--Three key players left the team during the offseason -- safety Tanner Burns, the leading tackler last year; wide receiver Marquis Avery, the second-leading receiver last year; and Tyler Cope, the starting kicker last year.

--At least five players are expected to play both ways. Coach Mike MacIntyre asked most of the players to try offense and defense during spring ball so he could re-evaluate the roster.

--The Spartans are still working their way out of the hole created by past APR problems. They have 78 players on scholarship this fall and hope to hit the NCAA maximum of 85 next year.

--The Spartans will play 13 regular-season games for the first time in eight years.

SPOTLIGHT ON SEPTEMBER
The Spartans have done a nice job meeting their financial challenges, but this year's team will pay for that fiscal responsibility. The Spartans' first two games are on the road -- and they're doozies -- against Alabama and Wisconsin. After the home opener against Southern Utah, the Spartans play Sept. 25 at Utah. The key for the Spartans will be getting through the month without significant personnel losses.

That's important because WAC powers Nevada, Boise State and Fresno State are on the docket in October.

KEYS TO SUCCESS
The Spartans must fix their long-standing problems in the trenches. If you can't run the ball or stop the run, you can't win. They were outrushed 259.2-76.7 on a per-game basis last year. The touchdown count was 35-8 in favor of their opponents. Better conditioning will help. But the Spartans have lacked the talent and depth in the lines to solve the problem.

AREAS OF CONCERN
The Spartans return their starting quarterback in Jordan La Secla, but it's not clear if he will even win the job this year. Whoever is under center will be missing the top two receivers from last year -- a bad omen for a team with no run game. Defensively, the front seven has produced some terrific individual talent in recent years despite the troubles as a team. Those stars are all gone now, leaving a talent void.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Discipline and conditioning -- I believe those are the cornerstones of any football program. If you don't have those two things, then you're just running plays." -- San Jose State coach Mike MacIntyre.

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