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EAST LANSING – One down, one to go.
And with less than 20 days until Michigan State football officially kicks off the Jonathan Smith era, the new coach got a chance Saturday to see where the Spartans are at the midpoint of preseason camp.
The verdict?
“I thought we were a work in progress,” Smith said after practice Monday. “I think each day, you make some strides, and then you have a setback in a day or two when you know more install comes and maybe some more flaws. You’re trying to learn about individual players or schemes and (both) sides of the ball.
“So I feel good of where we’re at and really the progress we’re making.”
Michigan State’s head coach Jonathan Smith looks on during camp on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, at the indoor practice facility in East Lansing.
MSU opens the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 against Florida Atlantic (Big Ten Network), with two more weeks of work to flesh out the depth chart before attention turns to game preparation.
Smith said the Spartans got about 100 plays in during Saturday’s closed scrimmage at Spartan Stadium, including “quality reps” on offense, defense and special teams. A second, and likely final, scrimmage (also closed to media and public) is planned for this Saturday as players jockey for starting jobs and critical roles.
“When I say quality, we’re learning about where we’re at,” Smith said. “And it wasn’t flawless by any stretch of the imagination. But it was really good work to kind of recognize where we’re at after, at that time, 11 practices. And so this is a huge week moving forward.”
Some positions already are solidified, barring injuries – Aidan Chiles at quarterback, Jack Velling at tight end and Tanner Miller at center are three of Smith’s former Oregon State players who appear comfortably headed for starting jobs. Same goes for defensive end Khris…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-jonathan-smith-204331064.html
Author : Lansing State Journal
Publish date : 2024-08-12 20:43:31
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