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Michigan State football: Week 7 depth chart reaction

By Thomas Nikundiwe

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It’s Michigan week and every move from both teams will be heavily scrutinized. The reaction to that from the coaching staffs will be to guard their teams like they are state’s secrets.

Must Read: Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 7: Michigan on the rise

The Michigan State football depth chart for the Michigan game was released and so we scrutinize it to see what we can learn about the many injuries MSU has incurred. Keep in mind the coaching staff is guarding their secrets as you analyze with us.

Note: MSU actually names 12 offensive starters on its depth chart, depending on offensive sets.

Offense
WR – Aaron Burbridge, Macgarrett Kings, R.J. Shelton
OL –  Kodi Kieler OR Jack Conklin, Brian Allen OR David Beedle, Jack Allen OR Brian Allen, Donavon Clark OR Benny McGowan,  Donavon Clark OR Kodi Kieler
TE – Josiah Price OR Jamal Lyles OR Paul Lang
RB – Madre London OR LJ Scott
FB – Trevon Pendleton
QB – Connor Cook

Defense
DL – Shilique Calhoun, Joel Heath, Malik McDowell, Lawrence Thomas
LB – Darien Harris, Riley Bullough, Jon Reschke
DB – Darian Hicks, Demetrious Cox, Montae Nicholson, Arjen Colquhoun

Special Teams
KO – Kevin Cronin
PK – Michael Geiger
P – Jake Hartbarger
SN – Taybor Pepper
HLD – Matt Macksood
KR – R.J. Shelton, Khari Willis OR LJ Scott
PR – MacGarrett Kings

Take a look at some of the initial reactions following the depth chart release:

Offensive Line

David Beedle showes up as a first-stringer for the first time this year. That’s a bit of a concern because it is an indication that Jack Allen might not be able to go after getting hurt on the last offensive series of the game against Rutgers. Beedle will start at left guard and Brian Allen will slide to center if Jack Allen is out against Michigan.

At left tackle, MSU lists Kodi Kieler or Jack Conklin. Most people have been pointing to the Michigan game as the return game for Conklin. The coaches certainly hope he’s back — especially if Jack Allen can’t go. The best case scenario is for the offensive line to be fully intact for the first time since the second game of the season. My guess is that there will still be some shifting around.

Rutgers Injuries

Jack Allen wasn’t the only Spartan to leave the Rutgers game and not return. Darian Hicks, Madre London and Lawrence Thomas all left the game and did not return. All show up as first-stringers on the depth chart.

We have learned that the depth chart is a better reflection of what has happened than what will happen.

Vayante Copeland was listed on the depth chart in the same week we found out he would miss the rest of the week. Delton Williams played against Rutgers after being held out to retain his year of eligibility. This points to London being out for some time at least. Coach Dantonio addressed playing Williams during his weekly press conference:

I suspect Lawrence Thomas will be back. The hope would be the same for Darian Hicks, but see the Vayante Copeland precedent and there is no way to be sure that he will return. And MSU beat writer Joe Rexrode had the following warning:

Special Teams

During the Rutgers game there were a couple of significant substitutions on the special teams. Backup quarterback Tyler O’Connor took JakeHartbarger’s place on the final punt of the game against Rutgers. Additionally, Michael Geiger kicked off after MSU’s last score instead of kickoff specialist Kevin Cronin.

This week’s depth chart doesn’t clarify if those were situational, injury-related, or performance related. O’Connor’s punt was highly effective; Geiger — not so much. We’ll have to see how the specialists are used going forward.

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