Reduce Reuse Recycle Recap

Finally a win.  A win that MSU closed out.  That was nice to see.  I thought the MSU offense played well enough.  Obviously, it was not a great offensive show, but they were able to move the ball at times before ultimately doing something boneheaded.  Joe Rexode touches on that with his Monday Mail Bag.

 -I watched a good portion of the PSU/OSU game.  PSU played a solid game, but seemed to abandon the run game.  I think that ultimately did them in.  Not sure if Belton was injured or what.  Braxton was impressive in tearing apart a very good PSU defense.  That just might show how good the MSU defense actually is more than any other stat.

-From there, it was time to watch the um/Nebraska game.  I got to tell Pat about Denard's injury over the phone, that was about the most gratifying thing I have got to do this football season. Without Robinson, um was punchless.  The game wasn't really interesting outside of a few drives and seeing what um could do without Denard.  um fans will be pleased to know that Robinson will be the starter this weekend.

-To close out the game, Maxwell made one great pass after another and Bell was able to bounce around for 4-6 yard gains.  I think that our receivers may have finally turned a corner.  There was no Burbridge in this game, but that's OK.  Fowler is the man, and he showed it at times in this game.  Also, Lippet showed why I have been so high on him, from his sky high grab to his juke to the one yard line.  Personally, I really enjoyed seeing Thomas get some open field to run in.  A fumble certainly wasn't pleasant, but man, I would not want to tackle him.  The defense was really stout in this game as well.  MSU was able to hold Wisconsin to 19 yards rushing (net) and 190 yards total.  Gholston finally had a game that MSU has needed all year with 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack.  Along with that, one hit knocked Wisconsin quarterback Joel Stave out of for the season with a broken clavicle.

This play below, I remember seeing and screaming at the T.V.  It did not get called.

(mary langenfeld, uspresswire. via twitter of chris vannini)

I still don't think that the Wisconsin defense is that great.  One play in particular stuck out in my head on a pass deflection to a mostly wide open Bell.  Other than that, I think MSU mostly killed their own drives.  Don't get me wrong, they are a good defense, but the B1G features a handful of better defense's.

Next week MSU has Nebraska at home.  A game I will be at.  Maybe I can get some pictures from the game and any sort of EL related activities I do on here.  Sound good?

Singing Tough - A Prediction

As Pat noted in the comments, I forgot to get my preview up.  Blame it on the rain.  Or staying out way later than anticipated. Today MSU is playing in a game labeled as a rivalry.  However, MSU and Wisconsin will not meet again for 4 years, unless they are in the B1G championship game.

OFFENSE:  Same story different day.  Just like every game I say, MSU needs to get the ball early and score on that first drive.  The crowd in Wisconsin is gonna be as loud as they have been all year.  Halloween weekend.  I do not see Bell having a good game in this one.  But MSU will look to get him going early and too often. MSU will need to go airborne to win this game and score points.  I like the matchups our receivers have against the Wisconsin secondary.  Wisconsin has not been too impressive defensively and Maxwell should look to get Sims going early.  Can our re-re-re-re-re-revamped line hang tough?

(the new starting offensive line)

DEFENSE:  L-I-V-I-N that's what our defense needs to do.  Just keep on keeping on.  Whatever else you can say.  There have been some writings about the defense, that there is potential for a divided locker room.  With the defense playing so well and the offense playing so poorly.  I don't see that happening, and I don't see the defense letting up.   Gholston will play his best game of the year and our defense will do a good job of limiting Montee Ball. 

PREDICTION:  The story here isn't how well our defense can play it's how many points can our offense score?  Right now, there is no reason to believe they will score any points.  Call it 20-13 Wisconsin.

Links for Zelda

Sorry, I couldnt think of a better way to name this post.  Still not in the mood for a full post, but expect my Wiscon prediction tomorrow.  Here are some MSU related links:

Recruiting: Ex-Michigan commit David Dawson likely to visit Michigan State
-Seems like a solid recruit, would be nice if he came to MSU.  Pat, do you have any insight as to why he decommitted?

Michigan State 'better be ready to play every game' to reach a bowl
-My sentiments exactly. 

Michigan State, Wisconsin rivalry still strong
-Would we call this a rivalry at this point?  Will it still be one if they thump us by 2 scores?

Michigan State hope Dion Sims can lift struggling offense From The Detroit News
-We could have used Dion last week.  We did look a lot better throwing the ball without him though.

MSU's Max Bullough nominated for Butkus Award as nation's top linebacker From The Detroit News:
-I still cannot believe he played for Traverse City St. Francis.  I know Pat wants him to leave early.

Game Week Q&A: Bucky's 5th Quarter
-Chris Vannini and TOC have a little Q&A with their partner Wisconsin blog. 

Enjoy your Thursday everyone, hopefully the Tigers even it up tonight.

Part 2

MSU vs WI.  the winner goes to the finals.  Kansas lost, if MSU wins the BTT outright, they might get a #1 seed.    Of course I am missing this game too but I fully expect MSU to win this game. This isnt the Wisconsin team of past.  They can still shoot and still rebound however.  The good thing is that, MSU does these things as well, and better.  I have to go participate in a Chicago version of Amazing Race.

Donkey

That's what Brett Bielema is.  It is impossible to like that man. He is similar to Dantonio only he manages to be more pompous.  I was not sure that was possible but it is.  Don't get me wrong.  I think Mark is a fantastic coach, and he has the attitude MSU has been lacking for over a decade.  But man, I don't think Bielema's own mother likes him.  For every ounce of competitiveness and respect Dantonio shows other coaches (even the Dantonio/Hoke exchange appeared good spirited), Bielema has nothing but hate and a chip on his shoulder.  There is no way Iowa fans respect him, he is must be the most hated coach in the entire B1G.

Whoa, not sure where that came from.  Maybe it is in my sub-conscious since every week my girlfriend calls Brett Bielema a fat fuck (true story). 

I wont get into the game much.  Bitching about the reffing will not do me any good (you can read my twitter for a whole bunch of bitching though @ ztj521 ).  MSU was in a position to win the game, and missed a couple of assignments, boom, we lost. Instead wow what a team.

There is no doubt in my mind that MSU is the best team in the B1G this year.  We beat Wiscy once, should have beat them a second time. Beat UM. Lost to Nebraska, but finished better than them.  This defense is stellar (Worthy has been named an All-American).  The offense is potent.  There is not a better combo in MSU history than Cousins to Cunningham (well maybe not..). Our very young offensive line has gelled as the year went on and looks to be the strength of the offense next year.  Bell got better as the year went on. I am very proud of this Spartan team.  The Outback Bowl should  be good, facing a Georgia team that 10-3 in the SEC.  And if you are wondering why we didn't get the Capital One Bowl, it is because we've been there three times in four years. 

Let's beat Georgia.

MSU plays Gonzaga on Saturday in bball.

Rosey Rosie Rose'?

So he we are the B1G championship game and a chance for MSU to make it to the Rose Bowl.  The Grandaddy of them all!  Unfortunately MSU is having an in season rematch against Wisconsin.  A team we beat earlier in the season on yes, a hail mary.  However, what is often forgotten is that MSU was up 14 on Wisconsin in the fourth quarter.  So what does that say?  Mostly that Wisconsin is a good football team.  They can score, they have a good defense.  That's why they have a chance to go to their second straight Rose Bowl.  So what did I write for the first preview and how can these things work for us a second time around?  See below! (previous games three things in gray.)

MSU vs. Wisconsin

WHOA.  This game snuck up on me.  Nothing posted since the Michigan game.  Also, for those UM fans out there, Pat is at a wedding and will unable to post anything.  It helps that Michigan has a bye week... So, let us jump right into to East Lansing. 



I will start by saying that the reason that they have nets up on College Gameday is that in about 1997 I want to say, fans pelted Herbstreit with  beer cans.   GO STATE!

What are three things to watch out for?

1:  The play of Russel Wilson.

For MSU to win this game, they need to stop Wilson from making plays.  Russel is is both an upgrade and a down grade from Denard Robinson, he is a less dynamic runner but a better passer.  We need to get to Wilson early and get some hits on him.  Any way to rattle the quarterback and disrupt some timing on his passes will go a long way to winning this game.  On that note, Wilson is still very capable of running and going out on passes to catch the pass. 



This rings exactly true again.  In the first match up MSU was able to create some turnovers by picking Russell off.  I am not sure that those same poor throws that the Wisconsin QB made in the first game will happen here again.  After the rest of the season of preparation Wisconsin is looking good.  If you need any proof, look at the score of the Penn State game (though the PSU players may have had a lot on their minds). For Wisconsin to win this game they will need Wilson to be flawless.  Hell have to open up lanes for both himself and Ball to run in by passing effectively.   

2: Defensive line play.

This Wisconsin offensive line is just about a complete 180 from the Michigan offensive line.  These are big boys.  Wisconsin is best known for their massive offensive linemen and their ability to pound the football.  Without William Gholston, the MSU offensive line is going to need to step up their play.  We need to find ways get through their line and stop that initial push.  If Wisconsin is constantly getting a good 2 or 3 yards of push in the trenches it is going to be a long day for the Spartans.  I am looking for the defensive line to blitz more linebackers both on the edge and up the middle and keep the defensive backs in coverage to limit Wilsons ability to pass the ball on blitzes.



No clever segway here, mainly cause this is exaclty true again.  MSU's defensive line needs to have a MONSTER game.  Think Suh in the Big 12 championship game his senior year.  We will need that kind of game out of our whole line.  The biggest difference between last game and this game is that William Gholston will be back.  Gholston missed the last match up after feasting on some Wolverines for an entire game.  Well now it's Badger season - time to feed the beast.  Coupled with that is the fact that Wisconsin's starting center is questionable with a dislocated ankle (that sounds horrible feeling).  To win this match up our ends need to plug the lanes and keep Wilson from picking up easy yards on the edge.  Along with that, Worthy needs to occupy two blockers and allow our linebackers to make stops at the line.  If we win this game, Bullough will have a good game.   I see that being a major factor in how this game plays out, if the line can allow for Bullough and Allen to make plays before Wisconsin gains yards.  

3: Can we score some points?

This is a HUGE game for our offense.  The offense has been very much a lame duck. At times they have looked good, and other times have looked downright awful.  Wisconsin has been scoring at a clip of about 40 ppg.  Does the MSU offense need to match that?  No.  But we are going to need to get some points with touchdowns - not field goals.  Like the UM game, I expect Kirk Cousins to attack the edges in the passing game and after Keshawn Martins game last week, I see more plays aimed at him...DO NOT FUMBLE THE BALL!!!!!!!!!!   With that, it is pretty obvious that we need to be able to run the football and when MSU is unable to run the football, MSU gets stomped.  Edwin Baker looked like a man possessed last week.  Will he still have that speed, and will our offensive line still have that push?  I sure hope so.  If you cant get up for a game like this, you might as well stay home.  If Kirk can get the ball on the edges and open up some dump passes in the middle to the TE.  We will be very effective on offense. 




This is mostly true again, however, Bell is now our most productive back and it should stay that way this game.  Bell is the more physical back but he also has moves to use againse the linebackers - see any number of spins or leaps from the entire season.  Baker will be use more of a change of pace back with his speed to burn he could pick up some massive chunks of yards in limiated action.  However, the key to this game is the play of ole Kirk.  Kirk and Cunningham have been on fire the last 4 games and that will continue.  Short passes to to Mr. Catch everything himself will open up the running game.  On top of that, Keyshawn Martin is looking the best he has in over a year.  Mainly becauase he is now catching everything.  The speed is there, the hands are there and he is getting the ball his direction.  This extra threat will allow MSU to spread out the Wisconsin defense.  For our tight ends?  Well it will be the same as they have been all year, I belive Sims hand is still in a cast so do not expect him to play a whole lot but there will be chances for our very good receiving tight ends to make plays of 10 yards or more.  

This game is at night, in Spartan Stadium.  The place is going to be rocking.  I think this favors us a lot.  However, I think Wisconsin is legit.  They are big, their running back is fast, and the ability of Wilson to scramble adds another dimension to their offense.   As much as it pains me to type this I do not think MSU wins this one.  31-27 Wisconsin.  Prove me wrong State!! 

To win this game, MSU will have to play with zero turnovers.  This game will be tight throughout.  With defensive stops by MSU getting the crowd rowdy.  Wisconsin wont go away and MSU will need to hold them to under 150 yards rushing.  How do I see this ending?  34-31 MSU and a trip to our first Rose Bowl since I was 4.  

GO GREEN