Michalczik looking for Michigan State o-line to ‘cut it loose’ in second scrimmage

East Lansing, Mich. – The Michigan State defense got the best of their counterparts on offense in the first training camp scrimmage last weekend. This Saturday, the Spartan offense will be looking to turn the tables.

For that to happen, the Michigan State offense needs to play with more energy and greater urgency than their teammates across the line of scrimmage.

“I want to see some more movement up front and more energy,” said senior center T anner Miller , who has embraced his role as leader of the Spartan o-line since transfer into the Spartan program from Oregon State. “I feel like we were kind of flat (in the first scrimmage) and picked it up toward the end. I want to start hot and keep that same high the whole way through.”

A flat performance is often the result of overthinking, which leads playing mechanically, not free. Avoiding mental overload requires players to compartmentalize game play from the technical aspects of their position.

“I think we need to work every day and then Saturday, treat it like a game,” said Michalczik. “Cut it loose, go play, and not do too much thinking. Just go play and see where guys are at. We spend all week trying to get the steps right and the eyes right and all of those things. On Saturday cut it loose and go play. It’s game day.”

Steady growth on the o-line for Michigan State

Although he admits that he will likely never be satisfied with any performance, and that there is always more work to do, Michalczik is encouraged by the steady growth of the Michigan State offensive line from the start of training camp until now.

“Every day we keep getting better,” Michalczik said . “Are we where we want to be? No, but we have high expectations too.”

Michigan State has, however, made substantial progress up front since spring football.

“We have come a long way since April,” Michalczik said. “Learning the offense, learning the system, we are that much farther ahead. Now, we’ve got to get really good at it. I think that is our challenge going forward. I am happy with the guys that are here. I like them. They are competitive and work hard. That’s the big starter.”

With the end of training in sight, Michalczik isn’t ready to name a starting five or even single out five to seven of his players in contention for starting roles in the season opener, which is two weeks away.

“I never have a five,” Michalczik said. “You want to figure who the best five are, and then the next five, and who is six and seven? Then how do we fit it and how does it work? I don’t want to make decisions until I have to. Today’s five might be different than tomorrow and today’s six might be five tomorrow.

“Their job at this time is to compete and show what they can do. And they have had a great attitude of trying to get better every day. If they can keep doing that, they are going to be pretty good.”

In the mix for Michigan State

Center Tanner Miller is probably the closest thing Michigan State has to a penciled in starter given his experience in this offense and his success at Oregon State. Holy Cross transfer Luke Newman is another Spartan offensive lineman who appears to be a strong position for a starting role, likely at left guard where he has repped primarily during training camp.

At tackle, Brandon Baldwin , Ashton Lepo , and Stanton Ramil are all in the mix for starting jobs or rotation work.

“Those three are separated from the rest right now,” Michalczik said. “The one luxury that we do have in some ways is that Brandon can jump to both sides. He has the flexibility to do that. Our big thing right now is who is that young guy that can step up? Who is the next guy, and the guy after that?”

Ramil has worked his way into the mix for game reps after missing his entire freshman season due to injury. Last spring, Michalczik began working with Ramil in a limited capacity due to injury-related restrictions. The second-year Spartan has tried to make up for lost time to this point in training camp.

“Great kid, smart, loves football and works hard,” Michalczik said. “A little bit of a football junkie. He will ask the extra question just because he wants to know football. Fun guy to coach. Still developing and I think he has a big upside if he keeps working at it.”

Kristian Phillips continues to make solid progress at right guard, with Gavin Broscious also in the mix for game reps at guard.

“Kristian has had a very good camp,” Michalczik said. “From the time that I’ve gotten until now, he works his ass off. He is thinking football. He is asking questions. He has done a great job. Gavin is just a tough kid that battles and scraps. Dallas Fincher is a tough strong kid that can do some things.”

Still cross training

At this stage in camp, Michalczik remains committed to cross training his offensive linemen, and tinkering with positions in preparation for a long football season that will likely include lineup-altering injuries.

“We’re cross training a lot of them, and we would like guys to get familiar with guys playing next to them, working together talking together,” Michalczik said. “Then you also have, how many do have that you feel good about? In the NFL we used to go seven guys on game day, so you had five guys that were locked in, one guy that was playing three spots, and another guy that was playing two. So, what is our best five? Who is six, and how does he fit? And seven, is he close? All of these things you’ve got to kind of figure out.”

While Newman has worked primarily at left guard during training camp, Michalczik has gotten him limited reps at center.

“Luke has adjusted really well,” Michalczik said. “He is a sharp kid, competitive, strong. We have him doing some snapping. We don’t need him at center but having him ready to do it. I haven’t put him out at tackle, kept him at left guard because we want him to master that spot.”

Freshman Rising

Freshman tackle Rakeem Johnson has caught the eye of nearly everybody in the Michigan State program. Arguably the best athlete in the offensive line meeting room as a first-year player, Johnson has a bright future ahead of him as he fills into his body and gains technique.

“He has had a great camp,” Michalczik said. “Smart, picked up things very quick. Athletic, plays with good leverage. He has done a lot of really good things. We will see how it all progress, but I couldn’t be more happy that he is here.”

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