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Michigan State had good luck in terms of injuries throughout fall camp, but that changed with an announcement today:
Mark Dantonio says OG Connor Kruse is hurt, no timetable.
— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) August 18, 2014
Not season ending for Kruse. Donavon Clark to RG. Kieler RT. Brandon Clemons to OG.
— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) August 18, 2014
Dantonio just said Kruse could possibly make Oregon game.
— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) August 18, 2014
Woof. So here's what's happening:
- Current starting right tackle Donavon Clark has now moved over to right guard and will start there for the time being.
- Kodi Kieler, who was the backup right tackle, is now the starting right tackle.
- For depth purposes, Backup junior defensive tackle Brandon Clemons is now seeing reps at offensive guard.
- JUCO offensive lineman Miguel Machado is now seeing time at offensive tackle after spending most of camp at offensive guard.
So that's not great. However, it speaks to what the coaching staff thinks they have in some of the newcomers on the defensive line that they moved a junior like Clemons to the OL. Here's what defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said about some of the newcomers a few days ago:
"We’ve got the best freshman class of D-tackles in the country, I think," MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said. "I don’t know if there is a better group out there, as far as just four very, very good ones. They’re all gonna be four very good players, without a doubt. I don’t know how many are gonna play for us this year, but at least two of them and possibly three, but who knows? I’d like to think two are, it’s too hard to say."
In all, it could be worse, because Kruse could be back in time for Oregon. For now though, the dreaded shuffling of the offensive and defensive lines has occurred, and let's hope no further shuffling happens.