Sports: MSU Football Aims to Improve
Look for slow but steady improvement with the football program, as John L. Smith wants to rebuild the right way.
In his debut season, John L. Smith produced eight wins, an Alamo Bowl invitation and the “Big Ten Coach of the Year” Award. Will that mean, as many fans expect, bigger success in 2004?
“Coaches of the Year,” corrects Smith with a smile.
“How do you determine success?” he asks. “Totally on wins and losses? Then I’m not sure. We need more depth and we need more maturity, but I can tell you we’ll be better athletically. We’ll be better in the weight room, better in the classroom and better on the field because we’ll work harder. Now, does that translate into more wins? We’ll find out.
“It’s a matter of time. We didn’t come in with a three-year plan or a five-year plan. Our goal is to recruit a higher caliber athletes and a higher caliber students and to get better every year. Without a doubt, MSU should be an upper echelon program in the Big Ten.”
The key to improvement is recruiting, and Smith enjoyed a Top 20 haul in his first full season as coach. He believes in rebuilding with freshmen, taking Junior College players only as a “quick fix” to fill immediate needs.
“Our plan is to build this program with freshmen,” he notes. “It’s slower, but it’s the right way. This year we hope to bump some players up and take care of two classes, and again next year. Once we get that done, we’d like to get 17 (freshmen) recruits a year.”
Smith believes that with the youth on offense, MSU’s defense must dominate, at least early in the 2004 season. “Defense will have to carry us and take the pressure off our offense,” he says. “They’ll have to fly around and make things happen until the offense matures.”
His main concern, of course, is at quarterback, where one of three unproven candidates will start. “Jeff (Smoker) was exceptional,” explains Smith. “He gave us an opportunity to win. The new guy? We’d like that decision to be made as soon as possible. It will be between (sophomore Drew) Stanton, (freshman Stephen) Reaves, and (senior Damon) Dowdell. Dowdell just had his best semester ever academically, which shows me he wants to be included in the race, and he will be.”
At running backs will be senior speedster DeAndra Cobb and freshman Jehuu Caulcrick, a power runner typer. Senior Tyrell Dortch and junior Jaren Hayes have been moved to bandit and cornerback respectively “to make sure we get our best 22 guys on the field and get as many snaps as possible,” explains Smith. “I think both (Dortch and Hayes) will end up starting for us. Now you’ll get 70 snaps out of these guys instead of 30.”
“Cobb has tremendous speed and became a tougher runner in spring ball,” notes Smith. “He can break any play any time. The freshman (Jehuu Caulcrick) is a banger, big, physical enough to block and to protect, the type we need at running back in our offense. I think we’ll be better at running the football this year.”
Smith believes you need 10 offensive linemen, but could do with 8. “I’m not sure we have that with our offensive front,” Smith admits, adding promptly that it’s easier for “skill guys” freshmen to step up right away than for linemen.
Wide receivers and tight ends are two positions on offense where MSU boasts some experience, and Smith believes everyone has improved (except for junior receiver Aaron Alexander, who was injured). “(Junior) Kyle Brown got a lot better,” says Smith. “He does everything right on and off the field, and now we need to push him to become a vocal leader on the field. (Junior Matt) Trannon got better. I think basketball helped him with flexibility and also mentally. (Senior tight end Eric) Knott lost 20 pounds and now looks like a football player. (Senior tight end Jason) Randall improved a bunch. He’s what you’re looking for at tight end. Jerramy Scott made big improvements on the field. (Sophomore Agim) Shabaj is your playmaker. Why is he second team? Because I’m pushing him to do better off the field.”
Smith is excited about his first string defense. “I’m excited about our linebackers, especially Seth Mitchell and Ron Stanley,” he says. “They’ve been flying around all spring. They can run, and they’re going to.
“The secondary will be better. Maples is starting to come on. Harmon really had a big spring. He just needs to take more control. Add Smitty to the mix and we’ll be better.
“The line will be OK, first team guys. We can’t afford an injury, just like our whole team. (Senior Clifford) Dukes has to control it. (Senior defensive tackle Brandon) McKinney got better this spring. (Sophomore defensive end Clifton) Ryan picked it up this spring—you just love his attitude. And don’t forget, we have a couple of Junior College kids who could help.”
What has Smith thrilled is the progress of MSU’s special teams, especially the kickers. “It was like a kicking clinic. (Senior kicker Dave) Rayner bangs a couple for 62 yards,” notes Smith about the Green and White scrimmage. “He’s got a bigtime leg. And did you see (sophomore punter Brandon) Fields’ punts? The fact is, bringing in (junior college transfer John) Goss has given us competition and made Rayner and Fields better. Where we need to get better are those other 10 guys, but that will improve as you get more depth.”
Smith expects a few freshmen to contribute in the fall. Some possible candidates include wide receivers Sir Darean Adams, Carl Grimes and Miles Williams, linebackers Eric Andino, Hugh D’Imperio, Dwayne Holmes or Tyrone McKenzie, and even defensive lineman Nick Smith. “Are they physical enough, tough enough, to step in and play?” says Smith. “It’s hard to say.”
Smith and staff believe their basic spread scheme is sound enough to win the Big Ten. “We will continue to upgrade, gain professionally and grow professionally. We want to make sure we don’t become stale. We’ll always tweak it, but we believe in our basic philosophy, and that’s ball control by passing.”