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Coaching changes defined the Big Ten's offseason, but one of the most significant moves in the league was made to keep a key assistant in place.

Michigan State retained defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi after he turned down a lucrative opportunity to go to Texas A&M in the same role. Narduzzi, who earned $233,000 last year, would receive a substantial raise to stay in East Lansing.

That raise is now known, as the Detroit Free Press first reported. Narduzzi will be paid $500,000, more than doubling his previous salary. All of Mark Dantonio's assistants received salary increases following a season where the Spartans won the Legends Division title and the Outback Bowl, and recorded 11 victories for the second consecutive season.

As expected, Narduzzi received the biggest increase ($267,000), although his salary ranks behind several Big Ten assistants, including Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell ($750,000) and Michigan coordinators Greg Mattison ($750,000) and Al Borges ($650,000). Given Narduzzi's success the past few seasons, his compensation seems reasonable, given the market.

"I think coach Narduzzi's going to be a head coach," Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said Thursday. "I think coach Narduzzi believes in this program. What we did is we sat down and said, 'Here's a compensation that gets you in the frame, but also an opportunity for you to achieve what you really want to achieve, which is a head-coaching position.' He and some of the other [assistant] positions were very far off from the norm, and now I believe they're in the norm."

Some of the other reported raises include a $75,000 bump for offensive coordinator Dan Roushar from $230,000 to $305,000; $33,000 raises for secondary coach Harlon Barnett and linebackers/secondary coach Mike Tressel, from $170,000 to $203,000; and $30,000 raises for offensive line coach Mark Staten and running backs coach Brad Salem from $170,000 to $200,000.

Dantonio often credits Michigan State's success to staff continuity. The only assistants who have left the program in his tenure -- Don Treadwell and Dan Enos -- did so for FBS head-coaching positions elsewhere.

Narduzzi's time will come soon, but Michigan State took an important step by keeping its top assistant in East Lansing for another year.

Every good conference boasts some coaching villains, and the Big Ten has several men who fill the role. No one will confuse the Big Ten with the SEC, where all 12 coaches have voodoo dolls of one other and dart boards with their opponents' heads as the bull's-eyes. But let's not forget the Big Ten produced Woody and Bo, two men who certainly played the villain when they set foot on opposing soil. The Big Ten may never see Woody versus Bo, Part II, but you get 12 Type A personalities competing for championships in a high-stakes sport, and it's going to get heated.

Last month, we asked you to weigh in on the most disliked Big Ten coach. Not surprisingly, the three highest vote-getters also earned our nod for their villainous traits. Remember, this is all in fun, and it's important to note that it's hard to be a coaching villain if you don't win a lot of games or tick off multiple fan bases.

Let's take a look.

Bret Bielema, Wisconsin (six seasons, 60-19 overall and at Wisconsin)

Any coach who plays college ball, has his team's logo tattooed on his leg, and then ends up coaching a major rival is predisposed to be a villain. Bielema, a former Iowa defensive lineman, still sports the Tigerhawk stamp on his leg, but he's very much a Badger these days. While Bielema might not be a favorite son in Iowa, he has ticked off others around the league a little more.

In 2010, Bielema ignited a flap with Minnesota when he called for a 2-point conversion attempt with Wisconsin ahead by 25 points in the fourth quarter. Minnesota coach Tim Brewster confronted Bielema after the game and later said Bielema made "a poor decision for a head football coach." Bielema claimed he was following the coaches' card of when to go for two or not, but given tension with Brewster and the Wisconsin-Minnesota rivalry, few bought his explanation. The Wisconsin coach didn't help his rep a few weeks later when the Badgers' record-setting offense put up 83 points against Indiana, although the sportsmanship complaints seemed hollow as Indiana totally packed it in that day.

Then came national signing day in February, when Bielema at a news conference referred to "illegal" recruiting tactics by new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer. Many incorrectly interpreted Bielema's comments as sour grapes about losing a recruit (Kyle Dodson) to Meyer, but Bielema didn't publicly specify what he meant or why he contacted Meyer to discuss the situation. The allegations didn't sit well with Meyer or Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, although the situation put to rest the ridiculous belief about a "gentleman's agreement" among Big Ten coaches.

Bielema is relatively young, highly successful and never short on confidence. He's very media savvy and knows how to get his message across. He may fill the villain role for several fan bases, but he's the one going to Pasadena every year.

Urban Meyer, Ohio State (first season, 104-23 overall in 10 seasons)

Meyer hasn't coached a single game as Ohio State's head man, but he still received the most votes as the league's most disliked coach. Unlike the others in the Big Ten villain mix, Meyer sparks ire in other parts of the country, particularly in a little place they call Gator Country.

He left Florida after the 2010 season -- after nearly stepping away the previous year -- citing health concerns and a desire to spend more time with his family. Some saw him taking the Ohio State job, undoubtedly another pressure cooker, just a year after leaving Florida, as disingenuous. More Florida fallout arrived this spring in a Sporting News story that showed Meyer as the overseer and enabler of a mess in Gainesville.

Meyer's Big Ten villainy stems mostly from his immediate success on the recruiting trail after being hired in late November. In two months he put together the Big Ten's top-rated recruiting class, which included several players who had flipped from other programs to the Buckeyes. His surge drew comments from Bielema and Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, and the perception that Meyer has rocked the boat in the Big Ten remains very much alive.

Although Meyer and Michigan coach Brady Hoke have been cordial to this point -- they have the same agent, Trace Armstrong -- it's only a matter of time before things get spicy. Ohio State set off a mini blaze by displaying a sign in the football complex comparing its players' academic majors with those of Michigan's.

Buckle up.

Mark Dantonio, Michigan State (five seasons, 44-22 at MSU, 62-39 in eight seasons overall)

The seemingly permanent scowl. The deep, borderline monotone voice. The willingness to stick up for players who make mistakes and fuel rivalries. In many ways, Dantonio looks and sounds more like a villain than any of his Big Ten coaching brethren. Warm and fuzzy he is not, and while he has a unique sense of humor and can be charming, he comes off serious, intense and, some would say, confrontational.

Dantonio has made some notable statements about archrival Michigan in his five seasons in East Lansing. Who can forget his "pride comes before the fall" response to Mike Hart after the 2007 Michigan State-Michigan game? After last season's personal-foul fest against Michigan, a game Michigan State won 28-14, Dantonio drew criticism for not suspending defensive end William Gholston, who had punched a Wolverines player and twisted the helmet of another (the Big Ten later suspended Gholston for a game). In January, he interrupted Michigan assistant Jeff Hecklinski during a presentation to state high school coaches. And this spring, he set off some fireworks by telling Brian Bennett, "We're laying in the weeds. We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?"

Some Michigan fans still dismiss Michigan State as not a real rival, but Dantonio has certainly gotten under the skin of Wolverines backers, especially because he keeps beating the Maize and Blue.

Dantonio also was looped into the Meyer/Bielema flap in February, although his general comments about recruiting were misinterpreted by a reporter.

The hyper intense Dantonio has some villain in him. And if he keeps winning at Michigan State, the image will continue to grow.

The book is closed on spring football in the Big Ten, but what did the chapters reveal? Although no games are played during the spring, which fuels optimism for all 12 teams, the 15 practices provide clues for the upcoming season. The Big Ten saw few major injuries to key players, some good news (the NCAA declaring Michigan State WR DeAnthony Arnett eligible for 2012) and some potentially troubling signs.

It's time to revive the power rankings coming out of the spring. We see separation with the top two teams, while Nos. 3-5 are closely matched. The same holds true for Nos. 7-10.

Here they are ...

1. Michigan State: The Spartans' defense looks like the single best unit in the Big Ten entering the season. Spring practice only enhanced our opinion of Pat Narduzzi's group, which has no shortage of stars. While the passing game needs work, Arnett's presence should help, and the Spartans will rely more on their run game with Le'Veon Bell and an improved offensive line.

2. Michigan: Quarterback Denard Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint, who affirmed himself as Michigan's top tailback this spring, form arguably the Big Ten's most dangerous backfield tandem. If Michigan can fill some key pieces on both lines, where there was some shuffling this spring, it will be back in the BCS bowl mix and among the favorites to win the Big Ten crown.

3. Wisconsin: It seems hard to fathom, but Montee Ball appeared to take his game to an even higher gear this spring. The Badgers' star running back will fuel the offense again, although quarterback remains a question mark as Maryland transfer Danny O'Brien arrives this summer. Wisconsin still needs more playmakers to emerge on the defensive line and in the secondary.

4. Nebraska: Tough call on this spot, but the Huskers return their core pieces on offense from a 9-4 team. Footwork-conscious quarterback Taylor Martinez received good reviews this spring, and he should be more comfortable in Year 2 at the helm of Tim Beck's offense. Coach Bo Pelini thinks the defense will be improved and potentially deeper, although the Huskers lose a lot of star power on that side of the ball.

5. Ohio State: There were few dull moments in Ohio State's first spring under Urban Meyer, who began installing an offense unlike any seen in Columbus. After resembling a "clown show" early on, the offense made strides and quarterback Braxton Miller looks like a strong fit for the system. An improved defense, led by linemen John Simon and Johnathan Hankins, should buy the offense some time to get acclimated.

6. Penn State: New coach Bill O'Brien ushered in a historic spring in Happy Valley, and Penn State players for the most part embraced the many changes taking place. The Lions still don't have a quarterback, but they have an excellent running back in Silas Redd and an improved offense line that pleasantly surprised O'Brien this spring. Penn State's defensive front seven, led by linebacker Gerald Hodges and tackle Jordan Hill, might need to carry the team at times.

7. Purdue: Fourth-year coach Danny Hope thinks this is clearly his best team in West Lafayette, and with 18 starters back, it's easy to see why. The Boilermakers are one of the Big Ten's deepest teams at positions like quarterback, defensive tackle, running back and cornerback. Purdue must continue to absorb the new defense installed by Tim Tibesar and fill some key gaps along the offensive line.

8. Iowa: Although Iowa's changes this spring didn't make national headlines like the ones at Penn State and Ohio State, they were very significant. New offensive coordinator Greg Davis began installing a more up-tempo and multifaceted offense that seems to be clicking with senior quarterback James Vandenberg. Jordan Canzeri's ACL injury once again clouds the picture at running back entering the summer, and Iowa needs its young defensive line to grow up in a hurry.

9. Northwestern: The Wildcats showcased one of the league's top wide-receiving corps this spring, and if Kain Colter can improve his passing, the offense should surge. Defense has been Northwestern's bugaboo in recent years, and young players like end Deonte Gibson and cornerback Nick VanHoose stepped forward this spring. It's crucial for the defense to keep making progress if Northwestern wants to maintain its bowl streak.

10. Illinois: There's little doubt Illinois will be a defense-driven team, and the Illini look loaded in the front seven with players like end Michael Buchanan, who turned in a very strong spring, as well as tackle Akeem Spence and linebacker Jonathan Brown. An offense that flatlined late last season began learning a new system this spring and still lacks playmakers at running back and wide receiver. Running back Josh Ferguson's spring-game performance is encouraging.

11. Minnesota: The second spring of the Jerry Kill era brought greater comfort for both players and coaches alike. Quarterback MarQueis Gray made strides in his second spring session as the starter, although the Gophers are still looking for more weapons to surround No. 5. The defensive line should be an improved group after several lifeless seasons. Minnesota still needs to develop depth in the secondary and at wide receiver.

12. Indiana: After playing an insane number of freshmen in 2011, Indiana began to reap the benefits this spring. An influx of junior-college defenders, including linebackers David Cooper and Jacarri Alexander, also should boost a unit that needs all the help it can get. The Hoosiers have some nice building blocks on offense at both quarterback (Tre Roberson) and running back (Stephen Houston, Isaiah Roundtree), but they still have a lot of work to do before the season.

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.

It was one of the defining plays of Michigan State's season, and the Big Ten year as a whole.

Michigan had the ball on the Spartans' 9-yard line late in the fourth quarter, trailing by a touchdown and needing a yard on fourth down. Denard Robinson faked a handoff, dropped back -- and was immediately wrapped up and brought to the ground by Michigan State cornerback Johnny Adams.

If Robinson and the Wolverines were surprised, they shouldn't have been. Few teams successfully employ the corner blitz more than the Spartans, and few players are better at pulling it off than Adams.

"It's a lot of fun," Adams said. "A lot of corners don't really get to blitz, but in our system we get to do some different things and play a little free. I just thank my defensive coordinator for letting me come off the edge a couple times."

Pat Narduzzi and the rest of the Spartans are glad they still have Adams. The two-time All-Big Ten honoree explored his NFL draft options in the offseason, but decided to return for his senior year in East Lansing. He has a chance to be "a premier cornerback," head coach Mark Dantonio says, and should enter the year as the best in the Big Ten.

Adams wasn't a must-have type recruit out of high school in Akron. He was rated by most as a three-star prospect, and he had offers from schools like Illinois, Indiana and Syracuse. When Michigan State's coaches went to scout one of his games in person, Adams' team had the then-160-pounder lined up at defensive end, trying to shed some 250-pound offensive tackles.

"We wondered, what the heck are we getting ourselves into?" says Narduzzi, the Spartans' defensive coordinator.

But Adams fit the Michigan State style right away, starting a couple of games as a true freshman in 2008 before needing a medical redshirt for a shoulder injury the following year. The Spartans like their cornerbacks to mix things up, not just cover receivers, and that's something Adams enjoys.

"He plays with an attitude," Narduzzi said. "You've got to have that when you're pressing up on people just about every down."

Cornerbacks aren't always known as the world's best tacklers. But when Adams comes flying in off the edge on a blitz, quarterbacks have to be on their guard.

"Johnny's only about 170-something pounds, but he hits like a linebacker," safety Isaiah Lewis said. "He's not a punk. He'll go out there and hit anybody."

Adams had 51 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions and six passes defended last season, showing his all-around game.

"I want to be able to come up and support the run as well as cover downfield," he said. "Just be that overall player."

Michigan State also wants more leadership out of him as the most experienced player in the secondary, especially with safety Trenton Robinson moving on to the NFL. Adams isn't naturally vocal outside his clique, and doesn't always enjoy giving interviews, so it's a process. At a spring practice this month, he was given the privilege of addressing the team on the field before drills. Adams kept it short and sweet, using a Muhammad Ali quote to try and get his teammates fired up.

At least one early 2013 draft projection has Adams ranked as the top NFL cornerback prospect in the country.

"I definitely think I can be that level of player," he says.

Adams will be on every pro scout's radar this season. Opposing quarterbacks better know where he is at all times, too.

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.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State's William Gholston is so large and seemingly so perfectly suited for defensive end that it's hard to believe he was a linebacker in high school or that he originally wanted to play that position in college.

That is, until Pat Narduzzi flips on the film.

The Spartans' defensive coordinator eagerly pulls up footage of Gholston lined up at linebacker during a recent spring practice. On the first play, the offense goes with a running play to the right side. Gholston, who'd begun the play on the far left side, uses his long strides to gobble up the distance and get in on the tackle.

Not bad for a 6-foot-7, 280-pounder. But the show is just getting started.

"Watch this one," Narduzzi says, switching to another practice play.

This time, the offense is in the I-formation, and the handoff goes to tailback Nick Hill on an isolation play up the middle. Gholston shoots through the gap untouched and rams into the fullback, pushing him backward into Hill, who spins around and falls down.

That's about the time you realize Gholston isn't like normal human beings. Though Narduzzi doesn't necessarily plan on using him at linebacker this year, he says that Gholston "can do whatever he wants" on a football field.

"I was feeling it that day," Gholston says of his recent turn at linebacker. "I told them if they ever need a backup Mike [linebacker], I may not be able to cover the slot [receivers] like I used to at 280, but I think I could check some tight ends."

For now, Michigan State is quite happy to have Gholston stay at defensive end, where the junior has a chance to erupt as one of the most dominant forces in the Big Ten, if not the country. That became obvious in the Jan. 2 Outback Bowl against Georgia, when Gholston was nearly unstoppable in recording five tackles for loss and two sacks in the 33-30 overtime win.

His regular season was by no means subpar -- Gholston earned second-team All-Big Ten honors on a defense that finished in the top 5 nationally. Still, he said he went into that bowl game looking to "prove a point to everybody and myself."

The Detroit native is well aware of the immense recruiting hype that accompanied his arrival to East Lansing. He was ranked among the top prospects in the country by every major scouting service and chose the Spartans in a close call over Alabama.

Gholston played in 10 games as a true freshman before needing season-ending shoulder surgery, and he describes his first year of starting last season as "OK, but not as productive as it could have been." So he said he used the practices leading up to the Outback Bowl to focus on finally maximizing his full potential.

"I guess that game showed me what I could do if I put my mind to it," he said.

Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still similarly motivated himself for a huge 2011 Outback Bowl showing, and Still carried that over into last season for an All-America and Big Ten defensive player of the year campaign. Many now forecast Gholston to follow the same kind of upward trajectory and to take over leadership of the Michigan State defensive line with Jerel Worthy off to the NFL.

Gholston embraces such lofty projections.

"I feel like I can really do something this year," he said. "I feel a lot more comfortable, and I know the defensive schemes 100 percent. I also know that with the pressure of expectations and everybody expecting me to do well, it opens up stuff for the rest of my team."

Physical ability has never been an issue. Playing with proper technique has. With his power-forward height, Gholston has to constantly remind himself to get his pads low for leverage. He called his burst off the line of scrimmage last year "horrible," and he's been working on improving that this offseason.

"He'll get to the next level," Narduzzi said. "It's just a matter of how good his fundamentals will be when he gets there."

Still, Narduzzi says Gholston never hurts the defense even when he's having an off day because he's so big and strong. And Gholston is one of the few players who can elicit awestruck praise from his teammates.

"Man, that guy is incredible," safety Isaiah Lewis said. "We're on the same side, so I don't always see what he does. But when I do, I'm like, 'Wow, that dude's a ballplayer. He's going far.'"

"This guy is unreal," said right tackle Fou Fonoti, who has to block him in practice every day. "He's literally the best of the best. They don't get any bigger."

Linebackers don't come in Gholston's size, but Michigan State promised him he could try the position when he first got to campus as a freshman. The way head coach Mark Dantonio recalls it, Gholston -- who weighed 232 pounds at the time -- came up to him one day after a few practices and asked if it were all right to take a shot at defensive end during pass skeleton.

Dantonio could hardly suppress a smile. Gholston might be athletic enough to play anywhere, but he's most dangerous where he is now.

"William obviously can be very special," Dantonio said. "As scary as it sounds, he's getting better."

Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi talks about how the Spartans defense looks this spring.

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.

Time to take a break from Day 2 of my Hoosier State adventure and answer some of your emails:

Brian from Atlanta writes: Why are you two always so wrong about every issue surrounding a playoff? Every system has problems, and the four team plus is no worse than the others in that regard. A 4 team playoff has lots of problems (EX. If a 1 loss team beats an undefeated team in the semis -- why does that loss count more?), and it hurts the Rose Bowl. You playoff proponents put blind faith in the system to accurately pick the top 4 teams and seed them, but somehow think that same system would fail after the bowls. That makes no sense. Either the system works all the time or none of the time.

Brian Bennett: Well, Brian (great name by the way), I can give you a very simple answer as to why the proposed plan to include the Rose Bowl in a playoff is dumb: It's being called, as you mentioned, a "four-team plus." How ridiculously convoluted does that sound? And that's the very point: We've finally gotten to a place where the powers that be are very open to the excellent idea of a four-team playoff and now there's an option that would muck up the whole thing.

No playoff system is perfect; there are those who would argue that the NCAA basketball tournament doesn't always crown the best team because of its single-elimination format (though the bracket did a pretty darn good coronation job this year). But a four-team, seeded football playoff where the best teams qualify is as good as we're going to get. Let's not ruin it before it begins.

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Scott from East Lansing, Mich., writes: Brian, I think the talk about the Pac-12/Big Ten partnership making it harder for either of the conferences to reach the title game is unjustified. I think it would make it more likely that a team from one of those conferences would go. You need to run a stronger schedule to convince people to get into the championship game, and these match-ups would only make it more likely that the most dominant teams in both conferences could make it to the BCS title game. Am I right or are people seeming something I am not? Also, I am so stoked for the MSU/Oregon series!

Brian Bennett: What the Pac-12/Big Ten series does is potentially make it harder to go undefeated. And going undefeated is the surest way to get into a four-team playoff, because there's no way a team from either league that goes 13-0 would be left out. Adding another difficult game only increases the chances for a loss. Though it does add to a team's strength-of-schedule argument, that would really only come into play if a one-loss Big Ten or Pac-12 team was trying to lobby its way in against other one-loss or non-power-league teams.

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Brian from Newmarket, United Kingdom, writes: I was curious on your thoughts regarding Don Van Natta Jr's article on Penn State? Do you feel differently about JoePa's firing? Seems like Joe may not have been as guilty as everyone says and there was some other shady things going on.

Brian Bennett: Cheers, Brian (great names in the 'bag today!). The story was a fascinating look at all the political and behind-the-scenes power struggles going on in the context of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. But it doesn't really change my opinion of whether Joe Paterno needed to be let go. I've said all along that virtually no one in this entire saga -- not Paterno, not Penn State administrators and trustees, not the governor, not the original investigators -- comes off looking good in this whole mess. I still believe Paterno should have done more and that he could not have been allowed to coach another game under the circumstances, though the way his dismissal was hired by the trustees was also handled very poorly.

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Ben from Connecticut writes: OK, I give. Every article involving Jim Delany always -- always! -- refers to him as some flavor of "powerful." Just what makes him so powerful? Is it simply the title of Big Ten commish or something more? Chutzpah? Dirty pics of Mike Slive? I'd love to know how, if the rest of the world wanted to do something, he'd be able to stop it.

Brian Bennett: He has pictures of Slive eating Chick-fil-A on a Sunday. Actually, Chris, in some respects anyone who is the commissioner of the Big Ten (or the SEC) is going to wield enormous influence simply because of the league he represents. The Big Ten might not be winning national titles in football right now, but it still has a tremendous financial impact on the sport. That said, some milquetoast commissioner wouldn't have the same respect as Delany has. He's been extremely successful and is always going to be one of the brightest guys in any room. The rest of the power brokers need him and the Big Ten to make this playoff system happen.

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Grant from Detroit writes: Thanks for your interview piece with Pat Narduzzi. From your experience with the B1G D-Coordinators, is there a better one in the B1G? And I don't mean that I want you to point out DC's whose teams are successful. I am asking if there is another DC in the conference who has done more with such unheralded recruiting classes. I don't think it takes a great coach to maintain the play of great recruits. I think a great coach sees the talent where others don't and grows that talent into true greatness.

Brian Bennett: I've been impressed with his work since I covered Cincinnati over on the Big East blog, and many of the players that he coached played major roles in getting the Bearcats to BCS games under Brian Kelly. Narduzzi is very bright, a great motivator and one of the best in the business. You also can't discount the impact of Mark Dantonio, who's a defensive-minded coach (and a former brilliant defensive coordinator himself). I think it's the combination of those two guys and their working relationship that has made the Spartans' defense so good.

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Cam from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Love the blog and all, but in your Week 9 road trip post, you said that Michigan State-Wisconsin has become the most exciting new rivalry in the B1G. With all due respect, I wholeheartedly disagree. I would say Ohio State-Wisconsin has become a MUCH more intriguing rivalry in recent years. Ohio State's only loss of the regular season coming in Camp Randall in 2010, followed up by a last-minute upset of the Badgers in the Shoe in 2011, and some poisonous feelings that definitely are felt in other sports too (see: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin basketball final seconds; timeouts BETWEEN last second freethrows? Cold.). Now that both of these teams are possible "elites" again, what do you think about their budding rivalry and its effects on the B1G as a whole?

Brian Bennett: I love college hoops as much as anybody, but I don't think you can include that in this discussion. Michigan State-Wisconsin gets the nod for me because they played two thrilling, monumental games last year; because the Spartans ruined Wisconsin's shot at a perfect season in 2010; and because the two teams staged very close games in the previous three years. Other than last year's barnburner in Columbus, the Wisconsin-Ohio State series hasn't been nearly as close, as four of the previous five games were decided by double digits. So Spartans-Badgers is more exciting, though this year's Ohio State-Wisconsin game could easily ratchet things way up.

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A.J. from Madison, Wis., writes: If the Badgers had their 2012 schedule in 2011, would they have gone undefeated in the regular season? They would have gotten OSU and MSU, their two losses, at home but had to play Nebraska and Penn State on the road.

Brian Bennett: Really interesting question. Wisconsin absolutely pounded Nebraska and Penn State at home, so logically you could assume the Badgers would have won those games on the road, too. And Camp Randall would likely have provided enough of an advantage to change the outcomes against Michigan State and Ohio State. But here's why I say no: Wisconsin is simply so, so much better at home that the odds are the Badgers would have slipped up somewhere on the road, where they undid themselves with special-teams disasters and mental breakdowns in the two regular-season losses last season.

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Brian from Warrensburg, Mo., writes: Can you please explain why you guys think Michigan St will finish atop Nebraska this season? Unless their schedule is considerably easier, I feel like they lost too much star power last year to compete head to head with a Nebraska team that only lost a couple good players and beat them very soundly last year.

Brian Bennett: Another Brian! This must be some kind of a record. I put very little stock in last year's Nebraska-Michigan State game when trying to forecast this season. While the Huskers deserve all the credit for playing a great game, I firmly believe the Spartans were emotionally spent from playing and beating Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan in three successive weeks before going to Lincoln. And didn't Nebraska lose almost as much star power as Michigan State, with Alfonzo Dennard, Lavonte David and Jared Crick? I know that Michigan State's defense is going to be great; I don't know how good Nebraska's defense is going to be or if the Huskers' offense can become more consistent in league play.

With all that said, it's not even tax day yet, so these early predictions don't mean a whole lot. I will form better opinions after spring practice. Adam has seen Nebraska up close, and I will be checking out the Spartans soon. Can't wait to compare notes.

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Nate from Easley, SC, writes: I really like the idea of a spring scrimmage but, other than injuries, I have one major concern. The current system is slanted toward benefiting those with a good pre-season ranking, so, if voters took the results of a glorified scrimmage into account, wouldn't it further skew the pre-season rankings? (Granted, voters' pre-season ranking are already perception-based and not entirely accurate.) Said another way, do you think a scrimmage "Win" would take on more value than player development? Would two highly perceived teams want to to scrimmage if it hurt their stock going into the season?

Brian Bennett: That's an angle I hadn't considered. On one hand, maybe it's not so bad if voters took spring scrimmages into account, because preseason polls are mostly based now on what a team did last year and what it brings back, never having seen one spring or summer workout. If a voter actually paid attention to a spring scrimmage and how a team looked in an exhibition like that, that's probably at least as accurate as the way most voting is done now. I don't think preseason rankings are as big of a deal in a four-team playoff anyway, because the cream should rise to the top in most years.

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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 might be time to bust out a little heavier jacket for the latest stop on our ultimate Big Ten road trip.

We're now into Week 8, which arrives on the weekend of Oct. 20. Fall is in full gear, and so is conference play. Getting excited just thinking about it.

Once again, for this exercise we are picking what games we would cover each week during the 2012 season if we had incriminating photos of our editors and they had to do whatever we said. (Still working on that in real life).

Week 8 games

Penn State at Iowa
Nebraska at Northwestern
Michigan State at Michigan
Minnesota at Wisconsin
Purdue at Ohio State
Indiana at Navy

(Bye: Illinois)

Brian's pick: Michigan State at Michigan

OK, I know I've spent a lot of time in the Mitten State and/or covering the Wolverines on this road trip so far, but how are you going to resist this one? We had the infamous "60 minutes of unnecessary roughness" and William Gholston vs. Taylor Lewan in last year's game to spice up this rivalry. The Wolverines will do everything they can to avoid an embarrassing fifth straight loss to a program they like to feel superior toward. Denard Robinson doesn't want to end his career having never beaten the Spartans.

Plus, as of right now I have these two teams as the two best in the Big Ten in 2012. So this game could decide the Legends Division title and perhaps the Rose Bowl. Of course, Michigan State would play try just as hard to beat hated Michigan if both teams came in winless. This will pit a potentially great Spartans defense against a potentially potent Wolverines offense led by Robinson and Fitz Toussaint. Yeah, my road trip could use some diversity, but if the mitten fits ...

Adam's pick: Michigan State at Michigan

I'll meet you at Zingerman's before the game, Brian. While I've also seen both of these teams play multiple times, this is a can't-miss game and one of the easier choices on the road trip thus far. While Purdue-Ohio State, Penn State-Iowa and Nebraska-Northwestern could be interesting, the Michigan schools take center stage. We could be seeing two Top 10 teams, not to mention in-state rivals, going at it in the Big House. And the winner very well could have the inside track for the Legends division title and a trip to Indianapolis.

Let's forget the Big Ten race for a minute, though. These two teams hate one another, and Michigan State's four-game win streak in the series has heightened tensions between players and fans. Sure, Michigan got over the hump against Ohio State, but the Wolverines players have yet to beat the Spartans. Last year's contentious game in East Lansing only adds to the intrigue. From Gholston to Lewan to Robinson to Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, this game presents numerous figures to watch. It'll also be interesting to see how new MSU quarterback Andrew Maxwell performs in a hostile setting. From the macro (Big Ten race) to the micro (in-state animosity), this game has it all. Sign me up.

Previously on the road trip ...

Week 1: Adam at Boise State-Michigan State, Brian at Michigan-Alabama

Week 2: Brian at Penn State-Virginia, Adam at Nebraska-UCLA

Week 3: Adam at Notre Dame-Michigan State, Brian at Cal-Ohio State

Week 4: Brian at Michigan-Notre Dame, Adam at Michigan-Notre Dame

Week 5: Adam at Wisconsin-Nebraska, Brian at Ohio State-Michigan State

Week 6: Brian at Nebraska-Ohio State, Adam at Nebraska-Ohio State

Week 7: Brian at Iowa-Michigan State, Adam at Wisconsin-Purdue

We had another fun Big Ten chat today, which was interrupted by some big breaking news out of Wisconsin. Thanks again to all who participated, and for those who missed out, I've got you covered with a full transcript.

Some highlights:

Mike from Ann Arbor, Mich.: Is there any reason for concern with regard to the mobility and speed of Ohio State's offensive line for Urban Meyer's new spread offense considering most O-Linemen on the roster were probably recruited with the 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust approach?

Adam Rittenberg: Mike, this will be an interesting subplot of Ohio State's spring ball. Meyer has made some comments about the need to transform bodies during the offseason, especially with the offensive linemen. I think bigger lineman can still succeed in the spread system, especially if they're in good condition. But it wouldn't surprise me to see Meyer give young linemen opportunities to play if the older guys aren't able to keep pace.

Ryan from Cedar Rapids: Looking at the Hawkeyes schedule, 9 wins does not seem like to far of a stretch.. do you expect them to be that bad or haven't you taken a good look into the schedule yet?

Adam Rittenberg: Ryan, I agree the schedule is favorable and Iowa has a chance to get off to a good start. The Northern Illinois game would be a lot tougher for the Hawkeyes in 2011 than it should be this fall, although Dave Doeren will have NIU ready. The big swing games for Iowa look like Penn State, Northwestern, Minnesota and Purdue. If the Hawkeyes can go 3-1 or 4-0, they should be in real good shape.

Pat Narduzzi from East Lansing: I am NEVER leaving MSU. I have decided to stay a D-Coordinator for Mark from here until he retires and I can take over the HC position. But just for fun speculation, name three big-name schools that could be a good fit for me and may make (fruitless) offers come winter time.

Adam Rittenberg: Haha, good stuff, Pat. It's wishful thinking for MSU fans to think you'll be around much longer, but you never know. If Maryland decides to end the Randy Edsall experiment, you would be a good fit there. Boston College is another place where you'd be an excellent choice. Same with Syracuse. Several other potentially good fits recently filled vacancies: UConn, Pitt, Rutgers.

Derrin from Plano, Texas: Other than Bama-Michigan, what OOC games are you most interested in?

Adam Rittenberg: Derrin, really excited for Boise State-Michigan State on the Friday night of opening weekend. Also, the Michigan-Notre Dame and ND-Michigan State games both should be good. I'm also interested to see how Wisconsin (Oregon State), Illinois (Arizona State) and Nebraska (UCLA) fare on their trips to Pac-12 opponents.

Thanks again for the questions, and if you didn't get yours posted, you can try again next week.

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.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Matt from Columbus, Ohio, writes: In hiring Coombs, that now puts two previous head coaches and an "associate head coach" on the staff. I'm not sure what the latter exactly entails, but it seems like a good move. Generally, the only concern people cite with Meyer is the possibility of him burning himself out again. But, in hiring guys like Coombs, Withers, and Fickell, it seems Urban has guys that he won't think need to be micromanaged and that can pick up some slack here and there if he feels overwhelmed at certain points. Generally, I think this is very important, and being a bit overlooked. Your thoughts? Thanks!

Adam Rittenberg: Matt, that's a really good point. Meyer has surrounded himself with people to whom he can delegate, people who know what it's like to be a head coach and can be comfortable with a lot of responsibility. This is a very good staff with a mix of mostly experienced coaches and some younger guys like Zach Smith. Now will Meyer actually delegate and not burn himself out? It's tough to tell until the grind of the season begins. There's no doubt Meyer is refreshed, but the season and the pressure can take a lot out of you, especially if you're as competitive as he is. But you're absolutely right in saying the framework is there with this staff so he doesn't have to micromanage the team.

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Thomas from Chicago writes: First of all, I think both you and Brian do a great job covering the B1G and manage to stay pretty fair in your reporting. However, in regards to the grading of coordinator hires you and Brian both mention that Phil Parker has no previous coordinating experience. I'm sure you are both aware that he served as the co defensive coordinator in 2010 when the Godfather was out due to health reasons. So does that bump him up a half grade in both of your eyes? And a better question is why do I care so much?

Adam Rittenberg: Ha, love the self-awareness, Thomas. But you're right and we should have pointed that out. While it was a collective effort for Iowa's defensive staff during Norm's absence, Phil seemed to take a lead role. Still, it's a bit different when you're the permanent coordinator and the guy leading the defensive meetings. It's still hard to grade Phil Parker, because we don't really know what type of imprint he'll put on the defense. Will he just keep Norm's system? Will there be some actual tweaking? I know he has a different personality, but how he'll impact the unit remains to be seen.

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Lee from Dundee, Mich., writes: Adam, Need some big time help here. I'm a huge MSU fan, and regardless of the four wins in a row my friend (big time U of M fan) says that MSU's reign is over due to Michigan getting the better rated recruits. However, I look at so many of the better MSU players in the past few years that weren't rated high at all and I believe that MSU has some great coaches up there that mold them into great players. I just don't see MSU going away and this rivalry will remain competitive. Who's argument holds more water?

Adam Rittenberg: Lee, I think yours does. Will Michigan State keep beating Michigan every year? No. But the programs are both part of the Big Ten's upper crust entering the 2012 season. Michigan's staff is recruiting extremely well, and Michigan State also has done a good job on the trail, even if the most recent classes haven't been rated as high. As you note, Michigan State's staff develops talent well, as does Michigan's. Michigan State also has made a greater commitment to football with the Skandalaris Center, higher salaries for assistants like Pat Narduzzi, and other ventures. So I see this rivalry remaining competitive for the foreseeable future.

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Craig from Bordentown, N.J., writes: "As a reminder, these rankings are based on performance during the 2011 season and a player's IMPACT ON HIS TEAM,"I don't think you hate DRob, but let's focus for a minute on that highlighted portion above. You wanted to suggest that MORE than 16 players in the B1G had a BIGGER impact on their team? The "defense" bailed him out, as you replied. That's an entire half the team. As DRob went, so went all of Michigan's offense. Monte was good, but he couldn't single carry his offense, they were great because of the line and the QB and RB. Fitz was good, and critical to keeping Robinson in the season, but didn't shoulder the team. Cousins was impressive, and did shoulder a great deal of that offense -- I'd still question whether he was the barometer. This _individual_ had a greater impact on his team, for better or worse than anyone else in the league (and his #'s show for the better MOST of the time). less than 16th? Do you really need to wonder why fans are mad? You're a professional Rittenberg, and while we already know your judgment is questionable based on your stand for the SEC, do try to put a little reason into your responses.

Adam Rittenberg: Craig, if the rankings were solely based on impact, Robinson would be hired. But there's a second element to the sentence you quoted: performance during the 2011 season. This is where other players shined above Robinson, whose 2011 performance wasn't bad, but wasn't as strong as the other players on the list. We looked for players who were good to great every time they took the field. Montee Ball's overall 2011 performance? Much better than Robinson's. Kirk Cousins overall 2011 performance? Better than Robinson's. Why do you think they were All-Big Ten and he wasn't? It's easy to get lost in the dynamic plays, the brilliant runs, etc. We do, too! But we also can't overlook the mistakes made in some of the same games (Notre Dame, Northwestern). Robinson impacted games, both positively and negatively. You're absolutely right about that. But the total picture, his overall performance, puts him lower on the list.

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Blaise from Columbus, Ohio, writes: I have never been motivated to write to you before; I genuinely enjoy the blog and your (impartial) work, and I have never had a need to write an angry letter before. Well, that time has come, as I am angry. I am appalled at your recent story highlighting the lack of minority coaches in the B1G. Your piece was wholly meritless. Whatever happened to hiring the right guy to coach the kids (as I believe all B1G schools all have) and then moving on? Why should any B1G school feel as if they have to hire a ?second rate? person just to promote a mythical and destructive force called diversity? If any minority candidate was the best person for a job, I have absolutely no qualms in saying that they would be a head coach right now. By highlighting the lack of minority coaches, YOU are continuing to harm them by suggesting they are a class of people that need extra assistance to get hired. How insulting to minorities! By continuing to imply, as you have, that race is a factor in hiring, then you are continuing to perpetuate the myth that there are two types of people, minority and white. I reject that assumption. We should all be ?color blind?, hiring based on performance, integrity, and competence, not skin color and ancestry.

Adam Rittenberg: Blaise, my hope is that your last sentence proves true in all of college football. But I can't see how I'm harming minority coaches by pointing out facts that underscore the uphill climb they have faced to land these jobs. Do they need extra assistance to be hired? Absolutely not. You and many others completely missed the point of the story, which points out that there are enough African-American candidates to get these jobs based on their own merits and nothing else. The pool of these candidates is larger than ever. Events like the minority coaches forum and organizations like the BCA have helped increase this pool. And we're seeing the numbers increase everywhere -- big conferences, small conferences. It's noteworthy to point out the Big Ten hasn't seen any African-American coaches since Bobby Williams, and only one in the past 20+ years. Does that mean Big Ten programs are racist? No. But it's important that these programs give strong consideration to African-American candidates for every opening going forward -- as some Big Ten schools have -- because the message nationally is that there are enough qualified candidates to be getting more jobs.

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Rob from New York writes: Adam I understand that a big part of your job is to critique and criticize the B1G, but I know I'm not alone in thinking you take it too far. Maybe it's how ESPN divvies up the columns, but your columns consistently portray the B1G in a negative light in recruiting, bowl games and even in expansion (which is something the B1G arguably did best). Hell, you even had a tweet a few weeks ago about B1G *hoops* hurting 'national perception.' Who cares?! People go here to read about B1G teams, not other conferences and least of all the SEC. I have enough pro-SEC propaganda in my life, I don't need the one place for the Big Ten to be infected with it as well. And when it comes down to what these colleges are supposed to be doing, educating, the B1G is doing a pretty stellar job of it. So back off, for God's sake, or else leave the criticism columns to Bennett who at least acknowledges we're tired of hearing about every conference but our own.

Adam Rittenberg: Rob, I've repeatedly praised the Big Ten for its expansion with Nebraska, so you're pulling that comment out of you know where. In regard to bowl games, what do you want me to say? I've been one of the few national media members who consistently point out the inherent disadvantages Big Ten teams face in bowls. Would I revamp the Big Ten's bowl lineup? Absolutely. Wouldn't think twice about it. But the records are what they are, and it's hard to spin it any other way when the Big Ten consistently finishes under .500 in bowls. The Big Ten's academic reputation speaks for itself and has been praised on this blog repeatedly. If you are coming here to feel warm and fuzzy about your team and your conference, you're in the wrong place. There are other outlets that can give you what you want. If you want to read about the positive and negative elements of the league and its teams, this is the place for you.

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Rob from Morristown, N.J., writes: Adam, wanted to thank you for answering some of my prior questions, I believe you have a really good handle on the pulse of B1G Football. I do want to point out however that I believe you are making a very strong and bothersome comment in your Weekly "chat" when answering a question about Kirk Ferentz ("He's the most powerful person at that university by far, and he has the administration under his thumb despite some weaker seasons.") I am certain you weren't aware when you answered this way on the fly during chat, but as a Penn State alum, we have ALL learned that this kind of "power" can lead to disastrous consequences. I am not insinuating that there are scandals brewing at the University of Iowa, but simply stating that we should learn from what happened at Penn State to say that the head football coach should NOT have the kind of power that you were alluding to. My question however is, as much as I enjoy reading the B1G Football blog, it IS college basketball season, when is ESPN going to have full time conference bloggers like you? Or do they and I am not aware? Who wins a B1G Championship first, Penn State Men's Basketball or Indiana Football?

Adam Rittenberg: Rob, while I wasn't thinking about the Penn State situation when making the comment about Ferentz and Iowa, I still think he has a ton of power on that campus. Too much? I know some folks think so. You're right that the Penn State situation should be a lesson, and while Iowa has had some off-field issues, including the rhabdo outbreak last winter, it's not the same. As to your question, we don't cover college basketball the same way as college football, but we do have an excellent college basketball nation blog that contains a ton of Big Ten coverage from my buddy Eamonn Brennan and others. You should definitely check it out if you haven't already. I like what Pat Chambers is building in State College.