Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Preparing for First Scrimmage
8/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. â€" Following a week of practice, the Michigan State football team is preparing for the first scrimmage of preseason camp on Saturday.
Under partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, the Spartans held their eighth practice of camp on Friday. Before the workout, head coach Mark Dantonio met with the media to give an update on the team.
"We're trying to get as many people reps as we can as we move through this," said Dantonio, "and after the second scrimmage really, we'll have to start making decisions (on the depth chart). We try and go a little bit every day to try and give people opportunities. We're forcing our young players to play. It doesn't mean that they will be the guys, but we're trying to get them in there with the twos some and force the issue to see if they can retain and play at a higher level. That's what we're trying to do to make sure everyone gets reps. We have 105 guys out here, so we're trying to get a lot of people reps."
A report from Saturday's scrimmage, including quotes, statistics and a brief recap, will be available at msuspartans.com.
Dantonio also talked about the loss of fifth-year senior linebacker Ed Davis, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during Wednesday's practice.
"It was very unfortunate," said Dantonio. "Things happen when people are running and cutting and things of that nature on the field. It just happened.
"He's hanging in there as well as you could expect him to do. He's been positive. We'll give him something to do and he'll have a role on this football team. We'll petition for him to travel to every game, and hopefully that will come through. He remains a part of this team and remains a fixture here. There's always some value that people can give, so he will bring value to this football team."
As far as the tough task of replacing Davis in the lineup, Dantonio said several players were in the mix.
"Chris Frey played a lot of football for us last year as a true freshman, so he's a guy with a lot of experience," said Dantonio. "Jon Reschke is another guy that we lost last year (missed last four games with shoulder injury), but he's a very good player, and figures to be one of the three or four best linebackers right now.
"I think (Drake) Martinez is a guy that can really, really run, but he has to learn some things as we go. But he really runs and contacts people. Shane Jones is a guy that's played as well; he's having a good fall camp…Andrew Dowell's been impressive. We have some other guys. Tyriq Thompson, we'll see if he can make a move. Sean Harrington is a big, tall guy who's in his third year now and makes plays. He's a non-scholarship player; he makes plays for us and has done some good things. There's five or six guys just off the top of my head.
"It's hard. We're in our third day of pads. A lot of things will be dictated on how they scrimmage tomorrow and into next week, and then next Saturday (second scrimmage)."
MEET THE SPARTANS SET FOR TUESDAY, AUG. 18: Michigan State football fans of all ages are invited to attend the 13th-annual "Meet The Spartans," presented by Pepsi, on Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 4:30-8 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. Ninth-year Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio and members of the 2015 football team will be available for autographs on the concourse inside the stadium.
Parking is free (Ramp 5; Lots 63W, 66A, 75, 79 and 62W), and the stadium gates (Gates B, C and J) open at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.
The format is similar to last year, as offensive players will be available for autographs from approximately 5:30-6:30 p.m. and defensive players from approximately 6:30-7:30 p.m. Dantonio will be available for autographs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Autograph stations will be positioned on the north, east and west concourses inside Spartan Stadium.
For more information, click here.
FORMER SPARTAN GREAT GEORGE GUERRE PASSES AWAY: Former Michigan State halfback George Guerre, who led the Spartans in rushing, total offense, all-purpose yards and punting for three-straight seasons from 1946-48, died from congestive heart failure on Thursday, Aug. 13 at his home in Bath, Michigan. Guerre was 91.
A three-year letterman, Guerre played one year (1946) for Charlie Bachman and his last two seasons (1947-48) for Clarence "Biggie" Munn.
Guerre was inducted into the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.
"Our thoughts and prayers to out to the family and teammates of George Guerre," MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said. "He was a great all-around player for ‘Biggie' Munn in the 1940s. George also was a World War II veteran, so we appreciate his service and everything he did for our country. He was a wonderful man and a great Spartan. We were all saddened when he heard the news of his passing last night."
For a complete release, click here.
Delton Williams RETURNS TO TEAM: Junior running back Delton Williams, who hadn't participated in any football-related activities since mid-March and wasn't enrolled in summer school due to violating University ordinance 18.01 by possessing a weapon on campus last March, returned to the practice field today for the Spartans. In an earlier statement released July 27, Dantonio said Williams had "satisfied the University's (student conduct system), court's and football program's expectations."
Dantonio spoke about Williams' return on Friday.
"We're going to find out where he's at a little bit," commented Dantonio. "He's got to be in shorts for a couple of days, then shells, then pads. We want to build for Delton's future, and that's the important thing now. Everything we do will be for his future â€" football-wise, academically, and everything else. I think it's a statement that he's here with us today and that he's made this choice to come in this direction.
"My decision I weighed out, the best I could, I let it sit for a little while to get past the emotional part of it. And then I tried to do what I thought was best for his future. I did not want the situation to cast more negativity on him. I wanted us to be able to move forward, which I think everyone always wants to move forward with their lives.
"We'll see where he's at. He's missed spring and he missed all of summer conditioning, but he's been working himself, and he's motivated. He's on course to do some great things I feel."
Spartan defensive line coach Ron Burton
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Defensive line coach Ron Burton
On what he's looking for in the upcoming scrimmage…
We want to make sure as we go through the scrimmage that we get the numbers with the guys that we think can help us on the football field, especially our second and third teams with the younger guysâ€" the red-shirt freshmen, sophomoresâ€" that we get maximum reps of seeing those guys in game-like situations. For a Montez Sweat, Enoch Smith Jr., Craig Evans and a Malik McDowell, more game-like situations as we solidify our depth chart.
On Craig Evans…
From Craig Evans we see the strength to hold a point. We've seen the ability that he has great feet. He's continued to get better with his hands and he'll have that opportunity if he progresses in every down player, knowing that he can dominate the man that he's over.
On Montez Sweat…
The guy who really has shown his ability is Montez Sweat. Now he's starting to do more than just be a pass player, he's been a running player. It's a very pleasant surprise.
On Malik McDowell's progression…
He's understanding more technique that's involved. Understanding the linemen's assignments that he sees. He's picking up knowledge of the game.
On Shilique Calhoun's leadership of the defensive line…
Nothing's changed there for sure. He's a guy whose leadership style make people listen. It's not just talk to talk, but his verbal communication allows him now to command the room which he's always had and it's just more important now.
Quarterbacks coach Brad Salem
On the goals of the scrimmage tomorrow…
I think anytime that we give them the opportunity to go over to Spartan Stadium it is to try and make it as game-real as possible. From a quarterback position, we want to make sure guys are making the right decision with the football, game management, clock management, getting plays from the head coach and signaling in some of those things. You are doing that from the sidelines here at practice, but it may be a little more difficult during a scrimmage.
On the offense's depth …
The biggest thing is the competition and depth we have at those positions. At receiver, we have guys that have played. We lost two seniors, Keith (Mumphery) and Tony (Lippett), but we got guys with a lot of experience that have had a great fall camp early and a good spring. We are deep at tailback and guys are competing. I think that tomorrow will be a good measuring stick for our group.
On surprises and progress through fall camp…
The biggest thing is how much our guys have retained. It really helps having the depth and experience we have in the offensive line, quarterback and tight end, really in those groups, and receivers too. You are seeing a lot of retention from what we have done in the past.
On ability to cover more of the offense with experienced group…
We have been able to install stuff faster and even put a little bit more in on a different basis. It is good to see the experience and see the guys back out here in football situations making good decisions.
Linebackers and special teams coach Mark Snyder
On replacing senior linebacker Ed Davis…
(Sophomore linebacker) Shane (Jones) is getting some reps over there. (Sophomore linebacker) Jon (Reschke) is getting some reps over there, and he is moving back and forth between Mike and money (Sam). (Sophomore) Chris (Frey) is obviously there full time.
On moving sophomore linebacker Drake Martinez…
(Drake) Martinez is a thought. We will evaluate that after tomorrow. He has been out there behind (senior linebacker) Darien (Harris) and learning what to do there, so he is getting a comfort level. We will make those decisions after the scrimmage, but that could be a thought.
On sophomore linebacker Chris Frey…
He is doing well. He is starting to settle down and get comfortable in that role. He had a great teacher in front of him. (Senior linebacker) Ed (Davis) is a pretty good player, so he got to watch a lot of good stuff in front of him for an entire spring.
On Jon Reschke's role at linebacker…
He was playing all Mike, but we have moved him to money (Sam) where (senior linebacker) Ed (Davis) was at. Jon has some athleticism, and that position is an athletic position at times depending on who we are playing. We are thinking about (sophomore linebacker) Drake (Martinez) and looking at (sophomore linebacker) Jon (Reschke). There will be some teams that we are going to play that we need some athleticism over there, which is why we are experimenting a little bit.
