The Football 411: Defense in Focus
Byron Bullough (38) and Tyriq Thompson engage in a tackle/wrap drill.
Jim Comparoni • SpartanMag.com
@JimComparoni
EAST LANSING - I’ve seen some Augusts in the past when Michigan State seemed to be scrambling through its scrimmages, auditioning players to fill key vacancies while the countdown to the season’s kickoff ticked ran thin.
Sometimes these problems lead to difficult seasons.
Sometimes, as was the case with the QB and RB derbies of 2013, the Spartans emerged just fine. (That was the year when Mark Dantonio frustratedly activated true freshman Damion Terryinto the QB competition because the other three candidates weren’t practicing well. Earlier that year, Dantonio plugged Riley Bullough into the tailback picture because Jeremy Langford and the others weren’t instilling confidence. Well, things turned out okay that year, with a Rose Bowl win and No. 3 final ranking).
But usually, mid-August juggling creates concern.
This year, there isn’t much juggling going on at the Skandalaris Center, other than at the linebacker positions, where the Spartans have more proven candidates at the position than any time I can remember. At linebacker, Michigan State is juggling from a position of strength, not desperation.
Overall, Michigan State seems to be coasting through camp the way you’d expect from a team that returns 19 starters, and many key reserves, from a 10-win, Top 15 team.
The latest example: The Spartans had the luxury of limiting the reps of some returning starters during last week’s Jersey Scrimmage. Mike linebacker Joe Bachie didn’t play much in the scrimmage. He knows the defense, the coaches know what he can do, he plays a physically-demanding position, hence the reason to limit his August wear and tear.
“The guys who had already solidified positions, we limited their reps,” said defensive coordinator Mike Tressel. “We had a lot of guys get opportunities to run reps with the ones and play at that level.”
That sounds like a good step toward sharpening MSU’s second string and depth.
Is there a negative to this approach? Might Michigan State’s starters be a little less game-sharp by a week from Friday? I doubt it. Michigan State is known for banging pretty good throughout August. They’ll be tough.
**
The coaches gained a read on a handful of questions heading into these last days of camp, with game prep for the Aug. 31 opener against Utah State due to begin on Sunday.
Among the questions:
* Which players are going to make up the regular rotation at the linebacker positions?
* Which freshmen are going to be in the playing group early in the year, and which ones are in position to play more than four games?
* What do the candidates look like at boundary defensive end?
The latest clues:
QUESTION 1: AT LINEBACKER ...
Grayson Miller and Jon Reschke.
1. Many of us assumed the starting trio would be Bachie at Mike linebacker, Andrew Dowell at ‘star’ linebacker and most likely Tyriq Thompson at ‘money’ linebacker.
Bachie is a lock.
Dowell has been a functional ‘star’ linebacker in the past. Sophomore Antjuan Simmons was cutting in on Dowell’s playing time at the end of last season and has the capacity to overtake Dowell if Dowell doesn’t improve and Simmons stays healthy.
“You can’t take your eyes off of Antjuan,” Bachie said. “He’s a smart player; he plays fast.”
Jon Reschke played ‘star’ earlier in his career. He might not be the prototypical slot linebacker against tempo spread teams, but don’t rule him out for some special ops duty at ‘star’ against physical teams.
Reschke is best-equipped to play ‘money.’ That’s the inside linebacker position he played the last time we saw him in an Michigan State uniform, in 2016. But his background also includes time at the Mike. It’s my understanding that he has repped at all three this month.
Reschke missed most of 2016 and all of 2017. There has been some rust, but he also flashes the honorable mention All-Big Ten level of play he showed as a sophomore in 2015.
“He’s getting better every day,” Bachie said. “He’s still quick, he’s still explosive and he’s strong as could be.
“He’s an energy bunny. He gels well with everyone. He’s not selfish. So he’s going to go with the twos, threes and get his reps and we’re going to move forward with it. But he’s competing for a spot with Tyriq, Brandon and Byron and he’s having a great camp.”
RELIEF FOR BACHIE?
Bachie played through some pain last year, as do all hard-hitting Mike linebackers. He also sat out the spring. Would Michigan State like to give Bachie more relief this year? That seems likely, and it’s a good idea. Michigan State happens to have quality back-ups. Senior Byron Bullough is equipped to provide that relief. Word is that Bullough has taken his game up a level. He’s been functional in the past. They say Bullough is flat-out good now.
Byron Bullough (38) and Tyriq Thompson engage in a tackle/wrap drill.
Jim Comparoni • SpartanMag.com
@JimComparoni
EAST LANSING - I’ve seen some Augusts in the past when Michigan State seemed to be scrambling through its scrimmages, auditioning players to fill key vacancies while the countdown to the season’s kickoff ticked ran thin.
Sometimes these problems lead to difficult seasons.
Sometimes, as was the case with the QB and RB derbies of 2013, the Spartans emerged just fine. (That was the year when Mark Dantonio frustratedly activated true freshman Damion Terryinto the QB competition because the other three candidates weren’t practicing well. Earlier that year, Dantonio plugged Riley Bullough into the tailback picture because Jeremy Langford and the others weren’t instilling confidence. Well, things turned out okay that year, with a Rose Bowl win and No. 3 final ranking).
But usually, mid-August juggling creates concern.
This year, there isn’t much juggling going on at the Skandalaris Center, other than at the linebacker positions, where the Spartans have more proven candidates at the position than any time I can remember. At linebacker, Michigan State is juggling from a position of strength, not desperation.
Overall, Michigan State seems to be coasting through camp the way you’d expect from a team that returns 19 starters, and many key reserves, from a 10-win, Top 15 team.
The latest example: The Spartans had the luxury of limiting the reps of some returning starters during last week’s Jersey Scrimmage. Mike linebacker Joe Bachie didn’t play much in the scrimmage. He knows the defense, the coaches know what he can do, he plays a physically-demanding position, hence the reason to limit his August wear and tear.
“The guys who had already solidified positions, we limited their reps,” said defensive coordinator Mike Tressel. “We had a lot of guys get opportunities to run reps with the ones and play at that level.”
That sounds like a good step toward sharpening MSU’s second string and depth.
Is there a negative to this approach? Might Michigan State’s starters be a little less game-sharp by a week from Friday? I doubt it. Michigan State is known for banging pretty good throughout August. They’ll be tough.
**
The coaches gained a read on a handful of questions heading into these last days of camp, with game prep for the Aug. 31 opener against Utah State due to begin on Sunday.
Among the questions:
* Which players are going to make up the regular rotation at the linebacker positions?
* Which freshmen are going to be in the playing group early in the year, and which ones are in position to play more than four games?
* What do the candidates look like at boundary defensive end?
The latest clues:
QUESTION 1: AT LINEBACKER ...
Grayson Miller and Jon Reschke.
1. Many of us assumed the starting trio would be Bachie at Mike linebacker, Andrew Dowell at ‘star’ linebacker and most likely Tyriq Thompson at ‘money’ linebacker.
Bachie is a lock.
Dowell has been a functional ‘star’ linebacker in the past. Sophomore Antjuan Simmons was cutting in on Dowell’s playing time at the end of last season and has the capacity to overtake Dowell if Dowell doesn’t improve and Simmons stays healthy.
“You can’t take your eyes off of Antjuan,” Bachie said. “He’s a smart player; he plays fast.”
Jon Reschke played ‘star’ earlier in his career. He might not be the prototypical slot linebacker against tempo spread teams, but don’t rule him out for some special ops duty at ‘star’ against physical teams.
Reschke is best-equipped to play ‘money.’ That’s the inside linebacker position he played the last time we saw him in an Michigan State uniform, in 2016. But his background also includes time at the Mike. It’s my understanding that he has repped at all three this month.
Reschke missed most of 2016 and all of 2017. There has been some rust, but he also flashes the honorable mention All-Big Ten level of play he showed as a sophomore in 2015.
“He’s getting better every day,” Bachie said. “He’s still quick, he’s still explosive and he’s strong as could be.
“He’s an energy bunny. He gels well with everyone. He’s not selfish. So he’s going to go with the twos, threes and get his reps and we’re going to move forward with it. But he’s competing for a spot with Tyriq, Brandon and Byron and he’s having a great camp.”
RELIEF FOR BACHIE?
Bachie played through some pain last year, as do all hard-hitting Mike linebackers. He also sat out the spring. Would Michigan State like to give Bachie more relief this year? That seems likely, and it’s a good idea. Michigan State happens to have quality back-ups. Senior Byron Bullough is equipped to provide that relief. Word is that Bullough has taken his game up a level. He’s been functional in the past. They say Bullough is flat-out good now.
