Helpful Talking Points For People Who Think MSU is a .500 Team
by Graham Filler on Sep 20, 2011 3:24 PM CDT
in Michigan State
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PrintYeah, it wasn’t pretty against Notre Dame Saturday. If you worried about something in the offseason Spartan-football related, chances are those worries were legitimized against the Irish. The Spartans went from hands down the second best team in the Legends division…to just another member of the B1G's squishy middle of teams we know little about.
Because I'm an equal opportunity kind of guy, it's time to spell out Sparty's deficiencies. How much time do you have?
The Offense
Hey, remember all those genius plays that came at the perfect time the last few years? Remember the Texas Tech bowl game where the Spartan coaching staff, short 14 players, threw the kitchen sink of clever offensive plays at the Red Raiders and almost pulled off the huge upset? The architect of much of that, Don Treadwell, is gone to Oxford. So is the panache of those playcalls.
Kirk Cousins. Big arm, big heart, babies smile instinctively when he walks by, etc. Also immobile, forces the ball into coverage late in games.
And it ain't all Cousins either - the coaches kept calling deep vertical routes into Cover Two schemes. Didn't work in the first half. Didn't work in the second half. Maybe a short crossing route to your deep stable of playmakers? No? Okay, nevermind.
One of the most egregious blocking displays of all time was put on by that Spartan offensive lineman allowing two Irish defenders past him with nary an effort at blocking them. It looked like a bouncer letting hot girls into a club behind him while he makes sure no dudes get by his velvet rope. "Oh, you ladies go right ahead..." And don't think that's the last time you see Sparty's linemen give VIP treatment to opposing defenders, this was a preseason weakness that apparently was not dealt with.
But at least the O-Line can run block, because if a Dantonio coached team can't run block, then trouble awai...Wait what? The line can't move a blocking dummy? Bad signs, bad times.
The Defense
Remember that one time Michigan State's front four got pressure on a quarterback? Me neither. ANOTHER glaring preseason weakness that hasn't been remedied.
The Schedule
OSU, Michigan, Wisky, Nebraska. In a row. Looked like probable 2-2 or 3-1 before the season started. Looks like 1-3 now. A solid 1-3. Fortunately for Sparty, OSU is horrendous. Unfortunately the game is in Columbus and Sparty doesn't ever play well versus the Bucks.
Last three difficult road games, counting the bowl matchup? I don't really have to tell you how those went. And OSU and Nebraska are notoriously difficult places to play...
Little Brothers
UM Defensive Line v. MSU Defense Line? Edge: Push
UM Offense Line v. MSU Offense Line? Edge: Michigan
Cousins v. Denard? Edge: Meh, different strokes for different folks.
Easier schedule? Edge: Michigan
Beat Notre Dame? Edge: Michigan
Looks like Michigan went from a huge underdog to MSU...to almost an equal. Definitely did not see that coming.
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Well then...
Seems SOMEBODY has a case of the Tuesdays…
/cry
//injures more offensive linemen
/tears ACL?
THATS NOT FUNNY MAN
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by Graham Filler on Sep 20, 2011 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions
I can't explain
how big of a smile I had reading this. But a small part of me…deep down…can’t escape the fact that UM played ND strong for one quarter. EMU for two quarters…arguably. We’ve moved the ball well at times, but UM has proved to be quite streaky….NO, I don’t mean pull their pants down to their ankles and do a collective 100 yard dash.
I REALLY need to see the team get off to a good start, not take 1.5 quarters to make all the necessary adjustments, and get the opposing offense to a three and out on their first possession. If a few of those items are accomplished during the SDSU game, I’ll begin to believe this post more and more.
Let's do an OSU comparison
OSU Defensive Line v. MSU Defense Line? Edge: Push
OSU Offense Line v. MSU Offense Line? Edge: OSU
Cousins v. whatever bag of ass OSU throws out there at QB? Edge Cousins, all day every day
Easier schedule? Edge: MSU
Beat Michigan? Edge: We’ll see
I think MSU is better than OSU at this point. I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not, though…
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The advantage
of the ND comparison (for the UM/MSU side by side) is that the games have already happened. Unfortunately for MSU, they will have to wait until November to know if we’ve kicked your asses or if we’ll be playing the “wait until next year” record again.
*ahem*
FAKE ASS WOLVERINE SPARTAN
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by Hilary Lee on Sep 20, 2011 4:04 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I figured an article like this would pop up
After the Nebraska game/4 game losing streak but hey, you’re ahead of the curve!
If it wasn't for the fact that the B1G has already lost to the MAC this year...
It could have been a 6 game streak. I jest. Mostly.
Sparty is in trouble. It’s 2010 Iowa, just in green.
"Bama Hawkeye, you know, the Iowa blogger who actually uses reason and analysis." - Patrick Vint
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by Bama Hawkeye on Sep 20, 2011 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions
The
The line hasnt changed, however, on the MSU/UM game
MSU was -4.5 back in August, and you can still get that number at various onlines today. I wouldnt call MSU an underdog in that game just yet…….
www.justcoverblog.com
,500 team? I don't know about that
I think this MSU team looks like the one I expected to see last year. A decent, solid team, but one that doesn’t look like it can be any better than 4th or 5th in the conference.
Last year they played out of their minds…….this year, not so much. But I’ll hold off on saying Michigan is better until they actually start playing conference games. I think last year’s “OH MY GOD, DENARD IS GOING TO RUN AWAY WITH THE HEISMAN” talk after the non-con portion of their schedule has taught us that much.
Angelo: Right….so anyways Jay, I’m sure you understand that we needed to make this move and I wanna wish you the best of luck.
Cutler: (Swoops bangs out of eyes by throwing his head back) Whatever, I don’t need this team or you.
/Leaves in a huff
//Writes bad poetry on his blog
Grossman: What the fuck is Wilford Brimley’s problem?
Yeah, remember Indiana?
And then remember when he actually faced a real defense (MSU)? I’d hold off on that until UM plays someone legit. No, San Diego State at home (their fourth of FIVE in a row…. which is ridiculous, really) does not count. Neither will Minnesota.
"I believe in a good kick in the ass. This— I believe. " -- Walker Percy
I tweet about stuff sometimes @jackhitts.
I agree
that SDSU does not count, but it will be an isolated test for one aspect of the defense that needs a good progress check…the front 7. If Hillman is as good as they say, and all the film I’ve seen says that he is, he will be a good test for the Michigan run defense. We all know how sad the secondary is, and hopefully they’re working on that week by week, but the SDSU game should be a good barometer.
MOAR fakes plz
MOAR fakes plz Mark D…
…I was literally in tears after they faked it. So damn obvious, so damn funny.
by Good Ol' Oakley on Sep 20, 2011 7:22 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Every single person in the stadium was saying "It's a fake!" the second the FG unit ran on the field.
One of the most bone-headed playcalls I’ve ever witnessed.
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
As well as the announcers calling it in the booth during the timeout
And the sideline reporter stating that every ND coach was warning the kids about a possible fake. Just a boneheaded move
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
And so damn worthy of Yakkity Sax...
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by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 20, 2011 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Your matchups are irrelevant
When do the 2 defensive lines play against each other?
MSU O-Line vs. UM D line: edge – I dunno
MSU O Skill vs. UM D skill: edge – MSU
MSU D-Line vs. UM O-Line: edge – MSU
MSU D Skill vs. UM D Skill: Denard’s armpunts vs. MSU secondary: edge MSU
I’m not sure if anybody looked at the games stats from MSU/ND, but the Spartans held ND to about half the total yardage that UM did, including 4.75 yards per play, which is below the NCAA average of 5.33.
Our defense is good. Unfortunately, the offense is not up to par, especially in road game.
Played 1 lucky ass quarter vs ND: edge – UM
Wolverines coming into Spartan Stadium for a night game? CAN’T FUCKING WAIT!!!
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
by Spartan D on Sep 20, 2011 7:22 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Also, we're looking at 1-3 in those road games at best.
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
Hmm
MSU O-Line vs. UM D-Line: Michigan; State’s O-Line is just pitiful
MSU O-Skill vs. UM D-Skill: State pretty easily
MSU D-Line vs. UM O-Line: UM
MSU D-Skill vs. UM O-Skill: eh, don’t know enough other than Johnny Adams and Bullough are solid. Leaning towards MSU, although Denard is still able to run the ball.
Michigan: 35
Notre Dame: 31
Notre Dame : 31
Michigan State: 13
If we’re cherry-picking random stats, ND gave up approx. 15 eqpts on turnovers against MSU, and about 24 against Michigan. That is:
UM-35 ND-31(24) = ND-55 UM-35, difference of 20
ND-31(15) MSU-13 = ND-46 MSU-13, difference of 33
Connelly hasn’t put up the eqpts given up by MSU or UM in those games, but I’m guessing they’re similar. There are two sides to the “Notre Dame gave Michigan the game.” Even if they did, Michigan did about 2 TDs better than MSU did. And we beat Notre Dame. Michigan State fans are cleverly forgetting about that little detail. Oh, and the Big Ten already announced its slate of night games. Michigan — MSU is not on it right now, and they won’t be, considering their game the next weekend will be a home game at night.
I'm not familiar with eqpts - please to explain?
We got 3 turnovers off of ND, and cashed them in for a total of 0 points. Ouch.
Both our corners (Adams and Dennard) played a lot of man coverage against Michael Floyd during the game, and held up really well (6 catches for 84 yards, for a guy who was averaging 12/155).
In any case, I can’t effing wait to kick Wolverine ass…….again…..and again and again and again.
“Coach Dantonio, what does it feel like to beat Michigan?”
“It feels……complete.”
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
Here they are, but they’re defined as:
Equivalent Points (EqPts): Method used by our college football analyst Bill Connelly, giving each yard line a point value based on the average number of points a team can expect to score from that spot on the field. (This is similar to the method we use to measure NFL special teams.) From there, each gain or loss is given a point value based on the change in EqPts.
So basically every yard line has an equivalent point worth, if you’re at so-and-so yard line an average team will get so-and-so many points (so if you’re at the opponents 5 yard line you have way more eqpts there than at your own five yard line). Notre Dame’s turnovers gave up that many points in those two games.
?
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by Graham Filler on Sep 21, 2011 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions
WELLLLLLL
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by Graham Filler on Sep 21, 2011 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions
god i love ted knight
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by Graham Filler on Sep 21, 2011 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Jerry Kill had 20 seizures between the NMSU loss and the Miamioh game
And still managed to chase the refs up and down the field. If our players can show half of that grit, all of your teams are fucked.
When we get the Pig, the Jug and the Axe, we'll have one hell of a picnic
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