Spartans Conclude Spring Football Drills

April 24, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Questions still abound about the Michigan State football team's 2004 prospects, but coach John L. Smith felt he was a little closer to finding answers after the Spartans' spring game Saturday.

A crowd of about 16,000 watched the team's final spring practice, which covered 115 plays and ran for about two hours.

The biggest question remains at quarterback, where Stephen Reaves and Damon Dowdell alternated series. Drew Stanton, who did not play Saturday due to a knee injury suffered in the Alamo Bowl, will compete for the job this summer.

The winner will succeed the graduated Jeff Smoker, who started all or part of the past four seasons.

The Spartans offense struggled Saturday, especially early.

"That concerns me," Smith said. "We lacked a sense of urgency out there, and that comes down to leadership. We need more fire out there."

Stanton believes he can fill that bill.

"I've got the confidence, and I plan to take more of a leadership role," he said. Stanton said that he had participated in everything except contact drills for the Spartans this spring, and watched the scrimmage from the sideline.

Reaves, a redshirt freshman, completed 15-of-26 passes for 184 yards, with two interceptions. Dowdell completed 10-of-22 passes for 69 yards and an interception.

"Right now, it's going to be Reaves battling Stanton," Smith said. "If Damon shores up his grades, he might be in the mix, too. But he's got to show me something in the classroom, first."

Dowdell, a redshirt senior, said his grades won't be a problem after the spring semester.

"My plan is to be the starting quarterback," Dowdell said. "I'm going to get my academics tightened up and then hit the film room. I plan on being in the mix" at quarterback.

At running back, redshirt freshman Jehuu Caulcrick rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, while DeAndra Cobb carried nine times for 77 yards, including a 24-yard scoring run.

"Both had good days," Smith said. "I could see us putting both of them on the field sometimes, to change up our offense. They both give us the same thing."

The offense was helped a little bit by the defense, which did not blitz during the scrimmage, but linebacker Seth Mitchell intercepted two passes.

"It's still early," Mitchell said. "I know there's a lot of room for improvement. We still have to work on the fundamentals. We played well in the first half (of the scrimmage) but we let up in the second half, and we can't have that."

Smith also was pleased with the results of competition at kicker, between redshirt senior Dave Rayner, who kicked a 62-yard field goal, and junior-college transfer John Goss. Goss also competed with Brandon Fields at punter, and both averaged over 45 yards per kick.

At his previous stops in Louisville, Utah State and Idaho, Smith's teams had won a conference championship by his third year at those schools.

"I think so," he said when asked if the Spartans were on a similar pace. "I think it's realistic. But I hope to challenge now, too. We've got to come out of the blocks strong."

The Spartans begin the 2004 season at Rutgers on Sept. 4.