Michigan State University's football team is fine-tuning its game plan and the players are sharpening their skills as they lace up for the last scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday, which will carve out roles for the season ahead.
After practice Thursday, defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa said from a recruiting standpoint, he feels the staff did a great job with the guys it brought into the room between the spring ball and now. More specifically at the tackle position, where they were looking for well-established players.
"We're chasing a championship here," Suiaunoa said. "That's kind of what we owe these players and what we said yes to."
The players MSUbrought in gave it the chance to be able to win a championship, Suiaunoa said. He also said the defense is ahead of the offense in game readiness, and they have a lot of depth within their defensive roster this season.
The players who start the first game are temporary and there's a lot of space for movement in the roster throughout the season, but their scrimmage on Saturday should help cement some of their ideas, Suiaunoa said.
"If the game would start now, I wouldn't know who to play," Suiaunoa said. "But that's a good problem."
Suiaunoa said the most difficult aspect of their defense is camaraderie. With new staff and players coming in from Oregon State, they've emphasized team chemistry and bonding to blend the two groups. They have been working on building trust between the athletes and the coaches.
The team's energy revolves around the idea of getting better every day, offensive line coach Jim Michalczik said. The staff has high expectations for the team.
"It doesn't matter if you're a walk-on or a twelve-star, you're all Spartans," Michalczik said.
Sixth-year offensive lineman Tanner Miller said there's a lot of emphasis on playing together and any team they face has just as much talent as the Spartans, but having trust and working together is what will set them ahead to win championships. He feels confident about the chemistry between the run game operation.
Fifth-year offensive lineman Luke Newman is excited to see what the team can do against its rigorous schedule and it has great coaches leading the team.
A graduate transfer from Holy Cross, Newman missed spring ball to finish his degree. He knew it wouldn't benefit his football game, but said his experience has helped him adapt and pick up on plays and techniques quickly.
Moving from the FCS to the Big Ten is a challenge due to the different levels of play, but Newman said he is confident in his abilities and his teammates have been pushing him to become a better player.
"I came here for a challenge, and I think that's exactly what I'm getting here," Newman said.
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