Lippett Grows In Confidence; Emerges As Go-To Receiver
9/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Steve Grinczel, MSUSpartans.com Online Columnist | @GrinzOnGreen EAST LANSING, Mich. - Aside from being a smidge faster and a little stronger, Tony Lippett doesn't think there's much physical difference between the wide receiver he is today for Michigan State and the one he was a year ago.
The biggest change in the Tony Lippett who was dealing with being benched 12 months hence and the one who's ranked among the Big Ten leaders after three games in 2014 is an intangible.
"I was probably a good player back then, and I was probably the same kind of player, but I just didn't believe that much," Lippett said. "I believe now. I believe in my abilities, I believe I can go out here and play Big Ten ball and compete at the highest level."
Lippett actually had a pretty good idea about how he stacked up after reestablishing himself as a starter and a reliable target for quarterback Connor Cook as the Spartans proceeded to win Big Ten and Rose Bowl Championships. Lippett led the team with 44 receptions for 613 yards and two touchdowns last season, including the game-winning, 25-yarder against Stanford in Pasadena.
However, Lippett's performance this season stands out for how effortlessly he has caught 18 passes for 345 yards (19.2 yards per catch) and five touchdowns (tied for third in the nation), already, going into Saturday's Homecoming game against Wyoming.
"I'm believing in myself, believing in my capabilities, believing in this offense and believing in the quarterback and it all helps at the same time," Lippett said. "Every day, I come out here I'm trying to get better and that helps my confidence even more.
"I'm going against a great defense and two great corners (Trae Waynes and Darian Hicks) and two safeties (Kurtis Drummond and RJ Williamson), too. It helps my confidence every time I compete against them. If I can catch a ball against them or block them, it helps me out personally."
The last thing Lippett wants to do at this point is take his success against Jacksonville State, Oregon and Eastern Michigan, and where he's ranked individually, for granted.
"I don't really look at it like that," he said. "It's probably good right now, but we haven't started the Big Ten season yet, and we still have a long season to go and anything can happen. I just try to come out here every day and make plays and continue to do what I'm doing to help this team win."
Lippett shaved .05 seconds off his 40-yard dash time with a 4.4 clocking recorded last spring and has added about five pounds of muscle while his game continues to evolve.
"Shout out to the strength coaches," he said. "They continue to push me and I continue to push myself. I've tried to remain aggressive to the ball, I've tried to block better, read defenses better, read what corners are trying to take away and how they trying to play me.
"I've been trying to watch more film with my fellow wide receivers and just really understand the game plan and what teams are trying to eliminate. Watching film helps you anticipate things better. When we see something, we want to be able to react real quick ... because that's what it really comes down to on Saturday, reacting and playing."
Having a year-plus to get in sync with Cook has also facilitated Lippett's transition to becoming Michigan State's go-to receiver.
"He needs to know what I want to do and I need to know where he wants to throw the ball," Lippett said. "We just try to keep that connection and move forward."
