The Spartans have had two competitive years under head coach John L. Smith. He has restored some fire and direction to the program, but as he enters his third year at Michigan State his team wants to take a major step up the ladder.

In order to do that, one of the elements needed will be a quick start. The Spartans had just the opposite last year when they dropped a 19-14 decision in the opener at Rutgers.

While the Spartans had some decent moments the rest of the year -- victories over Minnesota and Wisconsin along with extending Michigan to triple overtime -- Michigan State never recovered from that season-opening defeat.

They get another chance this year when they open the season again MAC middle-of-the-packer Kent State. A slip-up in this game will likely doom their 2005 season just like it did last year when Michigan State finished with a 5-6 record.

Smith will depend on athletic QB Drew Stanton to lead the team and he should be able to dominate against the slowish Golden Flashes. Stanton has great athletic ability and can make plays with his feet as well as his arm. He should find plenty of lanes when he drops back to pass and should be able to make big yards on the ground.

The Spartans coaches want him to go through his progressions and make accurate throws, but old habits die hard.

Jason Teague and Jehuu Caulcrick will be able to give the Spartans a very solid running game. Teague has decent speed but is a very effective inside runner with the skills to avoid tackles. Caulcrick is a punishing bruiser who can pick up short-yardage first downs when the game is on the line in the fourth quarter.

Smith is very optimistic about his team on both sides of the ball and his team could be 4-0 when it takes on Michigan Oct. 1. From that point forward, Smith will learn if his confidence is justified.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The Spartans have the makings of a very solid offense with Drew Stanton calling signals, a solid crew of wide receivers led by Matt Trannon and Jerramy Scott, a powerful offensive line and the RB duo of Jason Teague and Jehuu Caulcrick. Head coach John L. Smith is expecting consistency and discipline from a group that has not always had these qualities.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The Spartans have been a punishing group on defense since Smith arrived in 2003. They have a chance to be much better up front this year, as Smith has brought in several junior college players who figure to have an impact. The best of the junior college lineman is Bobby Jones, who can play end or tackle. The defense will try to make life miserable for Kent State QB Michael Machen, who takes over for Joshua Cribbs.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's the comfort in the package: 'This is my read, it's covered. Here's my No. 2 and I go to it.'

"Last year it was, 'Here's my read, I'm gone.' And that wasn't bad, but we want to take that out of him and let the running backs do that now." -- Spartan offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin on the attitude that he wants Stanton to have this season on passing plays.

THIS WEEK'S GAME: vs. Kent State, Sept. 3 -- The Spartans need to come out with fire. They didn't do that last year and they lost their opener to the lowly Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Dropping their opener at home to the Golden Flashes would be even more embarrassing. John L. Smith should have the Spartans ready to play and look for a big first half.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Drew Stanton -- Perhaps no Big Ten player is as important to his team as Stanton is to Michigan State. He has a strong arm with a quick release and is coming off a season in which he completed 64.1 percent of his passes. He is also a devastating runner who averaged 7.2 yards per carry last year.

OLB Eric Smith -- He is the team's leading returning tackler after registering 115 stops a year ago. Smith has great range and is the Spartans' most physical defender. Look for him to become the unit's leader.

OLT Stefon Wheeler -- He begins his third season as a starter. Wheeler is a talented blocker who has the strength to run block and the finely honed skills to pass block.

FB Jehuu Caulcrick -- An old-line Big Ten power back. Caulcrick checks in at 6-0 and 243 pounds and is the right man to get the ball on third-and-short or fourth-and-short situations.

WR Matt Trannon -- He is a security blanket for Stanton. At 6-6 and 225 pounds, Trannon can go up and get the ball and is especially adept at converting third-down plays into first downs. He caught 39 passes for 444 yards and 3 TDs a year ago.

ROSTER REPORT: Third-team RB Tony Howard has left the team. The freshman was expected to sit behind Jason Teague and Jehuu Caulcrick on the depth chart, but fell to fifth-string as the summer progressed. Howard was arrested for DWI earlier this summer and his license has been suspended for six months. ... WR Aaron Alexander broke his foot in mid-August and will be out until at least mid-October. ... Defensive back Irving Campbell (leg) is doubtful for Saturday's game against Kent State.