Gameday: Northwestern
And it's about time we explored one of the overlooked elements of the best MSU defense in a long time -- a bigger and healthy Kevin Pickelman.
“Kittredge has looked good in there," Ted Gill said. "Joel Heath has got some potential in there. Damon Knox is giving us a lot of play in there. I think he’s gonna be pretty decent. And the other one is (Brandon) Clemons. And the guy, if he loses a few pounds, Ramondo’s got a chance.”
Asked the same question, here's what Pat Narduzzi said: “Kittredge, he’s gonna be a good football player. Damon Knox is gonna be a good one. Brandon Clemons is gonna be a good one.”
Gill also said he isn't sure whether Micajah Reynolds might come back to defense for next season. He expects Blake Treadwell to stay on offense for the rest of his career.
Pickelman cutting room:
Pickelman on playing at MSU: “This is a gift. To be able to strap on the helmet and the pads and come out here to this great facility. I had some hard times with some injuries and it really tested me on how much I really want to play. And I’m just so happy to have a season where I haven’t gotten real banged up. And I really credit that to coach Mannie and me just being more matured as a football player. And just having that extra 15 to 20 pounds has been awesome. Being inside, you just take so much more of a pounding.”
Pickelman on the NFL: “Yeah, that’d be awesome. But the NFL, for offensive and defensive linemen it’s like three years (average career span). So it’s something that’s short term and then you have to go on. That’s why I’m getting my degree.”
Pickelman on his job: “My first priority is to take on two people and try to free Bullough and those guys in the back, that is my main job. But we run so many blitzes and stunts where I’m able to exchange gaps and use my movement and my quickness where I’m able to then penetrate and make plays. But my main job is, yes, to try and make a wall and keep those guys off so they can make the plays. So when Bullough makes a tackle down the sideline and I took on a good scoop block and I kept the guard off the line, I’m just as pumped for him. Because I feel like I made the tackle too. Because I know if I let him go and he cuts off the backer, then I screwed up and I’ve got coach Gill on me. You don’t want that.”
So who do you fear more, Gill or Narduzzi? “Oh, definitely Gill. Because I’m with Gill every day. He’s really pushed me and I’m grateful for him sticking with me, because I don’t understand what they were thinking when I was 250 pounds and they were sticking me at nose tackle or three technique. I mean, the linebackers were bigger than me.”
Pickelman on playing against offense like Northwestern's: “I love them, because I’ve got a motor so I can keep going.”
Gill on Pickelman: “He’s put it all together in his senior year. Which I think is something that a lot of people don’t see. But you could see him progressing every year. The guy is an endless worker, he always tries to do something. He’s always asking questions. The guy’s an unbelievable student of the game.”
Also today, matchups and rail. The Spartans have convinced me that they're serious about winning this game. If they go out and do it convincingly, I'll be convinced that they're ready to go win another one and get to the Rose Bowl. But it won't be easy and it will be sloppy out there today. Can MSU run it right at a stacked defensive front?
Congrats to Ithaca for its second straight state title. Also to Fowler, for a great season that came up one game short against Mendon. Lansing Catholic and P-W go for championships today. And the MSU hockey team scored a big upset of the Gophers.
Talk to you in a bit from Ryan Field.
