Projected Michigan State Two-Deep: Defense
by Pete Rossman on Jan 19, 2012 5:04 PM CST
in Michigan State Spartans Football
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This morning I had the projected two-deeps for the offense by Jim from A Beautiful Day for Football, and now comes the defense. Once again, these are merely projections, best guesses, divinations, etc.
Check it out and assorted notes after the jump.
| Position | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDE1 | William Gholston | Denzel Drone | Joel Heath | Joel Heath |
| SDE2 | Tyler Hoover | Joel Heath | Shilque Calhoun | TBD(2013 kid) |
| NT1 | Rashad White | Micajah Reynolds | Matt Ramondo | Matt Ramondo |
| NT2 | Micajah Reynolds | Matt Ramondo | Jordan Sanders | Jordan Sanders |
| DT1 | Damon Knox | Damon Knox | Damon Knox | Damon Knox |
| DT2 | James Kittredge | James Kittredge | James Kittredge | Joel Heath |
| WDE1 | Marcus Rush | Marcus Rush | Marcus Rush | Jamal Lyles |
| WDE2 | Shilique Calhoun | Shilique Calhoun | Taylor Calero | TBD(2013 kid) |
| STAR1 | Chris Norman | Taiwan Jones | Taiwan Jones | Riley Bullough |
| STAR2 | Taiwan Jones | Riley Bullough | Riley Bullough | TBD(2013 kid) |
| MIKE1 | Max Bullough | Max Bullough | Lawrence Thomas | Lawrence Thomas |
| MIKE2 | TyQuan Hammock | TyQuan Hammock | 2013 kid(Johnny Reschke)? | 2013 kid(Johnny Reschke)? |
| SAM1 | Denicos Allen | Denicos Allen | Ed Davis | Ed Davis |
| SAM2 | Steve Gardiner | Kyler Elsworth | TBD(2013 kid) | TBD(2013 kid) |
| FC1 | Darqueze Dennard | Darqueze Dennard | Jeremy Langford | Ezra Robinson |
| FC2 | Jeremy Langford | Jeremy Langford | Ezra Robinson | TBD(2013 kid) |
| FS1 | Kurtis Drummond | Kurtis Drummond | Kurtis Drummond | RJ Williamson |
| FS2 | RJ Williamson | RJ Williamson | RJ Williamson | Kyle Kerrick |
| SS1 | Isaiah Lewis | Isaiah Lewis | Arjen Colquhoun | Arjen Colquhoun |
| SS2 | Jairus Jones | Jairus Jones | Kyle Kerrick | Kyle Kerrick |
| BC1 | Johnny Adams | Jermaine Edmonson | Jermaine Edmonson | Jermaine Edmonson |
| BC2 | Mylan Hicks | Mylan Hicks | Ezra Robinson | TBD(2013 kid) |
Here's the notes Jim sent me on the defense:
2012 Depth Chart Notes
- I assumed Gholston to be gone after next year, I did not assume Bullough, Denicos Allen or Lewis to be gone even though none of them leaving would totally surprise me.
- I have Damon Knox winning The Battle to Be A Worthy Replacement, I really have no idea who'll win this, but he looks like the best bang for buck in 2012 for athleticism vs. size. He'll probably end up platooning with Kittredge. I forsee much platooning at the Jerel Worthy DT position next year.
Transfer Risks After 2012
- Whichever of our stock of 6'4 275 lb DTs don't get any playing time in 2012
- DB - Mylan Hicks
- DE - Taylor Calero
2013 Recruiting Strategem
- LB Opulence, if you wants to continue to has it: LB needs to be a point of emphasis in 2013 recruiting, MSU needs to bring in some young talented LBers. Note: I have included Johnny Reschke in the 2013 LB projected depth chart which is probably my biggest shot in the dark. The internets have indicated that MSU did not take a Mike in the 2012 class in hopes of securing Reschke.
- A Nose Tackle and a bigger bodied DT are strongly encouraged for 2013's class. MSU graduates White in 2012 and Reynolds in 13. Ramondo is the only other dude solidly into the 300s on the defensive line. After that there are a host of 270-280 lbs tweeners who will hopefully have a couple bulk up and a couple others speed up.
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Love that D
That is a very impressive 2-deep at literally every position.
Guys like Denzel Drone & Taiwan Jones could start at half the B1G schools, & they’re down on the depth chart here.
ARW is going to be a badass next season, he really came out in the Outback Bowl. Denicos is going to explode as a sophomore, all conference.
Our back 4 is as good as it’s been since ’99 when Saban was here & was led by players like Renaldo Hill, Amp Campbell & Eric Morris (and a certain current head coach was the secondary coach . . . ).
not to mention Lawrence Thomas not even being in the two--deep till his junior(?) year
by jonathan.onne on Jan 20, 2012 4:34 AM CST up reply actions
Great point
LT fell behind Taiwan this season & was reshirted, now he’ll be facing an uphill battle to see the field soon as a MLB
I was really unsure what to do with LT
He reportedly came to camp at 6’4" and 275, which makes him smallish DT size. It’s been widely speculated that he will be a DE in college, but thus far I don’t think a formal position switch has been announced. I don’t see him replacing Bullough obviously, so maybe he could end up Mike2? But Hammock has looked ok when he had to play the spot.
Anyway, his story will be one of the most interesting of Spring Ball IMO.
I think it was Rexrode in one of his chat's
But I remember reading that the staff was still really high on LT as the future starting Mike. Especially with the Redshirt, he’s now got two years separation from Bullough. So yea he might see limited time the next two years, but will then be in a position to step in as a RS Soph and start 3 years.
Obviously a long ways to go for this all to shake out.
by trivialstuff16 on Jan 20, 2012 9:28 AM CST up reply actions
whoops, Math skills lacking
RS Junior and start two years. And obviously could potentially see some time at other spots depending on circumstances.
by trivialstuff16 on Jan 20, 2012 9:29 AM CST up reply actions
? Any chance they will move Drone or another DE to DT?
I’m pretty sure Drone played at little inside against Georgia due to Pickelman and Strayhorn’s season-ending injuries.
Obviously it would be a big commitment from the player to add strength/weight in the offseason while keeping their speed but I would not be surprised to see one of the DE move to DT.
Dantonio and the other coaches seem to excel at moving players to positions where they
can be successful. It seems like they will take a player who is adequate at one defensive position and move them to be hugely successful. The best example is Ghoulston moving from LB to DE. Think of all the 2 and 3 deep players in the last 5 years who have moved from corner to safety, defense to OL or FB or TE. France is another good example of a player really having success. Treadwell too though not
sure his success on Dline may have been similar.
Compared to JLS days where the offense really always won the best players(ie TJ Duckett) when a player could play either way, I think the way they move players among positions is a big part of our success and why the defense as a team is so good. The other thing they seem to excel at is rotating players on the 2 deep so there is real development and when we have an injury, the back up is not a huge dropoff in efficiency.
Lastly, playing Lippett both ways is helpful too.
Drone did line up inside some this season
And looking at him, he looks more DT than DE to me (of course, at 6’7, Hoover looks like someone who would be an end). But it is nice to have all that talent up front, and be able to rotate players throughout games to keep them fresh. Not to mention, when guys get banged up like in the Iowa game ;-)
What an awesome depth chart
I agree with MSUDersh…. I think A. White has a big year. DT is really the only question mark for the defense next year. White, Kittredge, and Reynolds all have experience playing DT. Hoover was playing the middle of our 3-3-5 on passing downs so he adds depth there as well. Plus we have 4 freshman DT’s who red-shirted this year.
I think that group can at least be an average big ten unit, but I wouldn’t be surprised if White and somebody else turn into difference makers.
I’d bet LT backs up Bullough as he got lots of praise this year on the scout team. Another guy I’m really excited to see is Shilique Calhoun. He’s supposed to be a physical freak who has a ton of potential as a pass rusher. He’ll get some snaps this year and likely take over for Gholston once he leaves.
The scary thing for other teams is that we return 8 guys who at least earned all big ten honorable mention while only having 3 senior starters and the coaches said all year that we had the best scout team defense they’ve ever been around. The defense should be top notch for at least the next couple years.
One note concerning Hoover
I know the coaches are going to try and get him a medical red-shirt for this year, so he could be around through 2013.
Our defensive depth is disgusting
If two of Worthy’s replacements can be 2/3rds as good as Worthy our D is better next year. They were just short of Alabama/LSU territory this year, IMO.
If D has a national title run in him, I think it’s in 2013. We have to get to the Rose Bowl that year, it’s our best shot in a long time.
Agreed
If our DT’s can just be servicable our defense should be improved as we return 18 of 22 on the 2-deep as well as 10 or 11 freshman who red-shirted.
I’ve been saying the same thing about 2013, especially if Gholston is the only one who goes pro early. We return almost everyone on offense (19 of 22) and the majority of the defense (17 or 18 of 22) plus we don’t play OSU or Wisconsin during the regular season. If we’re going to have a truly special year that looks like the best chance.
2013
Don’t forget that in 2013, we drop OSU and Wisconsin and add Purdue and Illinois, combined with a home game against UM. Still have trips to Lincoln and Iowa City, but still, some stars are aligning here.
"It was worth it. Every needle, every dose of medicine that I've taken. That's why you play the game. A chance to be on a Final Four team, a chance to win championships." Delvon Roe
by Ducking Delvon on Jan 20, 2012 1:47 PM CST up reply actions
Calhoun
I think you guys are confusing Shilique Calhoun with Tiawan Jones. He is the one who looks like “The Hulk”
Oh yeah
Taiwan is “The Hulk,” but I know Shilique is the one I’ve heard called the strongest lineman since Mandarich (who was obviously on the other side of the line, but still immensley strong).
Hopefully
Their respective strengths are the result of different (ahem) workout practices.
"It was worth it. Every needle, every dose of medicine that I've taken. That's why you play the game. A chance to be on a Final Four team, a chance to win championships." Delvon Roe
by Ducking Delvon on Jan 20, 2012 1:44 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I know this is way too far into the future and everything will change
But after looking at these two-deeps for offense and defense, 2013 could be a very good year.
9 projected returners on offense and 7 on defense.
Gholston
What has to get you pumped is how Gholston progressed. As a raw freshman, to a contributing sophmore, to a flat-out dominating Bowl appearance. I cannot recall an MSU DE wreak so much havok on a QB. I think by the 4th quarter, Murray was shell-shocked.
If we continue to see progression out of Gholston, he could be darn near unstoppable.
by Dick's Fake Eye on Jan 20, 2012 12:04 PM CST reply actions
Gholston is a beast
And really had a comin-out season. Last down linemen at his level at MSU have to be Jonal St. Dic, or further back, Robaire Smith & Julian Peterson.
2013 Strategem
In recruiting defense….pursuing top linebacker talent can never hurt you, and Coach D is good at it. However, MSU is stacked at that position, to the point where they may begin to see good players leave to find playing time.
I’m not sure anyone (except Dantonio) foresaw the development of Jerel Worthy into a top player…but coach D himself is emphasizing recruitment of big bodies for the DL. These are the toughest and most competitive positions to recruit for in college football. To break thru into the top echelon (SEC level), this is where the program needs to see more success.
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