Coaches have to keep an eye out for those situations where the team could end up thin at key positions, especially skilled positions which take longer to develop than other positions. Quarterback, receiver, and tight end must always be well-stocked. The Spartans made a critical mistake with the 2011 recruiting class when they brought in only one clear receiver, Juwan Caeser -- who hasn't played at all this year. Andre Sims was a part of that class, and while he is now playing receiver, it appears he was originally recruited to play cornerback. In fact, Sims and Lippett's development as receivers may have been delayed by the fact that both were origially slated to play on defense.
The quarterback position did not suffer the depth problem quite as much. The Spartans have 3 talented scholarship quarterbacks and several upper-class walk-ons. The bigger problem at quarterback is game experience. Which brings up key lesson number 2 of this horrible season: get your future starters into as many games as possible.
I remember thinking that last year. There were a few blowouts where Cousins stayed in the game well into the 4rth quarter, and I remember wondering, "why not get Maxwell in there, it's not like you're protecting his redshirt?" In fact, Maxwell only made 26 throws in 2011. That tells me that the coaches just hadn't thought much about getting key players ready for 2012. We can see the same thing with the receivers. Fowler did get some meaningful playing time the last 2 years, but Lippett only had 4 catches in 2011 and Mumphery only 2.
The quarterback position did not suffer the depth problem quite as much. The Spartans have 3 talented scholarship quarterbacks and several upper-class walk-ons. The bigger problem at quarterback is game experience. Which brings up key lesson number 2 of this horrible season: get your future starters into as many games as possible.
I remember thinking that last year. There were a few blowouts where Cousins stayed in the game well into the 4rth quarter, and I remember wondering, "why not get Maxwell in there, it's not like you're protecting his redshirt?" In fact, Maxwell only made 26 throws in 2011. That tells me that the coaches just hadn't thought much about getting key players ready for 2012. We can see the same thing with the receivers. Fowler did get some meaningful playing time the last 2 years, but Lippett only had 4 catches in 2011 and Mumphery only 2.
You can't help but worry that the coaches may make the same mistake in future years. Next year, I could see them having problems with running backs. If Bell leaves early for the NFL, next year's running backs will be relatively inexperienced. Thankfully, running back doesn't take as much time to develop as quarterback and receiver (as Iowa shows every year), but the coaches should still be trying to get next year's potential starters a little more playing time.
Another potential trouble spot is cornerback. Folks, Darqueze Dennard looks like a first or second round draft pick to me and that makes it likely he will leave at the end of this season. That could leave the Spartans thin at the position. So the coaches need to be thinking about that possibility and they need to be communicating with Dennard so that they can plan accordingly.
Finally, after what we've gone through this year, I'll be upset during the 2013 season if the coaches don't play the backup quarterback more often (whoever that turns out to be), especially during blowouts. If the team is up 3 or 4 touchdowns late in the third quarter, why not let the backup play the rest of the game? I don't want the 2014 season to be a repeat of this season, and so I'd like to see the backup get at least 50 pass attempts throughout the 2013 season.
Another potential trouble spot is cornerback. Folks, Darqueze Dennard looks like a first or second round draft pick to me and that makes it likely he will leave at the end of this season. That could leave the Spartans thin at the position. So the coaches need to be thinking about that possibility and they need to be communicating with Dennard so that they can plan accordingly.
Finally, after what we've gone through this year, I'll be upset during the 2013 season if the coaches don't play the backup quarterback more often (whoever that turns out to be), especially during blowouts. If the team is up 3 or 4 touchdowns late in the third quarter, why not let the backup play the rest of the game? I don't want the 2014 season to be a repeat of this season, and so I'd like to see the backup get at least 50 pass attempts throughout the 2013 season.
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