It’s Michigan State week, and not only am I pumped because we finally play a real team, but I’m also heading up there to see it. This will be my first time in a Big Ten environment and the first time in a (probably) full stadium since going down to WVU in 2005. The game will be on ESPN with Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color) and Quint Kessenich (sideline).
Unless you dropped off the face of the Earth and didn’t see how the Grambling game unfolded, you’re aware that Kevan Smith is going to be starting under center. Coach Wannstedt, your thoughts…
On things that Kevan Smith needs to improve on:
As simple as this sounds, just hitting open receivers and taking what the defense gives him. He needs to work on those little things. It’s not sitting back there and reading the defense, that’s not the problem. He made some great throws on his deep balls. He had a great throw to Nate Byham. I think he just needs to continue to work on the little things, and he will.On preparing Kevan Smith for his first game in a hostile environment:
We’ll bring noise out there on Wednesday and Thursday. That will benefit not just the quarterback but our entire football team, particularly the offense. He’ll be fine. We’ll continue to practice Pat Bostick. He’ll take half the reps in practice and we’ll continue to get him ready just in case we would need him.On playing Pat Bostick:
We’ll play him if he’s needed, but we’ll have to see how the game unfolds.
There are some people out there who think Smith is even more talented than Stull, but I don’t see how any type of comparison can be made seeing them each in one game. Then taking into account the type of teams we played, and it’s nearly impossible right now to say one is more skilled than the other. Get used to Smith though, he’s going to be leading us through the next few weeks because Bostick didn’t look nearly as great as we expected.
How did the Spartans do last week? Saturday Sound Offs gives them a B letter grade.
Michigan State-They looked alright out there against the Falcons. Brad Hoyer was efficient through the air and the MSU ground game was the difference. The run defense also didn’t let Bowling Green do too much.
Pitt was graded as a B+.
EDSBS doesn’t buy or sell MSU at this point, but merely holds on them.
Michigan State Held off Bowling Green. Simmering until the inevitable collapse at some point over the next month. At the point the Spartans really start to look like a ‘buy,’ unload them. Fast.
Last year, after running all over Pitt (by using the same 2 plays — a RB dive and a RB stretch), MSU looked like a team to “buy”. They then proceeded to throw away their season by blowing a huge lead against Notre Dame. As Stuart said in the comments, “Can MSU please vomit away their season 1 week early this year? We all know they’re going to fold, its just a question of when.”
I can’t wait for Stull to come back, unless Smith improves greatly, and learns to throw some other balls besides a lob. In the meantime we should scrap the west coast offense cause he can’t make the short throws as well as he throws the deeper ones. I’m scared for any slant or if he has to throw the ball low for a receiver to be the only one with a play on it.
Not that a thing is going to change. If he throws the same, he’s going to have 2 picks this weekend, at least. He’ll float some balls over the middle and MSU will have a play on them or some tips. Our OL better get ready for some run blocking or its going to be a beating.
Smith did exactly what he was charged to do – and did it well. All the other aspects of his game will come together with experience.
By the way – where are all the fans that were calling for Bostick to jump over Stull & Smith as starter this season? Still think he should have been given the starting job out of camp? There is a huge difference between having a redshirt year under your belt and coming right out of HS, and not just in terms of knowing the playbook.
Bostick is in the best possible position for him right now – he’ll get reps in practice and have to be ready to step in if needed. And, probably most importantly, have a full season to work with the offense and regain his teammates trust.
Then again, maybe he’ll be more comfortable in his second game…so if by some miracle we’re up big, put him in another game. See how he does in the fourth quarter. It can’t hurt to get him more experience.
I mean, what are we going to do, start Smith for 4 years and Bostick for 1 maybe, or none if Bostick never red-shirts?
But for now, we can clearly see because we got what we wanted, that Bostick is the #3 guy.
“I mean, what are we going to do, start Smith for 4 years and Bostick for 1 maybe, or none if Bostick never red-shirts?”
And the answer is….yes, if that’s how things work out. Why would you want anything different? That is assuming that Smith develops well as the starter, and becomes the QB to lead the team.
Nowhere is it written that because a ‘scouting’ website gives a kid a good recommendation (5 stars) that he’s guaranteed playing time in college. Once that recruit signs on the dotted line he should be treated just like any other recruit – which means he should have to EARN playing time and a starting position.
McCoy obviously earned his with a great showing in camp, and in his first two games as a PITT RB. Bostick really did just the opposite in missing the start of camp, not burning it up during practices and having a poor showing his first time out. He deserves a chance to compete for the starting job, and right now that means good practices and success whenever he gets an opportunity during a game.
But, it wouldn’t bother me one bit if Bostick didn’t become the starter at PITT during his four years because someone else played better and won the job over him.
link to sports.espn.go.com