The MSU football team has an offense filled with uncertainties this upcoming season.
With the losses of key players, such as quarterback Jeff Smoker and three starting offensive linemen, the offense will have battles for many starting positions.
Amid the uncertainty of the swirling quarterback controversy, senior Damon Dowdell, sophomore Drew Stanton and redshirt freshman Stephen Reaves all seem confident about their upcoming role for the Spartans this year.
"(The quarterback uncertainty) isn't much of a strain," Dowdell said. "I think it is better because now it is a quarterback race, and I have a chance."
In addition to the three-man quarterback race, the running back position will be filled by a three-man committee, Offensive Coordinator Dave Baldwin said. Junior Jason Teague, redshirt freshman Jehuu Caulcrick and senior DeAndra Cobb will all be competing for the running back position.
"The running back position is a three horse race too," Baldwin said.
"We have to find a running back that will be able to pick up the blitzes and run the ball consistently and hang on to the ball."
Another important changing of the guard this year will be on the offensive line. The Spartans lost three starters from the line since last year, which included left guard Joe Tate, right guard Paul Harker and right tackle Steve Stewart.
Junior center Chris Morris will anchor this year's offensive line and said the line just needs to gel as a unit.
"We are starting to get to know each other. All throughout the summer we have been working together doing extra drills," Morris said. "I think we will be more physical. We have a lot of energy coming off the ball. We have a lot of guys that are excited to play and want to get out there."
Morris also stressed the importance of solid offensive line play, no matter what kind of offense is being executed.
"The O-line is always going to be an important unit. We set the tempo out there. We are the ones that make plays happen. We have to give time and make holes," Morris said.
There will be another battle for position on the offensive side of the ball this fall. The tight end position has four letterman returning including seniors Eric Knott and Jason Randall.
Randall said he isn't concerned with the uncertainty of the quarterback situation and will just concentrate on doing the little things correctly.
"(The quarterbacks) have been throwing to us all summer and last year, so we pretty much know each quarterback," Randall said. "We always focus on blocking. If you don't block, you don't play."
Probably the most experienced part of this year's offense will be the receiving core, which is headed up by junior Aaron Alexander, captain Kyle Brown and Agim Shabaj.
"Having vets back there, we all know what we are doing now, and in practice, we click more," Shabaj said. "We click better with the quarterbacks. I think that is a big part of this offense."
