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During the course of spring practice, Big Ten bloggers Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett visited 11 of the 12 league schools, getting an up-close look at the players and coaches who will shape the 2012 season.

Now it's time for them to share their thoughts on what they saw and learned this spring, and you can follow along as they exchange emails. Check out the Leaders Division exchange here. They now turn their focus to the Legends Division.

Adam Rittenberg: Let's take a look at what I believe to be the stronger division in 2012. You spent a lot of time in the Mitten State last month, and while you didn't gorge yourself like you did in America's Dairyland, you got the money quote of spring ball from Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who said, "We're laying in the weeds. We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?" How spicy is the Michigan State-Michigan rivalry getting, and how good do you think these two teams will be this season after visiting both campuses?

Brian Bennett: Oh, there was some serious gorging going on at Zingerman's in Ann Arbor and Sparty's in East Lansing. Good thing there's only one spring practice session per year.

Anyway, I went into the spring thinking Michigan and Michigan State were the two strongest teams in the league, and I didn't see anything to change my opinion. While the Wolverines are more focused on Ohio State and even Alabama, they know they have to end their losing streak against Michigan State. And the Spartans take serious pride in that four-game run while bristling at all the offseason accolades thrown toward Brady Hoke's team. Oct. 20 can't come soon enough, as far as I'm concerned.

If the two teams played right now, I'd definitely take Michigan State. Dantonio has done a terrific job of developing depth on both lines and all over the defense. There's not a deeper team in the Big Ten, and the Spartans' physical play has given Michigan fits. The Wolverines still need to figure some things out in the trenches, especially on the defensive line, but that's one area where Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison excel. I believe these two teams will be neck and neck all year for the Legends title.

Of course, there's another team lurking in the division, and that's Nebraska. You went to Lincoln this spring, and it sounded like the Cornhuskers are feeling mighty ambitious this season. Do they have the necessary tools to back up their lofty goals?

Adam Rittenberg: It was interesting to see a team openly discuss the national title, Brian, especially in a league like the Big Ten. Huskers safety P.J. Smith even went so far as to say a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl championship would be "kind of disappointing." That's bold. Nebraska would have to skip a step or two to reach that point, but I can see where the confidence stems from. There's a greater comfort level between players and coaches in Lincoln, and also between the coaches and what they face in the Big Ten. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck was candid about the difficulty of preparing for so many new opponents, particularly since Nebraska's offensive and defensive systems are a little different from what we see in the rest of the league.

Quarterback Taylor Martinez received good marks from the coaches, and his focus on footwork could translate into a more consistent passing attack. Beck certainly wants to be a bit more balanced, and Nebraska returns pretty much everyone at wide receiver and tight end. We often hear the cliche that it's all about the quarterback, but it holds true with Nebraska. If Martinez actually makes strides as a passer -- he'll be operating in the same offense as the starter for the first time in his high school or college career -- the Huskers will put up points this fall. But after watching Martinez last season, it's fair to have some doubts about No. 3.

The defense expects to exploit a schematic advantage we heard a lot about last season but didn't see much on Saturdays. I like coordinator John Papuchis, and Bo Pelini made two good staff additions in D-line coach Rick Kaczenski and secondary coach Terry Joseph. They're all about details and accountability, and they believe they'll be able to replace star power with greater depth in certain areas. Nebraska also should be strong in special teams. Do the Huskers have a unit better than Michigan State's defense? Not right now. But Nebraska could end up being the division's most complete team by season's end.

Getting back to Michigan State and Michigan. Both teams lose tremendous leaders from 2011 (Kirk Cousins, Mike Martin, Jerel Worthy, Joel Foreman, David Molk, Ryan Van Bergen). Who do you see filling those roles this year?

Brian Bennett: That's a good question, and one that will have to be answered this summer. For Michigan State, Andrew Maxwell impressed me as a guy who can lead in a similar way as Cousins did; he'll just have to play well at quarterback and battle through adversity. The Spartans have some seniors on defense who can lead, like Anthony Rashad White and Johnny Adams, but they also have some highly respected juniors in Max Bullough and William Gholston.

But they are replacing some very valuable leaders, just as Michigan is doing. Denard Robinson has worked on becoming more vocal and sounded like a different guy in interviews this spring. There's no question he has the respect of his teammates. Craig Roh and Jordan Kovacs seem like natural leaders on defense, and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan says he wants to take on that role as well. But leadership can't be forced, and it remains to be seen if either team can find such strong captains as guys like Cousins and Martin were.

Speaking of question marks, I feel like Iowa and Northwestern are two of the bigger mystery teams in the league. Both have talent and potentially potent offenses, but they'll also need some players on defense to rise up out of the shadows. What did you take out of your visits to Iowa City and Evanston this spring?

Adam Rittenberg: Let's start off with Iowa, which underwent some major changes this spring with a new offensive coordinator (Greg Davis), a position coach promoted to defensive coordinator (Phil Parker) and several more assistants shuffling, arriving or being promoted. The players seemed to embrace the changes, and coach Kirk Ferentz basically said the team needed a fresh start even though he didn't want to lose his previous coordinators. There's a lot of excitement about Davis' offense, which will be more up-tempo than what we've seen in the past from Iowa. Quarterback James Vandenberg really seems to get it, but will he have enough weapons around him to execute? The running back curse struck again this spring with Jordan Canzeri's ACL injury. Iowa needs young and/or unproven players to step up there, and wide receiver isn't a deep group. It'll be a big summer for Keenan Davis.

The feeling I had coming out of Evanston is that Northwestern will be a younger team but potentially a better one. The Wildcats say goodbye to an accomplished senior class that featured some outstanding players like quarterback Dan Persa. But was it the most talented group? I don't think so. Northwestern has improved its recruiting efforts in recent years, and the team could begin seeing the benefits this year. There are a lot of new faces at spots like defensive back and defensive line. I was impressed with cornerback Nick VanHoose and end Deonte Gibson. The wide receiving corps should be one of the Big Ten's best, even if Kyle Prater isn't eligible until 2013. The Wildcats might not have many familiar names at receiver, but they boast incredible depth there. This team still has question marks -- secondary, pass rush, running back, quarterback -- but the talent level is getting a bit better.

Neither of us made it up to Minneapolis this spring, but we both talked with Gophers players and coaches. What was your sense of the second spring under coach Jerry Kill?

Brian Bennett: We swear it's nothing personal, Gophers fans. Both of us would have enjoyed a trip to the Twin Cities, but the schedule just didn't work out.

Anyway, I did sense more confidence from the Minnesota players and coaches we interviewed. That's not surprising, given that it's the second year for Kill's staff and more familiarity almost always brings a better comfort level. MarQueis Gray really started to come on late last season and appears to have made strides as a passer. He could be one of the league's top playmakers this year. Overall, the Gophers look to have a little more talent this year, thanks to some junior college imports, youngsters who got experience last year and Troy Stoudermire coming back at cornerback. The defense should have more speed, though it remains undersized. The big question for me is who will emerge as weapons alongside Gray, especially at receiver.

But I think that, with a manageable nonconference schedule, Minnesota has a chance to win five or more games this year and it will be much more competitive in Big Ten play than it was early last season. The Legends Division looks more balanced top to bottom than the Leaders and should be fun to follow all year.

2011 record: 11-3
2011 conference record: 7-1 (Legends Division champions)
Returning starters: Offense: 5; Defense: 8; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

DE William Gholston, DE Marcus Rush, LB Denicos Allen, LB Max Bullough, LB Chris Norman, CB Johnny Adams, CB Darqueze Dennard, S Isaiah Lewis, RB Le'Veon Bell, LT Dan France, C Travis Jackson

Key losses
QB Kirk Cousins, DT Jerel Worthy, WR Keshawn Martin, WR B.J. Cunningham, S Trenton Robinson, RB Edwin Baker, TE Brian Linthicum

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Le'Veon Bell* (948 yards)
Passing: Kirk Cousins (3,316 yards)
Receiving: B.J. Cunningham (1,306 yards)
Tackles: Max Bullough* (89)
Sacks: Denicos Allen* (11)
Interceptions: Isaiah Lewis* and Trenton Robinson (4)

Spring answers

1. Defensive depth: Michigan State returns eight starters off one of the best defenses in the country, and the coaching staff might have been most excited this spring about guys who didn't play much last year. Linebackers Darien Harris and Taiwan Jones, defensive ends Joel Heath and Shilique Calhoun and defensive back Trae Waynes all had impressive practices and showed that they're ready to contribute and push the starters. The Spartans won't have much drop off if their first-stringers need a break or get injured. That gives this defense a chance to be scary good in 2012.

2. The Bell tolls: Le'Veon Bell asserted himself at the end of last year as the team's top tailback, overtaking Edwin Baker. And after appearing to get called out by coach Mark Dantonio for being complacent early in the spring, he turned in some dominant efforts. At 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, he's a rumbling freight train with surprising nimbleness in the open field. Do not be surprised to see him emerge as a superstar back this season if he remains focused.

3. O-line on the way up: Michigan State mixed and matched on the offensive line early last season because of injuries and inexperience. By the end of the season, the group was playing well. This spring, the line features six players who have started and much more maturity. That's one reason why Bell excelled this spring, as the Spartans' power running game looked much better. This figures to be the best and deepest O-line in Dantonio's tenure, and the offense could lean more on the ground attack while the passing game finds its wings.

Fall questions

1. Catching on: The top receivers coming out of spring were redshirt freshman Andre Sims Jr., little-used sophomore Keith Mumphery and Jeremy Langford, who made the switch from running back in the middle of spring practice. In other words, there's a dire lack of experience at the position that Keshawn Martin, B.J. Cunningham and Keith Nichol patrolled so well. Tennessee transfer DeAnthony Arnett was cleared by the NCAA for immediate eligibility on Thursday, and that should help. The Spartans are also going to need Tony Lippett and Bennie Fowler -- their two veterans even though both lack much receiver experience themselves -- to get healthy and for some true freshmen to make an impact. If there's a glaring concern for this year's team, it's definitely at this spot.

2. Maxwell's house: Michigan State feels confident that Andrew Maxwell, a fourth-year junior who sat behind Cousins the past three seasons, can make a smooth transition into the starting quarterback job. But Maxwell doesn't have much game time under his belt, and we won't know whether he can bounce back from adversity until it happens on the field this fall. It didn't help that he missed the last couple weeks of spring practice with a knee injury. The Spartans need him to stay healthy, or else they will have to turn to redshirt freshman Connor Cook. And a new quarterback could struggle with such a green receiving group.

3. Worthy replacements: Jerel Worthy skipped his senior season and wound up as a second-round NFL draft pick after an All-America campaign. The Spartans have a host of players looking to replace him at defensive tackle, with Vanderbilt transfer James Kittredge stepping up late in spring practice to assume the No. 1 reps. Depth won't be an issue, but it remains to be seen whether any of his successors have the kind of game-changing ability that Worthy brought when he was fully engaged. Nothing boosts a defense quite like a disruptive force in the middle of the line. We know the Spartans' defense will be good. Can it be great without a player like Worthy up front?

Let's dive back into our series looking at the most indispensable players on each Big Ten squad entering the 2012 season. Once again, this is not necessarily a listing of the best players on each team, but ones whose absence would be toughest to absorb because of their particular value or a lack of depth behind them.

We'll select two players from each Big Ten team, usually one on offense and one on defense, but not always. Your move, Michigan State Spartans.

Andrew Maxwell, QB, Jr.

Well, here's an unusual choice, as Maxwell has never started a game. But he has enormous value as a quarterback who is entering his fourth year in the system and who has been groomed for this job. Without Maxwell, Michigan State would have to turn to redshirt freshman Connor Cook, and the depth at the position would be annihilated. Cook took over for the last part of spring practice while Maxwell dealt with a knee injury and showed it wouldn't be the end of the world if he had to run the show. But the Spartans' offense wouldn't be the same without the more veteran quarterback, and it would place the entire team in a precarious position if he weren't available.

William Gholston, DE, Jr.

I actually struggled with whom to select on defense, as there are many viable candidates. Middle linebacker Max Bullough is a terrific leader, and while there are lots of good players at the outside linebacker spots for the Spartans, I don't know that they have one with the size and skill of Bullough to captain the defense. Cornerback Johnny Adams is also incredibly valuable because if his experience and ability to both cover receivers and provide run and blitz support. But Michigan State's defense is deep and likely could absorb the loss of any one player. The exception may be Gholston. Although there are other capable defensive ends on the depth chart, there are few players in the country quite like Gholston, a 6-foot-7 athletic freak who can dominate at times. If he takes the next step in his development this year as expected, then he can be an elite player who brings the whole defense up a level. That makes him indispensable.

We asked you Monday to weigh in on the Big Ten offensive player of the year race: specifically, which player had the best chance to challenge the 2011 winner, Wisconsin RB Montee Ball. As of noon ET today, it's a close race between Michigan QB Denard Robinson and Nebraska RB Rex Burkhead, with more than 6,300 votes cast.

It'll be interesting to see how the OPOY race unfolds, but I'm more interested in the candidate pool on the defensive side of the ball. The Big Ten always will be a defense-driven conference -- the league boasted six top-20 defenses in 2011 -- and the 2012 season presents an interesting group of standouts. There's not only a large pool of what I would describe as top contenders, but a nice group of secondary candidates as well. And as we've seen lately, a surprise player could emerge to win the award. Few pegged Penn State DT Devon Still to be the recipient entering the 2011 season.

Let's take a look at the top contenders:

William Gholston, DE, Michigan State, Jr., 6-7, 275


2011 statistics: 70 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 pass breakups
2011 awards: Second-team All-Big Ten (media and coaches)
Making a case: The freakishly athletic Gholston might be the Big Ten's most gifted player, and he appears ready for a huge junior season. Remember how Penn State's Still dominated the bowl game before his breakout 2011 season, which resulted in Big Ten defensive player of the year honors? Gholston delivered a similar performance in Michigan State's Outback Bowl win against Georgia, tying a team bowl record with five tackles for loss and recording two sacks and a fumble recovery. Don't be surprised if Gholston mirrors Still's route this coming fall. He boasts a unique combination of size and speed, and while he'll surely command more attention this year, he plays on a defense featuring several players who opponents must respect.

John Simon, DE, Ohio State, Sr., 6-2, 260

2011 statistics: 53 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups
2011 awards: First-team All-Big Ten (coaches), second-team All-Big Ten (media), third-team AP All-America
Making a case: The term most often associated with Ryan Kerrigan, the 2010 Big Ten defensive player of the year, is motor. Kerrigan never took plays off and consistently outworked his opponents. The same holds true for Simon, who had new Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer calling him "Tebowish" after just a handful of spring practices. Simon's motor never stops, and he makes up for a lack of ideal size with his work ethic and knowledge of the game. Like Gholston, Simon should benefit from the players around him. Pegged as a future superstar by older teammates when he played as a true freshman, Simon is primed to live up to those expectations this fall.

Gerald Hodges, LB, Penn State, Sr., 6-2, 233

2011 statistics: 106 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception, 4 pass breakups
2011 awards: First-team All-Big Ten (coaches and media)
Making a case: Hodges showed last season that when healthy, he's one of the most dynamic players in the Big Ten. This spring, he looked like the best player on the field during Penn State's practices. He's moving to the strong side, a position where some of Penn State's best linebackers have played during their senior seasons. With Michael Mauti returning from injury, Glenn Carson back and several others in the fold, Penn State could have the league's top linebacking corps in 2012. Expect Hodges to take his game to the next gear, and he could have a season much like Navorro Bowman in 2009.

Kawann Short, DT, Purdue, Sr., 6-3, 310

2011 statistics: 54 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 blocked kicks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
2011 awards: First-team All-Big Ten (media), second-team All-Big Ten (coaches)
Making a case: The Big Ten recently has been a league of dominant defensive tackles, and two of them from Penn State, Jared Odrick and Still, have won defensive player of the year honors in the past three seasons. Purdue's Short looks like the next in line after a superb junior season that seemed to fly under the radar both regionally and nationally. He's consistently disruptive and also makes consistent plays in the backfield. Short has racked up 12.5 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss in the past two seasons, so he has been good for a long time. After turning down a chance to turn pro -- he received a third-round grade from the NFL draft advisory board -- Short could have a huge senior season.

Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin, Jr., 5-11, 250


2011 statistics: 143 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups
2011 awards: First-team All-Big Ten (coaches and media)
Making a case: Like Short, Borland has been a consistent playmaker for multiple years with Wisconsin. The 2009 Big Ten freshman of the year returned from shoulder problems to turn in an incredibly productive 2011 season. Borland moved to middle linebacker last fall but still found ways to get in the backfield. His tackles for loss total marked the most for a middle linebacker in the FBS. Borland always has been strong against the pass and should help Wisconsin in that phase this fall. Along with Mike Taylor, Borland will lead the Wisconsin defense and look to add more numbers to a tremendously productive career.

Jonathan Brown, LB, Illinois, Jr., 6-1, 235

2011 statistics: 108 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception, 2 fumbles recovered, 4 pass breakups
2011 awards: Second-team All-Big Ten (media)
Making a case: I put Brown in the same category with Gholston: an elite talent who could become a national superstar this coming season. Like Borland did in 2011, Brown will have to prove he can impact games at middle linebacker the way he did on the outside last season. Like Borland, Brown is an excellent blitzer who can get in a quarterback's face and wreak havoc in the backfield. He'll anchor the linebacking corps for an Illinois defense that should once again be strong in the front seven.

Others to watch

• Mike Taylor, LB, Wisconsin, Sr., 6-2, 222
• Jordan Hill, DT, Penn State, 6-1, 298
• Johnny Adams, CB, Michigan State, Sr., 5-11, 175
• Michael Buchanan, DE, Illinois, Sr., 6-6, 240

Dark horse candidates

• Max Bullough, LB, Michigan State, Jr., 6-3, 252
• Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State, Jr., 6-4, 317
• Jordan Kovacs, S, Michigan, Sr., 6-0, 197
  
• Denicos Allen, LB, Michigan State, Jr. 5-11, 232
• Ricardo Allen, CB, Purdue, Jr., 5-9, 176
• Micah Hyde, CB, Iowa, Sr, 6-1, 190
  
• Daimion Stafford, S, Nebraska, Sr., 6-1, 205
• Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State, Sr., 6-2, 239
• Akeem Spence, DT, Illinois, Jr., 6-1, 305

While I can't include everyone at this early stage, there's a large and interesting group in the mix for this award. Should be a great race to watch.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Max Bullough doesn't need to look far to be reminded of the legacy he's carrying on at Michigan State.

In the Spartans' linebacker meeting room hangs a mural depicting great players from the school's past at the position. So every time Bullough watches film or hears instructions from his coach, images of his father, Shane, and uncle, Chuck, stare out at him.

Like Max, both were standout starting middle linebackers at Michigan State. Max's grandfather, Hank, starred for the Spartans in the 1950s. There's no escaping the history of the Bullough family and the expectations that go along with having that last name. And Max embraces it all.

"It's fun," he told ESPN.com. "Everyone always talks about pressure this, expectations that. But those expectations are already on myself because I put them there. It's cool to have those names on the wall and be a part of something bigger."

He is busy making his own name these days. Michigan State fans fretted last summer about how the team would replace two-time All-American linebacker Greg Jones, but by early fall it was clear those worries were unfounded. Bullough stepped into the starting role as a sophomore and promptly led the team in tackles with 89, adding seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi calls Bullough "probably the key to our whole defense" and the biggest leader on that side of the ball. That's saying something for a defense that finished sixth nationally and looks stacked again in 2012.

"I think linebacker was a question mark going into last year," Bullough said. "I hope we proved some people wrong."

It's the position Bullough was born to play. His father remembers when Bullough first started playing football at age 8 and he announced to the family, "I'm going to play middle linebacker at Michigan State."

He played defensive tackle his first year of football because he was bigger than the other kids. But from then on, linebacker was his home. His family tried not to push him into one direction and urged him to play as many sports as possible as a kid. Yet football was clearly his passion.

"One of his greatest strengths from early on was that after a game, he would come home and ask, 'OK what did I do wrong?'" says Shane Bullough, who played for the Spartans from 1983-86. "It wasn't, 'Tell me how good I did.' He had the confidence to where I could say, 'Well, you didn't do this every well,' or 'This issue needs work.' That just spurred him on to get better at that particular issue."

Shane helped coach Max in middle school and into high school. But when it came time for Max to pick a college, he tried to let his son make his own decision. Michigan State obviously had an inside edge, but so did Notre Dame, where Max's maternal grandfather and an uncle played. In the end, the idea of following in his father's footsteps proved irresistible.

"The fact that my dad played here, and the passion I saw he had whenever we'd come to games here, that made it hard to go any other way," Bullough said.

That also meant more pressure in having to live up to the family name. But the Bulloughs thrive on competition and challenges.

"Max has always handled it well and has never shied away from it," Shane Bullough said. "I'm sure in his mind -- and I believe it in my mind, too -- that he can potentially be better than all of us."

Playing linebacker is the family business, and business is good. The 6-foot-3 Bullough was a second-team All-Big Ten performer last year and looks primed for a huge junior season. He has bulked up about 10 pounds from last year, up to 255, and will lead a defense that has as much depth as any Mark Dantonio has fielded in East Lansing.

The Bullough connection remains strong. Max said he gets pointers on his game from his uncle, Chuck, who is a Cleveland Browns assistant and the former UCLA defensive coordinator. His younger brother, Riley, is an incoming freshman who will arrive next month. Riley is projected as an outside linebacker, meaning he and his older brother could be on the field at the same time in the future.

"That's not paramount for us, but who wouldn't want to see that?" Shane Bullough says.

Only opposing ballcarriers.

Nine Big Ten defenders have been named to the preseason watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. The award goes to the nation's impact defender of the year, who reflects the following qualities: integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity.

The watch list features 42 players, and the Big Ten boasts the most candidates, followed by the Pac-12 (8) and the ACC and Big 12 (both with 7)

Here's the Big Ten contingent:

• Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin, Sr.
• Jonathan Brown, LB, Illinois, Jr.
• Max Bullough, LB, Michigan State, Jr.
• Gerald Hodges, LB, Penn State, Sr.
• Jordan Kovacs, S, Michigan, Sr.
• John Simon, DE, Ohio State, Sr.
• Kawann Short, DT, Purdue, Sr.
• Baker Steinkuhler, DT, Nebraska, Sr.
• Mike Taylor, LB, Wisconsin, Sr.

A strong group indeed. Several other Big Ten defenders certainly could be included as well, including Michigan State defensive end William Gholston, Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti and Illinois defensive end Michael Buchanan.

Quarterfinalists for the award will be named in late October, and semifinalists will be named in early November. The winner will be announced Dec. 9 in Newport Beach, Calif.

Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt is the last Big Ten player to win the Lott IMPACT Trophy (2010).

Michigan State held its spring game player draft this afternoon. It's always a fun event, as the seniors pick teams and everyone takes it pretty seriously, with Mark Dantonio serving as the commissioner. It's like a fantasy league come to life.

In no surprise, junior defensive end William Gholston was the first pick, by the White team (remember, seniors did the drafting). Both teams have to finish up the entire position group after a player is taken, so the Green team took the other starting defensive end, Marcus Rush.

The second overall pick, by the Green team, was middle linebacker Max Bullough. Then the picks went like this:

Green: C Travis Jackson

White: OT Dan France

Green: TE Dion Sims

White: LB Denicos Allen

Green: CB Trae Waynes

White: S Isaiah Lewis

Green: DT James Kittredge

White: FB Niko Palazeti

Green: RB Le'Veon Bell

White: WR Andre Sims Jr.

It's interesting that Bell went so late, but the truth is he probably will be limited in the spring game, making him less valuable for this kind of draft. James Kittredge's selection seems to indicate he may be in line to start opposite Anthony Rashad White inside. Receiver may be the least experienced position on the team, so it's no wonder that position went last. Sims' selection shows you who the players think is the top wideout in camp right now (remember, Bennie Fowler and Tony Lippett are hurt). In fact, Jeremy Langford, just moved over to receiver, was the second wideout taken, while DeAnthony Arnett was third. With Andrew Maxwell out, the quarterbacks weren't a part of the draft.

Michigan State linebacker Max Bullough talks about the potential of the Spartans' defense in 2012.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan has garnered a lot of positive attention this offseason thanks to its Sugar Bowl victory and success in attracting highly-ranked recruits to Ann Arbor.

Up the road in East Lansing, however, Michigan State shrugs off talk about the Wolverines regaining their superpower status under Brady Hoke. The Spartans are confident of their own standing and future prospects.

"We're laying in the weeds," Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio says with a half smile. "We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?"

Truth is, the rest of the Big Ten had better be on high alert for these Spartans in 2012. There's a quiet sense of self-assurance around the team this spring, borne of recent success, coaching cohesion and a deep well of talent.

Dantonio's team has gone 22-5 over the past two seasons, winning a share of the Big Ten title in 2010 and claiming the first Legends Division championship a year ago. The program finally got over the postseason hump in January, beating Georgia in the Outback Bowl for the school's first bowl win since 2001.

It's the best two-year run by the Spartans in nearly half a century, and only six other FBS teams have won more games since the start of the 2010 season. Of course, one elusive goal remains: Michigan State's first trip to Pasadena since 1988. Rose Bowl logos are plastered all over the team's football facility, serving as a constant reminder.

Even with a small senior class and the losses of three-year starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, all-time leading receiver B.J. Cunningham and All-America defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, this year's team believes the Rose is within reach.

"Our goals keep climbing every year, and I think they're very attainable," new starting quarterback Andrew Maxwell said. "I feel like we have all the pieces in place."

That's a tribute to both the building job and the stability Dantonio has carefully constructed.

While other Big Ten staffs have undergone tumultuous turnover the past couple of years, the Spartans coaches have mostly stayed intact. Dantonio, defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi and several key assistants are entering their ninth straight season together, dating back to their time at Cincinnati. The benefits of that constancy can really be seen on defense, where Dantonio and Narduzzi have been able to reinforce their philosophy year after year without changing terminology or schemes. The Spartans finished No. 6 nationally in total defense in 2011.

"That helps a lot," junior middle linebacker Max Bullough said. "So much of the game is mental, and having [the same coaches] allows you to just focus on getting better as a football player and not having to learn new things every year or two."

Dantonio said the continuity means that if he turns to, say, a redshirt sophomore, that player has received the same teaching in the same system for three years. And few teams in the Big Ten have redshirted as many players as Michigan State, which put only two of its 2011 signees on the field last season.

That patience, along with very few recruiting mistakes, has led to a situation that every other Big Team would envy: terrific depth, especially in the trenches. The Spartans have eight starters back on defense, plus Anthony Rashad White, who started the bowl game at nose tackle. The talk of the spring has been about young guys making a move behind the starters, like linebacker Darien Harris, defensive end Joel Heath and cornerback Trae Waynes -- all redshirt freshmen.

"When we go against the twos [the second string defense], I feel like those guys would start at a lot of places in the Big Ten," offensive tackle Dan France said. "We definitely have a lot of depth on both sides of the ball."

Defense has been a hallmark under Dantonio, but he may now have the deepest and best offensive line of his tenure. After a season of shuffling and injuries, that unit returns six players who have started, along with some promising newcomers. Ask Dantonio about either line, and he says what every coach would love to say about those positions: "We've got numbers."

Like every team in the spring, Michigan State has its questions, too. Maxwell is well-groomed to take over at quarterback after three years in the system, but he'll have to prove he's as unflappable under adversity as Cousins was. The receiver position is barren tract for experience, though there are plenty of athletes trying to emerge. And while the Spartans feel they can go seven- or eight-deep at defensive tackle, they have yet to discover someone there who can take over a game the way Worthy could when he was switched on.

"I didn't realize what a difference he made until he left," defensive end William Gholston said. "The first couple of practices I was like, 'Man, it's not the same.'"

Still, this is a team that's loaded at the most important positions and with a strong sense of its identity. Michigan's rise may be a fact; the Spartans don't plan on going away any time soon.

"People should be looking forward to Michigan State being one of the top teams every year," safety Isaiah Lewis said.

Thanks for waiting patiently for today's Big Ten chat, which took place a little later than normal. Another day of good spring football chatter around the league.

In case you missed out on the fun, here's the full transcript.

Some highlights:

Jason from Northville: Adam, you're in East Lansing this week correct? With the exceptions of Worthy, Robinson, and Pickelman departed do you see this defense as good or better than 2011's defense at MSU?

Adam Rittenberg: Brian actually will be in East Lansing, as of tonight. Excited to see what he learns from the Spartans. I'm really excited about the Spartans D. Gholston is a potential national superstar. Bullough and Allen form an excellent 1-2 punch at LB. Adams might be the league's top cover corner. Michigan State is loaded with difference-makers on defense despite losing Worthy, Robinson and Pickelman. And being able to retain coordinator Pat Narduzzi is huge for the Green and White.

Tyler from Austin, Minn.: Hey Adam, Do you see the Huskers as a real title contender? Are we going to see Taylor Martinez air it out more this year? Is Rex going to get more or less carries this year and what are your thoughts about him being a heisman contender?

Adam Rittenberg: I see Nebraska as a Big Ten title contender but not a national title contender. I'd definitely expect more passes from Martinez, particularly during non-league play when Tim Beck can experiment a bit. I also think Rex's workload will go down because of how Abdullah and Green are performing in spring ball. That's not a bad thing for Rex, who was overworked at times last year. I think Rex will need a huge game or two early to really put himself on the Heisman radar. It's a crowded pool right now, and he's not on it (although he deserves to be).

Max from the Wisconsin Cheerleading Squad: Adam, As per your article about the changes in how PSU is going to play D this season, do you think a drastic change is a good idea? The system is pretty tried and true, especially with LJ Sr and Ron VDL still on staff. Don't you think Ted Roof should take the "If it isn't broke don't fix it" approach?

Adam Rittenberg: Good question, Max, and one I thought a lot about while in State College. Although PSU wisely retained Larry Johnson and Ron Vanderlinden as position coaches, you can see that Roof is definitely in charge on the practice field. It'll be important for the defensive backs to get comfortable with the presnap motion, disguising blitzes and coverages and the other elements that go along with a more varied defensive approach. But I don't think things will change too much for the front seven guys, who really serve as Penn State's bread and butter on D.

Joe from New Glarus, Wis.: Whether it's a question in the mailblog, chat, or you guys writing, every time the NC comes up it seems like a different group of teams is mentioned as those likely to dethrone the SEC. Removing OSU and UM, which program(s) has/have the BEST shot at winning it all in the next 5 years? Maybe a ranking system of sorts.

Adam Rittenberg: Joe, I'd go with Wisconsin and then Nebraska. Wisconsin has been right there the past two seasons. It still amazes me how the Badgers managed to lose three games last fall. But the program is inching toward a nationally elite level. Nebraska might not be too far away, either, and the talent level in Lincoln is pretty good. But the Huskers might have to skip a few steps to reach the promised land as they haven't won a league title since 1999.

Austin from Colorado: Who has the best chance for Heisman in the big 10?

Adam Rittenberg: Montee Ball has to be up there as a Heisman finalist from 2011. Denard Robinson is the other name to watch because he's so recognizable nationally. That's a big part of it -- how exciting you are as a player and how recognizable you are nationally. People point out Denard's shortcomings, and there are some. But he's a face that college football fans know about coast to coast. And that matters regarding the Heisman.

Thanks again for your participation, and my apologies to those whose questions weren't answered. Let's do it again next week.

Michigan State finished sixth nationally in total defense last season and returns nine starters. Just as importantly, the Spartans return defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, who was wooed by Texas A&M over the winter but chose to stay in East Lansing. Narduzzi's defense figures to once again be one of the very best in the country. I recently caught up with him to chat about the state of the defense this spring:

When you have so many starters back, how does that affect what you do in spring practice?

Pat Narduzzi: One thing it does for us is it gives us the opportunity to know that hopefully there's a lot of carryover from last season. We don't try to install any more defenses. We try to keep it at the same pace. You know, kids forget. Coaches can sit in the office 24/7 and talk about it, but for them, as soon as that bowl game against Georgia is over, those guys go on with their lives, with their girlfriends and studying English. But it allows you to come in and not make as many mistakes as you would with a young defense.

Yet you have to be excited about the potential for this defense with the players you have back, right?

PN: Yeah, it's exciting, but we still have to go out and make plays. We do have a lot of players back, so hopefully we can go out and be as productive as we were a year ago. But you can't get complacent, because what you did last year or the last game or even last week doesn't really matter. It's what you do right now. So every day we're building the 2012 defense.

You used the word complacent. How do you make sure the starters don't get too comfortable and that there's still a lot of competition?

PN: There are certain positions you can look at and say, "There's no way he's getting beat out." And there's probably, of the 11 positions out there, you've got to say there's six or seven of them. But we're starting to do such a good job recruiting that there are some battles out there at different spots, particularly at the defensive tackle spot, the safety spot and even the linebacker spot. There's a lot of spots that are really wide open. If a guy makes a mistake with the 1's, you pull him down to the 2's and really keep him on edge, in a positive way. With the starters, you expect perfection. When you make mistakes, that's not helping you. Another guy can get in and make mistakes, too.

(Read full post)

It has been a very busy day in the sports world, so if you missed my chat, I'll forgive you. Just this once.

And, as always, I've got you covered with the full Big Ten chat transcript. Please check it out.

Some highlights:

Edward from Maryland: If Penn State were land transfer QB Danny O'Brien, how do you think that would change PSU's season outlook? Would O'Brien make PSU the favorite to win the Leaders Division?

Adam Rittenberg: He might, Edward. The Leaders Division is so wide open because of Ohio State's bowl ban and Wisconsin's personnel/coaching issues. Penn State could have the best defense in the division, especially in the front seven. But the offense is such a question mark in State College, and the QB play hasn't been nearly as good as it needs to be. O'Brien certainly would change how we view PSU in 2012.

Waffles from B1G Blog Hangout: Wisconsin is becoming Transfer QB U, which can be a good thing in the short term. You think we've got greater than a 50% chance of getting Maryland's QB, or do you think it's less than 50%?

Adam Rittenberg: Hey Waffles, always a pleasure. I've always thought Vanderbilt would be the frontrunner given O'Brien's relationship with James Franklin, but transferring to the SEC is a little more complex than transferring to the Big Ten when you've graduated. Also, Wisconsin's success with Russell Wilson has to be appealing to a guy like DO. I'd put Wisconsin's chances below 50 percent, but only because there are so many other schools in play right now.

TerryT1974 from Cleveland, Tenn.: what is it that makes you feel michigan st. over michigan at this present time .Do they have a quaterback that can give them what they had last year

Adam Rittenberg: Probably not, Terry, but they have the Big Ten's best defense in my view, perhaps by a wide margin. Michigan State has difference-makers in all three levels of the defense. Line: William Gholston. Linebacker: Denicos Allen, Max Bullough. Secondary: Johnny Adams. No other Big Ten team can say that right now. Also, I think MSU will rush the ball a lot better in 2012 as the line comes together a little more. There are some question marks for sure, but no Big Ten team in my view has more difference-making defenders than the Spartans right now.

jpat0973 from Cleveland: seems like the B1G has gotten away from its roots a bit and doesn't have the assortment of feature RBs that it normally does. Who is out there as up-and-comers?

Adam Rittenberg: I don't know if I agree with you on this. The Big Ten looks pretty strong at running back entering 2012 and would have been even stronger had Marcus Coker stayed at Iowa (sorry, Hawks fans). But you've got Montee Ball at Wisconsin along with James White, Rex Burkhead at Nebraska, Silas Redd at Penn State, Fitz Toussaint at Michigan, Le'Veon Bell at Michigan State. I'd also throw in a guy like Stephen Houston at Indiana and Akeem Shavers at Purdue as potential up-and-comers. Ohio State's RB situation should be really interesting this spring. While you might not be seeing as many 230-pound, Eddie George types in the Big Ten, there are still quite a few quality backs.

Thanks again for all the questions, and my apologies to those whose questions weren't answered. It was good to be back in the chat mix this week.

Let's do it again next Wednesday.

Mark Dantonio acknowledges Michigan State has some momentum right now. The Spartans have won 11 games in each of the past two seasons. They come off of a Legends division title and could enter the season as the Big Ten favorite. But they also lose a lot of star power from the 2011 team, namely quarterback Kirk Cousins, a three-year starter and three-time captain, and All-American defensive tackle Jerel Worthy.

Can Michigan State be a better team in 2012, or will the Spartans backslide in their effort to reload?

"There were questions as we left 2010," Dantonio said. "Can we replace Greg Jones and Eric Gordon? Could we replace our punter, Aaron Bates, or [wide receiver] Mark Dell? We were able to do that and progress, so there are great possibilities. Our football team is poised for that, but at the same time we need to guard against being complacent and understand we’re going to be judged game-to-game.

"It's important we bring our energy with us in everything we do, but there's no question we have confidence. There's no question we have continuity. We've built a great foundation to springboard us forward."

The next phase begins Tuesday, as Michigan State kicks off spring practice in East Lansing.

Dantonio discussed the spring and the future with ESPN.com earlier this week.

Some notes:

• Dantonio is "very optimistic" the NCAA will approve wide receiver transfer DeAnthony Arnett to play this coming season. Arnett transferred from Tennessee to Michigan State to be closer to his ailing father in Flint, Mich. He appeared in 12 games for the Vols in 2011 and had 24 receptions for 242 yards and two touchdowns. "It was a hardship because his father is ill," Dantonio said. "DeAnthony had success at Tennessee. He was happy at Tennessee. He felt like he needed to come home to be near his family. Every Friday afternoon he goes home. He's a great young man, and he cares deeply about his family and wants to be close to them and wants them to have the opportunity to see him play as well." The NCAA recently granted a waiver for Amir Carlisle, a USC transfer, to play immediately at Notre Dame. Carlisle transferred to be closer to his father, who took a position in Purdue's athletic department. Arnett is eligible to practice this spring for the Spartans.
• If Arnett receives his waiver, he'll provide a big boost to a position that Dantonio calls the "most critical" to replenish. Michigan State loses its top three receivers -- B.J. Cunningham, Keshawn Martin and Keith Nichol -- from 2011. The Spartans need to get Bennie Fowler and Juwan Ceasar healthy and have some immediate contributions from their incoming freshmen.
• Michigan State has good depth at defensive end, so Denzel Drone will move to tight end, at least for the start of spring ball. Drone has made six starts at defensive end in his first two seasons and has recorded 28 tackles, five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He played a bit of tight end as a high school senior. "We can at least look at that position move in the first two weeks," Dantonio said. "He's played enough defensive end that he can go back over there and be a co-starter for us, but I think we need to put our best football players on the field, and if he can be one of those top 11 players, 12 players, 13, 14 players on offense, then we'll leave him there. If not, he'll be one of those top 14 players on defense." In another move, defensive back Dana Dixon will practice at wide receiver this spring but could return to the secondary "in a heartbeat," Dantonio said.
• Defensive tackle will be a fascinating position to watch this spring as Michigan State looks to replace Worthy. Tyler Hoover, a starting defensive end in 2010 who missed all of last season with injury, will move inside this spring. Hoover is up to 297 pounds, Dantonio said. The Spartans also will audition a host of redshirt freshman defensive tackles and sophomore James Kittredge, a transfer from Vanderbilt.
• Michigan State redshirted 19 players last season, a few more than normal, and the spring will provide a proving ground for several of them. Dantonio listed defensive end Shilique Calhoun, linebacker Lawrence Thomas, safety RJ Williamson and cornerback Trae Waynes as freshmen who could have played in the latter part of last season.
• The Spartans are one of only four Big Ten teams to return their entire coaching staff from the previous season. It wasn't easy, as other teams made runs at both Michigan State coordinators, Pat Narduzzi and Dan Roushar, but both men stayed, in part because the school made a stronger financial commitment. "It was natural to me to be very concerned we would lose a coach or two," Dantonio said. "But it gives you a feeling that you’re doing things right here and there's a good working environment. Obviously, all of our guys, we’re going to do everything we can do to hold onto them, and some of that is financially-based."
• Dantonio on quarterback Andrew Maxwell: "Very patient young man, as evidenced by him sitting here and waiting for his opportunity. Very poised, extremely strong arm, very athletic, he was a 6-7 high jumper in high school. He's got size. He’s got great intelligence. He's got a great demeanor among his teammates. The one thing he's missing right now is that experience of going out and doing it on game day on a consistent basis. Kirk always stayed the course and was never knocked out of a football game, so Andrew never had to take the reins of our football team in a critical situation. That's coming for him."
• In terms of leadership, Dantonio said Maxwell's teammates already have accepted him in his new role. Dantonio also listed linebacker Max Bullough, cornerback Darqueze Dennard, offensive lineman Chris McDonald and running back Larry Caper as potential team leaders in 2012.

Brian Bennett looks at the positions that will need the most and least attention for Michigan State this spring.

Let's get to it.

Chris from Chicago writes: Hey Adam — very interesting post about recruiting and player development.I think that fanbases are generally going to make the (probably too basic) assumption that more is better. Two main aspects in judging a program is how well they recruit and how well they develop players. So while the B1G has excelled at player development, fans are always going to want more ...Using Nebraska as an example, sending 16 players to the NFL combine is fantastic. Having none of those players be former ESPNU 150 recruits is always going to lead that fanbase to wonder 'How much better would we have been if we'd landed top recruits?' Not a question here — just trying to offer some explanation. I am guilty of this too — I think many fans (incorrectly) assume all things are equal and that player development is great, but it's dependent on where players begin (3*, 4*, 5*). I am a Michigan fan. I am very happy with the two classes Hoke has brought in and the one he's building now. Do I expect a roster full of All-Americans? Not necessarily. But I do have some hope in that — and having 18-22 recruits outside of the ESPNU 150 isn't going to garner that same hope.

Adam Rittenberg: Excellent perspective here, Chris. I agree that fans are always going to want more, and it's interesting to wonder what coaches like Bo Pelini, Kirk Ferentz and Bret Bielema could do with supposedly better recruits. Then again, it's hard to think Pelini could do much better than a player like cornerback Prince Amukamara, a first-round pick in the 2011 draft who came to Nebraska as a three-star running back. I just think it's important for fans to be realistic about star ratings, as there are so many NFL players that were lightly recruited or went to smaller colleges or were late bloomers. It's fine to get excited, don't get me wrong, but recruiting ratings are only one component. Michigan fans should not only be excited about the recruits but the coaches who are there to develop them. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

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Derrick from Brooklyn, N.Y., writes: Any chance Mike Minter gets a shot to be the new DB coach at Nebraska?

Adam Rittenberg: Minter's name came up immediately after the news about Corey Raymond's departure to LSU. The Lincoln Journal Star's Steve Sipple writes today that he hears Minter would be interested in the position if Nebraska approaches him. The former Huskers star is coaching on Turner Gill's staff at Liberty University (special teams coordinator) and has coached in Division II and at a North Carolina high school. Pelini has to act quickly as spring ball kicks off March 10. He could look internally, but if he looks outside, Minter would be an intriguing choice. He certainly knows his way around.

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John from Portola Valley, Calif., writes: Dear Adam, I love Michigan State football, but don't understand why they are considered to be a great team in the 2012 season. Coach Dantonio is an amazing coach and I feel like he is giving them a lot of momentum, but the team is losing huge assets such as Kirk Cousins, Jerel Worthy and B.J. Cunningham. Also, their incoming recruiting class wasn't ranked in the top 25. Michigan State plays a tough schedule with top tier recruits such as Ohio State ranked 6th according to recruiting nation, Michigan ranked 7th and Notre Dame ranked 9th. Why are they still considered to be in the hunt for the 2012 Big Ten Championship?

Adam Rittenberg: John, those players are significant individual losses, and Michigan State will have its share of question marks entering the 2012 season. But I wouldn't base my list of Big Ten title contenders solely on their 2012 recruiting classes. Many of those players will be redshirting, and only a handful will have a significant impact on the 2012 campaign. If you want to be more accurate, look at the recruiting classes in from 2009-11, which were strong at Michigan State. These classes will have a greater impact on the 2012 season than the most recent one, which, by the way, wasn't too shabby, either.

Michigan State will be a deeper team on defense despite losing Worthy, and while the Spartans need a redshirt freshman or two to step up at defensive tackle, there's a lot to like at defensive end (William Gholston), linebacker (Denicos Allen, Max Bullough) and in the secondary. Cousins is a big loss, but Andrew Maxwell has been groomed to step in at QB. Cunningham will be very tough to replace, and receiver is a big question mark.

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Eric from Chicago writes: "...Big Ten teams, while signing fewer of the nation's elite recruits, continue to develop players for the next level. "Isn't it far more likely that recruits are over-evaluated in the South and under-evaluated in the B1G footprint? Rivals, for example, didn't even have a midwest analyst until a few months ago. This doesn't require a conspiracy. The hype over NCAA football in the SEC means that fans there are more receptive consumers of recruiting information and these publications are serving the market.

Adam Rittenberg: Eric, you're not the only one with this view. Let me just say this: there are also a ton of fans in Midwest, and the Big Ten blog traffic numbers confirm this (even in relation to the SEC blog). I can assure you fans in the Midwest are just as passionate about recruiting as those in the south and southeast. The population demographics are what they are, and I do believe there's more talent in the south and southeast than there is in the Midwest. Is there some overvaluing and undervaluing? Without a doubt. Are there elite players in the Big Ten's backyard? Without a doubt. But I don't think it's a grand conspiracy when multiple recruiting analysts from multiple media organizations rate more elite prospects from the south and southeast than any other region.

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Bill from South Korea writes: Adam, I believe that the B1G made a mistake by overlooking Missouri as an expansion candidate. I would love to see an 8 Super-Conference FBS with a definitive championship format. The B1G could have led the way by taking Missouri, Maryland, Rutgers, and West Virginia when they accepted Nebraska. Please take a pass on the Notre Dame worship. That's yesterday's news. Nebraska was a great addition but more was on the table for the taking. I think it is highly unlikely that Missouri would ever move to the B1G from the SEC. My concern is that other conferences are making moves now to add quality programs which may leave the B1G picking up scraps later. I know that the schools I chose are debatable but I concentrated on location, current facilities, and fan base. These factors all equate to income and costs. Kansas would be good but I believe they are linked in an undesirable marriage (KU/KSU). Do you think the B1G will enter the second round of conference expansion anytime soon?

Adam Rittenberg: Bill, it's funny, I started thinking about the Big Ten and Missouri while watching the epic Missouri-Kansas basketball game on Saturday afternoon. The Big Ten did consider Missouri during the expansion process, but some of the public statements by the Missouri governor and others about wanting to be in the Big Ten so badly turned off some of the folks around the league.

It comes down to whether you think the Big Ten should expand beyond 12. The Big Ten presidents have made it clear they're happy at 12, and I still believe Nebraska is a stronger addition than Missouri because of its football brand. In a multi-team expansion, Missouri would have made sense, as would programs like Maryland and Rutgers. West Virginia isn't a cultural fit at all in the Big Ten and would never be admitted, so you can forget that one. Will the Big Ten look at another expansion? It's certainly possible, especially if the SEC continues to get stronger at 14. But for now, the presidents are comfortable at 12.

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Phillip from Madison, Wis., writes: Hey Adam. You said Purdue and Nebraska would be the most impacted by the new kickoff rules, but impact goes both ways. It seems this rule change helps mitigate one of Wisconsin's most glaring issues. If the new kickoff rules were implemented last season, does Wisconsin finish the regular season undefeated?

Adam Rittenberg: You never know, Phillip, but I think Wisconsin would have benefited more from a new rule limiting the number of players who can try and block a punt (except in the Big Ten title game, of course, where it worked out in the Badgers' favor). Kick coverage has been a weak spot for Wisconsin in recent years, as the Badgers ranked 83rd in 2011, 103rd in 2010 and 119th in 2009.

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Nate from Mankato, Minn., writes: Adam, repeatedly you guys talk about how the Iowa defense was disappointing. Yes Prater struggled, and they did have some injuries, but what more was expected of that group? At their losses at Minnesota, Nebraska, and Penn State, as well as their loss in Tempe to Oklahoma, it was definitely not on the defense. Yes, their numbers weren't very good, but who expected them to have good numbers? It was a rebuilding year, and the defense, in my mind, played well for what was expected.

Adam Rittenberg: Nate, you make some good points, but I felt Iowa had achieved a certain level of consistency on defense and could survive some key personnel losses. No doubt it's very tough to replace three starting defensive linemen selected in the NFL draft. And losing two multiyear starters at safety (Tyler Sash, Brett Greenwood) hurt the Hawkeyes. I just felt the defense would be average rather than below average. Iowa had only 10 interceptions, and opponents completed 62 percent of their passes against the Hawks. You look at games like Michigan State, Iowa State and even Northwestern and Pitt. Iowa gave up more than 420 yards in each of those games. Maybe I've been a bit unfair, but I thought Iowa had reached a certain standard on defense and would be able to maintain it despite some personnel turnover.