Michigan State University Athletics
Preseason Camp Update: Coach Dantonio Quotes
8/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 22, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio addressed the media Tuesday afternoon inside the Duffy Daugherty Indoor Practice Building before leading the team through its 21st practice of preseason camp. The team wraps up camp this week before preparing for UAB in the season opener Sept. 1 at Spartan Stadium.
On the state of the team after 20 practices:
I think in terms of health we are very good. We don't have many people out and that's a big thing right now when you look at most teams across the nation, so we've been real fortunate there. I think we're tired of playing against each other right now, which everybody is. Our guys have continued to be motivated for practice, but I think we are ready to play a game.
On identifying a second-string quarterback:
That's still a little bit up in the air. We've got two guys who have sort of emerged in that position in Nick Foles and Connor Dixon. Kirk Cousins is going to be a great quarterback for us, but those two guys are the ones who are there at this very moment. That may change but both of them have done some good things and both of them need to be a little bit more consistent for us.
On setting the two-deep depth chart:
There are still some question marks out there. We're going to give everybody an opportunity until the 28th though. We are going to keep it open then we'll sit down and establish it.
On the current crop of freshman:
It's going to be tough for some of the guys to be red-shirted. I think it's a good class and a solid class of people. They're extremely hard workers and good workers at their respective positions and we respect all of them. (Antonio) Jeremiah is going to be a very good player for us. (Greg) Jones will play this year and so will Jeremiah. (Garrett) Celek is a good tight end that needs to grow because there's a lot of depth at that position. B.J. Cunningham has been solid, he's going to be a good wide receiver here. Aaron Bates is fighting for the starting job (at punter) and has done a nice job so far.
On senior wide receiver Terry Love:
He's working with the second team. I think he took care of his business like he wanted to and I think he's done a nice job getting eligible. He wasn't happy that he went ineligible for the second (summer) session, but he did what he needed to do and now we're moving forward. He's a senior and he deserves the opportunity to perform with the second team right now.
On the team speed:
I think the more often we do things, the faster we're going to play. I like the way our guys have been attacking the situation, but it's been only 20 days of practice so it has been up, down and around.
On selecting starters:
I think we pretty much know who we are going to go with, but with some guys we're not sure if they're going to be a solo starter or it they're going to share time.
On "the pulse" of this team:
I'd like to think that we've got a little bit of attitude and resolve here. We've had a very good camp. If you look at our situation we haven't had one player quit. Nobody has been dehydrated, basically everybody has been at pretty much every practice. The attitude, I think, is excellent.
