COVERITLIVE.COM

12:02

Steve Grinczel - Greetings earthlings.

12:02

Steve Grinczel - I'm working on a story about Chris L. Rucker and the restorative powers of his INT in OT against UM.

12:05

[Comment From Brent]
I don't think Danny Fortener has played enough. Do you agree, Steve? Don't forget it was he who tipped the pass in the end zone.

12:06

Steve Grinczel - Hi Brent. I think you make a good point. I think he may be MSU's most fundamentally sound DB, kind of in the Todd Krumm, John Miller mold. But, I think there are/were guys who maybe had the ability to make bigger plays and deliver bigger hits like Hyde and Jenrette. With Jenrette out, however, I expect Fortener to get a lot more PT.

12:06

[Comment From Josh Locke]
Do you feel MSU will have a let down this week against illinois?

12:10

Steve Grinczel - No I don't Josh because that has not been MSU's MO under Dantonio. It has been nothing short of remarkable that the Spartans have been up for every single game they've played under him. They haven't always played well, but not once because they've been flat or disinterested. They had every reason in the world to be demoralized after 3 straight losses to OSU, Iowa in OT and Michigan in '07, and came back strong against Purdue and PSU. And last year, they could have been fat and sassy after beating UM, but played a terrific game against Wisconsin and got the win with a meltodown assist from Bielema.

12:10

[Comment From Sherwin]
I was very impressed with Johnny Adams as a true freshman last year. Is he hurt or being redhsirted this year? if redhirted then why?

12:14

Steve Grinczel - The intent at the start of the season was to redshirt Adams because it was going to be hard to get him PT with the wealth of DBs in the stable. Then his grandfather died and he missed the Notre Dame trip. Dantonio talked of playing him at Wisconsin, but he didn't. Nor did he play against Michigan. He does have blazing speed. I saw him run Andre Anderson down from behind during spring '08 practice, after spotting him a 20-yard lead. And, I think he could add speed to the secondary. But I think they're hoping to get by without having to burn a redshirt at this point if they can.

12:14

[Comment From Guest]
From what I have seen watching the games Cousins has performed on a much higher level at QB than Nichol has. Not that Keith has been bad, just not as good.

12:16

Steve Grinczel - He's also had more opportunities than Keith. I give Keith the benefit of the doubt because I do think it's hard to go in cold and get into the flow. I thought Cousins was shaky against Wisconsin, but on fire and soooo impressive against U-M. But, I think this new system of rotating Nichol in during series might benefit him. And, I think he's a winner. He was on the field during the game-winning drive, after all.

12:17

[Comment From Guest]
It seems like Coach D continues to split time at QB out of spite for everyone (media, fans) telling him its not working. Do you see any changes coming to the current split system?

12:18

Steve Grinczel -

I think the most significant change is going to be rotating them within series, but still not announcing when and where it will happen. It's an interesting concept, and seemed to work just fine against Michigan, so I expect to see it continue against Illinois. I do not think they're going to go with only one QB any time soon.

12:18

[Comment From Kevin]
I was impressed with the pass rush against UM from the front four. What did they do different this past week that wasn't being done earlier? Also, do you think the end's are still not putting enough pressure on the qb, and is that why they're experimenting with Sims?

12:23

Steve Grinczel -

The pass rush was better against UM while rushing 4, including Jones, who is their best pass-rusher. They got 3 sacks, but Gordon, also a LB got 1.5, Jones .5 and Worthy a tackle got one. So, I don't think the ends are doing especially well, so far, though they did have Tate on the run much of the game. I think the Sim experiment is twofold. First, that's too much talent not to get on the field in some way, shape or form now that his redshirt is spent, and, if he can give the pass rush a boost, it'd be a like finding a $100 bill. He's fast, quick, explosive, so why not?

12:23

[Comment From Dave]
Grinz: I think Dantonio owes his boys for pulling his rear outta the fire. Playing prevent offense to go along with the prevent defense almost lost us that game. He needed to go for the kill shot instead of running Winston up the middle against 8 in the box, especially since our center and guards were getting mauled when run blocking. That Tressel like conservatism almost bit us in the but.

12:25

Steve Grinczel - He claims they didn't deviate from the game plan, and that on 3-and-2, everybody would run most of the time. He also wasn't counting on a 60-yard "loose" play to transpire afterward, so the defense kind of didn't do its job, either. I thought the play-calling was conservative as well, but if they execute, don't blow a blocking assignment on the 3rd-and-2, we probably aren't having this consersation.

12:25

[Comment From Tom]
Speaking of MIA players, whatever happened with Fred Smith? Micheal Jordan?

12:26

Steve Grinczel - Fred Smith and his body are trying to decide if he's going to be a WR or TE. He's being redshirt, Tom. MJ just isn't performing as well as the others, according to Narduzzi who spoke of him (and others who aren't getting much PT) in general.

12:26

[Comment From Spartan John]
In August, Coach Gill couldn't stop saying great things about Ish Johnson. Now, MSU burns Blake Treadwell's redshirt and Ish, along with Michael Jordan, are no where to be found. What happened to these two guys? Is Treadwell really ahead of these two far more experienced DTs?

12:30

Steve Grinczel -

Well, Treadwell is just a fundamentally sound football player and kind of a freshman freak -- in the kindest sense of the term. Not many freshman are as advanced, or big, as he is. I've learned to temper most preseason excitement over players over the years. I mean, remember the hoopla over Jon Misch? I could never reconcile his lack of size with him being a bona fide Big Ten linebacker and accurately predicted teams would run directly at him with a fullback lead, which they did. I would have played him at safety.

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