The 2013 NFL Draft and how it played out for Michigan & Michigan State

The NFL Draft was completed over the weekend and five players from Michigan and Michigan State were selected during the three-day event. Here are my thoughts on each of the players that got their name called.

Le’Veon Bell, 2^nd Round Pick (48) to Pittsburgh Steelers – This seems like a perfect fit for Bell, who is known more for being a physical back than a finesse player. The Steelers have question marks at running back, which opens the door for Bell to earn carries right away. Bell should earn the respect of the fan base, as the Steeler fans like their workhorse players.

Dion Sims, 4^th Round Pick (106) to Miami Dolphins – Sims went a little quicker than I expected, but Miami has really put a focus on getting faster as a team and is trying to reshape its offense. Sims will need to improve on his blocking ability, but he provides Miami with a tight end that is already physically ready for the NFL and has good hands and feet for a man of his size.

William Gholston, 4^th Round Pick (126) to Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gholston is a player that could be a fourth-round gem, or he could amount to nothing. It all depends on what Gholston’s motivation and work ethic is. Gholston has the physical tools to be a great player, but he has been known to back down from a challenge. He will be challenged every day in practice and every Sunday in games. He is going to have to be physically and mentally better than his opponent instead of just rely on his natural talent.

Denard Robinson, 5^th Round Pick (135) to Jacksonville Jaguars – Robinson was one of the picks that everyone around the country was paying attention to. I personally thought he could be a good fit in Detroit, but the Jaguars scooped him up in the fifth round a few picks prior to the Lions being on the clock. Jacksonville is in need of playmakers to help quarterback Blaine Gabbert come along. Last year the team added Justin Blackmon and this year it should have a healthy Maurice Jones-Drew back in the mix. With Robinson, the offense has some options as he can take some carries out of the backfield or on a reverse, he can catch some passes and he can sometimes throw the ball. There is a history of success for former college quarterbacks at the receiver position and Robinson has the talent to have a good NFL career. His biggest challenge will be staying healthy when his small frame takes the big hits from NFL defenders.

Will Campbell, 6^th Round Pick (178) to New York Jets – This was a surprising pick for a few reasons. Campbell wasn’t really on the draft radar, and when he was picked, he was picked to play the offensive line instead of defensive tackle. Campbell has experience on the offensive line during the 2010 season at Michigan, but it was a bit of a shocker to see him drafted by the Jets to play guard. At 6-5, 318 pounds, Campbell has good size to compete for a spot on the line, but there will be some bumps in the road as he transitions to the other side of the ball.

Who will have the best NFL career?

Is a win for MSU on Saturday worth celebrating?

As Michigan still fights for a potential spot in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday against Iowa, Michigan State finds itself with an important game as well, though the rewards are not nearly as sweet.

A win over Northwestern at home on Senior Day will make the Spartans bowl eligible.

I think it is fair to say that few expected it to take to Game 11 for Michigan State to get bowl eligible this year.

Coming into the season, expectations were high for the Spartans. Whether it be a Big Ten Championship or a 10-win season, few saw MSU doing all it could to have winning record at the end of the year.

Saturday will be telling for Michigan State for a few reasons.

The first will be if the Spartans can beat an above-average Northwestern team.

The Wildcats proved last week that they aren’t to be overlooked and certainly Michigan State hasn’t proven it can look past anyone. If you can’t beat Iowa at home, you can’t just step on the field at Spartan Stadium and expect to walk through Northwestern.

However, if Michigan State wants to remain a program that has some high expectations, it has to win this game.

The second reason this game will be telling is on how the Spartans (players and fans) celebrate if they do win.

Is getting bowl eligible a big enough accomplishment for the program?

Mark Dantonio has led MSU to a bowl in each of his five seasons as coach. That is an accomplishment to be proud of given the Spartans were shutout of the bowl season three straight years before his arrival.

However, Dantonio had been building Michigan State into something more than just a bowl team, as MSU had been at the forefront of the Big Ten title picture the last two seasons.

As an outsider, I consider this to be a disappointing season for Michigan State. The Spartans should have expected more and shouldn’t be satisfied with a 6-or-7-win season.

When you consider the talent on the defensive side of the ball, this was a prime opportunity for Michigan State to contend for the Big Ten title.

Ohio State is unable to contend for the title and Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin have all arguably played below expectations.

You can also expect all four of those teams to keep getting better, which may leave the Spartans as the odd team out in the Big Ten picture for the future.

It’s not crazy to think most of the top talent on MSU’s team this year could be gone next year. Le’Veon Bell and William Gholston have to consider moving on to the NFL when you think of the injury risks that come with going through another season.

Should Spartan fans just be happy with making a bowl game year-in and year-out, or should it expect to win a Big Ten Championship and play in the Rose Bowl once every handful of years?

MSU needs to define its expectations and decide if it wants to be an average program or if it wants to be a force in the Big Ten.

Last year when the Detroit Lions made the playoffs, head coach Jim Schwartz said “There's going to come a time when we don't celebrate going to the playoffs, or getting into the playoffs. It's not going to be tonight.”

Tomorrow (if MSU wins) will not be a time for celebrating. If the Spartans really want to be considered in the same discussion as Michigan as a football program, you don’t celebrate just making a bowl.

Making a bowl should be the first in a long list of goals and expectations each year if you are going to be a great program.

The Wolverines have already locked up a bowl win, but their fan base is still largely upset with the season because Michigan doesn’t control its own destiny in the Big Ten race with two games left.

I know this comes off like a Michigan fan belittling Michigan State, but it’s not.

The Wolverines were awful during the Rich Rodriguez era and I wasn’t sure Michigan’s expectations would ever get back to where they were when Lloyd Carr was coach.

But, Brady Hoke arrived, won 11 games last year and is in contention to win 10 this season if it wins out.

Hoke has essentially created his own monster because now Michigan fans won’t tolerate a letdown season. He must get to nine wins or more each year, and even some won’t accept that.

So, to get back to my point, will MSU fans accept this season? Is it okay for Mark Dantonio to have this team win just six or seven games? Should he feel some pressure going into next season if he can’t get MSU back to 8-to-10 wins?

It’s a thin line, but what side you stand on in this argument defines your expectations for what the MSU program should be.

Is becoming bowl eligible an accomplishment in college football

Keys to victory for Michigan/MSU on Saturday

The time is almost here.

The game Michigan fans have been waiting for is one day away. It’s the Wolverines’ chance to end the streak. For the Spartans, it’s their chance to not only prolong the streak, but perhaps save their season.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 from Michigan Stadium in what will be a loud and electric environment. I will be covering the game for The Oakland Press if you want to voice your thoughts on the game, you can tweet me @ellisdrew.

Here is a look at the keys for each team to walk away with a victory on Saturday.

Michigan

Be stubborn – The Wolverines are a running football team. They are not a passing team. In previous years, Michigan State has been able to take the running aspect away from Michigan and force Denard Robinson to be a passer. If that happens again on Saturday, it could be another tough day for Michigan. The Wolverines have had a smart approach to the offense in recent games. It has been run, run, run, run, run and then pass. MSU still has the top rushing defense in the Big Ten, but Michigan has to stick with the run. If a drive needs to last seven minutes for a score, then let it go seven minutes. Even if the game plan doesn’t work early on, Michigan can’t give up on the run and try to air it out. This MSU defense has been susceptible to the big play and I expect Michigan to get a few big plays from Robinson throughout the game if they stick to what they do best.

Win on third down – That goes for the offense and the defense. The offense will need to sustain drives to win and the defense will help the offense by forcing MSU into three-and-outs. If the MSU defense is on the field the majority of the game, it will open up the big plays for the Michigan offense. Currently, the Spartans are converting just 37 percent of their third downs, which is the third-worst percentage in the Big Ten. Conversely, Michigan leads the conference with a 52 percent conversion rate. Third downs should be won by the Wolverines on Saturday.

Hidden yards – Michigan ranks third in the Big Ten in punt return average and fourth in kick return average. A big return on Saturday can go a long way in this game, as points could be at a premium with the way both defenses have played. Also, the Spartans have been notorious for making penalties this year. Michigan has to play with discipline and not retaliate to anything MSU might do after the play. Penalty yards could rack up quickly in this game and the Wolverines would be wise to let the Spartans make the mistakes. I don’t doubt that Michigan will be amped up for this game and want to take it to MSU, but the Wolverines need to win the game with their play, not their trash talk.

MSU

Don’t be stubborn – Unlike Michigan, I think the Spartans need to mix it up on offense. Le’Veon Bell is a great running back, but the offensive line for MSU is beat up and not opening up holes consistently enough for him to control this game. Despite that, the Spartans still feed him the ball 30 times a game and get stuck in a number of third-and-long situations. Offensive coordinator Dan Roushar needs to take chances in this contest. Really, what does MSU have to lose here? The Spartans have to win and get help in order to play for the Big Ten Championship and they come into this game as a 10-point underdog. If they don’t let it all hang out in this game, I question what they would be saving it for. Go with trick plays, jet sweeps, reverses or anything else you have in the playbook. MSU can’t win this game with a Bell-heavy offense.

Wake up William Gholston – I bought some milk this week at the local grocery store and there was a photo on the carton of William Gholston that said “Missing” under it. The junior defensive end has not had nearly the impact many were expecting this season, but Saturday would be a good day for him to change that. On the year, Gholston has just 28 tackles, 1 sack, 5 tackles for loss and 5 quarterback hurries. Gholston has to have a presence in this game. His speed and athleticism are a big reason why the Spartans were able to keep Denard Robinson in check last year. Certainly teams are keying in on him this year, but if he is the talent that many think he is, he has to overcome that and show up when his team needs him the most.

Play with discipline – MSU is averaging six penalties for just over 60 yards per game this season. In last year’s game with Michigan, the Spartans tallied 13 penalties for 124 yards. It is clear that the Spartans have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to trying to prove their superiority to Michigan on the football field, but the post-play penalties will not do them any good on Saturday. MSU was able to overcome the penalties last year, but I don’t see that being the case this time around. If the Spartans come out and play reckless, they will just be digging their own grave. With two losses in the Big Ten already, MSU needs to play as close to mistake-free football as it can.

Fair or Foul: Judging the MSU/Michigan arguments for Saturday's game

The trash talk for the Michigan-MSU rivalry is always at a peak when the two are set to meet at the end of the week.

Such is the case this year. Michigan fans have a reason to be excited, but Spartan fans still have the bragging rights, at least for now.

Here are a few of the arguments I have heard this week and whether they hold any weight.

Argument from MSU fans: Michigan hasn’t played anyone in the Big Ten: While that may be true to a certain extent, the one thing the Wolverines are doing is easily disposing of those teams. That is something that MSU is obviously not doing. Indiana gave Ohio State a run, but I still don’t believe the Hoosiers are that great of a Big Ten team and Iowa has suffered a pair of losses to Iowa State and Central Michigan. We don’t know where Purdue and Illinois will finish in the conference, but you have to credit Michigan for taking care of business against teams it should best. VERDICT: Foul

Argument from Michigan fans: We’ve taken back the rivalry: You haven’t done that until you beat Michigan State on Saturday. You should win Saturday’s game, but if you don’t, you can’t claim hold of the rivalry. A win goes a long way, but I also think it would be beneficial for Michigan to win the Big Ten to really show that it has returned to control the in-state rivalry. VERDICT: Foul

Argument from MSU fans: Denard Robinson will go down as the QB that couldn’t beat MSU if he loses on Sunday: I think that is a reasonable statement. For all the numbers that Denard Robinson has put up in his time with the Wolverines, he really has nothing to show for it. No conference titles and no wins against Michigan State. He has a Sugar Bowl win, but a Rose Bowl victory is what Michigan fans want most. Robinson needs a win on Saturday to avoid being remembered as the guy who couldn’t beat the Spartans. VERDICT: Fair

Argument from Michigan fans: MSU is going to “thug it up” on Saturday: Michigan fans feel the Spartans got away with too many cheap shots during last year’s game. That may be true, but the refs for this game will be well aware of what took place in last year’s game. Look for them to call this year’s game tightly and not allow a lot of the post-play shoving. If the Spartans try anything funny, it will likely come with a 15-yard penalty. Also, the Spartans were at home last year and trying to intimidate Michigan, I don’t think the confidence level of MSU is high enough to bring that same attitude into the Big House this year. VERDICT: Foul

News and notes from Dantonio's weekly press conference

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio held his weekly press conference on Tuesday from East Lansing. Here are a few news and notes from what he had to say.

- Dion Sims is not listed on the depth chart again this week. Paul Lang, Andrew Gleichert and Derek Hoebing are all listed as possible starters at tight end. Dantonio said they will know more this week about Sims’ status but he has yet to practice.

- Aaron Burbridge, Tony Lippett and Keith Mumphrey are listed as the starting receivers this week.

- Kurtis Drummond to be the starter at free safety. Isaiah Lewis will start at strong safety along with Johnny Adams and Darqueze Dennard at cornerback.

- Dantonio called this a big rivalry game (obviously), and that it is good for his football program and for the team to go into a great environment like Ann Arbor on Saturday.

- He called the game a pivotal one regardless of records. Dantonio said a win is a win, it would be a big win for MSU. Beating Michigan five straight hasn’t been done before, so it would be special. He also added that you keep track of the rivalry games the rest of your life.

- When asked about the lack of fans at Saturday’s game, Dantonio said he was more concerned about the ones that show and he appreciates their support. Said it’s a fickle society and there is a lot going on in people’s worlds. Football is not the end game for a lot of people, but he’s sure it will be this week.

- Dantonio acknowledges that MSU needs help to get to the Big Ten Championship Game. He said that help usually does come and that there is a lot of parity in the conference. He just wants to focus on one game at a time and focus on the present. If they take care of their business they have opportunities in front of them.

- When asked why he approaches the rivalry the way he does, Dantonio said that people view things differently. His coaching background brought him to MSU in 1995 and he experienced things back then that shaped that. He said he has never made the rules, just plays the game. These rules were established a long time ago, he is just playing the game.

- Dantonio said he has great respect for Brady Hoke, feels that Hoke handles himself better than Dantonio does. Dantonio just goes about his job and hopes “that other guy” doesn’t show up at the press conference (referring to the “next question” guy). Feels Hoke maintains his composure well.

- Dantonio said that you can’t divide the team in terms of offense and defense. MSU is not getting it done as a team. Can’t just blame the offense or the defense.

- Dantonio said that Denard Robinson is a tremendous football player. He is the central theme to what MSU has done defensively. A lot of things that MSU does on defense center around quarterbacks like Robinson and Braxton Miller. They can take a bad play and make it into a good play. The Spartans need to know where he is at all times. Dantonio said that Robinson has been a great player at Michigan and will be remembered as that.

- Dantonio said that William Gholston has grown from last year’s situation in the Michigan game, said he needs to. Dantonio said Gholston has a lot of people watching him on a daily basis on and off the field, and he needs to handle himself accordingly. He will come ready to play on Saturday.

- Dantonio thinks Michigan is “back”. He feels MSU will continue to win and be a leader in this conference. He looks forward to competing against Michigan yearly.

- No player availability for the media this week for MSU to avoid bulletin board material this week.

- When asked why he was staying so humble and calm about Michigan, Dantonio said that the media hasn’t stoked his fire yet.

- When asked about recruiting against Michigan, Dantonio feels that kids are green or kids are blue by the time they are 14 in this state, maybe 10. Says it can be a hard to swing a kid in recruiting in this state if they have grown up a fan of the other team.

- Dantonio attributed the weather and Iowa defense to some of Andrew Maxwell’s struggles on Saturday. He said they had their issues as well with details and execution.

- Called the end of the first half against Iowa a missed opportunity that was one of many in the game that could have led to a different result. Said he now thinks of it as a long kick into the win and the rain, but they still couldn’t take that opportunity for granted.

Big Ten Teleconference Quotes & Notes

Tuesday marked another Big Ten Teleconference. Here is a few select quotes from Michigan coach Brady Hoke and MSU coach Mark Dantonio.

Brady Hoke

On the Bye Week: I thought we got a lot done during the bye week. It was a good time for us to evaluate where we are at, the things we need to improve on, the fundamentals, the techniques, look at the mistakes we made, making sure as a coaching staff we are doing a good job of coaching with clarity and how we want to play and our expectations. I think all those things were good and now we have a work week ahead of us for a tough challenge down in Lafayette against Purdue.

On Purdue’s Defense: I think their front is really a good front. A very active front, strong at the point of attack. I think Kawann Short, obviously, may be the best defensive lineman in the league. I think their other corner, Josh Johnson, is playing well. I think as a team, they are playing as well as anybody.

What kind of poise do you see in Denard Robinson compared to the beginning of last season: I think his poise has improved. I think there are still things that we all are working for and working towards where we can be better as a team and individually. I think us playing on the road is something that we need to have a quicker start and play better.

On Denard becoming to all-time leader in offense at Michigan: I think it is an accomplishment for him and what he’s given and what he’s done for the program. I think the guys that have been with him and playing out there, I think it’s a team accomplishment. Believe me, he’s made a lot of plays with his instinct and his feet and we are looking for him to make more plays.

On Purdue’s offense: I think they’ve got a lot of playmakers on offense. First off, the three guys up front who’ve got a lot of playing experience on the offensive line and I think Caleb TerBush is really playing good football and making good decisions. They have a bunch of guys that are making plays. (Antavian) Edison and (Akeem) Hunt and (Akeem) Shavers. I mean you can go through… (O.J.) Ross is another guy and (Gary) Bush, they are very, very skilled. They can run, they have good team speed and I think they’ve scored 42 points a game. They’re doing that by really…they seem to be in a good rhythm offensively.

On the video tape situation with MSU-Ohio State and what the Big Ten protocol is for sharing tape: You’d probably have to ask the Big Ten that. We get all the films that we need. It goes to a central place and we get the film.

What’s his philosophy on sharing film: We share film and they share film back.

Mark Dantonio

On William Gholston: I saw him yesterday, he looked fine to me. He seemed to be walking through the office with no problems.

On the game film incident with Ohio State: You know, I’m not going to go through that right now. I’m going to set my sights on what’s important to us, and that’ winning our next football game. What happened on the game film on Saturday translated into winning or losing. That’s where I am going to leave that.

On the offensive line injuries and if that will force changes to the offensive philosophy: We’ve lost two very good players but we get one back in Blake Treadwell. Travis Jackson is lost for the season along with Fou Fonoti, who could probably play the last couple games if he chose to, if we chose to. But, he does have a redshirt year. We do have guys with starting experience. Ethan Ruhland has started in the past for us. Blake Treadwell, Jack Allen have started along with Skyler Burkland and Dan France, so we have six players still available that have played well for us and started in the past. We’ve got some guys with some different things that we can work with and we are going to have to make it work.

How important is it to put together a complete game this week: Well obviously if everyone is playing well it is going to be good for everyone, for the entire team. We just need to stay balanced. We have to continue to try and make small success in different things, create small success that will lead to big success for the entire group. We aren’t in a panic mode or anything like that. We have guys that can make plays. I thought Andrew Maxwell played very well. We had zero turnovers on offense this past week. We have to run the ball a little more effectively, or more effectively in general, than we did this past week, which has been there in the past this year. Then, we have to throw it and be consistent in our throwing game, and we’ll be fine.

News and Notes from Dantonio

Dantonio also had his weekly press conference for MSU media on Tuesday prior to the conference call. A few notes from that:

- Aaron Burbridge is getting the start at WR along with Keith Mumphrey and Tony Lippett. Burbridge is replacing Bennie Folwer in the staring lineup.

- In replacing Travis Jackson at center, MSU is looking at Jack Allen (RFr.), Blake Treadwell (Jr.) and Ethan Ruhland (Sr.) to replace him.

- Jackson will need 3 months of rehab for his injury, should be back for spring football.

- MSU is sticking with Dan Conroy as its kicker. Conroy has missed one field goal in each game and is 10 of 15 kicking this year. He is 5 of 10 from 30-49 yards but 3 of 3 from 50 yards.

The Michigan vs. MSU Checklist

The anxiousness for college football games is growing by the minute.

But the debate never has to end.

Today I will break down each position group for Michigan and Michigan State, sort of like a checklist, to see who comes into the season with the better team on paper.

QUARTERBACKS – This is an easy one. Denard Robinson is in his third season as starter and even the backup, Devin Gardner, has more snaps in live action than MSU’s first-year starter, Andrew Maxwell. Maxwell could be good but it would be very hard to see him being better than Robinson. Advantage Michigan

RUNNING BACKS – This is a tough call, but I think the Wolverines have the edge here. Fitzgerald Toussaint appears to be the best back of the group, but at this time it is unknown how many games he could miss from a suspension. MSU has a good group of backs that could produce more yards this year, but if you factor Robinson’s rushing ability, Michigan should have the stronger rushing attack. Advantage Michigan

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT END – Michigan has the clear edge here. The Spartans don’t have a returning starter at the position and will be playing a lot of underclassmen. Michigan isn’t overly loaded with experience either, but have guys like Roy Roundtree and Jeremy Gallon, who have some chemistry with Robinson. Advantage Michigan

OFFENSIVE LINE – Michigan might have the best single player on the line in Taylor Lewan, but Michigan State has four starters back from a group that allowed just 16 sacks in 2011. Advantage MSU

DEFENSIVE LINE – MSU has the clear edge in this one. William Gholston is one of the top defensive ends in the country and he is joined on the other end by Marcus Rush. Defensive tackle is a question, but the ends should be strong enough to help overcome the issues up the middle. Michigan is lacking in experience up front and now has some depth issues due to injuries and suspensions. Advantage MSU

LINEBACKERS – Both teams should be strong at linebacker, but MSU has a slight edge in my eyes. The Spartans have a pair of 2011 All-Big Ten selections in Denicos Allen and Max Bullough. Michigan returns all three starters, but the trio doesn’t quite have the numbers that the MSU trio does. Advantage MSU

SECONDARY – Again, both should be solid, but I like MSU’s unit over Michigan’s. Johnny Adams has emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the country and he is one of three starters back for MSU. For Michigan, three starters are also back, but the Wolverines don’t quite have the same production out of their secondary. Advantage MSU

SPECIAL TEAMS – Got to go with Michigan State here. Dan Conroy struggled with some short kicks, but was 8-for-9 in FG’s between 30-50 yards. Punter Mike Sadler has a better average and more punts inside the 20 than Will Hagerup of Michigan. The Spartans also have better numbers in the return game, led by Nick Hill. Advantage MSU

COACHING – It’s easy for Michigan fans to want to immediately say Brady Hoke is the better coach, but he still has to prove that. One season doesn’t make him better than Mark Dantonio right now. I am not saying he can’t be the better coach over the long haul, but right now, I have to give the nod to Dantonio. Certainly the recruiting is going in Hoke’s favor. If that recruiting translates on the field, Hoke will have the edge soon. Advantage MSU

That puts the tally at 6-3 for Michigan State. However, some of the positions that MSU gets the nod are closer than the ones where Michigan tops MSU. Quarterback and receiver stand out. It appears on paper both teams should be equipped for a strong year, which is what should make this season a great one.

Three Big Questions facing MSU in 2012 season

The offseason of college football is like one long debate.

There are plenty of “ifs” and “buts”, however none of them really matter until kickoff of the opening game.

Still, debate and conversation is what makes football so popular.

Over the next two posts I will look at what are the big question marks entering the season for both Michigan State and Michigan. Today, I look at the Spartans.

BIG QUESTION NO. 1 – Can Andrew Maxwell lead MSU to success?

Maxwell comes into a nice situation as a first-year starting quarterback. He has a top-level defense that should keep the scores low and he has a veteran offensive line in front of him. His big concern has to be inexperienced receivers to throw to. But, he has probably developed some chemistry with these guys as backups last year during practice. Maxwell doesn’t need to be great, he just needs to be smart. Maxwell will be more likely to bring MSU down than to push them up. If he avoids turnovers and can make the short, accurate throws, he gives the Spartans a chance for a great season. If tries to do too much, he could make it a long year for Mark Dantonio.

BIG QUESTION NO. 2 – Can the MSU defense be as good as advertised?

I just said that the MSU defense should give Maxwell some ease, but what if they don’t? I think most everyone expects the Spartans to be one of the best defenses in the country, and with good reason. But things don’t always work out that way. Injuries could play a role or players could simply regress. The Spartans do lose a few key pieces on the defensive line, including defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, who helped the performance of someone like end William Gholston. The 2011 MSU defense did give up some big numbers to the likes of Minnesota and Northwestern last year, so it’s not out of the question they could struggle at times. If the MSU defense isn’t as dominant as many expect, it puts a lot of pressure on Maxwell. Conversely, if Maxwell struggles, it puts the MSU defense in a tough spot to have to be as dominant as expected.

BIG QUESTION NO. 3 – Can MSU stay at the top of the Big Ten?

The last two years have been an impressive run for Michigan State. But, it is clear that many (looking at you Michigan fans) expect the Spartans to drop back to the middle of the Big Ten pack with Brady Hoke and Urban Meyer in the picture. I am not so sure. I think the Spartans are still fighting for respectability and this season will go a long way in terms of getting it or losing it. Wisconsin should be strong, Ohio State should be improved and Michigan claims to have their man in Hoke. There are no excuses left on the table. If the Spartans find a way to win the Legends Division, or even the Big Ten Championship, I would expect them to be a factor for many years to come. If they stumble and go just 7-5, it may be back to the “Same Old Spartans” routine.