Scout unveiled a new set of rankings, but I’m not going to bother updating the stars for now, since I’m planning to switch to Rivals’ rankings son anyway.

Action since last rankings:
7-19-08 Minnesota gains commitment from Eric Stephens.
7-20-08 Notre Dame gains commitment from Zach Martin. Illinois gains commitments from Tommie Hopkins and Terry Hawthorne.
7-21-08 Michigan gains commitment from DeQuinta Jones. Wisconsin gains commitment from Jeff Duckworth.
7-22-08 Michigan State gains commitment from Tyquan Hammock.
7-23-08 Purdue gains commitment from Rob Henry

New Rankings:

Sam Longo commits. OSU probably has 3-4 slots left for people like Marcus Hall, Jaamal Berry, etc.

A defensive end goes a long way to easing Michigan fans’ fears about the position.

Nate Cadogan commitment is now official. Figueroa and Kuntz figure to be low three-star types, maybe dropping in twos.

Chris Watt commits, failing to realize that ND OL have underperformed horrifically in recent times. Turk and Tausch have a rating ceiling of high three-stars (standard for non-all-world kickers).

Wisconsin’s OL commits get a bonus half0star because of their inherent Wisconsin-ness. Jeff Duckworth drops for the Badgers.

Tyquan Hammock goes green after not getting the Michigan offer he wanted.

Gophers pick up Eric Stephens, whom the recruiting sites give vastly different rankings (Scout 2-star, Rivals 4-star).

The Illini grab Terry Hawthorne and Tommie Hopkins. Is Hawthorne’s teammate Kraig Appleton next to drop?

Dustin Kiel, Lawrence Barnett, Charles Chapman, Mitch Ewald, and Pat McShane commit. While the Hoosiers have a lot of commitments (which would rank them higher in many ranking systems) their abundance of 2-star guys really limits where this class can end up.

Trumpy and Battle will be low threes, Moulton a high two.

Aristide could end up a high three-star. He was on the verge of being a big prospect before a bad junior year injury. Bush will be a mid three-star. The Boilermakers pass Iowa.

Ferentz’s glory days in recruiting seem to be over. Rogers will end up a low two-star.

Posted under Recruiting

Posted under Coaching

I forgot to link it Monday, but don’t forget that the board is here.

Moved to Committed:
LA DE DeQuinta Jones. The awesomely-named one is also added to the board in this update. Commit article.

New Information:
VA QB commit Kevin Newsome. Some glorious, glorious reassurance from Sam Webb that he is firmly committed, and recruiting other players to Michigan. Now in convenient print form! Newsome speaks with SI about transferring to Hargrave.
FL QB Eugene Smith. He made the Elite 11. And is performing quite well.
FL S Jonathan Scott. Michigan in his top 3 (info in header).
SC DEs Sam Montgomery and Chris Bonds. Both plan to take officials to Michigan.
FL CB Mywan Jackson. Michigan visit this weekend.
NJ DE/OL Anthony LaLota. Narrows his list to 7 (including the Wolverines).
NV DE Keenan Graham. Will he decide before getting a chance to visit Michigan?
MS S Rod Woodson. Now reports an offer.

Removed:
AL DE William Ming. Alabama commit.
IN LB TyQuan Hammock. After not getting the Michigan offer he wanted, commits to Michigan State.

Analysis:
Hooray, a defensive end! Michigan will want at least one more in this class, likely a speed rusher. Other sources of celebration: Reassurance on the Newsome front! Hooray!

Posted under Recruiting

Posted under Coaching

After a summer of being the worst-kept secret in Michigan fandom, it’s official: Marques Slocum is gone.

Slocum, a defensive tackle from Philadelphia, PA, has left the Michigan football program. After a multi-year sojourn to become academically eligible, Slocum stuck with the school that he had originally pledged to “because they stuck with me.” However, Slocum’s early career was not without its lumps, as a widely-criticized Facebook posting gained cult status on the internet, and Slocum struggled to stay in shape.

While rumors swirled around Slocum throughout his career with Michigan, it was his incompatibility with Director of Strength and Conditioning Mike Barwis, along with his academic struggles, that finally caused Slocum to give up on his Michigan career. Slocum disagreed with Barwis’s demanding style, and has stopped attending team workouts and summer classes.

It is unclear where Slocum plans to go from here, but I wish him the best of luck.

Eligibility Chart updated accordingly.

Posted under Personnel

…and your freshmen are numbered thusly:

Ricky Barnum – 56
Boubacar Cissoko – 33
Mike Cox – 15
Kenny Demens – 25
Justin Feagin – 5
JB Fitzgerald – 42
JT Floyd – 12
Taylor Hill – 36
Rocko Khoury – 63
Kevin Koger – 86
Mike Martin – 68
Sam McGuffie – 2
Elliott Mealer – 57
Brandon Moore – 88
Martavious Odoms – 9
Patrick Omameh – 65
Dan O’Neill – 78
Terrence Robinson – 7
Roy Roundtree – 16
Michael Shaw – 20
Brandon Smith – 28
Daryll Stonum – 22
Kurt Wermers – 64
Marcus Witherspoon – 4

Posted under Personnel

Purdue Offense:
QBs
Curtis Painter enters his final season at Purdue with hype as the conference’s best quarterback, and perhaps a first-round draft pick (I think this speaks more to the quality of the rest of the nation’s QBs, not Painter’s supreme skill). Backing him up will be Joey Elliott and redshirt freshman Justin Siller.

Statistics:

Analysis:
I think Painter is being overrated in most preseason publications. He is a fairly efficient passer, but it comes in a system that asks the quarterback to get the ball to receivers and allow them to get YAC. He rarely is asked to throw deep, and instead throws lots of screens and slants with major help from his WRs. If he gets hurt, however, Elliott is probably a big step back. While Painter isn’t Heisman material, he is still probably the best QB in the conference.

RBs
Kory Sheets and Jaycen Taylor will be the primary ballcarriers for the Boilermaker offense. Sheets is a 5th-year senior, while Sheets is a redshirt junior. True sophomore Dan Dierking will play behind them. Fullback Frank Halliburton paves the way when the Boilers go to a strong set.

Statistics:

Analysis:
Sheets and Taylor gain yardage primarily due to the spread’s ability to bring defenders out of the box rather than their own ability. However, they are competent backs, and each is a threat to receive the ball as well. Neither should challenge for all-conference, but they will get the job done when called upon.

Receivers:
Dorien Bryant finally graduates after what seemed like 100 years at Purdue, and tight end Dustin Keller is gone as well. Selwyn Lymon was expected to be a big contributor for the Boilermakers, but he had off-field troubles and is no longer with the team. That leaves big Greg Orton as the primary playmaker. Tight end Kyle Adams and 5th year receiver Desmond Tardy should also play big roles for Purdue. As often as this school throws the ball around, they aren’t particularly deep at wideout.

Statistics:

Dustin Keller is
not morally opposed to statistical anomalies.

Analysis:
One thing I’m surprised about is the receivers’ lack of rushing attempts last year, given the bubble screen-happy nature of the “basketball on grass” offense. With the losses of 4 of their top 5 receivers, Purdue has very little depth. One injury could really screw them over, given wide receivers’ importance to this offense. Younger players will have to step up and carry some of the load.

Line:
Left tackle Sean Sester is the most experienced lineman of the bunch, as the fifth year has started 38 games for Purdue (I’d be surprised if this wasn’t more than every Michigan lineman combined – not just the starters). The other bookend will be former walkon and redshirt junior Zach Jones, who started nearly every game for Purdue last year. On the interior, redshirt junior Zach Reckman returns after starting every game at left guard last year. The final two positions have been vacated by Jordan Grimes and Robbie Powell. 5th-year senior Cory Benton will fill the center slot, with redshirt sophomore Justin Pierce filling in the final guard position.

Analysis:
With three starters back, including both tackles, Painter should have the protection he needs to get the ball to the playmakers on the edges. Though Purdue rarely excels in rush offense, this is more because they think of it as an afterthought to passing, not because they can’t block.

Offensive Analysis:
Curtis Painter should continue to improve, limiting his turnovers in 2008. The passing game at Purdue will, as always, allow Painter to make easy throws and rack up yardage. The run game will be more of a change of pace than anything. With three returning O-linemen and experienced running backs, the offense should click as long as the wideouts can step up.

Purdue Defense:
Defensive Line:
The team leader in TFLs and sacks, Cliff Avril, is gone from one defensive end spot. Eugene Bright, who split time with Keyon Brown at the other end, is also gone. Brown will take over full-time for his senior year. The other end spot will be taken over by Ryan Kerrigan, a true sophomore. Both starting defensive tackles return, with Ryan Baker entering his fifth year and Alex Magee a true senior. Backups will be Mike Neal and Jared Zwilling.

Statistics:

Analysis:
Cliff Avril was a farily accomplished pass rusher, so it may be difficult to replace him. However, the other three starting linemen return, with Keyon Brown taking over full time at the end spot. This unit will struggle to get to the quarterback without Avril.

Linebackers:
Anthony Heygood is back for his fifth year, starting in one of the positions. However, the Boilers’ next three leading tacklrs at the linebacker position are gone, leaving starting positions to relatively-inexperienced Tyler Haston and Kevin Green. They will have to learn fast, since they have primarily been special teams players to this point in their careers.

Statistics:

Analysis:
Losing several of your most important players at a position is never a good thing. However, Heygood was the best linebacker for Purdue, and should continue to be. If the other linebackers aren’t up to task, however, it could be along year for the Boilermakers.

Defensive Backs:
Corner Terrell Vinson is gone, as is safety Justin Scott. The returners in the secondary will be junior corner David Pender, who played in every game and started most of them, and safety Brandon King, a senior who got every start last year. Replacing the departees will probably be senior corner Royce Adams, who got the starts last year that Pender didn’t, and either senior Adam Wolf or junior Josh McKinley at safety.

Sttatistics:

Analysis:
The Boilers lose their top two tacklers from the secondary, though I personally subscribe to the school of “if a corner is among your leading tacklers it means he can’t cover anyone.” However, the secondary loses its best two players nonetheless.

Defensive Analysis:
Purdue, despite having some fairly strong defenses earlier this decade, has never been known for its defense, but rather its fairly innovative offense. The trend should continue this year, with no stars on the D. It appears as though Purdue will have to outscore most of its opponents if the Boilers want to win (see: Motor City Bowl: Purdue 51, Central Michigan 48).

Special Teams:
Junior kicker Chris Summers returns, but punter Jared Armstrong departs. Armstrong will likely be replaced by Brody McKnight, or Summers will take care of both duties.

Statistics:

Analysis:
Summers is one of the most consistent kickers in the conference. The punting situation is unknown, but losing a multi-year starter is never referred.

Overall Analysis:
Purdue should turn in its standard middle-of-the-pack performance this yea runless Painter balls out of his mind. Expect a loss to a team they shouldn’t lose to, and maybe a victory over a game peopel don’t expect them to win. In the end, Purdue is an offensively-oriented team this year, and it is too difficult to win championships with that build.

Posted under Analysis

Enjoy

Posted under Video

Michigan State Offense:
QBs
Brian Hoyer wasn’t terrible last year, but in several games, he wasn’t particularly far from it (Boston College, though that was almost entirely on the coaching staff). Both of his primary backups from last year return, in the form of Nick Foles and Conner Dixon. Each only played in the first game last year, so Foles will be a redshirt freshman in 2008, and Dixon a redshirt sophomore.

Statistics:

Analysis:
Hoyer is a competent game-manager, but when asked to throw when the Spartans could be running, he sucked (see: BC). He is nothing to fear for opposing defenses, and if they can stop the run, Hoyer won’t win games for them. However, if the ground game can remain consistent, he should be a liability. Behind him, there is little help (especially since Keith Nichol won’t be eligible until 2009).

RBs
Last year, State employed something of a “thunder and lightning” approach to sharing carries, a term of which I am starting to get quite sick. Javon Ringer was the speedy guy, and he will return for his senior season. Jehuu Caulcrick, the between-the-tackles guy, has graduated. Depth player Brett Kahn also departs. AJ Jimmerson is not as big as Caulcrick was, but the junior will hope to get some of the inside carries. Andre Anderson got a few carries in the first game of the year, but redshirted for the Spartans.

Statistics:

Analysis:
Ringer is one of the better running backs in the conference, but it remains to be seen if he can carry a significant majority of the load. If some of the younger guys can step up, this area should be a strength for the Spartans. Its development will be key to offensive success (see: quarterbacks).

Receivers:
Devin Thomas was a two-year wonder for the Spartans, going pro after one good year in green and white (he caught only 6 passes in 2006). Starting TE Kellen Davis is also gone. Stepping into primary roles for the receiving corps will be sophomore Mark Dell and senior Deon Curry. Other players will have to emerge that didn’t get significant playing time last year, or Hoyer might be in big trouble.

Statistics:

Analysis:
I think Thomas’s high number of carries last year was a way for Dantonio to get the ball into his best playmaker’s hands, rather than a sign that he loves to have WRs run the ball. The majority of their damage will be through the air. With a couple young guys stepping in to replace the top couple pass receivers from last year, MSU needs them to step up. They wono’t be specatular, like Thomas was last year, but State fans are hoping they can be consistent performers.

Line:
Michigan State loses 3/5 of their starting line from last year, with Pete Clifford, Kenny Shane, and John Masters graduating after five years in Green and White. On the right side, Roland Martin and Jesse Miller are back at guard and tackle, respectively. Martin will shift over to the left guard position for his senior year. The left tackle slot will be filled by junior Rocco Cironi. Center and right guard will be filled by juniors Joel Nitchman and Brendon Miller.

Analysis:
The MSU offensive line was fairly successful last year, paving the way for the nation’s #25 rushing attack, though they were #77 in the nation in keeping Hoyer off the turf. They look to take big steps back in both categories, losing significant personnel, including the left tackle, from their own ranks, while the team’s second-leading rusher is gone as well. Javon Ringer probably won’t be as successful this year, and with new receivers and worse protection, Hoyer will probably get hit quite a bit more as well.

Offensive Analysis:
Javon Ringer should be the cog that makes the Spartan machine go, though he seems poised to get more carries this year than he has at any point in his career, and isn’t necessarily built to take a big pounding. Hoyer won’t win any games on his own, and though he may be able to lose one or two, it is more likely that he will be a game-manager. He lost his top couple targets, and the Spartans don’t have a lot of experience returning in the wings to fill in. With a mostly-new offensive line, including the left tackle, there could be trouble up front for MSU. Expect a step back in terms of offensive production.

Michigan State Defense:
Defensive Line:
5th-year snior Justin Kershaw is the only returning starter along the defensive line. The other starter, sophomore Oren Wilson, will replace Ogemdi Nwagbuo. Wilson got some playing time last year, but is still a very young player. Replacing the D-line’s two leading tacklers at defensive end will be senior Brandon Long and junior Trevor Anderson. Anderson didn’t accumulate any stats last year.

Statistics:

Jordan is l
isted on the spring depth chart as a backup TE. Stipek is listed on the spring depth chart at OG.

Analysis:
Ouch. Three of the top four tacklers are gone, including the self-nicknamed “Sack Master” Jonal Saint-Dic (side note – most of his sacks came against the outstanding offensive lines of Bowling Green, Pitt, and Notre Dame). A couple other guys who were listed at DL are now on the spring depth chart on offense. The players remaining to fill holes here mostly have very few tackles (read: have played almost exclusively on special teams). This looks to be an area of weakness (or at least improving over the course of the year) for the Spartans.

Linebackers:
Among the starters at linebacker, only Kaleb Thornhill has departed. He will be replaced in the middle by junior Adam Decker. On the outside, Greg Jones and Eric Gordon return after big freshman years (Gordon as a redshirt). Backing up the starters will be redshirt sophomore Jon Misch, and juniors Josh Roush and Brandon Denson.

Statistics:

Analysis:
Jones and Gordon had an exceptional year for a pair of freshmen. If they continue to improve, they could be huge players for the Spartans down the line. Regardless, Thornhill was regarded to be the best linebacker for State last year. If Adam Decker can step in and fill the void, the outside backer’s should be free to make some plays. The troubling aspect of this is that Decker didn’t accumulate any stats last year, despite being listed as the backup at the position.

Defensive Backs:
Kendell Davis-Clark returns for his senior season as the team’s #1 corner. Ross Weaver is gone at the other corner spot, and will be replaced by Ashton Henderson. Travis Key, Otis Wiley, and Nehemiah Warrick rotated playing time at safety last year (Wiley was the nominal backup to Key, but also played as the nickel back). Key and Warrick are gone, leaving Wiley to start at strong safety. At free safety, Roderick Jenrette will take over after playing primarily on special teams last year. Chris Rucker, Jeremy Ware, Marcus Hyde, and Dan Fortener are the primary backups in the defensive secondary.

Statistics:

Analysis:
Though Davis-Clark was the secondary’s leading tackler last year, there is always a sense of discomfort when that honor goes to a corner – it usually just means he can’t cover a receiver to save his life. This, in effect, means State lost its two best DBs. Considering they weren’t even particularly good, that could spell trouble in the secondary. Ross Weaver was listed as a sophomore last year, but is nowhere to be found on MSU’s spring depth chart. If he comes back, I doubt Michigan fans would lament his return.

Defensive Analysis:
Losing very important pieces on the DL and in the secondary should spell trouble for the passing game. If the new D-linemen can hold their own against the run, State’s linebackers should be able to make some plays. However, with youth and inexperience all over the defense, expect to see a step back from the Spartan defense as well.

Special Teams:
Aaron Bates returns as punter, though he was kinda crappy last year. Brett Swenson wasn’t particularly good last year, either, hitting on a Gingellian 68% of his field goals (just kidding, Gingell was 3/9).

Statistics:

Analysis:
Expect improvement from both specialists, if only because there is nowhere to go but up.

Overall Analysis:
I came into this preview expecting to see State poised to make another run to the upper-middle of the Big Ten, but they lost so many key pieces that I don’t think that is likely. I think MSU will take a step back in 2008, with both the offense and defense struggling a bit. Dantonio is a good coach, which Spartans fans should count on as the factor that will get them into a bowl game again.

Posted under Analysis

Coming this afternoon: Michigan State Preview.
Coming sometime this week: A classic Bo interview (“classic” in this case meaning “old,” not “something seen by people other than those who lived in the dorms circa 1994”).
Coming Sunday: The podcast (like usual, but this one that I’m particularly excited about).

For Newsome-worriers: Rest assured (for now). More in the Friday recruiting update.

Jim Stefani has a bit more on DeQuinta.

An interesting discussion that took place in the comments last week:
Why is Indiana having recruiting success in Michigan?
Paul theorized thusly:

I wonder if that means that MSU is getting better players outside of Michigan so they don’t have to pick up the crumbs or if MSU is just losing its grip on said crumbs.

I think it’s neither. Pretty much all of the guys from Michigan who have committed to the Hoosiers either would never have gotten a High-level BCS offer (sorry Indiana), such as Kenny Watkins and Jamonne Chester, or are sleepers who would have had to wait a while for even an MSU offer, like Charles Chapman and Jeremy Gainer.

The only difference between this year and past years is that Indiana’s recruiting class is filling up earlier, so they can grab these sleepers before better offers come, or snatch the other guys away from the jaws of MAC schools.

Posted under Blog News, Blogcast, Recruiting