Spartans Enter Third Week of Preseason Camp
8/12/2024 5:53:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State football team is entering its third week of preseason camp and held its 12th practice on Monday.
Following practice, MSU head coach Jonathan Smith met with the media to provide an update on the Spartans. Michigan State held its first scrimmage last Saturday in Spartan Stadium and is slated to have another scrimmage later this week.
"I was pleased with all that we got done," said Smith regarding the scrimmage. "Over 100 snaps of live scrimmage, all four phases and special teams, got quality reps there. When I say quality we are learning where we are at. It was not flawless by any stretch of the imagination; it was really good work to recognize where we were at, at that time after 11 practices.
"This is a huge week moving forward. We will scrimmage again, plan on Saturday, so we have to keep pushing. We are getting to that time in camp where our bodies aren't feeling great, a lot of plays, a lot of installs. We have to push through that and be in a constant state of improvement."
MSU opens the 2024 season on Friday, Aug. 30 against Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on BTN.
Quotes from Jonathan Smith:
Opening statement…
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Armorion Smith and his family. Definitely grateful for the outpouring of support from Spartan Nation, and so many, as he and his family are going through this tough time.
Recap a little about Saturday, I was pleased with all that we got done. Over 100 snaps of live scrimmage, all four phases and special teams, got quality reps there. When I say quality we are learning where we are at. It was not flawless by any stretch of the imagination; it was really good work to recognize where we were at, at that time after 11 practices.
This is a huge week moving forward. We will scrimmage again, plan on Saturday, so we have to keep pushing. We are getting to that time in camp where our bodies aren't feeling great, a lot of plays, a lot of installs. We have to push through that and be in a constant state of improvement.
On where the team is at after the first scrimmage…
I thought we were a work in progress. I think each day we make some strides and then we have a set back in a day or two. When more install comes and maybe some more flaws. You're trying to learn about individual players or schemes or sides of the ball. I feel good with where were at and the progress we are making.
On what he would like to see in the next 18 days…
Well, 18 days, we have to tighten up so many details on all three phases for that matter. We are definitely wanting to create this depth and depth chart. Wanting more and more guys earning the opportunity to be on the field so we can have a deep team.
On how many of the starters he feels are cemented into place…
I don't know about an exact number, but we definitely have some guys that are going to start, but not at every position. This thing is competitive, and we talked last night as a team, we want to be a squad that has multiple guys that can go into the game. We want to be playing full speed and with full effort and once in a while you're going to get gassed and feel confident with the next guy going into the game and that is what these next couple of weeks are about.
On what position has the biggest area of competition…
I think the linebacking side, the linebackers. We have multiple guys in that room that can help us. We don't play seven at a time so that thing is competitive. The receiver position, Montorie (Foster Jr.) has taken a couple of days to heal up a little bit, not long term. That's been awesome for more receivers to get opportunities in, that position group has been pretty competitive.
On what he was most pleased with on field at Saturday scrimmage…
You're looking at both sides of the ball when you do the offense-defense thing. I think the defense showed great resilience. Offense put some great drives together but did not finish in the end zone. We ran over 100 plays, we had two turnovers, with those kinds of numbers we want to take the ball away more. We had some third down efficiency, defensively, (that was) really good, except for we converted on some extra longs on third down which is great by the offense.
On the health of the players…
Nothing in the long, long term. Like I said, we're getting to that point in camp where we have some guys we're being smart with, some bumps and bruises. But nothing, no guys are missing the season right now.
On how hard it is to tell in scrimmage if the offense making big plays is due to the power of the offense or a failure by the defense…
It's not always easy. If the big plays are coming off a bust by the defense, that tells you something. When things are contested, both sides and guys make plays you can try and separate, well, that was a better play than giving them like a freebie on a bust.
On where the defense and offense is performing against each other at this point…
Again, offense all 11 guys, the procedure showed up a little bit which is typical for scrimmage. A couple false starts and things, so typical to have the defensive side a little ahead on the side of the scrimmage.
On if defense understands the system more than they did in the spring…
Way better than the spring and again I think this defensive staff, Joe Rossi does a good job with regards to simplifying the thing and the detail of it. We're not there exactly on our detail of it but I do think that where we are spring to now, a lot of progress.
On the big changes he would like to see before the next scrimmage…
I think identification offensively. Making sure we are targeted correctly, get our pad level down, just overall offensively we want to see it. Defensively we want to step up our communication. Let's face it, offenses are not just going to line up in one spot and stay there, we have motions to go across, call coming, awareness of situations needs to take another step, with the third down and the two minute coming. We've done that a little and will do more tomorrow. Just awareness of the situations.
On the competition of offense vs. the defense…
It's great, they need to go against good competition, both sides of it. You should get exposed in practice if you're not playing with great speed and full technique and knowing what you're doing. On both sides, if we can raise our level of play, that is only going to help our team.
On the new headset communication…
I think it's solid. We have been using the walkie talkies for direct communication (at practice). What was really new was that we did take the tablets out there (for the scrimmage) to try and recreate that on the sidelines, adjustments between series and things. That was new to everybody; we will try and recreate it again next Saturday. But overall I felt like the process, the procedure of getting the call in, getting the ball snapped was really good.
On if there is a heightened sense of urgency after this scrimmage and getting closer to the season…
Yeah, you're getting closer, there's things to get fixed. We talked about it this week. There's a ton of separation. Good teams are not just going to go through the motions to get through camp. We are constantly improving and we have to push this. The middle of camp, the bodies are tired, even on the mental side we have to keep pushing it. Then let's face it, separation when it comes to the depth chart. Guys are trying to earn spots, earn playing time, earn getting on the bus for travel spots, so it's a big week.
Following practice, MSU head coach Jonathan Smith met with the media to provide an update on the Spartans. Michigan State held its first scrimmage last Saturday in Spartan Stadium and is slated to have another scrimmage later this week.
Scrimmage One.
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) August 10, 2024
📍Spartan Stadium pic.twitter.com/HwhcRCdOc9
"I was pleased with all that we got done," said Smith regarding the scrimmage. "Over 100 snaps of live scrimmage, all four phases and special teams, got quality reps there. When I say quality we are learning where we are at. It was not flawless by any stretch of the imagination; it was really good work to recognize where we were at, at that time after 11 practices.
"This is a huge week moving forward. We will scrimmage again, plan on Saturday, so we have to keep pushing. We are getting to that time in camp where our bodies aren't feeling great, a lot of plays, a lot of installs. We have to push through that and be in a constant state of improvement."
MSU opens the 2024 season on Friday, Aug. 30 against Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m. in Spartan Stadium. The game will be televised on BTN.
Quotes from Jonathan Smith:
Opening statement…
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Armorion Smith and his family. Definitely grateful for the outpouring of support from Spartan Nation, and so many, as he and his family are going through this tough time.
Recap a little about Saturday, I was pleased with all that we got done. Over 100 snaps of live scrimmage, all four phases and special teams, got quality reps there. When I say quality we are learning where we are at. It was not flawless by any stretch of the imagination; it was really good work to recognize where we were at, at that time after 11 practices.
This is a huge week moving forward. We will scrimmage again, plan on Saturday, so we have to keep pushing. We are getting to that time in camp where our bodies aren't feeling great, a lot of plays, a lot of installs. We have to push through that and be in a constant state of improvement.
On where the team is at after the first scrimmage…
I thought we were a work in progress. I think each day we make some strides and then we have a set back in a day or two. When more install comes and maybe some more flaws. You're trying to learn about individual players or schemes or sides of the ball. I feel good with where were at and the progress we are making.
On what he would like to see in the next 18 days…
Well, 18 days, we have to tighten up so many details on all three phases for that matter. We are definitely wanting to create this depth and depth chart. Wanting more and more guys earning the opportunity to be on the field so we can have a deep team.
On how many of the starters he feels are cemented into place…
I don't know about an exact number, but we definitely have some guys that are going to start, but not at every position. This thing is competitive, and we talked last night as a team, we want to be a squad that has multiple guys that can go into the game. We want to be playing full speed and with full effort and once in a while you're going to get gassed and feel confident with the next guy going into the game and that is what these next couple of weeks are about.
On what position has the biggest area of competition…
I think the linebacking side, the linebackers. We have multiple guys in that room that can help us. We don't play seven at a time so that thing is competitive. The receiver position, Montorie (Foster Jr.) has taken a couple of days to heal up a little bit, not long term. That's been awesome for more receivers to get opportunities in, that position group has been pretty competitive.
On what he was most pleased with on field at Saturday scrimmage…
You're looking at both sides of the ball when you do the offense-defense thing. I think the defense showed great resilience. Offense put some great drives together but did not finish in the end zone. We ran over 100 plays, we had two turnovers, with those kinds of numbers we want to take the ball away more. We had some third down efficiency, defensively, (that was) really good, except for we converted on some extra longs on third down which is great by the offense.
On the health of the players…
Nothing in the long, long term. Like I said, we're getting to that point in camp where we have some guys we're being smart with, some bumps and bruises. But nothing, no guys are missing the season right now.
On how hard it is to tell in scrimmage if the offense making big plays is due to the power of the offense or a failure by the defense…
It's not always easy. If the big plays are coming off a bust by the defense, that tells you something. When things are contested, both sides and guys make plays you can try and separate, well, that was a better play than giving them like a freebie on a bust.
On where the defense and offense is performing against each other at this point…
Again, offense all 11 guys, the procedure showed up a little bit which is typical for scrimmage. A couple false starts and things, so typical to have the defensive side a little ahead on the side of the scrimmage.
On if defense understands the system more than they did in the spring…
Way better than the spring and again I think this defensive staff, Joe Rossi does a good job with regards to simplifying the thing and the detail of it. We're not there exactly on our detail of it but I do think that where we are spring to now, a lot of progress.
On the big changes he would like to see before the next scrimmage…
I think identification offensively. Making sure we are targeted correctly, get our pad level down, just overall offensively we want to see it. Defensively we want to step up our communication. Let's face it, offenses are not just going to line up in one spot and stay there, we have motions to go across, call coming, awareness of situations needs to take another step, with the third down and the two minute coming. We've done that a little and will do more tomorrow. Just awareness of the situations.
On the competition of offense vs. the defense…
It's great, they need to go against good competition, both sides of it. You should get exposed in practice if you're not playing with great speed and full technique and knowing what you're doing. On both sides, if we can raise our level of play, that is only going to help our team.
On the new headset communication…
I think it's solid. We have been using the walkie talkies for direct communication (at practice). What was really new was that we did take the tablets out there (for the scrimmage) to try and recreate that on the sidelines, adjustments between series and things. That was new to everybody; we will try and recreate it again next Saturday. But overall I felt like the process, the procedure of getting the call in, getting the ball snapped was really good.
On if there is a heightened sense of urgency after this scrimmage and getting closer to the season…
Yeah, you're getting closer, there's things to get fixed. We talked about it this week. There's a ton of separation. Good teams are not just going to go through the motions to get through camp. We are constantly improving and we have to push this. The middle of camp, the bodies are tired, even on the mental side we have to keep pushing it. Then let's face it, separation when it comes to the depth chart. Guys are trying to earn spots, earn playing time, earn getting on the bus for travel spots, so it's a big week.
Players Mentioned
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