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Michigan State Spartans (official thread)

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So I think everyone should clearly understand how to beat the MSU defense. NW has been executing the short passing game for years against MSU. It is absolutely what they will give you and count on you not being able to complete 20 passes in a row (which happened yesterday). I am actually not pissed about that game only because that is how they can be beat. I think the only way this defense stops that type of attack is with better athletes which is not what MSU has. A little more length and speed at the outside LB positions and safety/corner positions and have the DE look to bat balls down. But in general this is the type of offense and execution that MSU defense can be beaten with consistently.

Thankfully few teams use this game plan and execute it so well.

On to tOSU week. While I don't see a path to victory I am not overly concerned. MSU coaching staff prepares for tOSU year around and will have a game plan ready next weekend that will likely keep MSU in the game. The only thing that might help MSU is that OSU has not had much competition yet this season. Now that could be because they are so good or it could be because the teams they have played have not been extremely good. But more likely a combination of both. OSU is very good and the teams they have played can not match OSU physically which works.

Playing the old night game is interesting. I typically hate going on the road for a night game but MSU has beaten OSU at noght a couple of times. So it is always possible the Buckeyes are looking past MSU and wake up a few minutes too late LOL.

Good luck this week.
 
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Greyshirt said:
So I think everyone should clearly understand how to beat the MSU defense. NW has been executing the short passing game for years against MSU. It is absolutely what they will give you and count on you not being able to complete 20 passes in a row (which happened yesterday). I am actually not pissed about that game only because that is how they can be beat. I think the only way this defense stops that type of attack is with better athletes which is not what MSU has. A little more length and speed at the outside LB positions and safety/corner positions and have the DE look to bat balls down. But in general this is the type of offense and execution that MSU defense can be beaten with consistently.

Thankfully few teams use this game plan and execute it so well.

On to tOSU week. While I don't see a path to victory I am not overly concerned. MSU coaching staff prepares for tOSU year around and will have a game plan ready next weekend that will likely keep MSU in the game. The only thing that might help MSU is that OSU has not had much competition yet this season. Now that could be because they are so good or it could be because the teams they have played have not been extremely good. But more likely a combination of both. OSU is very good and the teams they have played can not match OSU physically which works.

Playing the old night game is interesting. I typically hate going on the road for a night game but MSU has beaten OSU at noght a couple of times. So it is always possible the Buckeyes are looking past MSU and wake up a few minutes too late LOL.

Good luck this week.
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From what I have seen, the Sparty D will give the short passing game, sit in a lot of well disguised zones to take away the intermediate stuff and the run and is susceptible to the deep ball if the QB can be protected.

Would you agree?

I am with you on the atmosphere/night game being a non factor. Dantonio game plans for this one all season and his team will not be intimidated.

From a match-up/style perspective I think MSU has, once again, the ability to be a significant problem for OSU even though they don't have the same caliber of athlete.
 
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Greyshirt said:
[...]The only thing that might help MSU is that OSU has not had much competition yet this season.[...]
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Not sure why people keep saying this. Cincinnati is probably the second best team in the AAC. Fredo (Miami, Oh) was picked to finish second in their division in the MAC and played Iowa almost dead even for the first half at Iowa. Indiana almost (and maybe should have) beat Sparty on Sparty's home field yesterday. Nebraska isn't nearly as bad as the Buckeye made them look last night. Everyone acts like the Buckeyes have played a cupcake schedule, but they haven't.
 
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MililaniBuckeye said:
Not sure why people keep saying this. Cincinnati is probably the second best team in the AAC. Fredo (Miami, Oh) was picked to finish second in their division in the MAC and played Iowa almost dead even for the first half at Iowa. Indiana almost (and maybe should have) beat Sparty on Sparty's home field yesterday. Nebraska isn't nearly as bad as the Buckeye made them look last night. Everyone acts like the Buckeyes have played a cupcake schedule, but they haven't.
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You are your record.
Cinci is an upward looking Mid Major that beat UCLA. They're borderline Top25. They get a shot this week against another upwardly mobile Mid Major in the Top25.
Miami lost 38-14 to Iowa... they're typical Mid Major. Nothing to see here.
Indiana is who we thought they were.
Corn lost to CU and barely got over Illinois.

So far... Cinci is the only team that might sniff Top25 in November, December, January. They're well coached, but quality of athlete is just... not a great indicator.
MSU could be the first solidified Top25 team, their loss is to an ASU that's been up and down. A half step up from Cinci imo.
Nerds are having a rough time, but good post-Sparty and pre-Wiscy tuneup.
I think Wiscy will be the first Top10 kind of "test". They should be able to create some issues for us... also very likely we could see a 2nd round in Indy.

And then of course the B1G scheduling office gave us bye, Maryland, NJ bye, PSU, and Michigan to end the year.
 
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kujirakira said:
Miami lost 38-14 to Iowa...
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In a game that was 10-7 at the half.
kujirakira said:
Indiana is who we thought they were.
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This generic statement means what? That we thought we should easily handle them because of our 24-game (now 25-game) winning streak against them?

While they are not a really solid team they aren't a cupcake either (see yesterday's game at Sparty). At 3-2, they need just three more wins in seven games to make a bowl. They'll beat Rutgers next week and likely Maryland the next which would put them at 5-2, meaning they'll need just one win in their last five games:

@Nebraska
Northwestern
@Pedsters
scUM
@Purdue

The only game of these five that is not realistically winnable is at Slappy Valley.
 
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MililaniBuckeye said:
In a game that was 10-7 at the half.

This generic statement means what? That we thought we should easily handle them because of our 24-game (now 25-game) winning streak against them?

While they are not a really solid team they aren't a cupcake either (see yesterday's game at Sparty). At 3-2, they need just three more wins in seven games to make a bowl. They'll beat Rutgers next week and likely Maryland the next which would put them at 5-2, meaning they'll need just one win in their last five games:

@Nebraska
Northwestern
@Pedsters
scUM
@Purdue

The only game of these five that is not realistically winnable is at Slappy Valley.
Click to expand...

You're debating with yourself whether Indiana becomes bowl eligible and how much of a 'test' that means they are ?

I mean... they are who we thought they were.

I dont consider anyone outside Top25 as a 'test'. That puts Cincy and MSU on the bubble, and eliminates everyone else.

The team has handled business so far... which is less common in past seasons than id like to presume.
 
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Well as feared tOSU was not looking past the Spartans.
A few thoughts. OSU should be sending the Georgia coaching staff a dozen roses and a rack of ribs for pissing Fields off and letting him leave. No way is Fromm the player that Fields is. Multiple times MSU had him in their grasps only to watch him break free using either smarts, speed, patience, or power. Not too mention he had a decent day throwing. It is obvious his weakness is throwing the ball but by weakness I mean the weakest part of his game. He has a great arm and good accuracy and very smart.

I was impressed and I do not see any team in the B10 giving them a game this season.

MSU is just lacking talent across the board or better said does not have the athletes that OSU has right now. And I do not see that changing any time soon. At some point coaching can only take you so far. Then the athlete has to take over.

I think if MSU plays a perfect game that is still a lose. I can see how MSU could have lost by 10 points but not much closer than that. The defensive and offensive lines were over-matched. MSU first string could hang but no depth or lack of quality depth did them in. As the game worn on MSU got worn out. This is on the MSU coaches for not recruiting well the last 4 years and allowing the depth to basically disappear.

I like MSU chances in every game moving forward. If they can stay healthy they have a chance against Wisky.

Good luck to the Bucks the rest of the season. I expect them to run the table and get into the playoffs this season. Anything short of the playoffs would be a disappointment for this team.
 
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Greyshirt said:
Well as feared tOSU was not looking past the Spartans.
A few thoughts. OSU should be sending the Georgia coaching staff a dozen roses and a rack of ribs for pissing Fields off and letting him leave. No way is Fromm the player that Fields is. Multiple times MSU had him in their grasps only to watch him break free using either smarts, speed, patience, or power. Not too mention he had a decent day throwing. It is obvious his weakness is throwing the ball but by weakness I mean the weakest part of his game. He has a great arm and good accuracy and very smart.

I was impressed and I do not see any team in the B10 giving them a game this season.

MSU is just lacking talent across the board or better said does not have the athletes that OSU has right now. And I do not see that changing any time soon. At some point coaching can only take you so far. Then the athlete has to take over.

I think if MSU plays a perfect game that is still a lose. I can see how MSU could have lost by 10 points but not much closer than that. The defensive and offensive lines were over-matched. MSU first string could hang but no depth or lack of quality depth did them in. As the game worn on MSU got worn out. This is on the MSU coaches for not recruiting well the last 4 years and allowing the depth to basically disappear.

I like MSU chances in every game moving forward. If they can stay healthy they have a chance against Wisky.

Good luck to the Bucks the rest of the season. I expect them to run the table and get into the playoffs this season. Anything short of the playoffs would be a disappointment for this team.
Click to expand...
Please beat scUM. Thx.
 
Upvote 0
Greyshirt said:
Well as feared tOSU was not looking past the Spartans.
A few thoughts. OSU should be sending the Georgia coaching staff a dozen roses and a rack of ribs for pissing Fields off and letting him leave. No way is Fromm the player that Fields is. Multiple times MSU had him in their grasps only to watch him break free using either smarts, speed, patience, or power. Not too mention he had a decent day throwing. It is obvious his weakness is throwing the ball but by weakness I mean the weakest part of his game. He has a great arm and good accuracy and very smart.

I was impressed and I do not see any team in the B10 giving them a game this season.

MSU is just lacking talent across the board or better said does not have the athletes that OSU has right now. And I do not see that changing any time soon. At some point coaching can only take you so far. Then the athlete has to take over.

I think if MSU plays a perfect game that is still a lose. I can see how MSU could have lost by 10 points but not much closer than that. The defensive and offensive lines were over-matched. MSU first string could hang but no depth or lack of quality depth did them in. As the game worn on MSU got worn out. This is on the MSU coaches for not recruiting well the last 4 years and allowing the depth to basically disappear.

I like MSU chances in every game moving forward. If they can stay healthy they have a chance against Wisky.

Good luck to the Bucks the rest of the season. I expect them to run the table and get into the playoffs this season. Anything short of the playoffs would be a disappointment for this team.
Click to expand...

Give 'em hell in EL!

And some stick'em for that one receiver's gloves.

And some tape for his mouth.

Good luck with the rest of your season!
 
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