The Blue Board

Current team has the same winning season streak as the spartys. Lol, how quickly sparty forgets even recent memories.

Complete trash?

That sounds more like an irrational thought from someone who just hates rather than an informed opinion. What part, specifically, is complete trash?

The QB--2010 Offensive Player of the Year? Not really trash. He's a gifted athlete.
The OL--Lot of returning starters on that line. More than Sparty as a matter of fact.
RB--perhaps
WR--perhaps
DL--2 returning starters which is the same as Sparty
ILB--one returning starter which is more than Sparty
OLB--2 returning starters in Roh and Gordon while State is moving an OLB inside (if I heard RockySpartan correctly). Gordon and Jones started more games as a tandem than any two in the history of the school. Why am I the only one who sees that as a glaring concern?
DB--returning starters but perhaps trash.

So complete? Nah.

Few corrections:

1) I think Roundtree is a great WR. With Stonum gone, that throws that unit into the ? territory. Hemingway could make a difference, but he really hasn't thus far, and I'm trying not to project TOO much in these. I think Koger will have his best year at TE, but behind him is a lot of ?? Still, no way would I call this unit "trash"

2) We return 3 DL starters, and Anthony Rashad White started multiple games last year (due to injuries to Pickelman and Treadwell) . . . . maybe put that at 2.5 starters returning because he definitely didn't start the whole year. I want to see how your DL adapts to going back to the 4-3, particulary for Martin.

3) MSU's LBs: We're moving Chris Norman from the STAR (our "WILL) to the SAM, so we're moving an OLB to OLB. ILB is Bullough, who backed up Jones last year; he's a prototypical Big 10 MIKE (6'3 240). The new STAR is Denicos Allen, who saw most of his action last year on special teams (he's only a RS SOph, so that's not surprising). This area isn't a major concern because Bullough and Allen had great springs, along with Tyquan Hammock, who can play the SAM or the MIKE. Feel that we have 4 LBs that can start, with Jeremy Gainer and Steve Gardiner being solid back-ups. Still, to be fair and not project, Bullough has 20 tackles, 1 TFL and 1 INT in his career and Allen has 16 tackles and a blocked punt. It's an area to watch for us, no doubt, but if there's one area that MSU feels that it can "reload" at outside the skill positions, it's LB.

I still think there are more ? about UM's LBs than MSU's. I'd say Norman is a more known quantity than Demons, and moving Cam Gordon to the OLB isn't a great thing, considering his performance last year. Jake Ryan I hear great things about, but he has seen less PT that Allen or Bullough.

4) Your DBs . . . yea, I think I saw something that said your DBs have a combined 0 career INTs. Not great.

It seems every time the conversation gets levelheaded and civil, a Spartan with an inferiority complex likes this has to chime in and ruin it. SpartanRocky, I don't know how you put up with it, but thanks for rational discussion instead of unsupported ornery gibberish.

Well since we're predicting our opponents record, I guess I'll chime in with my take on State's upcoming season:
Youngstown St.- W
FAU - W
at ND - L
CMU - W. Dan Enos can recruit but the dude appears to be over his head.
at OSU - L but it depends. If they lose their starting RB, WR, and guys on defense, then I'll switch to a W
Michigan - L. Homer or not, I'll never concede this game as long as RichRod isn't the head coach and Greg Robinson isn't living inside the borders of Michigan
Wisconsin - L. This won't be the Badger's first conference road game this year so they won't choke. (they've lost their first conference road game in something like 9 of the last 10 years)
at Nebraska- L
Minnesota - W
at Iowa - W
Indiana - W
at Northwestern - L, no W, no L, no W. Honestly, it's a crap shoot. MSU is 8-7 in the MD era in conference road games.

That's 7-5, which I think is the low end of reality. On the high side, 9-3 switching the Michigan and Ohio State games to Ws. I equate MSU 2010/11 to Iowa 2009/10.

Check again. We are Wisconsin's first conference road game . I had to double check, but they don't leave home until our game on Oct. 22; first 3 weeks are Nebraska, Bye, Indiana. That's a W for MSU.

And since you admit to being a homer and we all know there's no way UM beats MSU this year . . . .yea, that means your real prediction for MSU is 9-3, or 10-2 if we get tOSU.

The only game I'm willing to concede as a 90% sure loss is @ Nebraska. @ND? Not a chance that I put that as an auto-loss, it's a toss-up. MSU has more Ws @ ND than any other program in history; if there's one "tough" road venue that isn't so tough for MSU, it's @ND.

I'll fly a UM flag from my house if you guys do the same.

Really, MSU's schedule looks like this to me:

Sure Loss: Neb

Toss-ups: @ND, @tOSU, @Iowa, Wisconsin

Better than 75% Ws: Youngstown St., CMU, FAU, IU, Minny, Michigan, @ Northwestern

Say we win 50% of our toss-ups and all our should wins, gives us a 9-3 record, which is my prediction for the year.

I know

OK Common recruits ~ UofM and MSU, Dwayne Stanford and Adolphus Washington, will be visiting Michigan this week. HUGE visit. Not sure how realistic their dream of going to the same school is, but I think we have a legitimate shot here for both. OSU was the obvious destination, but who knows anymore. looks like OSu will miss out on Jaquay, which may make them turn their focus back to Stanford.

Lets get some of that Hoke-us Pocus and land these 2.

I realize MSU has won the last 3 meetings, but I still cannot believe how many MSU fans are literally just chalking up the UM game as an automatic win. When MSU was losing 7-8 in a row I don't think I ever thought the MSU game was a lock for Michigan. Maybe JLS's last year, but that's it.

I think we PENCIL in Burbridge and Stanford

Supposedly UM has "slowed down" the recruitment of Pittman.

If 10 more are taken in this class it'll be:

3DL
1DB
2OL
1WR
1RB
1QB
and 1 I dunno