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EAST LANSING – A week into preseason camp, Michigan State football put the pads on Monday morning. Jonathan Smith made sure his players got in some live tackling, too.
Even it was only 24 plays, about eight reps per guy, and in a very controlled setting.
“Limited amount, but some live tackling,” the first-year coach said afterward. “I thought it was good for the guys to continue to progress and play. They’re working hard. A week into it, I’ve been pleased with the effort, attention to detail. We’re throwing a lot at them. It’s not flawless, perfect in any way, but I do appreciate the effort these guys are giving and battling each other day in and day out.”
Perhaps symbolically, or maybe due to a scheduling error, the Spartans also brought out three linebackers to talk to the media. And they wanted to make their presence known.
Michigan State’s Cal Haladay catches a ball in a drill during camp on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, at the indoor practice facility in East Lansing.
Not with their hitting, but with some bold prognosticating.
“I think that we have the best linebacker room in the country,” second-year linebacker Jordan Hall declared. “I honestly believe that.”
There remains a lot ahead to prove that on the field.
New defensive coordinator Joe Rossi’s aggressive 4-3 scheme relies sometimes on having an extra linebacker bringing pressure off the edge. Hall said he has been working on that, and he is back in the middle of the defense alongside senior Cal Haladay. Those two combined for 1,158 snaps between them, with Haladay’s 644 second-most on the team, and the Spartans lost 571 snaps with the graduation loss of Aaron Brule.
MORE ON MSU: Turnover in trenches adds complexity to Jonathan Smith’s rebuild
But beyond those three, the linebacker corps went from thin to decimated by the end of season with injuries…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-hoping-depth-100904184.html
Author : Detroit Free Press
Publish date : 2024-08-06 10:09:04
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