2009 was about meeting expectations, particularly for Greg Jones. He was voted the preseason defensive player of the year and did nothing to to make those voters regret their selection. Jones finished third nationally in total tackles with 154, recorded 9.5 sacks, and concluded the season by being named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by the media. He also was selected first team to the 2009 AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team. After the season concern was focused on whether Jones would forgo his senior year and declare for the NFL draft. Luckily for MSU he opted to return as he still needs to refine his skills to improve his chances of sticking at the next level.
Linebacker is looked at to be a major strength with the return of the aforementioned Jones and his wing man of three years, Eric Gordon. Together these two accounted for 25% of MSU’s total tackles in 2009 and will likely post similar numbers again barring injury. The third member of the linebacking crew the last two years have been a rogues gallery of players from undermanned Jon Misch, to former wide receiver turned linebacker Ryan Allison to last year’s starter Brandon Denson, a former walk-on running back.
2010 will be a unique situation for the MSU linebacking corps as the staff looks to fill one spot and possibly two if MSU does in fact employ a 3-4 alignment. 2011 will be a rebuilding season for this group with possibly only one starter returning so the need for the back ups to Jones and Gordon receiving playing time will be at a premium.
MIKE: Senior Greg Jones (6’1″, 235) is MSU’s all-everything man in the middle. A starter since his freshman year his development has been nothing short of impressive these first three years. Jones is a tackling machine, and the type of player that offenses have to account for on every play. His lone weakness has been pass coverage and the reason he likely decided to return for his final year. Improvement in this area could elevate his status as a first day selection in next years NFL draft.
Redshirt sophomore Steve Gardiner (6’1″, 220) is trying to nail down the backup spot behind Jones. Gardiner appeared in 7 games in 2009, recording 4 tackles (3 solo, 1 assisted), mostly in a special teams role. His participation was limited due to injury which also affected his development. He is coming off his most productive spring where he impressed the coaching staff with his tenacity. He tied for first in tackles in the Green and White game with seven including 1 sack. Gardiner brings a good understanding of the game and plays with a high motor and intensity. If there is one concern it is his weight as he is possibly a little too light at 220 pounds.
True freshman Max Bullough (6’3″, 235) is not only a legacy recruit, but enrolling early and participating in spring practice has already provided him a leg up on the competition. According to reports Bullough did nothing to disappoint the coaches with their decision to offer him a scholarship. His spring game performance (4 tackles, 1 pass breakup) was solid for someone experiencing their first taste of college competition only four months removed from high school. Like Gardiner, Bullough appears to have a high football IQ. He is fundamentally sound but needs refinement in his game to play at a consistently high level expected by the staff.
TyQuan Hammock (6′, 250) is a redshirt freshman who spent his first year on the scout team. Unfortunately for TyQuan he was limited in his participation this spring and did not play in the Green and White game. This has hindered his development and require him to play catch up this summer and during preseason camp. At 250 pounds he is MSU’s heaviest linebacker.
SAM: Fifth year senior Eric Gordon (6′, 228) has quietly carved out a respectable career during his stay in East Lansing. The word “Steady” comes to mind when referring to Gordon’s performance. The one play that stands out in my mind is the tackle he made in 2007 when he stopped Notre Dame running back Robert Hughes for a loss on a fourth and one play. Gordon is the type of player that knows his strengths and limitations and plays within those boundries.
Jon Misch (6’3″, 206) is the concert pianist, fifth year senior who has backed up Gordon these past few years. Jon is a total team player doing whatever is asked of him by the coaches. His one major downfall has been his inability to add a sufficient amount of weight to his tall, slender, frame. At 206 pounds he is often out manned by having to engage players weighing more than him, typically much more. Misch is another Gordon type player in the fact that he knows what he has to do but can be over matched by athletically superior talent.
Jeremy Gainer (6’1″, 230) is one of the talented redshirt freshman from the 2009 recruiting class. He is a work in process having spent last fall on the scout team and learning to play with better technique and fundamentals. Jeremy did nothing to show significant separation from the rest of the group to warrant moving into the two-deep this past spring. I expect Jeremy will receive playing time on special teams while he continues to refine his ability with the goal of securing a starters role in 2011 or 2012.
STAR: The leading candidate coming out of spring camp for the newly named “STAR” position is sophomore Chris Norman (6’1″, 225). After a freshman season that saw Norman negotiate the ups and downs of a first year player it appears he has started to grasp the concepts that will allow him to be the productive third member of the linebacking unit. Something that has eluded MSU these past few years. Norman is a tremendously gifted athlete. He has the speed to chase down running backs and receivers, combined with the physical toughness and strength to engage linemen at the point of attack. Norman credits his development to the extra practice time that the bowl provided him. He could possibly be on the same track developmentally as Greg Jones, where by his senior year he will be receiving consideration for post season honors.
Pushing Norman is redshirt freshman Denicos Allen (5’10, 215) who seemingly came out of nowhere this spring to claim the #2 spot. Allen spent last year working with the scout team and the position group, safety, but never fit into the role. The staff decided to move MSU’s most menacing looking player to the position he played in high school, and he did nothing but impress the staff this spring. Denicos tied with Steve Gardiner for the lead with 7 tackles int he Green and White game, including 2 sacks as well as a number of vicious hits. Like the other young linebackers Allen still needs to develop better technique as he exhibits the natural linebacking instincts and is a very physical player.
Overall the MSU linebacking corps appears to have a solid stable of young talent to go with the veteran leadership of Jones, Gordon and Misch, who depart after this season. With the possibility of utilizing the 3-4 alignment at times this year many of the depth players will be provided opportunities to excel and show off their talents. The addition of highly prized recruit William Gholston as a hybrid DE/LB will only elevate the overall talent of this group making competition all the more spirited.
I would rate this group as the most talented on the team based on sheer numbers alone. MSU has four quality tightends but typically only uses two at a time. Having three linebackers the quality of Jones, Gordon and Norman is rare, but also having players as talented as Gardiner, Bullough, Allen, and Gainer is exceptional, especially with the arrival of Gholston this fall and Lawrence Thomas in 2011.
Very nice write up. Only thing I would say is that I would not call pass coverage a “weakness” of Jones, but more of an “unknown”. With the inconsistency of the D-line the past few years, we were never afforded the ability to run Jones in coverage. He had to come up on every play. Hopefully that changes this year.