spartans receivers. A team who is in desperate need of speed could see two freshmen boast production during 2019.

Running back Anthony Williams Jr., he is a powerful runner who possesses excellent hands out of the backfield. While he does not have break-away speed Williams is a solid back who should help move the chains and grind out the clock.

In my opinion Michigan State is trying to get back to what made them successful and tough. Being able to run the ball inside the tackles while having speedy receivers who can put pressure of defenses.

While not many it is a start for a Spartans team that needed a boost. I fully expect these players  to contribute to the team this Fall. Michigan State should enjoy the talent coming to East Lansing. Coach Mark Dantonio and his staff have gone back to basics.

Spartan nation is hoping it turns back the clock and ushers in more good football. Time will tell. But Michigan State seems to be headed in the right direction.

Michigan State football team lost speed with decommit

Embed from Getty Images The Michigan State football team desperate need of speed was dealt a blow. Incoming wide receiver Alante Brown who had committed and was going to be a big recruit for the Spartans. Suddenly changed his mind.

 

Speed has been lacking from the Michigan State Spartans for some time now. Alante Brown was going to help. The speedy four star wide receiver would have developed into a go-to target for the Spartans. Now that does not matter. Big Ten opponents exploited the Spartans speed short commings.

 

Until a student athlete signs their letter of intent they have every right to change their mind. This time it hurts Mark Dantonio and his team. Michigan State has been struggling to score points quickly. It appears that may continue at least for now.

 

Michigan State also lost running back Aaron Young to Rutgers. Another player who could have breathed speed and life into the Spartan offense. Young is off to play at the same school his brother plays at so that was the deciding factor.

 

Michigan State does have incoming freshman WR Tre’Von Morgan. However at 6′ 6″ 215 LBS, Morgan projects more as a tight end as he does not have the speed Brown has. So it will be interesting to see how Morgan is used in the offense.

 

Coach  Dantonio, has said he would like to still add speed. There is no guarantee they will be able to flip a recruit in the days leading up to National Signing Day. That is where the Michigan State football program is right now.

 

Mark Dantonio and the Spartans are paying the price for simply shuffling the coaching staff and not bringing in fresh coach to breathe life into the football team.

Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio’s big bet

Embed from Getty Images Michigan Wolverines head football coach Jim Harbaugh heard the rumblings and chose to change. Harbaugh went outside his comfort zone and hired an offensive coordinator. From Alabama. The Spartans Mark Dantonio is and was not as bold.

 

Change is good. Change in sports can push a team or program forward. Lack of change can smoother and impede progress. New blood in coaching and to a staff breathes fresh life. Mark Dantonio chose to stay in house and shuffle his coaching staff.

 

Brad Salem, who was the Spartans quarterbacks coach was promoted to offensive coordinator. While co-offensive coordinators Dave Warner and Jim Bollman were reassigned to quarterbacks coach and offensive line coach respectfully.

 

Mark Dantonio called it his most significant change in his 12 years in East Lansing. Michigan State fans and alumni are not happy. They say that rival Jim Harbaugh was willing to go big and he hit a home run. Dantonio simply reshuffled his coaches. Which seldom works in a positive way.

 

From a distance Dantonio has not evolved. Nor has he adapted to the modern college football landscape. With only 10 points in their last two games (7 against Nebraska, 3 against Oregon) more than a switch was and still is needed.

 

Dantonio stated loyalty when asked why he stayed in house and did not bring in new blood. There in lies the problem. Dantonio is unwilling to change. He is unwilling to move his program forward.

 

Losing recruits to Jim Harbaugh is killing the Michigan State football program. The fact that everyone but the head football coach sees it is alarming.

 

Dantonio said “I believe in digging in when things get tough with people I know.” That is a bold statement to make. Because sticking with the same coaching staff for 12 years is not working the way it once did.

 

That is good and all. Unless he and his buddies are digging their own grave.

Michigan State football with a lot to play for

Embed from Getty Images The Michigan State Spartans did not have the season they envisioned. Inconsistent play met with injuries derailed the Spartans.  With a December 31 showdown against the Oregon Ducks in the Redbox Bowl. Michigan State has a lot to play for.

 

Fresh off early signing. Michigan State was able to add much needed depth to the offensive and defensive lines. The lack of depth has hindered the Spartans for two seasons now.

Unable to overcome injuries and inconsistent play the newly acquired depth should give the Spartans a much needed boost. They still have plenty of room for growth.

 

Head Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio and his staff need to let the team know that new recruits will be watching the Redbox Bowl. That no matter how the regular season went it is important to finish strong.

 

Recruits and their families will gather to watch the school they chose to attend. The recruits will want to see a football that fights and can leave a disappointing season behind.

 

If the Spartans can rally and beat a tough Oregon team. It will set the mark for 2019. If they do not and get beat Dantonio will have his work cut out for him. He will not only have to clean up the mess from 2018 but begin to prepare for 2019 and incoming freshmen.

 

That is no easy task. Michigan State has struggled recently against rivals. They need to get back to playing fundamental football. Getting pressure on the quarterback, forcing turnovers and solid tackling while on defense.

 

Offensively, Michigan State has gotten away from what worked for three seasons. Running the ball consistently throwing the ball a little. Seems outdated? Perhaps, But this is what Michigan State use to do very well.

 

They got away from what worked and the results have shown. Dantonio, needs to remember what made him successful. When Michigan State gets back to being who they started out as that is when they will return to the top of the Big Ten.

They can being to take those steps Monday, December 31 at the Redbox Bowl.