Michigan State University Athletics
Preseason Camp Update: Coach Dantonio Quotes
8/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State football team is in its third week of preseason camp, with the season opener now less than two weeks away as the Spartans will face Jacksonville State Aug. 29 at Spartan Stadium.
Following Monday's first practice, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio gave an update on the team to the media. Dantonio said senior offensive guard Connor Kruse suffered an injury during the team's second preseason scrimmage last Friday, and although there isn't a timetable available yet on Kruse's return to the field, the eighth-year Spartan head coach did say the injury wasn't "season ending."
As to how Kruse's absence will shuffle the offensive line, Dantonio said junior Donavon Clark will move from right tackle to right guard, while sophomore Kodi Kieler will enter the starting five at right tackle.
"I thought (Kodi) had an outstanding spring," said Dantonio. "You could make a case for him to be in the top five and I think he has had a very, very solid summer. He is a very athletic big guy. He is tough and knows what to do. So he is going to be a guy who plays for us and as Coach (Mark) Staten does, he has been rotating guys in there. So we expected him to play anyway."
The Spartans concluded their two-a-day with an evening practice.
Additional Dantonio quotes:
Feelings on the receiving depth chart...
Well, the only thing you know is that we have got six to seven guys playing, that's all you know. I have been impressed with Monty Madaris. He has had a very solid summer camp and guys continue to make plays. You know, do they block, are they functional in terms of running the right route, do they catch the ball when the ball is in traffic. Those guys are doing a great job, so you can really shake them out and throw them out. They have all done an outstanding job, obviously I think we have our six that are in there, but the other guys are very, very functional. It's going to be interesting how it shakes out at game time.
On countdown to kickoff...
I think it starts a little bit next week. We will finish up on what we have to do here. We are going to start moving toward Jacksonville State this week as well. But I think when we get back we will give our guys off the weekend. When they get back we will be focusing Sunday night more. I think you have to do certain things situationally in camp, you have to cover all the bases, and we are still doing those things.
Thoughts on camp...
It has been a good camp. Solid camp, but you never know until you get to game time. I really feel like that, because you are going to hit adversity and you have to be able to handle it.
Middle linebacker competition...
I thought Taiwan (Jones) had a very good scrimmage, very solid scrimmage, he was productive. The biggest thing is, is he getting people lined up in there, is he taking control of the defense, and is he playing fast after that, getting off on the ball. I think that he's made great strides in the spring, even from the first scrimmage to the second scrimmage you have seen a definite improvement and I think that he had a winning performance on Saturday in terms of how he played in the scrimmage. The defense won the scrimmage and played much better. It was a very, very close scrimmage.
On Jon Reschke being a threat for the top spot...
The way I always look at it is are guys functional, can they go in and take snaps, and can they play. Will they play in the game; Jon Reschke will play in a game. Beyond that, that will depend how he plays in the game. Does he ever become a one, does he stay at two right now. But he is going to get reps in the game, that's established, he is good enough to do that. He is functional, he makes plays and you notice them.
Thoughts on the quarterbacks...
All three of our quarterbacks are having a great camp and they are much, much, farther along than they were last year.
Newcomers playing in the opener...
Brian Allen is in the two deep, in the offensive line. I think (Montae) Nicolson is flirting there in the two deep at safety. Chris Frey is a guy that might show up on special teams. Those are probably the three guys right now that you are saying okay. Madre (London) might show up as well and the defensive line men, yeah. All three, or four, or two. Obviously we'd like to hold a couple out. Miguel Machado will play as well (on the offensive line). A lot of guys.
On special teams...
Both specialists are back. Mike Geiger has been extremely accurate. Mike Sadler is a preseason All-American, he has been solid coming back from a knee injury. He is fine, he is all good. The snappers are in place, I think our holders are in place, our returners are in place. So, I think we work extremely hard on our special teams aspect of our football team, I think those specialists are All-Big Ten performers. Kicking off for us, that is up to how we are going to play it out. (Kevin) Cronin has been solid, but Geiger has been good, but Cronin has been solid too and Cronin has had a great camp kicking as well.
