Meda Days talk vs Spring Game

[FlabLoser]

Ever have a thought cross your mind that's not only too good to be true, but one that you'd slap yourself for even considering for a second that it could be true?

There's all this talk about opening it up, audibles, and formations with plays that work against different defenses.

Everybody remembers that scoreless spring game. Now way our defense is head and shoulders better than it was last year. And Michael Brown or not, I can't see our offense getting worse than last year.

So for that wild *** thought - is there any chance we just flat out faked the spring game? Sure, most teams aren't going to "show stuff" in the spring game. But what if coach told our guys just to go out there, relax, and have fun with it? Like our opening card for the season was to beg everybody to overlook us again.

OK, never mind. Sorry I even thought that....

 

[Bulldoghair]

i agree. what's the point in faking and not showing anything in the spring game? to fool the first opponent in the fall? because after that first game, everyone knows what your trying to do.

 

[Todd4State]

Spring games are worthless. The "stars" like AD don't play much because no coach that is sane wants their bell cows to get hurt during a stupid scrimmage. So, essentially you're looking at walk-ons and guys competing for back-up jobs for over half of the game.

That said, you should be able to score in the spring game.

 

[ArrowDawg]

......doesn't mean anything. Of course it doesn't, at least not for most programs. The concern I have from year to year when I see our offense look terrible in the Spring game is that it's rarely ever looked any better once the real season got underway in the Fall. So, for MSU, it tends to be a harbinger of things to come, which in our case is a very bad thing. We also have four years of offense under this staff that provides rock solid proof backing up anyone who believes that the offense will just continue to suck.

I still lack faith in this program. I mean sure, I wasn't Mr. Pollyanna prior to 2001, but I used to have an excitement and expectation level back then that is just about non-existent in me today. I guess that's what 6 straight losing seasons can do to a person, at least in my case. I enjoyed the 2007 season as much as anyone here, but I'm not ready to believe it was anything but a fluke until we go out there and prove we can do it again this year. With an easier schedule, I see no reason why we "shouldn't."</p>

 

[bonedaddy401]

Croom not being confident in a losing team as a whole to allow them to open it up. Now that we have a little confidence maybe he has more confidence in our decision making as a team not only because of our attaining a winning season but also an increase in talent level. (Minus a very valuable WR walk on).</p>

 

[Bulldoghair]

we can all agree that the spring game doesnt mean a whole lot, and stars such as AD mabee shouldnt play, ect.......buuuuuuuut........regardless of what players were or were not playing in the game, it was the same old play calling with the same old predictablility. very consistant of the last 4 years of no deception invlolved whatsoever...just saying.</p>

 

[muddawgs33]

to fool the first opponent in the fall? because after that first game, everyone knows what your trying to do.

That's not true. Do you really think we are going to show our whole offense against La. Tech and SE Louis? If we do open things up this year, you won't see it till Auburn, unless La. Tech makes it close and then you might see us open it up some in the 2nd half. I seriously doubt we will have to open it up to beat La. Tech though. Now in the past, I would agree with you considering we have opened with SEC opponents,

 

[RebelBruiser]

I agree. With spring games, if your offense looks good, you wonder if your defense just sucks. If your defense looks good, you wonder if your offense just sucks.

I know in 2003, LSU's offense looked like crap during the spring game and during a lot of practice when it was ones on ones. Of course, they found out during the season that basically every offense in the country looked like crap against their defense. Their offense I believe was 2nd in the SEC that year. The defense was just that good.

I read the article in today's CA about your media days. I saw where Croom mentioned opening up the offense and throwing vertically more, but then I saw this from Carroll:
"Our offense is about moving the ball consistently, moving the chains, moving the clock, determining the flow of the game. Coach always tells me we have an old-school-style offense. Manage the game the first three quarters, then having the edge going into the last five minutes and winning."

That sounds to me like your overall idea behind offense is going to be the same, let your defense keep you in the game and try to win it in the end. I bet Croom will throw a few more deep balls in the mix, but my guess is your play-calling won't change very much. Maybe the players will execute it better, but I wouldn't expect anything revolutionary. Croom is a system coach and an old dog on top of that. Maybe he'll prove me wrong, but he doesn't strike me as the type of coach to be innovative and creative offensively.

 

[Maroontrout]

please! everyone should look at the history of this team since Croom has arrived. Every year we have improved on one area of the game. Defense was the first thing to improve and it has stayed consistent. The offensive line has improved and is deep, which provided us with a running game the last two years, and that part of our game stands to improve again. It seems to me that the last piece to this puzzle is the passing game. with some stability at quaterback, and a quaterback with some confidence we should improve in the passing game.

 

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Hopefully if it is the same offense, it at least is executed effectively. The WCO does actually allow teams to score points.

 

[awalkerdog]

we wouldn't even have a spring game. Said so himself and he purposely did not show anything during the spring game.

 

[TR.sixpack]

Look no further than the number of snaps Carroll and Dixon took. There's no doubt we have problems on offense, but it's foolish to think the spring game was more than a glorified practice.