UAB Blazers @ Michigan State Preview

Blazers face off with Spartans in East Lansing to kickoff season

The Neil Callaway era will begin on September 1st when UAB travels to East Lansing to face Michigan State.

Date: Saturday, September 1, 2007

Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI (75,005)

Surface: Natural Grass

Television: ESPN2 (National)

Season Records: UAB (0-0, 0-0 CUSA); Michigan State (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten)

All-time Series: This is the first meeting between the two schools in football

Injury/Personnel Report:

• UAB: RB Brandon Thornton, knee; out
• Michigan State : None

Prologue: What a difference a month makes
After bemoaning the lack of numbers UAB had to work with coming into Summer practices, it’s hard to believe that things got (relatively) worse when players reported and two-a-days got underway. Some key players who were expected to contribute right away never made it to campus including JC RB Aaron Johns, JC DT Antonio Forbes, and freshman DT Adam Arthur. Others have stepped up in their place, but UAB can hardly afford to miss anyone with only 67 of their roughly 100 roster players on scholarship. In fact, the roster as a whole is made up of 20 seniors, about 30 middle-classmen, and 44 freshmen.

When UAB has the ball…

Advantage: Even

This could be a case of guru vs. guru as UAB OC Kim Helton is generally regarded as a bright, creative offensive mind, and new Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio is well known as a defensive specialist. UAB will be transitioning from the spread attack of recent years to more of a pro-style offense, whereas Dantonio is implementing a standard 4-3 package.

UAB has a size advantage up front, but will have a lot of inexperience on the left side with a freshman (Matt McCants, 6-7, 295) starting at tackle and a redshirt-freshman (Adam Hollifield, 6-3, 300) at guard. The right side of the line, however, is loaded with skill, size, and experience. It is anchored by junior RT Adam Truitt (6-3, 310) and could have its way with what is an undersized Michigan State defensive front (especially by Big Ten standards).

It will remain to be seen if UAB runningbacks can take advantage of any holes the line can create. Starter Rashaud Slaughter is a shifty speedster and the Spartans will see plenty of senior Tony Shepherd and freshman Dexter Barnett as well. The success of the running game might come down to talented fullback David Sigler being able to handle the Spartan linebackers that may be one of the best squads in the Big Ten, and strong safety Nehemiah Warrick who led Michigan State in tackles last year and is generally regarded as better against the run than the pass.

In Kim Helton’s offense, though, UAB will throw the ball around. Screens, short passes to the flat, passes to runningbacks, and even some trickery…expect to see it all on display. How successfully the Blazers can pull these off in the first game of the season remains to be seen, but they have a stable of large and fast, if young, receivers and tight ends who will look to take advantage of a Spartan defense that lost both star cornerbacks from last season. Senior Nick Coon (6-2, 185) leads the WR corps and has the speed to stretch a defense from the 1 st quarter to the last.

Key matchup: UAB freshman LT Matt McCants vs. Michigan State senior DE Ervin Baldwin

Baldwin is an athletic pass rusher who tallied 4.5 sacks last year in limited duty due to an injury. It will be critical for McCants and his backup, sophomore Willie Thompson, to prevent Baldwin from wrecking havoc in the Blazer backfield.

When Michigan State has the ball…

Advantage: Michigan State

UAB’s strength is in the defensive backfield. That’s great! Unfortunately, it’s not going to do much good when Spartan head coach Dantonio has decided to return to a run-first philosophy on offense. That spells trouble for an undersized, if athletic, Blazer defensive line, and a patchwork linebacking corps. The weakest link on Michigan State’s offensive line is probably new center John Masters, and UAB could exploit that to some success. But the rest of the crew, that runs 307, 316, 325, and 307-lbs from left to right, will control the line of scrimmage from kickoff to the final whistle.

UAB’s conditioning has been excellent during the offseason. In fact, the conditions under which they trained could be called spartan if you’ll forgive the pun, but the shear size of Michigan State’s front seven should let talented runningbacks Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick, led by bruising fullback Dwayne Holmes, find enough room for steady gains and some breakaway gallops.

When the Spartans try to throw the ball, and they will, they could find trouble. In addition to losing star QB Drew Stanton, Michigan State lost their top three pass catchers at wide receiver. Combine this with UAB’s talented secondary and the Blazers could get some takeaways in the air. This would probably only serve as further evidence to Dantonio and co. to keep the ball on the ground.

Key matchup: UAB Linebackers vs. Michigan State fullback Dwayne Harris and runningback Javon Ringer

Blazers Joe Henderson and B.J. Steed could wind up being the stars of UAB’s defense by the end of the season. If they can neutralize Dwayne Harris’ blocking ability and shut down Javon Ringer before he gets going it could make it a long afternoon for the Spartans.

Special Teams

Advantage: Even

Both teams return solid placekickers in Brett Swenson for the Spartans and Swayze Waters for the Blazers. Waters is more accurate from long range than Swenson, but both are almost automatic from inside 40 yards. Both teams must also replace prolific punters, and their return specialists will need to be much more productive after below average years in 2006. They have true speedsters ready to give it a try: Rashaud Slaughter for the Blazers and Terry Love for the Spartans.

Intangibles

Advantage: Even

It’s hard to explain to outsiders just how excited the Blazer players are about having new leadership. That is true, of course, whenever a new staff steps in to take over, but in the case of UAB it can be taken as a sign of just how far things had lapsed under the previous administration. The players, to a man, are better conditioned, stronger, and more mentally prepared than they have ever been. They are chomping at the bit to prove the doubters wrong about themselves and their program.

On the other hand, this is new head coach Neil Callaway’s first job at the top. Though he has years of experience as a coordinator, it’s hard to match the hands-on experience that Mark Dantonio has had being a head coach.

Final UAB @ MSU Prediction

There is no doubt that Michigan State will control the line of scrimmage on offense, but UAB could do the same when they have the ball. In the air, UAB could be more effective than the Spartans, and will see some production from the creativity of QBs Sam Hunt and Joe Webb (both from behind center and out wide). That will be good for a least a couple of scores. Add another if the Spartans try to throw the ball against UAB’s secondary and the game could get interesting. But in the end…

Michigan State 31 - UAB 16