Dantonio explains decision to make quarterbacks live for spring

Mark Dantonio wants to see three things in his starting quarterback before fall starts, and those three traits are command of the offense, being able to avoid mistakes, and the ability to improvise and make plays.

Having the ability to make plays is one of the most important criteria that the staff is looking for in their signal caller during spring. For that reason, Dantonio and his staff have decided to make quarterbacks live during scrimmage situations.

"We're evaluating our quarterbacks, they will be live this year in scrimmage situations, and we're going to give people an opportunity to create, and I think that's very important and critical for this football team that our quarterbacks be able to create at a high level.'' Dantonio said Monday afternoon, noting that each quarterback will be have the opportunity to take snaps with the first group offense.

"As far as who's working with the No.1s, we're going to change up some of that as we go. I think everybody should have that opportunity to work behind a great offensive line or work against...particularly they need to all work against the No.1 defense to see how to evaluate apples versus apples basically.''

Being able to create plays is one thing, but being able to create plays against a defense that has ranked among the top 6 nationally in total defense the past two seasons would be incredibly impressive. If you can find that kind of ability in a quarterback during the spring in an open competition, you've got to feel really good heading into fall camp as a staff.