Reactions to Michigan State football's first scrimmage of the spring

EAST LANSING – Michigan State kicked off its 10th spring practice on a warm and breezy Tuesday morning.

The sunny setting included a reset after a significant test. After their first full scrimmage with a new staff and lineup on Saturday, the Spartans were reminded on clear film what they need to improve on.

"I thought they ran the ball well, I thought they were physical," defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Joe Rossi said Tuesday of the game. "I saw good individual games, but also games that need to be improved and fixed.

“For us, our process is to look at that struggle and what can I learn from it? If it made a mistake, where can I improve, how can I improve? Take whatever knowledge you can from that fight and then use it in practice today."

Michigan State began spring practice on March 19 under new coach Jonathan Smith and had live sessions, but Saturday was the first extended work in that environment. According to defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa, the battle lasted more than 80 plays. So what did he think of it?

"I really, really, really liked that we got to fight," Suiaunoa said with a laugh. “Obviously we had bodies that were down in the early stages of the struggle, bumped up a little bit. Just to get out there and just play football and see what these guys can do when it's live, when there's no coach, there's no script, these guys just play. I liked that part a lot."

Suiaunoa is one of six assistant coaches Smith brought with him from Oregon State, and the Spartans have new coordinators in all three phases of the game. Although the entire staff has been there for over three months and the list is about as complete as it can be these days, there are still a lot of new plans to work on. Going live brings a different look to a staff with only one returning field assistant.

"I think it puts a little more quotes on the players," Rossi said of the struggle. “You have practice and the play is first down, second down — it's all scripted. You get into a fight, it's more of a real game feel where you put the ball down and play.

“It's not quite a game, but sometimes the player takes it for granted, you get into that situation and now maybe you forget or forget some of the fundamentals that maybe were there when it was in a more controlled environment. The more we can put them in situations like that, the better.

Michigan State's roster is an expected mix of veterans in their seventh year of college to true freshman early enrollees who would otherwise have yet to finish high school. There are also those who spent time under the previous staff and are now adapting to different roles.

"Everybody played fast, everybody played hard," sophomore defensive end Jalen Thompson said of the scrimmage. - The defense took care of it. We had a good day.”

The fight was closed to the public and media, and aside from the clips the show posted on social media, it's unclear how the entire day went. While the defensive coaches and players were the only ones available to speak with reporters on Tuesday, there was some talk on the other end of the ball. It's no surprise quarterback Aidan Chiles, who transferred from Oregon State after his true freshman season and is expected to be the starter, was named.

"For me, I'd say Aidan, definitely," sixth-year defensive end Khris Bogle said of Chiles as the standout of the fight. Bigger quarterback, he likes to run a little bit, he can throw the ball down the field.

Michigan State is in the final two weeks of spring practice and the "Spring Showcase" on April 20 (2 p.m.) at Spartan Stadium will give fans their first look at the new team. It's also the last public show before the team goes back behind closed doors before fall camp.

“Coming off of that scrimmage, we have a little better idea of ​​what guys can do for the most part,” Suiaunoa said, “basically what we need to focus on, the plan of action for the next two weeks and trying to get them fixed before we take the pads off and hit it in the summer. "