Mark Dantonio said on Tuesday that MSU is getting closer to getting Monty Madaris back into the fold.
What that means, no one is quite sure - as the Spartans have had enough trouble getting seniors AJ Troup and DeAnthony Arnett on the field on a regular basis while Aaron Burbridge, Macgarrett Kings and RJ Shelton already give MSU plus capabilities at the WR positions in most regards.
But if Troup isn't going to push harder for playing time, maybe Madaris is capable of nudging ahead of him at X-WR. The coaches do not like to back-up seniors with seniors. From a program standpoint, it might start to make sense to give Troup's reps to Madaris, in prep for 2016.
Dantonio revealed this week that Madaris has been out with an injury.
WRs coach Terry Samuel said on Wednesday that the injury was related to the thigh, but Madaris is "100 percent, he’s feeling good, so it’s just a matter of trying to get him out there."
Madaris hasn't been a part of the playing group in the past. So why should that change now?
Well, because Burbridge and Kings are seniors (as are Troup and Arnett). MSU wants to avoid having a situation in 2016 in which Shelton is the only receiver coming back with any quality gametime experience. That's why Madaris' return might prove to be important, to go along with the decision to remove Felton Davis' redshirt.
As for Madaris, coaches have been raving about his ability for quite a while. But similar positive reviews have been cast upon Troup, and occasionally Arnett, without it manifesting itself in a larger role on gameday.
"We’ve not been trying to hold him back, it’s just odd things seem to happen to happen to him that slows his growth," Samuel said. "So hopefully we get him out there now and hopefully it’s the beginning of a beautiful relationship."
Madaris enjoyed some strong moments last spring. Samuel said he is back up to that level of play, on the practice field.
"He’s there," Samuel said. "I don’t see any limitations whatsoever. He’s not coming back like most typical wideouts if it’s not 100 percent they won’t go. But he feels 100 percent so looking forward to him getting out on the field.”
How realistic is it that he could break into the playing group, when Troup and Arnett have had only spot duty?
“There’s still opportunity,” Samuel said. “Of course, we’ve got to have more plays. We’ve got to make sure the offense is on the field making more plays and that puts other individuals out there playing. We get more plays, we’ll get him out there playing more.”
Michigan State had only eight offensive possessions during last week's victory over Central Michigan. The Chippewas shortened the game with third-down conversions on small-chunk plays, continual attempts to establish the run and time-consuming huddles. CMU didn't punt much, and didn't throw a lot of incompletions. This helped keep MSU's offense off the field, put the Spartans in must-score situations in the second half, and prevented the Spartans from dipping deeper into their bench.
Whether or not the Spartans get into the luxury of garbage time situations in their next two games against Purdue or Rutgers, there apparently is a greater chance of seeing Madaris on the field than had been the case in the first four games.
“He catches the ball outstanding," Samuel said. "He runs great routes, he runs hard routes. He’s very similar to Keith (Mumphery). He will go get it wherever it is presented, if it means he blocks somebody he’ll block somebody hard. If it means run a nice route, a crisp route, he does that as well.
"He’s really got the package, its just a matter of he needs to come out there and play and I just hope we don’t have any more setbacks with injuries.”
As for the dual importance of getting a junior like Madaris playing time this year to help the program next year:
“Huge," Samuel said. "I mean, you have to start developing that trust. And he’s got to go out there and start experiencing this offense and making adjustments and decisions within the routes, so he can have that experience and be ready for next year. Because we do need him to be playing every game next year.”
What that means, no one is quite sure - as the Spartans have had enough trouble getting seniors AJ Troup and DeAnthony Arnett on the field on a regular basis while Aaron Burbridge, Macgarrett Kings and RJ Shelton already give MSU plus capabilities at the WR positions in most regards.
But if Troup isn't going to push harder for playing time, maybe Madaris is capable of nudging ahead of him at X-WR. The coaches do not like to back-up seniors with seniors. From a program standpoint, it might start to make sense to give Troup's reps to Madaris, in prep for 2016.
Dantonio revealed this week that Madaris has been out with an injury.
WRs coach Terry Samuel said on Wednesday that the injury was related to the thigh, but Madaris is "100 percent, he’s feeling good, so it’s just a matter of trying to get him out there."
Madaris hasn't been a part of the playing group in the past. So why should that change now?
Well, because Burbridge and Kings are seniors (as are Troup and Arnett). MSU wants to avoid having a situation in 2016 in which Shelton is the only receiver coming back with any quality gametime experience. That's why Madaris' return might prove to be important, to go along with the decision to remove Felton Davis' redshirt.
As for Madaris, coaches have been raving about his ability for quite a while. But similar positive reviews have been cast upon Troup, and occasionally Arnett, without it manifesting itself in a larger role on gameday.
"We’ve not been trying to hold him back, it’s just odd things seem to happen to happen to him that slows his growth," Samuel said. "So hopefully we get him out there now and hopefully it’s the beginning of a beautiful relationship."
Madaris enjoyed some strong moments last spring. Samuel said he is back up to that level of play, on the practice field.
"He’s there," Samuel said. "I don’t see any limitations whatsoever. He’s not coming back like most typical wideouts if it’s not 100 percent they won’t go. But he feels 100 percent so looking forward to him getting out on the field.”
How realistic is it that he could break into the playing group, when Troup and Arnett have had only spot duty?
“There’s still opportunity,” Samuel said. “Of course, we’ve got to have more plays. We’ve got to make sure the offense is on the field making more plays and that puts other individuals out there playing. We get more plays, we’ll get him out there playing more.”
Michigan State had only eight offensive possessions during last week's victory over Central Michigan. The Chippewas shortened the game with third-down conversions on small-chunk plays, continual attempts to establish the run and time-consuming huddles. CMU didn't punt much, and didn't throw a lot of incompletions. This helped keep MSU's offense off the field, put the Spartans in must-score situations in the second half, and prevented the Spartans from dipping deeper into their bench.
Whether or not the Spartans get into the luxury of garbage time situations in their next two games against Purdue or Rutgers, there apparently is a greater chance of seeing Madaris on the field than had been the case in the first four games.
“He catches the ball outstanding," Samuel said. "He runs great routes, he runs hard routes. He’s very similar to Keith (Mumphery). He will go get it wherever it is presented, if it means he blocks somebody he’ll block somebody hard. If it means run a nice route, a crisp route, he does that as well.
"He’s really got the package, its just a matter of he needs to come out there and play and I just hope we don’t have any more setbacks with injuries.”
As for the dual importance of getting a junior like Madaris playing time this year to help the program next year:
“Huge," Samuel said. "I mean, you have to start developing that trust. And he’s got to go out there and start experiencing this offense and making adjustments and decisions within the routes, so he can have that experience and be ready for next year. Because we do need him to be playing every game next year.”
