JLS happy with MSU’s newfound depth this spring
It’s almost a broken record for Michigan State football fans. The first team is usually able to compete with the best of them at the beginning of the season, then injuries start to pile up and MSU’s lack of depth is exposed. John L. Smith is hoping those days are behind us. Joe Rexrode of the Lansing State Journal reports that Smith has been pleased with MSU’s depth on the practice field this spring. More depth means more competition for starting spots in the fall.
Coach John L. Smith, entering his fourth season, finally has enough depth to dangle promotion and threaten demotion at several positions. And that, any coach will swear, produces better practices and a better team on game days.
“For instance, when Dennis Erickson was at the University of Miami, we’d go down and spend time,” Smith said. “And when those kids (the first-teamers) walked on the practice field, they knew, ‘If I don’t perform today, I may move down.’ And when you get to that it’s very, very healthy.
“Your kids don’t waste a practice. They know, ‘Hey, there’s a guy behind me that’s gonna be there.’ That’s the kind of competition you’d like to get to, and we’re definitely not there, but we’re definitely moving in the right direction.”
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