For most players on the MSU football team, a new coaching regime brought new schemes and faces to learn. For SirDarean Adams, it also brought about a position change.
Adams, a senior, is switching from bandit, the linebacker-safety hybrid position he played under former MSU head coach John L. Smith, and will now play linebacker under head coach Mark Dantonio.
He said the transition hasn't been difficult in the least.
"It's easy," Adams said. "I have a good coach — great coach. You know me — I feel like I can do anything. I'm up to the challenge."
The positions differ greatly in responsibilities. Where once he focused almost solely on defending the pass, Adams must now be prepared to attack the run as well.
"I never read the running back," Adams said. "Now I have a balanced stance, and I read the running back."
Adams said he's bulked up for the new role. After playing at about 225 pounds in 2006, he's up to 240.
But he swears it isn't slowing him down.
"I can't bulk up no more," Adams said. "I don't want to lose my speed."
Where's the proof?
"Ask Javon (Ringer) and T.J. (Williams)," Adams said, hinting that he had caught the two speedy offensive weapons from behind during practice.
"One day, we're gonna have this total all-out race. Me, A.J. (Jimmerson), Javon, coach Dantonio, (strength coach Ken) Mannie — because they think they're fast, too — and coach (Harlon) Barnett. Him and coach (Dan) Enos still think they've got it, and they're like 60. We're just gonna line up and get it.
"I'm pretty confident."
Adams registered 46 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and two interceptions during the Spartans' 2006 season.
Who's going green?
MSU's defensive players currently wear green jerseys in practice, while the offense wears white jerseys. But it wasn't an arbitrary choice by Dantonio. The defense earned the right to sport MSU's primary color, by winning the first intrasquad scrimmage of the season March 31, 71-70. The defense isn't ready to surrender those jerseys, either.
"We won the first scrimmage, and now we're gonna try to keep it," Adams said.
Senior defensive end Ervin Baldwin said the concept of earning the right to wear green was one of Dantonio's new methods that have been brought to the program.
"This is my first time ever fighting for a jersey," Baldwin said.
The defense's task won't be an easy one.
"They're explosive. (Junior quarterback Brian) Hoyer is throwing the ball a million yards a day," Adams said. "If you don't do your job, they're gonna get you."
One of the biggest challenges for the defense is Hoyer's peripheral vision.
"Hoyer looks one way — like no joke — he'll look this way, and throw that way," Adams said. "It goes right to the wide receiver! I'm just happy he's on my team."
Spring practice concludes with the Green-White intrasquad game at 1:30 p.m. April 21.
