MSU hopes Cookie doesn’t crumble on o line
Everybody is talking about the Spartan defense this offseason as the key ingredient for a good season. Most fans assume the offense will put up plenty of points. That assumption is based on MSU’s scheme and the skill position players Michigan State has returning. Joe Rexrode of the Lansing State Journal points out that fans might be overlooking the offensive line’s inexperience with only 34 combined starts compared to the 106 combined starts the line had coming into 2005. Kyle “Cookie” Cook will be the anchor of the line and has 23 of those 34 combined starts.
MSU’s questionable defense and kicking game will garner more attention during fall camp, which starts today. But the ability of this offensive line - without departed starters Chris Morris, Stefon Wheeler and Gordie Niebylski - to mesh and maintain the standards of the past two seasons is a significant uncertainty.
“That’s not news. Everybody knows that,” MSU offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland said. “But you know what? That’s OK. That’s the way it was two years ago. The work ethic of these guys, starting with ‘Cookie,’ tells me we’ll be all right.”
Two years ago, the MSU offensive line was expected to be a weakness. Instead, it helped MSU finish second in the Big Ten in rushing offense and allow a league-low eight sacks. Last season was another banner year for Stoutland’s crew, although the late-season loss of Wheeler to injury hurt its performance dramatically.