MSU depth chart

All three backs, Caper, Baker and newcomer to the party Leggett, are listed as co-starters. Last week's fill-ins at safety, Trenton Robinson and Kendell Davis-Clark, are still listed ahead of Danny Fortener and Marcus Hyde.

    Mark Dantonio said at his Tuesday presser that those four are essentially "interchangeable" and that practice this week will tell the story. I'd have to expect Fortener to end up starting, we'll see.

    Also, Oren Wilson and Jerel Worthy are listed as the starters at tackle. Wilson returning and Worthy playing more would be positive developments for this defense.

Comments

[bradford]

Dantonio should list everyone as co-starters.

[Brian]

Status quo.

[State00]

Are Keith Nichols and Kurt Cousin listed as co-starters?

C'mon, how'd it take this long for someone to ask?!?

[bradford]

State00,
Was that sarcastic? I ask because it seems obvious at this point the answer is yes and you added an "s" to Nichol and left one off of Cousins. If that was intentional, it's pretty funny.

[Joe Rexrode]

Yes, they are.

[State00]

Curt Cousin is spelled with a silent "s", bradford, much like Kevin's last name is has a silent "t", pronounced "Tor-BARE".

It's in the media guide, people.

[bradford]

What?

It's Kirk Cousins. And Keith Nichol. And who is Kevin?

[Tanfan]

Nickles and Capers back in the fold baby !!!
Fortman back too baby !!!
The Tanner is on fire baby !!!

[CDrenth]

Kyle Nichol will make the start.

This team has so much up-side to it. Think of how good they are going to be next year! We will make a bowl this year and with that extra practice plus that experience, the Spartans will roll next year! I can't wait.

Stay positive. Go Green.

[Pistol]

Why was Capers (or Caper) out last game?

[just asking]

Kyle - Keith's brother? I see he's from Lowell and looks just like Keith. OK, cool, let's start him.

[cece10]

I think Caper was still out because of the concussion suffered during the Minnesota game.

[Spartan 81]

Formula for 8-4

What if we drop Notre Dame from the schedule and load up on lower division teams from the MAC. Would ensure a 4-0 non conferance that way if we go 4-4 in conferance we reach our goal of 8-4 and worst case scenario we lose every close game which is 3-5 in Big Ten bottom line is we still finish 7-5 with a decent Bowl

Example replace Central Michigan with Eastern Michigan and Notre Dame with Akron. We are now 7-3 with the Alamo bid assured and if we beat Purdue 8-4. Lets get to 8-4 any way we can . What good does it do to play a tough schedule and finish 6-6 every year. 8-4 will get you in the Outback bowl every other year. We could play on New Years day 5 years out of ten instead of once a decade.

[bingo]

Once we get there Spartan 81 we can schedule/play better teams. We have to be careful with our football ego because it is fragile and easily broken. When the team is coached to compete at a "competitive" level then we can play some other teams outside the MAC. Until then, we need to tune up on the hapless and play average lackluster football. So like I said, once you see us beating good teams like Purdue and Penn State on a regular basis, then we can look down the road. The talent is coming to play we just have to hope the coaches know how to use it.

[MSUinSC]

Standard MSU schedules consist of Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, and usually Ohio State. It is in our blood... it is who we are. What do all of those programs have in a common... a legacy of winning. To coach at MSU is a dubious position. Although I may agree with you that back dooring bowl bids would bring MSU's football tradition into a more positive light, the future looks to get more difficult as the years march on. Alabama and West Virginia are on the horizon. The talent will be there. Can the coaches utilize the players' skill sets and will the players make a play or two to get over the top? We will find out.

[Spartan_Legacy]

I think if we have 3 running back costarters we need at least one formation where they're all on the field. The defense will never know which one its going to...costarters....ehhh...ehhh...brilliant!

[MayoSpartan]

Bingo, you're a funny, very funny blogger. I am gonna take the bait.

Your reference to fragile is great, but think about it. MSU's RB's fumble a lot! Young and fragile in regards to these freshman & sophomore RB's are not strong enough or haven't learned to protect the ball and are prone to fumble, and now are getting injured. These turnovers affects their confidence, thus fragile.

Interesting sideline comments by Ringer when interviewed by BTN during the Iowa loss. Javon said, Baker may be similar to him ... and the Caulcrick and Ringer dual helped them be better. Cause sharing the load in practice won't make them too tired or worn out for games ... What the feck is Enos doing not knowing they're stamina or letting Ringer play with torn cartilage after the UM game?

Yes, as you consistantly point out; some things have to change within the coaching.

GO GREEN!

[ChuckfromSt.Johns]

Fortener may be in the "Dog House" so to speak.....
When Western scored on the long run, Narduzzi got on him as he came off the field. It looked like Fortener took umbridge to what the coach was telling him, which isn't the best thing to do when you've been beat for 6, and Narduzzi followed him to the bench and continued to inform him of his errors, in a rather robust fashion.

[rooster]

Purdue has a poor run defense...look at the individual game stats. So we need to run, in a creative way. The "up the gut" play has not worked all season. We need some sweeps, pitches, and screen passes. Yes Purdue beat OSU, but that game was lost by two fumbles and two int's by OSU Pryor. We can beat Purdue!

[palefan]

Is it possible to have co-coaches? Perhaps we can bring in a red zone offensive coach.

[Canteen Boy]

I thought Kevin's name was Tollbooth. Now I'm confused.

[Mark D Montana]

Run bewteen the tackles. Use Legget. Ashton Legget. On the the 3