How good will MSU be next year?
How good will Michigan State be next year without this group of seniors? Since 2011 I had always assumed MSU would have a strong team through 2013 based on the group of defensive players that graduate this year. But, MSU also has a number of offensive players graduating this year too, namely 3 offensive linemen. But, the majority of difference makers will be lost on defense including Lewis, Dennard, Bullough, Allen, Hoover, and Reynolds. I also wonder if Drummond may enter the draft. That’s a lot of experienced defenders up the middle. I personally see them taking a step back next year. What are your thoughts? I know it seems silly to worry about MSU but lets face, they’ve won 5 of the last 6 and we haven’t beaten them in E. Lansing since Carr and “Little brother”.
December 8th, 2013 at 9:02 PM ^
that's a good point, I guess my point was MSU was always atleast more of a prostyle, no matter how lousy, compared to RR to Hoke, where you're changing an entire identity. I suppose when you're at the bottom like MSU with no expectations years ago, the only way is up, where we get greedy, understandably so, as a MIchigan fanbase used to historically winning. Damn expectations.
December 8th, 2013 at 10:08 PM ^
They'll be competent on offense and pretty good on defense. Losing the players they have this year will be significant, and all the player development of 3* players doesn't replace a decent number of NFL players in a single year. I think their offense will be better next year with Cook, and maybe that will make up for a step back on defense. I figure they'll win 8-10 games next year as well. Losing Narduzzi will probably hurt a bit too, but Dantonio knows how to coach and will keep them humming along. They are a good team, and they'll be a tough out for years to come.
That said, I do think this little stretch will be the apex for this team, just because of a bunch of factors that were out of their control. OSU, PSU, andUM have been going through various struggles the past couple of seasons to various degrees, and that has helped MSU snag players and maintain stability while other squads have been unsettled. But PSU should get over the hump in 2-3 years, UM seems largely back on track in terms of recruiting and (I suspect) player development, and OSU probably won't go undefeated for another 20+ games but is obviously a class leader in the conference. This MSU team reminds me a bit of those Iowa teams from years past; a couple of seasons they look dominant and then they hit a bit of a rough patch with player development and recruiting and they struggle. MSU will be a really good team in this conference as long as Dantonio sticks around, but I don't think the rest of the conference is going to let them get too far away.
December 8th, 2013 at 10:45 PM ^
December 8th, 2013 at 10:48 PM ^
December 9th, 2013 at 2:10 PM ^
December 9th, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^
7-5, 8-4, or 6-6. I think they will have a falloff like they usually do after a 10 win season!