Finally had a chance to talk with the two candidates for Michigan State's backup quarterback job today, Connor Dixon and Nick Foles, and it really is too soon to say who'll hold the position this year. It's always been expected that Dixon's eventual position would be somewhere other than quarterback. He said both this staff and the previous one have discussed that possibility with him, but for now he still hopes to make it under center. His passing acumen has improved since last year — he's making better reads and has shown more arm strength this fall - and part of that may be due to better health. Dixon said he missed more than a month of practice last year with mononucleosis last year and suffered from a stomach ulcer after the season.

As for Foles, he was quite engaging in his first media appearance as a Spartan. The big Texan said he's completely healthy after offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right (throwing) shoulder by the renown Dr. James Andrews. Last year, Foles estimates he played 12 games with the injury. He could barely throw at times because of the pain, threw sidearm at others to compensate, and said anytime he threw more than 50 yards his shoulder would "explode".

"It was pretty much falling off," he said.

While Dixon adds a rushing element to the position, the smart money is on Foles as Brian Hoyer's successor. Even if he redshirts this year (along with fellow freshman Kirk Cousins), it's likely he takes over in 2009 after Hoyer, who's had some interception issues this spring, is off to the NFL.

One other note from practice today. Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi was asked what his biggest concern was a week and a half before the opener against UAB.

"Don't have any," Narduzzi said. "I could sit here and worry about everything but I'll give you a concern after the UAB game. Right now I feel pretty good. We're right where we need to be."