Michigan State has won four in a row over Michigan, Spartans coach Mark Dantonio asks where's the threat?

Photo: Associated Press -- Michigan State Spartans football coach Mark Dantonio doesn't seem the least bit intimidated by the Michigan Wolverines.


By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

The 2012 NCAA football season's kickoff is months away. The Michigan State Spartans haven't even played their Spring Game, and the Michigan Wolverines played theirs this past weekend.

But all of that aside lies one gleaming, beyond-interesting fact about the two programs: Michigan State has won four in a row. Michigan, except in a 26-20 overtime loss in 2009, hasn't even been all that competitive during its losing trend.

Now, there is no denying Michigan's historical domination (67-32-5) over Michigan State, which hasn't rattled off such a winning streak since 1959-62. But, the here and now suggests that the Spartans, who are reloading after losing several key components to graduation and the NFL Draft, are by in large the state's top college football team.

Sugar Bowl or not, the Spartans have yet to bow to Michigan since 2007. And that might not change any time soon, according to Spartans coach Mark Dantonio.

"We're laying in the weeds," Dantonio told ESPN. "We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?"

Golden. Absolutely golden. There is nothing better than a dagger-like comment months prior to the football season to get things rolling. And for those keeping track, the Spartans and Wolverines play Oct. 20 at The Big House in Ann Arbor.

It's almost unfair for Dantonio to drop such a gem so early. His quote will be ingrained in the minds of Michigan coach Brady Hoke until that storied Saturday rolls around.

Some may take Dantonio's comment as being overconfident. He's never been one to hold back while talking about Michigan. We all remember his rebuttal to former Michigan star Mike Hart's "Little Brother" comment, in which Dantonio remarked about Hart's height, implying that he was "little."

It gets nasty, but in a spirited, fan-friendly, we-don't-like-you sort of way. The comments are great for the rivalry, which is rapidly coming to a head. Both basketball programs are Big Ten Conference title contenders, and the same goes for the football teams.

Michigan State Spartans basketball coach Tom Izzo said it best: "A rivalry is a rivalry if both teams are real good or both teams are real bad. It's been kind of a roller coaster for both teams in some ways."

The football rivalry is more important, at least lately. For years, the Wolverines owned the Spartans on the field, posting several lopsided victories. But during its last winning streak of six, Michigan was challenged -- at least in four of those games. From 2002-2007, Michigan won by a touchdown -- touchdown plus conversion (45-37 in 2004) -- or less in all but two games: 2002's 49-3 win and 2006's 31-13 victory.

Michigan isn't the same Michigan it was under Rich Rodriguez. One can sense the urgency -- Hoke's desire to restore the traditional roar of the Wolverines. But Michigan State is no longer a doormat in the Big Ten, it's not Michigan's "Little Brother" and it's not settling for four wins in a row.

MSU Spartans lose DT Jerel Worthy but have Anthony Rashad White ready to go

Photo: Michigan State Athletics (MSUSpartans.com) -- Anthony Rashad White sounds eager to fill the void DT Jerel Worthy left after declaring for the NFL Draft.



By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

The Michigan State Spartans' defense flourished in 2011. It was one of the best in the nation against the run (137 yards, 78th-ranked), and one of the stingiest in terms of points allowed (about 18, 10th-ranked). While the secondary was certainly part of that transformation and success, the front line could have been all the more valuable.

And who was on the front line leading the way? Junior Jerel Worthy, who opted to skip his final year in East Lansing and enter the 2012 NFL Draft. He's a likely first-round pick. It was without a doubt the right choice.


However, Worthy's absence leaves questions. One of the largest looming is who will replace him at defensive tackle. Tyler Hoover comes to mind, but according to a report, that player could be Anthony Rashad White, who enters his second season at Michigan State.


Worthy, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound tackle, was known for a great anti-Michigan tattoo and an affinity for making the most on the pass-rush. He had 30 tackles in 2011, including five in the Spartans' 33-30 Outback Bowl win over Georgia. He finished the year with 3.5 sacks and served as a prime example for the younger defensive linemen to follow.


Players like Worthy don't come around often. There is no doubt that Michigan State will have a difficult task replacing him. But it sounds like there is at least one ready to pick up where Worthy left off.


"Losing Jerel, that's a big thing," White said in a recent interview. "But (he and I) already discussed, 'You're not losing anybody, because it's your turn.' He said I need to step up and take control of the D-line. And I think we're going to be great next year. He's a great player and he's taught me a lot, also."


White missed four games in 2011, but don't forget what he did while he was on the field. Just as important as Worthy in the Outback Bowl, White had seven tackles that came in handy as Michigan State won its first bowl game under coach Mark Dantonio.


It will be important for White to brush up on technique. Following Worthy will present its own challenges as well. More will be answered April 28, in theory, when the Spartans take the field for their annual Spring Game in East Lansing. White, according to Dantonio, will be an important cog of a defense that should be "pretty good."

2013 Rose Bowl? Michigan State QB Andrew Maxwell confident team has 'pieces in place' to reach Pasadena

Photo: MLive.com -- Andrew Maxwell has a calm, cool demeanor heading into the spring game and 2012 football season.


By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

Andrew Maxwell sounds all the more confident during each interview. And that's a great sign, considering he had just 26 pass attempts last season as the Michigan State Spartans' back-up signal-caller.

The former Midland High star seemingly has things figured out. It's been well-documented that former Spartans star quarterback Kirk Cousins has been impressed with Maxwell. In fact, Cousins has said numerous times that Maxwell is "further along" than he was at the same point.


The Spartans' 2012 season could end up being a case of addition by subtraction. For one, losing several key receivers in Keith Nichol, Keshawn Martin and B.J. Cunningham will surely take its toll on Michigan State, which was one win away from a Rose Bowl-berth a year ago.


However, while there are pieces that will be missed, there are means to replace, keeping Michigan State near the top of the Big Ten Conference -- and enough talent to make a run to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, the Grand Daddy of Them All.


"I feel like we have all the pieces in place," Maxwell told ESPN. "You look at our defense, returning a lot of guys from a really successful defense last year. We've got great depth at O-line, we've got great depth at receiver and running back. Our goals are just climbing every year. Those are attainable, those are reaching and that's what we're shooting for."


Now, the depth at wide receiver Maxwell speaks of is indeed there. However, that depth isn't necessarily experienced. Receivers like Bennie Fowler and Keith Mumphrey jump out as the only players with any game experience to speak of. But the addition of Jeremy Langford to the fold adds athleticism. The sophomore reportedly ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, a speed that will make him useful at the wideout slot, as well as at running back.


That has to be encouraging to Maxwell, who doesn't stand to inherit a group with as much perceived talent as Cousins did -- Mark Dell, Cunningham, and others.


In the same interview with ESPN, Maxwell praised the wide receivers corps for its work ethic. But while there are plenty of talented wideouts waiting in the wings, Maxwell stressed the Spartans' success will be determined on how quickly the group's continuity materializes.


"It's a work in progress, but we've got all the talent in the world at that position," Maxwell said. "They've got all the tools, they've got all the skills to be the playmakers we've had in the past. With so many guys vying for spots, it's just going to bring competition to practice. That's going to make the coaches pick the best ones to put on the field."


A new role on the team is a daunting task for anyone to undertake. And accompanied by the losses of arguably one of the best stable of receivers in recent history, the Spartans offense will be interesting to monitor during April 28's Spring Game in East Lansing. That offense will also be under close watch as the season begins this fall. Can it re-tool itself back to a potent scoring machine?


Maxwell seems to think so. And he's not the least bit shaky when saying it, either.


"I feel prepared. I feel prepared because I learned behind a great guy like Kirk (Cousins), arguably the best quarterback in Michigan State history," Maxwell said. "I couldn't pick a better guy to sit behind for three years and learn. Not only learning behind him, but the coaching staff and the support they've given. All that combined just leads to a pretty confident feeling."


He's inexperienced, sure. But Maxwell knows the offense and has strong ties with teammates. That alone gives him a leg up; he's not treading into unfamiliar territory.


"I feel like it will be a smooth transition," Maxwell said. "Not only because I've been here for a while, but because I've built a relationship with guys on this team. I'm not a new face around the building, I'm not a new face in the locker room. I feel like the relationships I've been, the bridges I've built with those guys are going to help me be effective as a leader and a player."

Michigan State Spartans RB Le'Veon Bell should eclipse 1,000-yard mark in 2012

By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81

As a freshman in 2010, Le'Veon Bell dazzled. As a sophomore in 2011, he was nearly unstoppable.

The 6-foot-2, 237-pound junior-to-be anchored a strong Spartans backfield this past fall, rushing for a team-high 948 yards (sixth-most in the Big Ten) with 13 touchdowns. Averaging just over five yards per carry, Bell was a constant force for Michigan State, which made it to the first Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin in December.

Although Bell shared duties with Edwin Baker -- who is bound for the NFL Draft -- a year ago, he came dangerously close to the 1,000-yard mark. In 2012, Bell should be the Spartans' go-to back and top the millennium plateau.

Michigan State wasn't the league's elite rushing team (137.9 yards, 10th overall), but the Spartans fared well through the air with Kirk Cousins at the helm. Now that Cousins has graduated, the Spartans could return to a more ground-oriented offense. And Bell is the best weapon they have at their disposal.

Bell rushed for over 100 yards twice in 2011 and went for 80 or more four times (game log). He was just four yards shy of 100 in the Spartans' 31-24 win over Minnesota. And take into account that he was pulled early in two blowout wins: He had nine carries for 68 yards in Michigan State's 55-0 Senior Day victory over Indiana and 14 carries for 69 yards in an early 44-0 win over Florida Atlantic.

Had Bell stayed in those games longer -- he wasn't needed, however -- he would have probably ended the year with 1,000 or more yards.

But back to the offense's situation. With quarterback Andrew Maxwell taking over for Cousins, accompanied with the loss of key receivers like B.J. Cunningham, Keith Nichol and Keshawn Martin, something tells me that Spartans coach Mark Dantonio might rely on his running game more than he did this past season.

That would be music to Bell's ears, more than likely. He's a powerful runner who didn't appear to shy away from carries -- or shy away from doling out hits to defenders. He doesn't have blazing speed but makes up for it with a tank-like frame.

The likelihood of Bell rushing for 1,000 yards is strong. He had 182 totes in 2011, and that number could be closer to 200 this season. Considering he averaged just over five yards per carry, Bell should have more than enough opportunities to notch his first 1,000-yard season at Michigan State.

Larry Caper will have to emerge as offensive threat for Michigan State Spartans in 2012

Photo: Associated Press -- Larry Caper will have to emerge as more of an offensive threat in 2012 for the Michigan State Spartans.

By Adam Biggers
@AdamBiggers81


The early departure of running back Edwin Baker will force the Michigan State Spartans to look toward others for offensive production this fall—and so will the loss of three of their top receivers.

While Michigan State has will-be junior Le'Veon Bell—who rushed for a team-high 948 yards in 2011—returning, the backfield will miss Baker's contributions. His ability to break off a big run and bounce off tacklers for a gain can't be immediately replaced.

Bell showed he can both run and catch last season, but the Spartans need another threat.
Larry Caper can add to the offense with his versatility in the absence of Baker, who was in the same recruiting class. Being able to lean on Caper will cause defenses to emphasize him, while possibly freeing up Bell.

Having a capable two-back force is almost necessary in college football.

Caper had a respectable freshman year in which he scored the game-winning touchdown in Michigan State's 26-20 win over Michigan. That season, Caper demonstrated his ability to turn receptions into gains with three catches for 47 yards.

While not the first option, Caper can make catches. He had 10 for 86 yards last season (missed six games), and he could be more of a target for quarterback Andrew Maxwell come fall. Caper didn't see many carries while healthy in 2011 because Bell and Baker shouldered the load. He saw limited throws because B.J. Cunningham and Keshawn Martin were two of Kirk Cousins' mainstays.

Caper will likely play more of a receiver's role in 2012, as his past two seasons' statistics suggest. He had 12 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore.

The Spartans offense is in a transition: It's ushering a new quarterback, grooming receivers, and most likely looking for a way to fill in the hole Baker left. Michigan State has the young talent to plug in those holes. But Caper, who will be a senior, will be have to be one of the most important producers.

2012 Outback Bowl: Michigan State's LeVeon Bell, Georgia's Isaiah Crowell headline rushing duel

This article was originally published on Yahoo! Sports 
By Adam Biggers

While I'm more apt to think that the 2012 Outback Bowl between the 17th-ranked Michigan State Spartans and 16th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs will be won in the air, the similarities between each team's ground game intrigues me.

LeVeon Bell proved to be a bruising back who could carry the load for the Spartans in the regular season, dodging tackles and racking up 900 yards on the ground in the process. He possesses a great combination of power and speed, and at 6-foot-2, 237 pounds, Bell will surely be a hard take-down for the Bulldogs defense.

AdChoices

Throw in Larry Caper, who is typically a sure-handed running back with a knack for making grabs in the flat; Edwin Baker, another powerful back with speed to burn, and the Spartans will present a monumental task Jan. 2 for Georgia to handle.

However, the Bulldogs defense, one of the best in the country, ranked 19th against defending the run this season, allowing a stingy 1,344 yards on the year.

And to top it off, the Bulldogs have an athletic, play-making back of its own: Freshman Isaiah Crowell, a load at 5-11 and 217 pounds, who galloped for 847 yards and 12 touchdowns this season—and he did that against a slate of Southeastern Conference opponents. While the Spartans did a sufficient job against Big Ten defenses, Georgia had to do it against SEC foes.

Defend the Big Ten if you must, but its defenses aren't the SEC's defenses. Statistically, Michigan State and Georgia's defenses are similar and match-up well, but that's on paper, and for a later article to address and discuss.

But, don't give Georgia the advantage just yet, as the Spartans were efficient in stuffing running backs this year, too—allowing 1,356 yards on the ground and coming in one spot nationally behind Georgia in terms of run defense.

Here are some numbers to digest: Rushing offense, rushing defense.

Quick hits

Bell rushed for 100 or more yards twice this season: 112 in the Spartans' 37-21 road win over Iowa and 106 in their 42-39 loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. What does that mean? Well, if Bell's stats don't wow you, they should suggest he comes to play when his team needs him most.

Bell carried the ball a season-high 20 times in the Spartans' win at Iowa, pitching in a touchdown and two catches for 49 yards (long of 45). The win over the Hawkeyes helped Michigan State prove it could win a crucial game away from Spartan Stadium.

Crowell topped Bell in the 100-yard plus category, going for the century mark four times this season. He was out two games (Georgia Tech and New Mexico State) against opponents he would have likely ravaged for 100 or more.

One of Crowell's best performances was a 30-carry, 147-yard display in a 27-13 win over Ole Miss (Mississippi).

Stats don't tell the whole story

If not for balanced backfields, both Bell and Crowell would have likely rushed for over 1,000 yards this year. Both backs were reliable, showing they could handle the ball and produce.

The pure rushing numbers shade toward Bell having the advantage, but I would have to disagree based on one fact: Crowell got his against the SEC. But, consider Bell's other skills: He has great hands and catch. Crowell didn't rack up the receiving yards like Bell did this season (30 receptions for 228 yards).

There will be other backs that factor in the game, of course, but I wanted to highlight the two headliners. Two even defenses, not to mention two similar offenses, should make for a BCS-like match-up Jan. 2. The Outback Bowl is easily the best non-BCS game out there—a must-watch, not only for Spartans and Bulldogs followers, but for college football purists.

If one back has the potential to be a game-changer, it's Bell. He's shown in three years at Michigan State that he has the ability to do as much. Experience in big games comes in handy, and while Crowell is a fantastic athlete in his own right, I give the edge to Bell as the Outback Bowl's "game buster."

Adam Biggers has followed college football for over 20 years, specifically the Michigan State Spartans. He can be reached by e-mail at Adam.Biggers@Yahoo.com, or, by Twitter @AdamBiggers81.

He will continue to highlight other aspects of the 2012 Outback Bowl in later articles, so check back often.