Thoughts on the opening of MSU spring football

Doesn't it feel like we just saw LSU get demolished by Alabama in New Orleans?

The surprisingly successful and exciting MSU basketball season resulted in the last three months going by in the blink of an eye. Now, football back. MSU's first of 15 spring practices took place Tuesday. Spring culminates with the intrasquad scrimmage at 1 p.m. on April 28. The game will be televised live on Big Ten Network, a result of sustained program success. MSU looks to build on back-to-back 11-win seasons, but has some major holes to fill before the season kicks off next fall. That starts with spring practice.

"We want to try to get 3 percent better every practice," Mark Dantonio said at his press conference on Tuesday (full transcript here). "That's something my head coach, my position coach really talked about in spring practice going way back in the 1970s. I think I still try to hold that to be true. So you're going to remain 97 percent of what you do will remain the same. If you can just change that 3 percent every day, you're going to become a more effective football player in the end. So that's what we're trying to do.

"Develop new concepts, new ideas, new position changes and experiment with those different things. We also need to stay healthy, but guard against complacency, I would say. Regardless of where you're at, if you're the head coach here, position coach, position player, you need to look forward to the next thing and really guard in terms of being complacent in everything that we do."

Considering not much has happened on the field yet, the biggest stories are on the depth chart. Bennie Fowler, Chris Norman, Lawrence Thomas and Paul Lang are notable players who will miss part or all of spring due to injuries, but let's take a look at who will be practicing.

Notes, video from Dantonio presser

The only news is that C Blake Treadwell and former Novi DE Tyler Hoover will redshirt this season due to injuries.

Hoover hasn't played since the opener against Youngstown State and has been dealing with back/rib injuries. Because Hoover redshirted in 2008, he'll have to apply for a sixth year of eligibility after next season. But because he missed '08 with a shoulder injury, there shouldn't be too much of an issue with that. With the surprising Marcus Rush having a strong freshman season, the Spartans will be loaded at defensive end next year.

In his first season on the offensive side of the ball, Treadwell started the first three games but suffered a knee injury against Notre Dame and will get his first redshirt. Treadwell's injury coincided with Travis Jackson's return, so only the depth of the offensive line has been tested.

--Dantonio was asked about the salaries of assistant coaches and said there is a plan in place to increase them after a university freeze last year. He said MSU was fourth in the Big Ten last year. Increased salaries for assistants is always a good thing, but don't expect the them to get to SEC-levels, which also is a good thing.

--Former Detroit Country Day WR Bennie Fowler played six plays Saturday and the hope is his role will increase. He made his debut against Michigan after dealing with a nagging foot injury.

--Dantonio agrees that the winner of this weekend's game is in the driver's seat for the Legends Division.

--Asked what he has turned his program into, Dantonio's first response was "we'll find out in the next five weeks."

Dress list update

Bennie Fowler (Country Day) and Tyler Hoover (Novi) are not dressed for today's game against Florida Atlantic.

Fowler has been dealing with a foot injury and Hoover suffered a rib injury last week.

On the dress list are offensive guard Arthur Ray Jr., who had a memorable start last week, and center Travis Jackson, who has been dealing with an ankle issue since camp. Mark Dantonio said earlier in the week that Jackson would only play in a reserve role if he was able to play. Blake Treadwell is listed as the starter at center.

Freshman linebacker Lawrence Thomas also is dressed, although I wouldn't expect him to play, given the fact he hasn't practiced much and MSU wouldn't want to waste a redshirt opportunity.

Skies are cloudy, but the weather report shows we could miss the rain. Let's hope so.

New Spartan head logo at midfield. I'm glad they put an S at each 25-yard line.

Hoover, defensive line ready to break out

Former Novi defensive end Tyler Hoover leads a defensive line that could be MSU's best in the Mark Dantonio era.

Here is my story on Hoover and the defensive line, which plans to have a breakout season.

(And here's a tweet from Big Ten Network's Gerry DiNardo: "BTN Bus Tour Ruminations-MSU D Line-J.Worthy one of the best & this is MSU best D line in 5 yrs Young guys that impressed-Rush,Drone,Calhoun.")