Quick depth chart notes

Seconds before Dantonio hits the podium....

Mike Bacon over Joel Foreman at left guard
B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell starting at receiver
A.J. Jimmerson listed as No. 2 back
Kendell-Davis Clark at free safety, no Jenrette
A.J. Jimmerson and Davis-Clark at kick returner
Otis Wiley at punt returner

Comments

[beeedubbb]

Saturday can't get here fast enough. GO GREEN!

[zing]

Johnny Adams and Trenton Robinson may need to see the field a lot on Saturday to keep up with Best. He's crazy fast.

[Pat]

Mike Bacon is a beast and will terrorize opposing backers and d-lineman..Bacon is gonna eat people up!

[kris]

Who is the Quick 3 star we got out of Detroi that is supposed to be pretty amazing? Whay don't we have him return kicks? Is Davis-Clark that quick?

[belloboy]

Agreed - I grew up in E. Lansing but for the past couple of years have been at Cal getting a grad degree. Jahvid Best is damn slippery and fast. I'm hoping our D-line wins the battle in the trenches and erases his lanes because once he gets into open space it may be over. Bringing a small contingent of recruited Spartan supporters (kids and friends) to the game to root the green and white on to victory. Can't wait; the first game of the year, in the Bay, on a warm evening after tailgating...does it get any better?? Hopefully I see as large an MSU following as I did for Tennessee last year.

[Drew]

I can't wait till Saturday. There is a lot riding on this game in terms of reputation, for MSU and the Big Ten. Cal is going to be real tough, I only hope that a loss doesn't cause a S.O.S. collapse this early in the season.

[David]

Kris: I think you're referring to Keshawn Martin. He is an "under the radar" recruit that MSU landed, much like Greg Jones was last yr. Martin has been getting more praise in camp than the more highly touted Freddie Smith.

Don't think of the lineup for kick & punt returners as being "set in stone." Odds are, they will change by mid-season, if not before.

I don't have any inside information on the situation, but, for what it's worth, this is my hypothesis. Martin, as talented as he is, is just a freshman. Even more important, they start on the road in a hostile environment. That's not the most ideal milieu to have a freshman make his college debut. If Martin were to muff a punt or mis-handle a kickoff, it would send the crowd into a frenzy. No matter how good the kid is, I'm sure he's never played in front of 50,000+ angry opposing fans. Having a bad start to his career on the road could actually damage a freshman's psyche.

Wiley, Jimmerson & KDC are all upperclassmen who have been out on the field. They have played in front of hostile crowds. While Martin (and other freshmen; this is not to single Martin out) might be more athletically gifted than 1 or 2 of those players, they nonetheless have zilch insofar as experience is concerned.

Look for Martin to play against Eastern next Saturday, especially if MSU gets a big lead (which they SHOULD). It's much easier for a freshman to get his sea legs in front the home crowd - a crowd that wants to see him flourish, not fail.

DSR

[Spartan Tim]

Hey Does anyone know for sure that ABC in Michigan is going to carry this game? I had heard the east regional was going to be on here in Mich? If so where are we going to be able to see this game at?

[jacksonspartan]

Spartan Tim -

The coverage map hasn't been released yet, but it is a lock that the game will be on here in Michigan. The other ABC game at 8 EDT is Alabama/Clemson, so don't go down south if you want to see MSU!

[jacksonspartan]

Spartan Tim -

The coverage map hasn't been released yet, but it is a lock that the game will be on here in Michigan. The other ABC game at 8 EDT is Alabama/Clemson, so don't go down south if you want to see MSU!

[TG]

Rolf at #2 MIKE is also interesting. Bodes well for the future. With Hoover that makes two true freshman in the two deep on defense. Sends a great message to recruits that we will play the best players regardless of academic class.

[marvelous Mackie]

It's good that 2 freshmen are on the two deep chart. I hope it doesn't mean that they don't have depth. I feel that a redshirt freshman is actually a sophomore because he spent a year in the program.

[allweatherfan]

Hey Kris: I'm bringing my three sons up from Orange County for the Cal game. See you there. Look for us in Section 0. I'll be holding the sign that says "Another Big Ten Conquest" for the ABC cameras. (That's if Best doesn't "Hart" break us.)

[Mike]

Can someone provide any info on the defensive backs, and if they will be able to look back for the ball while covering the receivers. It seems like every year these guys defend with their backs to the ball and blindly flap their arms when they think the receiver is going to catch it.