Suton is back. I didn't think he would be back to game speed for a few more weeks, but I was wrong. Just seconds into the game Goran had the ball inbounded off his ass under the opponents basket. Right back to game form. Everyone acted surprised but we've seen this before, probably a half dozen times.
For having three point guards in the game at once (Walton, Lucas, and Luscious) the back to back turnovers at the top of the key are inexcusable.
That's about it for now.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Lions Rant
I have watched, like most lions fans, in horror as this team has gone from bad, to terrible, to almost unwatchable. The last 5 games the Detroit Lions have come close -- flirting with A WIN -- but in the end found a way to lose each game. I'm not surprised nor terribly upset. However, things have to change.
Rant 1:
There is not a single Lion on the Pro Bowl team. Now you might raise "the lions are winless, 0-14, terrible" all of which would be true. Hell, even kind. However picture this:
- A starting QB that is serviceable at best, comparable to a healthy Brad Johnson
- A second string QB that had started zero games before the season
- A third string QB that has never seen the field in a regular season game, and has about 1/2 a year of practice (due to many confusing and aggravating decisions)
- No, zero, zilch, nada offensive line. Terrible line. (more to come on this)
- As a result very little rushing success
- With one exception, no wide receiver I would pay more than the league minimum
- YET SOMEHOW that one receiver manages to pile up:
*1165 receiving yards (through 14 games)
*65 receptions (almost 18 yards per catch)
*10 TD's and 1 two point conversion
And he's not a pro bowler? Give me a break. Those numbers, on that team, with that run support, with those QB's...he should be not only a pro bowler but a first ballot hall of famer.
Let's not forget Jason Hanson. A stud kicker (is that possible?) on a terrible team. A consistent top kicker in the league for over 17 years, his only miss this season was a block on a bad hold with terrible blocking. Throw the guy a bone.
Rant 2:
This team is terrible not because of coaching (alone) and not because of lack of a QB or any other skill position (though more talent would help). This team is bad--no horrible--because of 2 units. The offensive line and defensive line. If the Lions take a QB with the first pick this year (which they've locked up already!) I will vomit. Check that, if they take any offensive skill position I will vomit. Trade the pick before you do that. In fact trade it no matter what. Take 4 linemen this year. Pick a defensive end. Pick a lockdown corner. Pick a cover/hitting safety. DO NOT PICK A QB, WR, or RB.
Also, hit the free agent market. Get more linemen. Interior offensive and defensive. Defensive ends. Blocking tight ends. Don't tell me you don't have the money to spend. You made Jeff Backus a franchise player, with the pay that goes along with that tag, just 2 years ago. He's horrible. He is routinely beaten, holds, or is flagged for a false start. The only person more penalized was his own teamate Foster. Yet you gave him the franchise tag. I always hear "Backus is reliable...X consecutive starts" yada yada. He's like my vacuum; it starts whenever I ask it to and sucks every single time.
To be fair I thought Harrington, Rogers, and Williams would be ok picks. Odds on I thought at least one of them would still be in Detroit. But without an offensive line and no position mentors, what could you expect? Millen was a joke and the ownership is no better for keeping him on so long. There will be a lag unless the new GM starts from the inside out. Give a young, talented RB a chance by drafting/trading for some offensive linemen. Give the QB's/WR's a chance by drafting some offensive linemen. Give the corners a shot by drafting some defensive linemen. Games are won in the trenches. Emmitt Smith was a decent RB, his line made him great. Trent Dilfer was a serviceable QB, his line made him...well serviceable.
Guess what Lions? I'm available. Hire me to evaluate talent and work the trade phone. I can't do worse, that much I'm sure of. Stop with the systems and scheming (martz, marinelli) and just get talent. Get players. Get fundamentally better starting with the lines.
Rant 1:
There is not a single Lion on the Pro Bowl team. Now you might raise "the lions are winless, 0-14, terrible" all of which would be true. Hell, even kind. However picture this:
- A starting QB that is serviceable at best, comparable to a healthy Brad Johnson
- A second string QB that had started zero games before the season
- A third string QB that has never seen the field in a regular season game, and has about 1/2 a year of practice (due to many confusing and aggravating decisions)
- No, zero, zilch, nada offensive line. Terrible line. (more to come on this)
- As a result very little rushing success
- With one exception, no wide receiver I would pay more than the league minimum
- YET SOMEHOW that one receiver manages to pile up:
*1165 receiving yards (through 14 games)
*65 receptions (almost 18 yards per catch)
*10 TD's and 1 two point conversion
And he's not a pro bowler? Give me a break. Those numbers, on that team, with that run support, with those QB's...he should be not only a pro bowler but a first ballot hall of famer.
Let's not forget Jason Hanson. A stud kicker (is that possible?) on a terrible team. A consistent top kicker in the league for over 17 years, his only miss this season was a block on a bad hold with terrible blocking. Throw the guy a bone.
Rant 2:
This team is terrible not because of coaching (alone) and not because of lack of a QB or any other skill position (though more talent would help). This team is bad--no horrible--because of 2 units. The offensive line and defensive line. If the Lions take a QB with the first pick this year (which they've locked up already!) I will vomit. Check that, if they take any offensive skill position I will vomit. Trade the pick before you do that. In fact trade it no matter what. Take 4 linemen this year. Pick a defensive end. Pick a lockdown corner. Pick a cover/hitting safety. DO NOT PICK A QB, WR, or RB.
Also, hit the free agent market. Get more linemen. Interior offensive and defensive. Defensive ends. Blocking tight ends. Don't tell me you don't have the money to spend. You made Jeff Backus a franchise player, with the pay that goes along with that tag, just 2 years ago. He's horrible. He is routinely beaten, holds, or is flagged for a false start. The only person more penalized was his own teamate Foster. Yet you gave him the franchise tag. I always hear "Backus is reliable...X consecutive starts" yada yada. He's like my vacuum; it starts whenever I ask it to and sucks every single time.
To be fair I thought Harrington, Rogers, and Williams would be ok picks. Odds on I thought at least one of them would still be in Detroit. But without an offensive line and no position mentors, what could you expect? Millen was a joke and the ownership is no better for keeping him on so long. There will be a lag unless the new GM starts from the inside out. Give a young, talented RB a chance by drafting/trading for some offensive linemen. Give the QB's/WR's a chance by drafting some offensive linemen. Give the corners a shot by drafting some defensive linemen. Games are won in the trenches. Emmitt Smith was a decent RB, his line made him great. Trent Dilfer was a serviceable QB, his line made him...well serviceable.
Guess what Lions? I'm available. Hire me to evaluate talent and work the trade phone. I can't do worse, that much I'm sure of. Stop with the systems and scheming (martz, marinelli) and just get talent. Get players. Get fundamentally better starting with the lines.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
mid game update
UNC is good. No news flash there.
Digger Phelps is a moron. See above.
Marquise Gray has found a way, despite being in his fifth year, to never learn to box out. I watched just Gray for a few possessions. Not only did he not get some rebounds in his area, he didn't put a body on anyone. His help side defense is non-existent. He has no business putting the ball on the floor in the paint. Don't dribble. Just don't.
Morgan can really be perplexing. Flashes of being great. Then an inexplicable triple pump in the lane. Just draw a foul already and stop worrying about getting blocked. Against North Carolina you are better to just shoot. The longer you wait and fake the more bees swarm to the ball.
Tyler Hansborough is a hack. He's like the Shaq of old. Drop your shoulder, throw your off arm to clear space, spin 4 times clearing out, then throw some trash at the basket. He does have pretty good touch -- considering no matter how ugly the shot it seems to go in -- but he gets away with murder down low.
Lucas looks pretty good. Allen has shot well, but like Morgan, flips the "wtf were you thinking" switch every so often. It used to be that he would just leave his feet with no particular plan. He seems to be over that but today took a couple of horrible leaning shots.
Roe looks good. Green looks like Izzo put the fear of God in him about Hansborough. For the first two possessions Green was in the game he looked like he was trying to square dance with Hansborough.
By the way, Tyler, as the new Adam Sandler movie says "those [eyes] would be big on a cow."
Pains me to say this but...miss Suton a smidge. Just on rebounding really. Still miss him. Knee to be scoped tomorrow so I'm guessing he's out at least another 10 days, more likely until around the start of the B10.
Digger Phelps is a moron. See above.
Marquise Gray has found a way, despite being in his fifth year, to never learn to box out. I watched just Gray for a few possessions. Not only did he not get some rebounds in his area, he didn't put a body on anyone. His help side defense is non-existent. He has no business putting the ball on the floor in the paint. Don't dribble. Just don't.
Morgan can really be perplexing. Flashes of being great. Then an inexplicable triple pump in the lane. Just draw a foul already and stop worrying about getting blocked. Against North Carolina you are better to just shoot. The longer you wait and fake the more bees swarm to the ball.
Tyler Hansborough is a hack. He's like the Shaq of old. Drop your shoulder, throw your off arm to clear space, spin 4 times clearing out, then throw some trash at the basket. He does have pretty good touch -- considering no matter how ugly the shot it seems to go in -- but he gets away with murder down low.
Lucas looks pretty good. Allen has shot well, but like Morgan, flips the "wtf were you thinking" switch every so often. It used to be that he would just leave his feet with no particular plan. He seems to be over that but today took a couple of horrible leaning shots.
Roe looks good. Green looks like Izzo put the fear of God in him about Hansborough. For the first two possessions Green was in the game he looked like he was trying to square dance with Hansborough.
By the way, Tyler, as the new Adam Sandler movie says "those [eyes] would be big on a cow."
Pains me to say this but...miss Suton a smidge. Just on rebounding really. Still miss him. Knee to be scoped tomorrow so I'm guessing he's out at least another 10 days, more likely until around the start of the B10.
MSU UNC at Ford Field
Well, I wish I had good news. I don't.
North Carolina is good. Very good. I don't know about this "potentially one of the best ever" talk. But good. Should be a disappointing season for them if it doesn't end in Detroit in March.
One of the papers...LSJ, Freep, or Detnews...had a matchup. Probably LSJ, but I'm too lazy to look right now. Anyhow it showed players head to head by position. UNC was favored in every category other than coaching. There's an easy one to prove.
This last week people were chatting during the Wichita State game about how much they missed Suton, how big of a difference Suton would be making, and basically making him out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. He would have helped but I seriously doubt he would have changed the outcome against Maryland. That was terrible calls, terrible offense (from 30+ feet) and terrible free throw shooting. Suton is not likely to play against UNC, which will hurt for two reasons. He can rebound (somehow without the ability to actually get his feet off the ground...) and could draw a defender out of the lane on the offensive end for a mid range shot. He also seems to hit free throws. And, I hate to say, he's certainly our best post player. Can he guard Hansborough? Probably not. Could Suton keep him off the offensive glass? Probably more often than not. Plus we will miss his 5 extra fouls.
Kalin Lucas needs to have a great game. His defense needs to be solid, no doubt, but more important is getting to the basket. I'm sick of seeing us stand around the perimeter and throw up 30' shots. Get in the lane, draw defenders and kick, or just finish. Get to the line early and often. Make or miss it gets the other team in foul trouble.
Morgan? I don't know what to say about him. He should be an unguardable force. He seems to have extended his range to 22'+ and at the same time forgot how to shoot from 15'. He still travels, puts the ball on the floor too early at times, and plays defense with his upper body (mostly his hands). That said he could still be great. In close he finishes. If he could learn to boxout on shots he could DOMINATE down low since he should have about 4 inches on anyone trying to guard him. I also can't quite figure out how we forgot the lob plays we used to run. Summers, Gray, Allen, and Morgan should all be viable lob targets.
Perhaps the most embarrassing thing about this game will be the crowd. Rumor had it that only around 20,000 tickets had been sold for a venue that holds 65k for a football game, and should have more than that with floor seating. A lower bowl ticket went half price yesterday -- to $9.50 -- no doubt in an attempt to make the place look respectable. Good luck with that.
N.C. -- 78 (with Hansborough 86)
MSU -- 65
North Carolina is good. Very good. I don't know about this "potentially one of the best ever" talk. But good. Should be a disappointing season for them if it doesn't end in Detroit in March.
One of the papers...LSJ, Freep, or Detnews...had a matchup. Probably LSJ, but I'm too lazy to look right now. Anyhow it showed players head to head by position. UNC was favored in every category other than coaching. There's an easy one to prove.
This last week people were chatting during the Wichita State game about how much they missed Suton, how big of a difference Suton would be making, and basically making him out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. He would have helped but I seriously doubt he would have changed the outcome against Maryland. That was terrible calls, terrible offense (from 30+ feet) and terrible free throw shooting. Suton is not likely to play against UNC, which will hurt for two reasons. He can rebound (somehow without the ability to actually get his feet off the ground...) and could draw a defender out of the lane on the offensive end for a mid range shot. He also seems to hit free throws. And, I hate to say, he's certainly our best post player. Can he guard Hansborough? Probably not. Could Suton keep him off the offensive glass? Probably more often than not. Plus we will miss his 5 extra fouls.
Kalin Lucas needs to have a great game. His defense needs to be solid, no doubt, but more important is getting to the basket. I'm sick of seeing us stand around the perimeter and throw up 30' shots. Get in the lane, draw defenders and kick, or just finish. Get to the line early and often. Make or miss it gets the other team in foul trouble.
Morgan? I don't know what to say about him. He should be an unguardable force. He seems to have extended his range to 22'+ and at the same time forgot how to shoot from 15'. He still travels, puts the ball on the floor too early at times, and plays defense with his upper body (mostly his hands). That said he could still be great. In close he finishes. If he could learn to boxout on shots he could DOMINATE down low since he should have about 4 inches on anyone trying to guard him. I also can't quite figure out how we forgot the lob plays we used to run. Summers, Gray, Allen, and Morgan should all be viable lob targets.
Perhaps the most embarrassing thing about this game will be the crowd. Rumor had it that only around 20,000 tickets had been sold for a venue that holds 65k for a football game, and should have more than that with floor seating. A lower bowl ticket went half price yesterday -- to $9.50 -- no doubt in an attempt to make the place look respectable. Good luck with that.
N.C. -- 78 (with Hansborough 86)
MSU -- 65
Monday, November 24, 2008
2008 Old Spice Classic
Winning the 2008 Old Spice Classic (or making the final) would be a huge boost and great experience for this young MSU basketball team. How so?
"Half of this year's Old Spice Classic teams have reached the final four in this decade alone..."
Teams include:
- Gonzaga
- Maryland
- Tennessee
- MSU
- Oklahoma State
- Siena
- Wichita State
- Georgetown
For a quick overview check here.
Game 1 - Tennessee/Siena (Thursday 12p)
Game 2 - Wichita/Georgetown (Thursday 2p)
Game 3 - MSU/Maryland (Thursday 7 pm ESPN2)
Game 4 - Oklahoma St/Gonzaga (Thursday 9p)
Round 2: MSU will play the winner/loser of the OkSt/Gonzaga game Friday Nov. 28. Should MSU win round one they play again at 5:30p on ESPN. Should they lose round one they play at 8:00p on ESPNU (known as ESPN U don't get it).
Round 3: If MSU loses round 1 and wins round 2 they move on to play Sunday Nov. 30 at 12:30p on ESPNU. If MSU wins round 1 and wins round 2 they play in the championship game at 7:30p on ESPN2.
The field is excellent and should provide a great high intensity, mini March Madness opportunity for the Spartans to get ready for the regular season. I like our chances in these quick turnaround games and Maryland is not the defensive (or explosive) team they were last year. The early Bracketology has Maryland on the outside looking in; not one of the top 64 teams in the land. They have tough point guard play and always seem to scrap, but shouldn't hold up for a full game of running and banging.
"Half of this year's Old Spice Classic teams have reached the final four in this decade alone..."
Teams include:
- Gonzaga
- Maryland
- Tennessee
- MSU
- Oklahoma State
- Siena
- Wichita State
- Georgetown
For a quick overview check here.
Game 1 - Tennessee/Siena (Thursday 12p)
Game 2 - Wichita/Georgetown (Thursday 2p)
Game 3 - MSU/Maryland (Thursday 7 pm ESPN2)
Game 4 - Oklahoma St/Gonzaga (Thursday 9p)
Round 2: MSU will play the winner/loser of the OkSt/Gonzaga game Friday Nov. 28. Should MSU win round one they play again at 5:30p on ESPN. Should they lose round one they play at 8:00p on ESPNU (known as ESPN U don't get it).
Round 3: If MSU loses round 1 and wins round 2 they move on to play Sunday Nov. 30 at 12:30p on ESPNU. If MSU wins round 1 and wins round 2 they play in the championship game at 7:30p on ESPN2.
The field is excellent and should provide a great high intensity, mini March Madness opportunity for the Spartans to get ready for the regular season. I like our chances in these quick turnaround games and Maryland is not the defensive (or explosive) team they were last year. The early Bracketology has Maryland on the outside looking in; not one of the top 64 teams in the land. They have tough point guard play and always seem to scrap, but shouldn't hold up for a full game of running and banging.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Afterthoughts
Since I was out of town most of the week last week I didn't have a chance to give my thoughts on the Purdue game. I was cautiously optimistic, wondering mostly how MSU would contain the newly promoted scrambling Purdue QB. Turns out there wasn't much to worry about, as the linebackers made good reads (mostly) and his throws lacked touch. Although on the money, most came with too much zip for a 40 degree game. Like catching a brick.
Kory Sheets still impresses me as a running back and only reinforces that this is probably the deepest running back field in B10's recent history. Sheets (Purdue), Sutton (Northwestern), Wells (OSU), Greene (Iowa), Hill (Wisconsin), Royster (Penn State) and Ringer are all very, very good backs. I believe that Ringer, Sutton, and Sheets are the best simply based upon the lines they play behind. Iowa has the best O Line in the conference, with Ohio State and Wisconsin not far behind. Its like the argument that Emmitt Smith is better than Barry Sanders. 1. Its BS, and 2. Barry had no offensive line. None. Ringer has a line, but its not nearly as dominant as some of the others in the conference. That said, the Big Ten has the best overall backs in the country, top to bottom.
For every good B10 running back there is an equally crappy QB. Who is the best QB in the conference? No, really, who is it? I certainly don't know. I would have said Bacher (NU) or Painter (Purdue) coming into the year. Now it might actually be Pryor (OSU) or Weber (Minny). That's pretty sad. The Big12 has a lock on best QB conference. I would guess that 5 play on Sundays. I would also bet that 2, maybe 3 get taken in the first round of the draft this year.
Calling Otis Wiley. Where are you? 4 INT's through 3 games. 4 INT's through 11 games. He's been battling injuries but man, what a let down. I hope the plan is to have 3 against Penn State.
I quick bit of love for Joe Tiller from Purdue. Although I have no regrets in beating him it is sad to see an innovator, champion, and all around pretty good guy go. Plus he talked shit about Rich Rodriguez's recruiting tactics earlier this year. I'll be sending him a Christmas card.
Penn State's loss to Iowa hurt MSU's chances of going to the Rose Bowl (around 2% chance now*). I really was not that surprised since I maintain that Iowa's lines (O and D) were the best we saw this year in conference. It showed on Saturday. Now unless Illinois and Ron Crook Zook or ummmmm beat OSU, we are on the outside looking in. Is that bad? Maybe not. Remember what USC did to Ohio State? That could be us, only worse.
The bye week is a good thing. Ringer gets healthy. Dell/Curry/White/Cunningham/anyotherreceiverswehave get healthy. Hoyer...does something. We put in some schemes, tricks, blitz packages and then maybe MSU can beat PSU. Maybe.
DP -- Sorry about your boys. In the 4th quarter I realized that your prayers were being cancelled out by the counter prayers of 1000's of angry, bitter, red headed step children (literally) at BC. Hey, you've still got Navy, right? Streaks have to start somewhere**. (this would be a good time to think about Will Ferrell's "we're goin' streakin!" line)
* Our remaining 2% chance of making the Rose Bowl is based partly on the unlikely event that ummm beats OSU. I will not be rooting for such an event to occur, but neither will I be rooting for OSU.
** Notre Dame's 43 game win streak (against one opponent, Navy) ended last season w/ a 3 overtime loss to Navy in South Bend. It was the longest such win streak in history. The lyrics to the cult classic "In the Navy" were rewritten to include, along with "sailing the seven seas," "you can beat Notre Dame." Coach Weiss was seen in the stands after the game picking out random passersby and saying "we want you, we want you, we want you as a new recruit." The Village People were not available for comment.
Kory Sheets still impresses me as a running back and only reinforces that this is probably the deepest running back field in B10's recent history. Sheets (Purdue), Sutton (Northwestern), Wells (OSU), Greene (Iowa), Hill (Wisconsin), Royster (Penn State) and Ringer are all very, very good backs. I believe that Ringer, Sutton, and Sheets are the best simply based upon the lines they play behind. Iowa has the best O Line in the conference, with Ohio State and Wisconsin not far behind. Its like the argument that Emmitt Smith is better than Barry Sanders. 1. Its BS, and 2. Barry had no offensive line. None. Ringer has a line, but its not nearly as dominant as some of the others in the conference. That said, the Big Ten has the best overall backs in the country, top to bottom.
For every good B10 running back there is an equally crappy QB. Who is the best QB in the conference? No, really, who is it? I certainly don't know. I would have said Bacher (NU) or Painter (Purdue) coming into the year. Now it might actually be Pryor (OSU) or Weber (Minny). That's pretty sad. The Big12 has a lock on best QB conference. I would guess that 5 play on Sundays. I would also bet that 2, maybe 3 get taken in the first round of the draft this year.
Calling Otis Wiley. Where are you? 4 INT's through 3 games. 4 INT's through 11 games. He's been battling injuries but man, what a let down. I hope the plan is to have 3 against Penn State.
I quick bit of love for Joe Tiller from Purdue. Although I have no regrets in beating him it is sad to see an innovator, champion, and all around pretty good guy go. Plus he talked shit about Rich Rodriguez's recruiting tactics earlier this year. I'll be sending him a Christmas card.
Penn State's loss to Iowa hurt MSU's chances of going to the Rose Bowl (around 2% chance now*). I really was not that surprised since I maintain that Iowa's lines (O and D) were the best we saw this year in conference. It showed on Saturday. Now unless Illinois and Ron Crook Zook or ummmmm beat OSU, we are on the outside looking in. Is that bad? Maybe not. Remember what USC did to Ohio State? That could be us, only worse.
The bye week is a good thing. Ringer gets healthy. Dell/Curry/White/Cunningham/anyotherreceiverswehave get healthy. Hoyer...does something. We put in some schemes, tricks, blitz packages and then maybe MSU can beat PSU. Maybe.
DP -- Sorry about your boys. In the 4th quarter I realized that your prayers were being cancelled out by the counter prayers of 1000's of angry, bitter, red headed step children (literally) at BC. Hey, you've still got Navy, right? Streaks have to start somewhere**. (this would be a good time to think about Will Ferrell's "we're goin' streakin!" line)
* Our remaining 2% chance of making the Rose Bowl is based partly on the unlikely event that ummm beats OSU. I will not be rooting for such an event to occur, but neither will I be rooting for OSU.
** Notre Dame's 43 game win streak (against one opponent, Navy) ended last season w/ a 3 overtime loss to Navy in South Bend. It was the longest such win streak in history. The lyrics to the cult classic "In the Navy" were rewritten to include, along with "sailing the seven seas," "you can beat Notre Dame." Coach Weiss was seen in the stands after the game picking out random passersby and saying "we want you, we want you, we want you as a new recruit." The Village People were not available for comment.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Looking Back
Could it have been a better Saturday? Sorry DP, I'm going to have to say no.
First I got my bar results. If I passed everyone must have passed. Don't go committing any crimes just yet though.
Second MSU did just enough to win their game Saturday, improving to 8-2 on the season. Other than that start to finish debacle against Ohio State Dantonio's Spartans haven't lost a game by more than 7 points. Period. Last year it translated to many close losses. That continued to a 7 point loss against Cal to start this season. It looks like they've found out how to do just enough.
Third, the university of missagain lost to Purdue. Purdue isn't very good.
Fourth and largely off the radar screen for Spartan fans, Texas lost to Texas Tech in a shootout. Texas was #1 coming into the game. Alabama (and Nick $aban) was #2. Penn State was #3 and just outside the national title game. Since the B10 is down this season Penn State needed to win out and have something more happen, like a loss by one of the top 2.
Why do we care? If MSU can take care of Purdue next week, get healthy in the bye week, and give Hoyer a consistency transplant (and all of his receivers save White hand transplants) the season ending Land Grant showdown (we were founded first, by the way) means a lot more. Not only will the game decide the B10 champion (should MSU somehow win we own the tie-breaker) but it will also determine if PSU goes to the national championship game. There is also an outside chance, should Alabama lose before then, that PSU is #1.
First I got my bar results. If I passed everyone must have passed. Don't go committing any crimes just yet though.
Second MSU did just enough to win their game Saturday, improving to 8-2 on the season. Other than that start to finish debacle against Ohio State Dantonio's Spartans haven't lost a game by more than 7 points. Period. Last year it translated to many close losses. That continued to a 7 point loss against Cal to start this season. It looks like they've found out how to do just enough.
Third, the university of missagain lost to Purdue. Purdue isn't very good.
Fourth and largely off the radar screen for Spartan fans, Texas lost to Texas Tech in a shootout. Texas was #1 coming into the game. Alabama (and Nick $aban) was #2. Penn State was #3 and just outside the national title game. Since the B10 is down this season Penn State needed to win out and have something more happen, like a loss by one of the top 2.
Why do we care? If MSU can take care of Purdue next week, get healthy in the bye week, and give Hoyer a consistency transplant (and all of his receivers save White hand transplants) the season ending Land Grant showdown (we were founded first, by the way) means a lot more. Not only will the game decide the B10 champion (should MSU somehow win we own the tie-breaker) but it will also determine if PSU goes to the national championship game. There is also an outside chance, should Alabama lose before then, that PSU is #1.
Friday, October 31, 2008
MSU v Wi[n]sconsin
After a great deal of preseason hype and media love the badgers of Wisconsin have fallen flat on their collective faces. At 4-4 (1-4 B10) the baaa-dgers finish the season with a schedule that favors their being bowl eligible. Their lone B10 win came against Illinois last week (I bet your envelopes won't come up light this week will they Zook?).
Wisconsin is a tough matchup. Not in the Ohio State, Penn State too much talent way. Wisconsin will be difficult in the Iowa way; similar styles, similar goals, line 'em up and see who's tougher. Wisconsin wants to run the ball, hit the tight ends, throw screens, and keep the chains moving. Calculated shots down field and reverses/qb runs keep the defense honest and long drives wear down the defense and run up the time of possession. Sound familiar?
Big plays will be the difference. Kicking, punting, tackling and turnovers will decide the game.
Wisconsin's qb Sherer is shaky but seems to gain confidence by running the ball. He's mobile and has a very good running back behind him. What could turn out to be the biggest factor in this game is how healthy and focused Otis Wiley is coming off his injury.
I predict field goals, fumble recoveries, and a Ringer TD.
MSU - 20
Wiskey - 17
Wisconsin is a tough matchup. Not in the Ohio State, Penn State too much talent way. Wisconsin will be difficult in the Iowa way; similar styles, similar goals, line 'em up and see who's tougher. Wisconsin wants to run the ball, hit the tight ends, throw screens, and keep the chains moving. Calculated shots down field and reverses/qb runs keep the defense honest and long drives wear down the defense and run up the time of possession. Sound familiar?
Big plays will be the difference. Kicking, punting, tackling and turnovers will decide the game.
Wisconsin's qb Sherer is shaky but seems to gain confidence by running the ball. He's mobile and has a very good running back behind him. What could turn out to be the biggest factor in this game is how healthy and focused Otis Wiley is coming off his injury.
I predict field goals, fumble recoveries, and a Ringer TD.
MSU - 20
Wiskey - 17
Saturday, October 25, 2008
4th Quarter Rant
I come to you from the 4th quarter of this game to let you know that THIS is why Hoyer is on my OGD do you suck list. Play someone else.
You can't take these bad sacks. You can't throw the ball into the middle of the line on a screen. You can't eat the ball, not tuck it, and set up a fumble. Oh wait, you can. And you did.
Swenson is not at fault for these misses. One is a missed block. One is a 50 yarder that was dead on. One was a bad snap and a delayed kick, where he held back his legs but rotated his upper body and hips. The result? Pulled it.
Please put in a QB. Now. Please.
PS there is no chance that was a TD in the first half. The pylon is used for running plays where the BALL hits the pylon. Not the receivers foot. Absolute horse hockey.
As we speak Ringer scored. Hoyer may yet be saved. I'm not holding my breath.
You can't take these bad sacks. You can't throw the ball into the middle of the line on a screen. You can't eat the ball, not tuck it, and set up a fumble. Oh wait, you can. And you did.
Swenson is not at fault for these misses. One is a missed block. One is a 50 yarder that was dead on. One was a bad snap and a delayed kick, where he held back his legs but rotated his upper body and hips. The result? Pulled it.
Please put in a QB. Now. Please.
PS there is no chance that was a TD in the first half. The pylon is used for running plays where the BALL hits the pylon. Not the receivers foot. Absolute horse hockey.
As we speak Ringer scored. Hoyer may yet be saved. I'm not holding my breath.
Friday, October 24, 2008
MSU v U of mush-again
The leaves are falling, Halloween is around the corner, and Michigan State plays michigan this week. Outside of basketball season this is my favorite time of the year.
michigan is not a very good football team. They have great individual players but as far as teams go, michigan is bad. The one thing that makes this michigan team look vintage is the defense. Much like the Ohio State team last week, people expected more from the loaded roster in ann arbor. Lets hope (for a second week in a row) another team doesn't find their rythm.
I don't know what to think about Hoyer. I mean, I know what to think, but now I'm in the majority. I always stop to question myself when I'm in the extreme majority. Pointing at B. Hoyer as the problem is en vogue. I have not liked him for a long, long time (see: day one). Not because he's bad but because he is predictable, safe, and underwhelming. Those things are fine when they come along with being technically sound and consistent. He just plain misses throws and holds the ball too long. Let's hope all the rave reviews were more than just hot air to boost his ego. Hoyer will need to have a big game.
Ringer will have trouble finding space early in the game unless the passing game is at least a threat. Ringer is strong and has amazing stamina. He should break 100 yards by the 3rd quarter if the rest of the team makes catches and doesn't fumble. I think last week could have been a lot different minus the big turnovers.
I look for an emotional bounce back game from MSU. We are coming off an ugly game against OSU that the team would like to erase. Mike Midget Hart ran his mouth last year after squeaking out another win (which, w/ top 10 recruiting classes each year for the last 10, you would think Michigan could win a few more games. But that's for another day). Dantonio knows the effect an MSU win would have on recruiting. Rodriguez is a turd. That really has no bearing on the game but needed to be said. Finally, B. Hoyer needs this and Ringer WANTS this.
McGuffe is a fast back but appears to be soft. I expect him to get hit by Ware a few times (bad news, he's a safety/corner) early and Greg Jones and Trevor Anderson (in the backfield or after modest gains) as the game wears on.
Make it:
MSU - 21
michigan - 17
Friday, October 17, 2008
MSU v tOhioState
What school has the nerve, the audacity, the pomp to call themselves the University?
No, it does not originate in AnnArbor. The Ohio State University comes to East Lansing this weekend as reigning BigTen champion and undefeated in the conference. Although the precedes the name of the university their recent bowl games have grounded this team.
There is no crying in football!Unless you've been derailed from your championship run by a team like, oh I don't know, Michigan State.
In 1998 the Buckeyes, playing in front of a home crowd, entered the night game #1 in the land. Leading 24-9 in the fourth quarter OSU fell apart. A late interception sealed the MSU victory. Tears followed.
The secondary coach for the 1998 Spartans? Dantonio. The 2007 matchup was headed towards a blowout until 2 turnovers turned into 14 quick points.
The 2008 game will depend primarily on 3 things.
1. How will Pryor perform (will OSU move the pocket, turn him loose, or make him stand and throw?) If Pryor moves the pocket and tucks the ball to run MSU will have a long day.
2. Will MSU's play calling keep the OSU linebackers on their heels? If throws to the tight ends and WR's on slants are accurate Ringer should find some room to run. I don't trust opening up the pass by throwing deep; the OSU corners are too good.
I predict a close game that turns on kicking, punting, and capitalizing on turnovers.
3. MSU's defense containing the run. OSU does not have serious deep threats (see: Ted Ginn) and should be able to keep Wells around 100 yards. The combination of Pryor and Wells off end, much like Indiana, could cause problems. Hitting Pryor early and often and switching up the blitzes will be key.
MSU - 23
OSU - 17
Saturday, October 11, 2008
MSU Northwestern
The 5-1 Spartans take on the 5-0 Wildcats today in what should prove to be an exciting game. For my money CJ bacher, as far as a QB knowing and running a system, is the best in the B10. He is accurate, quick thinking, and doesn't get sacked. This is the typical game that bites the Spartans for 3 reasons.
1. That stupid spread. To stop short slants and screens from going for big yardage solid tackling is the key. If the first defender misses a tackle things get ugly. This should be a good test for the much heralded linebacking corps.
2. Ohio State and Michigan loom. Looking ahead has always been a problem. Win the games you shouldn't (OSU, UM) lose the ones you shouldn't (NU, Iowa, Ill).
3. Coming out flat. Against an offense like NU a slow start can mean being down 21-0 in a hurry. When that happens the identity of this MSU team becomes less pronounced; down 3 scores the running game becomes less useful.
Add the very talented RB Sutton to the mix and NU is tough and real.
3 reasons MSU can win:
1. Javon Ringer is the best back NU has seen. Although NU is only allowing 111 rushing yards per game Ringer is coming off a game with only 25 carries so he should be fresh. The defense is also helped by an offense that can score quickly and often. Teams are forced to abandon the run early. That should not happen today.
2. The DB's are [somewhat] healthy. The recent injuries to defensive backs and safeties may prove to be a blessing as MSU now has depth. Should something go wrong, someone blow assignments, etc Dantonio has alternatives.
3. The linebackers are faster and stronger and the DE's contain. Again, tackling is king against NU. Jones, Decker, and Gordon (perhaps Misch, should he see the field) are all quick and athletic. Although the DE's are not getting nearly as much pressure this season it may work to the Spartans favor today. Upfield over-pursuit is a waste of energy against screens and draws. Playing a contain and staying active near the line are key.
I hated this game all week. I don't like the prospect of Sutton running wild and Bacher scoring 21 in the first half, picking apart the improved but underwhelming secondary. I feel better about the game today. The defensive line needs to pressure and hit Bacher often, tip short passes at the line, and recover the fumble I predict will come from a running back. Wiley and Jones should have plenty of chances to catch tipped balls or jump routes. Ringer should bust a few runs of 30+. Hoyer should be able to pick his spots and hold on to the ball.
MSU - 28
NU - 24
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Iowa wrapup and other news
Last weeks MSU/Iowa game was...more of the same. Iowa has a strong run defense and proved it once again by holding Javon Ringer to less than 100 yards, although he only carried the ball 25 times.
Hoyer looked solid in the first half. He made plays when he needed to and held on to the ball. The second half was, well, perhaps a sign of things to come. Because Iowa's Defensive line was dominant the safeties and corners didn't need to cheat up on the run. Dropped passes (not Hoyer's fault, on the money) hurt but Hoyer again stared down his primary target. You can tell what side of the field he is throwing to immediately after the snap. If you can see the whole field (watching live) you can tell the exact player he intends to throw to. He doesn't seem to check down, look off safeties, or improvise. Pump fakes and thrown away balls usually mean the person he intended to throw to prior to the snap is not open.
Punting. Wow. Our punting situation has gone from bad (blocked, hurried) to worse (almost blocked, 30 yard net). Punt, pass, and kick contestants from the 5th grade level could hit the ball with more force. I don't question Bates ability -- he has the talent -- but something has changed. At least one punt was off the side of his foot last week and the rest were short. He has appeared -- whether it was bad blocking or reality -- to be slow getting his punts off. Perhaps the coaching staff has changed his mechanics. Bates has to get this turned around before playing the tough defenses remaining on the schedule.
Goran Suton likes Panera. I have proof.
Drew Stanton will likely start a game for the Lions before the year is over. I'm sad to have to say that. This team is bad and my guess is (with 1 practice taking reps) he doesn't know the offense. You can study a playbook but knowing takes game speed. One question: Roy Williams - Do you listen in the huddle or just run routes that seem fun? If the latter, could you please tell the rest of the team what personal audible you are calling so they have a vague idea where you might be on the field? How about setting some goals like, say, increasing your catch percentage to around 33%. Catching the ball 1 out of 3 times it hits you in the hands is a good start. Thanks.
I don't like the upcoming Northwestern game. This could be the beginning of what outsiders will call "same old spartans." NU is followed by Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Purdue and Penn State. Looking at 4 potential losses in a row, with a likely win against Purdue, it would be easy to say "see, same old story." However, the program is moving in the right direction. They are winning the games they should, playing close in every contest and getting better recruits. I would like to see MSU move the ball on the ground against NWestern, play Ohio State close -- keeping scrambling qb Pryor under control -- and beat Wisconsin and UM. Penn State is fast and tough to beat at Happy Valley. Purdue is the type of letdown game the old spartans would lose. Winning 3 of the last 6 would probably have to be considered a very good season, 2 a push, and less than 2 a serious dissappointment.
I grade the 2008 MSU defense on par with the 2007 version overall. The Defensive Ends are much less dominant this year, getting almost no pressure on the opposing qb, while the corners and safeties seem to be getting better. At linebacker the 2008 version is quicker and more athletic, but for all his shortcomings Kaleb Thornhill knew where to be without thinking. He was experienced, intelligent, and had the pedigree.
I'm excited to see where this program is going. I am always skeptical of savior talk but the team should get better with Nichol at QB next year. Incoming freshman Maxwell is a standout QB recruit as well. 4 of the top 5 2009 recruits in the state of Michigan are spartan pledges and Dantonio continues to hit the state of Ohio hard. Things are looking up, but much like the coach's demeanor, at a measured and steady pace.
Hoyer looked solid in the first half. He made plays when he needed to and held on to the ball. The second half was, well, perhaps a sign of things to come. Because Iowa's Defensive line was dominant the safeties and corners didn't need to cheat up on the run. Dropped passes (not Hoyer's fault, on the money) hurt but Hoyer again stared down his primary target. You can tell what side of the field he is throwing to immediately after the snap. If you can see the whole field (watching live) you can tell the exact player he intends to throw to. He doesn't seem to check down, look off safeties, or improvise. Pump fakes and thrown away balls usually mean the person he intended to throw to prior to the snap is not open.
Punting. Wow. Our punting situation has gone from bad (blocked, hurried) to worse (almost blocked, 30 yard net). Punt, pass, and kick contestants from the 5th grade level could hit the ball with more force. I don't question Bates ability -- he has the talent -- but something has changed. At least one punt was off the side of his foot last week and the rest were short. He has appeared -- whether it was bad blocking or reality -- to be slow getting his punts off. Perhaps the coaching staff has changed his mechanics. Bates has to get this turned around before playing the tough defenses remaining on the schedule.
Goran Suton likes Panera. I have proof.
Drew Stanton will likely start a game for the Lions before the year is over. I'm sad to have to say that. This team is bad and my guess is (with 1 practice taking reps) he doesn't know the offense. You can study a playbook but knowing takes game speed. One question: Roy Williams - Do you listen in the huddle or just run routes that seem fun? If the latter, could you please tell the rest of the team what personal audible you are calling so they have a vague idea where you might be on the field? How about setting some goals like, say, increasing your catch percentage to around 33%. Catching the ball 1 out of 3 times it hits you in the hands is a good start. Thanks.
I don't like the upcoming Northwestern game. This could be the beginning of what outsiders will call "same old spartans." NU is followed by Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Purdue and Penn State. Looking at 4 potential losses in a row, with a likely win against Purdue, it would be easy to say "see, same old story." However, the program is moving in the right direction. They are winning the games they should, playing close in every contest and getting better recruits. I would like to see MSU move the ball on the ground against NWestern, play Ohio State close -- keeping scrambling qb Pryor under control -- and beat Wisconsin and UM. Penn State is fast and tough to beat at Happy Valley. Purdue is the type of letdown game the old spartans would lose. Winning 3 of the last 6 would probably have to be considered a very good season, 2 a push, and less than 2 a serious dissappointment.
I grade the 2008 MSU defense on par with the 2007 version overall. The Defensive Ends are much less dominant this year, getting almost no pressure on the opposing qb, while the corners and safeties seem to be getting better. At linebacker the 2008 version is quicker and more athletic, but for all his shortcomings Kaleb Thornhill knew where to be without thinking. He was experienced, intelligent, and had the pedigree.
I'm excited to see where this program is going. I am always skeptical of savior talk but the team should get better with Nichol at QB next year. Incoming freshman Maxwell is a standout QB recruit as well. 4 of the top 5 2009 recruits in the state of Michigan are spartan pledges and Dantonio continues to hit the state of Ohio hard. Things are looking up, but much like the coach's demeanor, at a measured and steady pace.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
MSU v Iowa
It's homecoming in East Lansing in every sense. East Lansing High hosts Grand Ledge Friday night and MSU hosts Iowa Saturday at noon. No word on what the East Lansing homeschoolers are doing in the Quiz [Bible] Bowl league this Sunday. However, it stands to reason that if you are always at home...you can't...its hard to have a literal...you know what I mean?
Iowa is coming off a tough loss to a very dangerous, very underrated Northwestern team. I could talk about NU for days, as I think they have maybe the best QB in the B10, a top 3 running back, and a very underrated and dangerous defense. Iowa had a 17-3 halftime lead but gave the game away late. Iowa lost their best running back Greene (one of the better backs in a very, very deep RB field in the big [11] ten) in the 4th Quarter last week and could not run the clock out or move the ball effectively. Greene is back and healthy again this week according to reports and could make Iowa a tough match up for MSU.
However, as good as Greene is, Javon Ringer is better. This can be found at espn.com and is beautiful:
NCAA Leaders
Scoring PTS
1. J. Ringer Mich St 72
2. D. Brown UConn 66
3. J. Dillard Rice 60
4. M. Lewis Ball St 60
5. K. Moreno Georgia 60
Interceptions
INT
1. O. Wiley Mich St 4
2. S. Baker Ball St 4
3. D. Charbonnet Texas Tech 4
4. S. Thompson California 3
5. R. Hamilton Vanderbilt 3
I'm pretty sure MSU has never been the leader in those two categories at one time.
Meanwhile Hoyer is completing 46.5% of his passes. And we are throwing the ball about 40% of the time. During, by far, the softest part of the MSU schedule. Which means he should be somewhere near 70%.
Iowa's defense is giving up points like THIS GUY is giving up soup--at a stingy 10.2 points per game average. Iowa has allowed just over 100 rushing yards per game (look for that to get blown up) and 182 passing per game (mostly due to NU's Bacher throwing for 280+, so, unless they cram the box for Ringer, look for that to be fairly accurate). Interesting is when Iowa has given up points, primarily in the 2nd and 4th quarters.
Two things about Iowa are just amazing. 1. That Ferentz still has a job (currently ranked #6 hot-seat coach nationally by these guys). 2. That they still have enough players to take the field. The character of this Iowa team makes Penn State and Bobby Williams era MSU look like the Ivy League. Let's just hope they keep their pants on long enough to play Saturday. You could best sum the Iowa season up like this:
The Hawkeyes should be ready Saturday. This is a make or break game for what should have been a decent Iowa team.
Iowa is coming off a tough loss to a very dangerous, very underrated Northwestern team. I could talk about NU for days, as I think they have maybe the best QB in the B10, a top 3 running back, and a very underrated and dangerous defense. Iowa had a 17-3 halftime lead but gave the game away late. Iowa lost their best running back Greene (one of the better backs in a very, very deep RB field in the big [11] ten) in the 4th Quarter last week and could not run the clock out or move the ball effectively. Greene is back and healthy again this week according to reports and could make Iowa a tough match up for MSU.
However, as good as Greene is, Javon Ringer is better. This can be found at espn.com and is beautiful:
NCAA Leaders
Scoring PTS
1. J. Ringer Mich St 72
2. D. Brown UConn 66
3. J. Dillard Rice 60
4. M. Lewis Ball St 60
5. K. Moreno Georgia 60
Interceptions
INT
1. O. Wiley Mich St 4
2. S. Baker Ball St 4
3. D. Charbonnet Texas Tech 4
4. S. Thompson California 3
5. R. Hamilton Vanderbilt 3
I'm pretty sure MSU has never been the leader in those two categories at one time.
Meanwhile Hoyer is completing 46.5% of his passes. And we are throwing the ball about 40% of the time. During, by far, the softest part of the MSU schedule. Which means he should be somewhere near 70%.
Iowa's defense is giving up points like THIS GUY is giving up soup--at a stingy 10.2 points per game average. Iowa has allowed just over 100 rushing yards per game (look for that to get blown up) and 182 passing per game (mostly due to NU's Bacher throwing for 280+, so, unless they cram the box for Ringer, look for that to be fairly accurate). Interesting is when Iowa has given up points, primarily in the 2nd and 4th quarters.
Two things about Iowa are just amazing. 1. That Ferentz still has a job (currently ranked #6 hot-seat coach nationally by these guys). 2. That they still have enough players to take the field. The character of this Iowa team makes Penn State and Bobby Williams era MSU look like the Ivy League. Let's just hope they keep their pants on long enough to play Saturday. You could best sum the Iowa season up like this:
The Hawkeyes should be ready Saturday. This is a make or break game for what should have been a decent Iowa team.
Wrong Hawkeye.
My prediction:
A back and forth game for a quarter and a half, MSU pulling ahead just before the half and then finishing strong in the 4th quarter.
MSU - 28
IoWa - 13
One last note. If you see these people on the high seas, make haste! They are cornpeople! They will follow you to the ends of the earth.
One last note. If you see these people on the high seas, make haste! They are cornpeople! They will follow you to the ends of the earth.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
MSU v IU
Since my only access to a computer prior to Saturday morning was a dial up connection this week will only include a post game analysis.
MSU did just enough to win Saturday in a 42-29 victory over Indiana. Ringer had a fairly boring 198 yards with one touchdown. He carried the ball 44 times, at least a half dozen for a loss.
Hoyer looked, again, just ok. Although his stats looked respectable (14 of 26 for 261 yards w/ 2 passing TD's, one rushing TD) he continues to stare down receivers. Against IU it worked. Against teams like Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio State,and Penn State that means big trouble. In his defense, yet again, receivers dropped some perfectly catchable passes. There were 3 glaring drops in key situations. The worst play of the day (on offense) was an overthrown pass for a TD to Cunningham. Hoyer had Cunningham wide open deep down the middle and missed a sure TD by not putting enough air under the pass, missing his target by a few feet. I would like to say that Hoyer looked better--because he did glancing at a stat sheet--but Indiana's defense is suspect to begin with (See: giving up 42 points and 460 yards of offense to Ball State) and have lost 3 starting defensive backs to injury so far this season.
The MSU run defense was soft as well. I expect the defensive backs to get beat from time to time. Yesterday there was a flag about every 4 seconds. But the run defense had been strong up until Saturday, when the Spartans gave up 189 yards on the ground.
Wisconsin found a way to lose to UM after leading 19-0 at halftime and recovering 5 UM turnovers in the first half. I really didn't think Wisconsin was that great coming into the game, but losing after being up by 19 and recovering 5 turnovers in a half?! Sounds like John L Smith.
MSU did just enough to win Saturday in a 42-29 victory over Indiana. Ringer had a fairly boring 198 yards with one touchdown. He carried the ball 44 times, at least a half dozen for a loss.
Hoyer looked, again, just ok. Although his stats looked respectable (14 of 26 for 261 yards w/ 2 passing TD's, one rushing TD) he continues to stare down receivers. Against IU it worked. Against teams like Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio State,and Penn State that means big trouble. In his defense, yet again, receivers dropped some perfectly catchable passes. There were 3 glaring drops in key situations. The worst play of the day (on offense) was an overthrown pass for a TD to Cunningham. Hoyer had Cunningham wide open deep down the middle and missed a sure TD by not putting enough air under the pass, missing his target by a few feet. I would like to say that Hoyer looked better--because he did glancing at a stat sheet--but Indiana's defense is suspect to begin with (See: giving up 42 points and 460 yards of offense to Ball State) and have lost 3 starting defensive backs to injury so far this season.
The MSU run defense was soft as well. I expect the defensive backs to get beat from time to time. Yesterday there was a flag about every 4 seconds. But the run defense had been strong up until Saturday, when the Spartans gave up 189 yards on the ground.
Wisconsin found a way to lose to UM after leading 19-0 at halftime and recovering 5 UM turnovers in the first half. I really didn't think Wisconsin was that great coming into the game, but losing after being up by 19 and recovering 5 turnovers in a half?! Sounds like John L Smith.
Friday, September 19, 2008
MSU v ND
Lock the pantry and hide the little boys, Charlie Weis and his friendly fathers are in town. Pull up a twinkie and sit on my lap, son, while I tell you a story.
ESPN.COM discovered MSU. Turns out all you have to do is play a mediocre team coming off a terrible season to get some recognition. 3 Articles this week. 1 about Ringer (greatest things since ... ). 1 about Hoyer ( ... ). 1 about emus.
We all know the heart-warming story of Notre Dame lore. A young hobbit, not very smart or very talented, nor very attractive. But, neither was he very tall or fast. He wasn't a kicker, punter, or long snapper.
He wasn't really worth much at all. He wasn't rich, or from a family that contributed a great deal to society. He wasn't a future leader, nor has he done anything repute since his glory days back in 1919. But he had a heart and dedication like no other. So much heart did that little hobbit have in his wee chest (very like a leprechaun was he!) that he made the team. We loved that little hobbit making tackles in the last 3 seconds of scrub time, loved it so much we made a movie.
The year is 2007, and Rudy has a bag on his head at a home football game, turning his other cheek to touchdown Jesus, praying for a new offense.
All jokes and pedophilia aside, the game should be good. I don't know at all what to expect from either team. ND has beaten two nobody teams (haha) and MSU has, considering the weather, shown us little. The difference between last year's teams and this year's teams is like ... leaving us with little to go on. I still predict that MSU is, overall, better than they were last year. ND is slightly better than the 2007 version.
Let's check with Lou.
Lou isn't happy with my analysis. SSScccHIIIT.
MSU - 32
ND - 27
ESPN.COM discovered MSU. Turns out all you have to do is play a mediocre team coming off a terrible season to get some recognition. 3 Articles this week. 1 about Ringer (greatest things since ... ). 1 about Hoyer ( ... ). 1 about emus.
We all know the heart-warming story of Notre Dame lore. A young hobbit, not very smart or very talented, nor very attractive. But, neither was he very tall or fast. He wasn't a kicker, punter, or long snapper.
He wasn't really worth much at all. He wasn't rich, or from a family that contributed a great deal to society. He wasn't a future leader, nor has he done anything repute since his glory days back in 1919. But he had a heart and dedication like no other. So much heart did that little hobbit have in his wee chest (very like a leprechaun was he!) that he made the team. We loved that little hobbit making tackles in the last 3 seconds of scrub time, loved it so much we made a movie.The year is 2007, and Rudy has a bag on his head at a home football game, turning his other cheek to touchdown Jesus, praying for a new offense.
All jokes and pedophilia aside, the game should be good. I don't know at all what to expect from either team. ND has beaten two nobody teams (haha) and MSU has, considering the weather, shown us little. The difference between last year's teams and this year's teams is like ... leaving us with little to go on. I still predict that MSU is, overall, better than they were last year. ND is slightly better than the 2007 version.
Let's check with Lou.
Lou isn't happy with my analysis. SSScccHIIIT.
MSU - 32
ND - 27
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
FAU Aftermath
In two words: It Rained.
During the MSU/ND game in 2006, in the second half at least, it rained harder. This was more like dripping water torture. It rained constantly. We were wet in rain gear under a tent.
Not-so-Sharp from the Free Press gives all the credit to two things: the rain and Ringer. Wow. Profound. He gets paid for this?! Next he'll be telling us people don't like high gas prices and the Lions are a terrible football team. He's right again. Way to go out on a limb.
The pass rush was bad. There was little to no pressure on the FAU QB. When it rains receivers can't get in and out of cuts, things take longer to develop, and the QB takes longer to get out from under center and get a good grip on the ball. That should have provided MSU's defensive ends a chance to get 3-5 sacks. We got zero. We can't hope to be a good defensive team until we pressure the QB. On the bright side the run defense was solid. Drew Dull seems to ignore that fact, saying the MSU defense was lucky it rained and stopped the passing attack, but FAU couldn't run the ball effectively either. Coming into the game FAU had run for over 150 yards per game. Last Saturday they had 82.
Ringer was Big Ten Player of the week. I'm still not sold on the offensive line. Most of the credit goes to Ringer, both for his raw talent and for decision making. Young backs run as fast as they can either straight up field or to the corner, trying to bounce outside. Experienced backs are patient. They wait for the blocks to develop, don't panic, then burst through when they see an opening. That is exactly what Ringer did this past weekend running the ball 43 times for 282 yards and 2 TD's. A 30 yard TD was called back on a hold.
Hoyer is...Hoyer. The conditions were terrible so I can't be too hard on him. However, he fumbled or almost fumbled three times as many snaps as the opposing QB. At one point a high snap went over his head. He ran to the ball and had the right idea; fall on the ball and eat the loss. He somehow screwed that up. Hoyer has now added "falling on a fumble" to a list of things he is not so good at.
I have no idea what to expect from the MSU ND game this weekend. ND looked terrible against lowly (very, very low) San Diego State and honestly should not have beaten Michigan. I'm ok with the latter. They just don't look all that impressive.
MSU is hard to figure as well. The offensive is, well, Ringer. I like the receivers I just don't know that I trust Hoyer to make good decisions or throws. The defense is hard to figure. Most importantly MSU v ND games are always strange.
During the MSU/ND game in 2006, in the second half at least, it rained harder. This was more like dripping water torture. It rained constantly. We were wet in rain gear under a tent.
Not-so-Sharp from the Free Press gives all the credit to two things: the rain and Ringer. Wow. Profound. He gets paid for this?! Next he'll be telling us people don't like high gas prices and the Lions are a terrible football team. He's right again. Way to go out on a limb.
The pass rush was bad. There was little to no pressure on the FAU QB. When it rains receivers can't get in and out of cuts, things take longer to develop, and the QB takes longer to get out from under center and get a good grip on the ball. That should have provided MSU's defensive ends a chance to get 3-5 sacks. We got zero. We can't hope to be a good defensive team until we pressure the QB. On the bright side the run defense was solid. Drew Dull seems to ignore that fact, saying the MSU defense was lucky it rained and stopped the passing attack, but FAU couldn't run the ball effectively either. Coming into the game FAU had run for over 150 yards per game. Last Saturday they had 82.
Ringer was Big Ten Player of the week. I'm still not sold on the offensive line. Most of the credit goes to Ringer, both for his raw talent and for decision making. Young backs run as fast as they can either straight up field or to the corner, trying to bounce outside. Experienced backs are patient. They wait for the blocks to develop, don't panic, then burst through when they see an opening. That is exactly what Ringer did this past weekend running the ball 43 times for 282 yards and 2 TD's. A 30 yard TD was called back on a hold.
Hoyer is...Hoyer. The conditions were terrible so I can't be too hard on him. However, he fumbled or almost fumbled three times as many snaps as the opposing QB. At one point a high snap went over his head. He ran to the ball and had the right idea; fall on the ball and eat the loss. He somehow screwed that up. Hoyer has now added "falling on a fumble" to a list of things he is not so good at.
I have no idea what to expect from the MSU ND game this weekend. ND looked terrible against lowly (very, very low) San Diego State and honestly should not have beaten Michigan. I'm ok with the latter. They just don't look all that impressive.
MSU is hard to figure as well. The offensive is, well, Ringer. I like the receivers I just don't know that I trust Hoyer to make good decisions or throws. The defense is hard to figure. Most importantly MSU v ND games are always strange.
Friday, September 12, 2008
MSU v Florida Atlantic 9/13/08
The Michigan State defense faces a challenge this weekend when they meet FAU. FAU throws the ball, then they throw the ball, then when the QB is tired he hands it off --- and the RB throws the ball. John L would be proud.
With several banged up (and some MIA) members of the secondary day to day more shifting will occur this week. Ross Weaver will move from corner to safety, to fill in for Davis-Clark, who was a fill in for the dismissed Jenrette...you get the idea.
All the headlines following last week's 42-10 victory over Eastern Michigan used words like "Romp" and "Crush" and "Thrash," but from where I sat (quite close to the field, thanks Justin) the defense looked just ok. The offense was fine, considering the EMU (which the band chanted, "Go EMU," like the ostrich/Jimmy Clausen looking animal) defense gave up about 30lbs and 4 inches to the MSU offensive line. It was the corners, the defensive ends, and the interior linemen that looked just ok. EMU was about 1/2 a step away from scoring 14 more points. There was no pass rush. There were no big plays. That can't happen this week because given time the FAU QB will place the ball. In two games FAU's QB has thrown the ball 74 times and last season threw for 3700 yards. That's about...a lot of yards per game.
I expect Trevor Anderson to have a big game at DE. Two sacks, with another 2 for the linebackers would not be surprising. I also expect at least one tipped ball interception as the defensive line has a distinct height advantage.
Hoyer continues to be Trent Dilfer; the guy that just does what he has to do to not lose the game. Hand off 65% of the time. Complete a few throws. Don't gamble. Manage the game. Show your strong arm a few times per game by overthrowing a receiver by 10 yards.
The good news for Hoyer? FAU has a better chance of brokering peace in the middle east than stopping the MSU running game. FAU has given up over 400 rushing yards through two games. A team that can't stop the run can't stop anything. Look for Ringer, and Jimmerson, and Anderson, and...anyone else that lines up in the backfield to have success. Once the safeties creep up, look for deep balls to Cunningham and Dell off play action fakes.
I don't like playing the smaller athletic teams from Florida. There is so much talent in the state of Florida that even the leftovers, at least at skill positions, is top tier in terms of speed. Smaller quicker teams leave less room for error on defense, especially against screens and quick slants like Northwestern runs. I see FAU very much like Northwestern, minus the academics. Passes will likely go 5 yards in the air and 25 yards after the catch. Fortunately I really like our linebackers. With some pressure on the QB from the pass rush, good positioning on defense, and solid tackling the defense should be ok. Miss a few tackles or give the QB too much time and it could spell trouble.
The FAU coach, Howard Schnellenberger, is about 311 years old. He looks like Bela Karolyi, dresses like Captain Kangaroo and through carbon dating has been determined to be juuuust a tad younger than Joe Paterno. Smelly Schnelly (as his players endearingly call him) and Moses were tight until Moses, then a special teams assistant coach, told his players not to block on a kick return. It turns out he was practicing a new "parting" play that involved clearing space for "his people" by using an early rendition of the YMCA dance craze. When the play failed, costing Schnelly a promotion, the two had a falling out.
Naturally Schnelly chose to end his football career in Florida where he spends the offseason driving poorly, enjoying air conditioning and jello, and playing shuffle board by 10 am.
MSU - 41
FAU - 20
*Above: "Can't you see, it's time for my pills!"
With several banged up (and some MIA) members of the secondary day to day more shifting will occur this week. Ross Weaver will move from corner to safety, to fill in for Davis-Clark, who was a fill in for the dismissed Jenrette...you get the idea.
All the headlines following last week's 42-10 victory over Eastern Michigan used words like "Romp" and "Crush" and "Thrash," but from where I sat (quite close to the field, thanks Justin) the defense looked just ok. The offense was fine, considering the EMU (which the band chanted, "Go EMU," like the ostrich/Jimmy Clausen looking animal) defense gave up about 30lbs and 4 inches to the MSU offensive line. It was the corners, the defensive ends, and the interior linemen that looked just ok. EMU was about 1/2 a step away from scoring 14 more points. There was no pass rush. There were no big plays. That can't happen this week because given time the FAU QB will place the ball. In two games FAU's QB has thrown the ball 74 times and last season threw for 3700 yards. That's about...a lot of yards per game.
I expect Trevor Anderson to have a big game at DE. Two sacks, with another 2 for the linebackers would not be surprising. I also expect at least one tipped ball interception as the defensive line has a distinct height advantage.
Hoyer continues to be Trent Dilfer; the guy that just does what he has to do to not lose the game. Hand off 65% of the time. Complete a few throws. Don't gamble. Manage the game. Show your strong arm a few times per game by overthrowing a receiver by 10 yards.
The good news for Hoyer? FAU has a better chance of brokering peace in the middle east than stopping the MSU running game. FAU has given up over 400 rushing yards through two games. A team that can't stop the run can't stop anything. Look for Ringer, and Jimmerson, and Anderson, and...anyone else that lines up in the backfield to have success. Once the safeties creep up, look for deep balls to Cunningham and Dell off play action fakes.
I don't like playing the smaller athletic teams from Florida. There is so much talent in the state of Florida that even the leftovers, at least at skill positions, is top tier in terms of speed. Smaller quicker teams leave less room for error on defense, especially against screens and quick slants like Northwestern runs. I see FAU very much like Northwestern, minus the academics. Passes will likely go 5 yards in the air and 25 yards after the catch. Fortunately I really like our linebackers. With some pressure on the QB from the pass rush, good positioning on defense, and solid tackling the defense should be ok. Miss a few tackles or give the QB too much time and it could spell trouble.
The FAU coach, Howard Schnellenberger, is about 311 years old. He looks like Bela Karolyi, dresses like Captain Kangaroo and through carbon dating has been determined to be juuuust a tad younger than Joe Paterno. Smelly Schnelly (as his players endearingly call him) and Moses were tight until Moses, then a special teams assistant coach, told his players not to block on a kick return. It turns out he was practicing a new "parting" play that involved clearing space for "his people" by using an early rendition of the YMCA dance craze. When the play failed, costing Schnelly a promotion, the two had a falling out.
Naturally Schnelly chose to end his football career in Florida where he spends the offseason driving poorly, enjoying air conditioning and jello, and playing shuffle board by 10 am.
MSU - 41
FAU - 20
*Above: "Can't you see, it's time for my pills!"
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Knee Jerk or Just Jerk?
So I was mad, frustrated, and perhaps a little unfair in my last analysis. I stand by about 95% of it. Thing is, when a team shoots 80% from the field (82% from 3) things look artificially good. That's what MSU did against Indiana. I still think the offense is stagnant.
However, Kalin Lucas got in the lane. A lot. That, to me, was the key to this game. Hitting every shot you shoot--including 9 3's in the first half--doesn't hurt. I still don't like Raymar shooting the mid range shot. I still don't like running around the perimeter with the ball 90% of the time. I still don't like missing free throws.
On Sunday MSU went inside with more purpose than I can remember in quite some time. If I didn't know better I would think Izzo reads this (and hates me) because the team went inside, got guard penetration, ran the options off plays more than the primary sets, and in his post game press conference talked about "not asking players to do things they can't do" but instead "asking them to do things they've already done in the past." Sounds like not forcing things. Sounds like not trying to do too much. Sounds like playing within yourself. But then I realized that anyone who knows anything about basketball could watch these games and pick it all up. It's painfully obvious.
Morgan started the game with two 3 point shots. I don't mind that as much as the mid range shot. If he's closer to the basket than 18 feet he needs to just keep on going. Get to the rim. Get fouled. Give yourself a chance to get a rebound. Morgan was aggressive around the basket again, and despite missing some free throws, got people in foul trouble.
Suton did what Suton needs to do. He rebounded. He didn't lose his man (much) and didn't throw the ball away. He had a double double and hit a 3 late in the game. I cringed. It went in.
Neitzel took a lot of shots. He played strong defense. He picked up a couple of rebounds. He kept the defense honest. At one point Lucas had the ball and drove near the corner/baseline. Neitzel was in the corner with a man on him. Lucas' defender was beat, but help couldn't come over since Neitzel was shooting. Lucas got a layup 1. because of his speed, and 2. because Neitzel kept the defense from rotating. That's respect. When a man WITH the ball and open is heading toward the basket, and you won't leave your man to pick him up, that's respect. Or stupidity.
MSU was also helped out by a ghostly force. Indiana missed about 4 layups/dunks for no apparent reason. D.J. White is a headcase. Gordon should get an offensive foul called about 50% of the time he drives. Indiana is not that good, and with Sampson gone (sanction likely to follow?), Gordon likely gone (I would say about 90% headed to the NBA) and D.J. White gone Indiana is going to be BAD for a few years. Bad.
The key to this game was defense and running. Walton and Lucas really hounded Gordon when he was handling the ball. Walton was great. Lucas is so quick and smart. Lucas was unstoppable on offense. I would guess that if you put together a top ten highlight reel Lucas would be involved in about 8 of them. His passing was Skiles like. He drove past his man at will. He ran the break. He defended. He is going to be very, very special.
Now MSU plays Ohio State and Illinois on the road, followed by the BigTen Tournament. I don't like the Illinois game. They have nothing to play for but their Seniors. No pressure, no title hopes, not NCAA tournament seeding to worry about. Trap game. Ohio State is on the bubble but I just don't think they have enough experience yet. I think we will lose in the BigTen Tournament in the second round. I just don't see us winning it.
I do like the number of minutes we are getting for Summers (who had a tough game, turnovers and defense were poop) and Allen (he has Ager's disease: run, leap, realize you have no idea why you are in the air and what you are going to do with the ball) but would like to see one more big man--be in Herzog (LOST on the floor) or Ibok (I like him, must be the offense that is keeping him off the floor) getting some minutes. Teams with a solid interior could hurt us once Naymick picks up a couple of fouls. Suton can guard guys bigger and slower than him, which could help Naymick out, buy Suton CANNOT guard versatile 3/4/5 post players. Suton's Rule: if the guy can shoot from more than 12 feet and has ever dribbled the ball in the past, Suton cannot guard him.
However, Kalin Lucas got in the lane. A lot. That, to me, was the key to this game. Hitting every shot you shoot--including 9 3's in the first half--doesn't hurt. I still don't like Raymar shooting the mid range shot. I still don't like running around the perimeter with the ball 90% of the time. I still don't like missing free throws.
On Sunday MSU went inside with more purpose than I can remember in quite some time. If I didn't know better I would think Izzo reads this (and hates me) because the team went inside, got guard penetration, ran the options off plays more than the primary sets, and in his post game press conference talked about "not asking players to do things they can't do" but instead "asking them to do things they've already done in the past." Sounds like not forcing things. Sounds like not trying to do too much. Sounds like playing within yourself. But then I realized that anyone who knows anything about basketball could watch these games and pick it all up. It's painfully obvious.
Morgan started the game with two 3 point shots. I don't mind that as much as the mid range shot. If he's closer to the basket than 18 feet he needs to just keep on going. Get to the rim. Get fouled. Give yourself a chance to get a rebound. Morgan was aggressive around the basket again, and despite missing some free throws, got people in foul trouble.
Suton did what Suton needs to do. He rebounded. He didn't lose his man (much) and didn't throw the ball away. He had a double double and hit a 3 late in the game. I cringed. It went in.
Neitzel took a lot of shots. He played strong defense. He picked up a couple of rebounds. He kept the defense honest. At one point Lucas had the ball and drove near the corner/baseline. Neitzel was in the corner with a man on him. Lucas' defender was beat, but help couldn't come over since Neitzel was shooting. Lucas got a layup 1. because of his speed, and 2. because Neitzel kept the defense from rotating. That's respect. When a man WITH the ball and open is heading toward the basket, and you won't leave your man to pick him up, that's respect. Or stupidity.
MSU was also helped out by a ghostly force. Indiana missed about 4 layups/dunks for no apparent reason. D.J. White is a headcase. Gordon should get an offensive foul called about 50% of the time he drives. Indiana is not that good, and with Sampson gone (sanction likely to follow?), Gordon likely gone (I would say about 90% headed to the NBA) and D.J. White gone Indiana is going to be BAD for a few years. Bad.
The key to this game was defense and running. Walton and Lucas really hounded Gordon when he was handling the ball. Walton was great. Lucas is so quick and smart. Lucas was unstoppable on offense. I would guess that if you put together a top ten highlight reel Lucas would be involved in about 8 of them. His passing was Skiles like. He drove past his man at will. He ran the break. He defended. He is going to be very, very special.
Now MSU plays Ohio State and Illinois on the road, followed by the BigTen Tournament. I don't like the Illinois game. They have nothing to play for but their Seniors. No pressure, no title hopes, not NCAA tournament seeding to worry about. Trap game. Ohio State is on the bubble but I just don't think they have enough experience yet. I think we will lose in the BigTen Tournament in the second round. I just don't see us winning it.
I do like the number of minutes we are getting for Summers (who had a tough game, turnovers and defense were poop) and Allen (he has Ager's disease: run, leap, realize you have no idea why you are in the air and what you are going to do with the ball) but would like to see one more big man--be in Herzog (LOST on the floor) or Ibok (I like him, must be the offense that is keeping him off the floor) getting some minutes. Teams with a solid interior could hurt us once Naymick picks up a couple of fouls. Suton can guard guys bigger and slower than him, which could help Naymick out, buy Suton CANNOT guard versatile 3/4/5 post players. Suton's Rule: if the guy can shoot from more than 12 feet and has ever dribbled the ball in the past, Suton cannot guard him.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Hate this team.
Top to bottom I hate it.
I hate losing, yes. But it's not about losing. It's about how they lose. It's about being stupid, embarrassing, and frustrating beyond all human comprehension.
I'm going to say it and be done. Tom Izzo is a not a great coach. He is a good person. He is a good role model. I am proud of our progam and players for their character. He is not a great coach. When he has had good players + good assistants we have done well.
This team is more talented, top to bottom, than everyone else in the BigTen (except perhaps Indiana). I would argue MSU is actually better on average than Indiana. On paper.
Our offense is a joke. We are running predictable sets. We make passes because that is what the play calls for (between guards like catch; Neitzel with the ball, back to walton, hot potato to Neitzel), we run around a little, pass it between guards 30 feet from the basket, then maybe get off a shot. Maybe. We have a predictable and terrible offense. If we have all these sets, as people claim, why the hell do we run the same 4 plays all game? Why do they all involve passing it around the perimeter then chucking up a bad shot? WHY IN THE HELL DO THEY INVOLVE SHOTS WITH NO ONE UNDER THE BASKET TO REBOUND?! Why is Raymar shooting a 15 footer 5 times per game, from the worst angle on the court, with no one on the block to rebound, when he can't even make a free throw? He's not a distance shooter.
When can this team, or any MSU team with more talent than the opponent (see: Davis + Brown + Ager), actually play to potential? Why can't we score after timeouts? Why can't we inbound the ball half the time? Why don't we make in game adjustments? Why do we INSIST players like Suton hedge on perimeter screens--leaving Suton guarding no one--not the screener, not the ball, no one.
It makes me sick. It's elementary. Raymar can't defend or shoot from distance, and can't seem to dribble before taking his first two steps. But we keep putting him in positions to do those very things.
I'm as frustrated as I have ever been with any team ever, even MSU football. MSU football has had personnel concerns. We can't recruit a full roster of top 25 football talent. The basketball team doesn't have the same problem. Players come here with all the ability necessary to succeed. I don't want to hear this team is hurt by scheduling anymore. This season was different. No Duke. No Kansas. No "toughest BigTen lineup." We just sucked.
The BigTen tournament is going to be a joke. The NCAA tournament is going to be worse.
I hate losing, yes. But it's not about losing. It's about how they lose. It's about being stupid, embarrassing, and frustrating beyond all human comprehension.
I'm going to say it and be done. Tom Izzo is a not a great coach. He is a good person. He is a good role model. I am proud of our progam and players for their character. He is not a great coach. When he has had good players + good assistants we have done well.
This team is more talented, top to bottom, than everyone else in the BigTen (except perhaps Indiana). I would argue MSU is actually better on average than Indiana. On paper.
Our offense is a joke. We are running predictable sets. We make passes because that is what the play calls for (between guards like catch; Neitzel with the ball, back to walton, hot potato to Neitzel), we run around a little, pass it between guards 30 feet from the basket, then maybe get off a shot. Maybe. We have a predictable and terrible offense. If we have all these sets, as people claim, why the hell do we run the same 4 plays all game? Why do they all involve passing it around the perimeter then chucking up a bad shot? WHY IN THE HELL DO THEY INVOLVE SHOTS WITH NO ONE UNDER THE BASKET TO REBOUND?! Why is Raymar shooting a 15 footer 5 times per game, from the worst angle on the court, with no one on the block to rebound, when he can't even make a free throw? He's not a distance shooter.
When can this team, or any MSU team with more talent than the opponent (see: Davis + Brown + Ager), actually play to potential? Why can't we score after timeouts? Why can't we inbound the ball half the time? Why don't we make in game adjustments? Why do we INSIST players like Suton hedge on perimeter screens--leaving Suton guarding no one--not the screener, not the ball, no one.
It makes me sick. It's elementary. Raymar can't defend or shoot from distance, and can't seem to dribble before taking his first two steps. But we keep putting him in positions to do those very things.
I'm as frustrated as I have ever been with any team ever, even MSU football. MSU football has had personnel concerns. We can't recruit a full roster of top 25 football talent. The basketball team doesn't have the same problem. Players come here with all the ability necessary to succeed. I don't want to hear this team is hurt by scheduling anymore. This season was different. No Duke. No Kansas. No "toughest BigTen lineup." We just sucked.
The BigTen tournament is going to be a joke. The NCAA tournament is going to be worse.
Rexrode
Apparently Joe reads my stuff. Maybe the LSJ would like to just pay me. Either way it all sounds very, very familiar.
http://lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080228/GW0201/802280349/1023
http://lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080228/GW0201/802280349/1023
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
MSU Basketball (Broken limbs era)
During the past month or so MSU has played consistently crappy basketball. Ignore wins over Penn State and Iowa, terrible horrible teams that should never win a BigTen game, and look more closely at LOSSES to those teams in 2008 and losses (big margin) to Indiana and Purdue.
The players said all the right things leading up to Purdue and Indiana (and post Iowa/Penn State).
- now we test ourselves against the top of the league
- we control our own destiny (for the B10 title)
- we have all the motivation we need
- blah blah we are focused
Then they lost. Then they beat 2 bad teams. At times the Spartans dominated PSU and Iowa. But they never put either team away. After being up 21-5 on Iowa they allowed the undermanned--and frankly crappy--Hawkeyes to make it a 12 point game at the half. Penn State was a blowout...but it should have been the first time. PSU is the worst team in the league. They are without their only truly legit player Claxton for the rest of the season.
MSU is bewildering. Gray has played a few good games. Neitzel is good, but not great. He doesn't get to the lane enough, and as a result, doesn't get to the free throw line enough, to be a late game threat. He has become a 3 point jump shooter almost exclusively. Against Iowa he hit a runner that looked like the triple threat Drew of old. Then it was 12 straight deep jumpers. He scored 20 on almost that many shots. That isn't good enough. The guards ALL need to get in the lane more. Get to the line more. Our offense is run from 25+ feet and that just won't work come tournament time. You can't count on shooting 60% from the field and hitting 6 three pointers per game.
Naymick has played very well within himself. He knows what he can and can't do. He can rebound. He can defend. He can dunk. He can hit a little hook. He can skin up his knees and sacrifice his body. Other players would do well to know what they can, and can't, do.
Suton is a non factor. He's not even noticeable. He misses rebounds. He has weak hands when a rebound comes to him. He doesn't post hard or look for the ball. I can't completely blame him. The guards run around the perimeter dribbling/passing to each other for 25 seconds and then shoot a 3. We have to go inside more. We have to stop making useless passes on the perimeter. I would say that about 50% of our turnovers start OUTSIDE the 3 point line. The other 50%...
Are Raymar Morgan traveling. He is a perplexing headcase. He can DOMINATE at times. The next minute he's a joke. Here are my Morgan insights:
- he takes bad shots. 10 footers from the wing with no big man down low to rebound. that' fine when you make it every time (actually its still not ok, but...) he doesn't make it anywhere near everytime.
- he can't shoot free throws. he makes about 60%. that is unacceptable for a small forward.
- he CANNOT defend. he can't move his feet and guards with his upper body/hands, ending up in early foul trouble and mentally takes himself out of the games early due to fouls.
- he moves his feet well on offense, typically about 3-4 steps at at time before dribbling. that, my friends, is a travel. he needs a passport these days.
- he has no true emotion. i don't think he's mentally in East Lansing. physically he shows up for games and acts like he cares. i don't see heart. i don't see winning and losing in his emotions. its more going through the motions. he's not having fun and it shows.
- when he plays down low and scraps he is at his best. you can't guard him on the block.
Finally, tomorrow night the team travels to Wisconsin to play the first place Badgers for the only meeting between the two teams this year. Wisconsin is tough at home. Big Ten refs are true homers this season, more than I can ever remember. MSU has won two games in a row. They will lose this one in an UGLY game. I think Wisconsin comes out early with a lead, MSU keeps it somewhat manegable at the half (within 8) and then 4-5 minutes into the second half go on a turnover tear and lose by 18. Sorry, that's what I see from this team. No offense. Which leads to turnovers. Which leads to heads down. Which leads to bad defensive footwork and rotation (Suton and Morgan in particular) and desperation (see: shooting only 3's and gambling with risky passes). Fouls + free throws + foul trouble and you have another road loss.
Purdue will, as I said earlier in the year, continue to surprise. They will win the BigTen. Indiana will lose to MSU on senior night in East Lansing. MSU will get a 4 seed in the tourney and win a game. Beyond that its up to the team. They are still a final four caliber team. They have to decide to play smart, under control, and instinctively. Too much thinking is not good for a team this talented. Dive on the floor. Do what you do well. Play don't think. Play like 7th year Super Senior and Doctorate of Finance Candidate Naymick.
The players said all the right things leading up to Purdue and Indiana (and post Iowa/Penn State).
- now we test ourselves against the top of the league
- we control our own destiny (for the B10 title)
- we have all the motivation we need
- blah blah we are focused
Then they lost. Then they beat 2 bad teams. At times the Spartans dominated PSU and Iowa. But they never put either team away. After being up 21-5 on Iowa they allowed the undermanned--and frankly crappy--Hawkeyes to make it a 12 point game at the half. Penn State was a blowout...but it should have been the first time. PSU is the worst team in the league. They are without their only truly legit player Claxton for the rest of the season.
MSU is bewildering. Gray has played a few good games. Neitzel is good, but not great. He doesn't get to the lane enough, and as a result, doesn't get to the free throw line enough, to be a late game threat. He has become a 3 point jump shooter almost exclusively. Against Iowa he hit a runner that looked like the triple threat Drew of old. Then it was 12 straight deep jumpers. He scored 20 on almost that many shots. That isn't good enough. The guards ALL need to get in the lane more. Get to the line more. Our offense is run from 25+ feet and that just won't work come tournament time. You can't count on shooting 60% from the field and hitting 6 three pointers per game.
Naymick has played very well within himself. He knows what he can and can't do. He can rebound. He can defend. He can dunk. He can hit a little hook. He can skin up his knees and sacrifice his body. Other players would do well to know what they can, and can't, do.
Suton is a non factor. He's not even noticeable. He misses rebounds. He has weak hands when a rebound comes to him. He doesn't post hard or look for the ball. I can't completely blame him. The guards run around the perimeter dribbling/passing to each other for 25 seconds and then shoot a 3. We have to go inside more. We have to stop making useless passes on the perimeter. I would say that about 50% of our turnovers start OUTSIDE the 3 point line. The other 50%...
Are Raymar Morgan traveling. He is a perplexing headcase. He can DOMINATE at times. The next minute he's a joke. Here are my Morgan insights:
- he takes bad shots. 10 footers from the wing with no big man down low to rebound. that' fine when you make it every time (actually its still not ok, but...) he doesn't make it anywhere near everytime.
- he can't shoot free throws. he makes about 60%. that is unacceptable for a small forward.
- he CANNOT defend. he can't move his feet and guards with his upper body/hands, ending up in early foul trouble and mentally takes himself out of the games early due to fouls.
- he moves his feet well on offense, typically about 3-4 steps at at time before dribbling. that, my friends, is a travel. he needs a passport these days.
- he has no true emotion. i don't think he's mentally in East Lansing. physically he shows up for games and acts like he cares. i don't see heart. i don't see winning and losing in his emotions. its more going through the motions. he's not having fun and it shows.
- when he plays down low and scraps he is at his best. you can't guard him on the block.
Finally, tomorrow night the team travels to Wisconsin to play the first place Badgers for the only meeting between the two teams this year. Wisconsin is tough at home. Big Ten refs are true homers this season, more than I can ever remember. MSU has won two games in a row. They will lose this one in an UGLY game. I think Wisconsin comes out early with a lead, MSU keeps it somewhat manegable at the half (within 8) and then 4-5 minutes into the second half go on a turnover tear and lose by 18. Sorry, that's what I see from this team. No offense. Which leads to turnovers. Which leads to heads down. Which leads to bad defensive footwork and rotation (Suton and Morgan in particular) and desperation (see: shooting only 3's and gambling with risky passes). Fouls + free throws + foul trouble and you have another road loss.
Purdue will, as I said earlier in the year, continue to surprise. They will win the BigTen. Indiana will lose to MSU on senior night in East Lansing. MSU will get a 4 seed in the tourney and win a game. Beyond that its up to the team. They are still a final four caliber team. They have to decide to play smart, under control, and instinctively. Too much thinking is not good for a team this talented. Dive on the floor. Do what you do well. Play don't think. Play like 7th year Super Senior and Doctorate of Finance Candidate Naymick.
Friday, January 18, 2008
MSU Sneaks past OSU, IU does just enough...again
In a true display of Jekyll and Hyde, MSU came out against Ohio State at home last week to play some of it's best basketball all season (first 10 minutes), pedestrian (end), and some of it's worst (middle).
The energy, the crispness, and the execution were top knotch out of the gate. Neitzel hit two quick shots. Defense was keyed in and in passing lanes. No second chance shots were allowed (and the refs let the teams play!). There was a flow and MSU was up big.
Then OSU hit a 3. Then another. Then a foul and the basket. Then an MSU turnover. Then OSU pressed full court with 3 MSU freshmen on the floor. Suddenly the 20 point lead was only 3. I put the fault on: 1. a predictable and lazy offensive effort, 2. HORRIBLE defensive rotation, and 3. some hot OSU shooting.
1. Morgan was not even awake. He was in foul trouble, I'll concede that, but he was also a non factor when he was in the game. The offense was too willing to stand around the perimeter and pass, dribble, and fire up a late or poor long distance shot. The post was not an option. Is that the fault of post players, guards, or gameplan? I don't know. But it doesn't work. You have to get penetration, you have to get effective post play (not just on rebounds) and you have to get offense other than on the fast break.
Neitzel was hot early and very cold late. The shot fake is losing credibility. Soon people won't even leave their feet. He might be hurt. I hope (the last 10 games) he was hurt badly, because his shot (and willingnes/confidence in his own shot) are not inspiring.
Suton. Wow. He was just bad with the ball in his hands. He rebounded and he actually played pretty ok on defense. He just panics with the ball under pressure.
Finally, as a team our offense likes to run the play...and that's it. Teams can predict where we will be. They step into passing lanes, they bait passes. Our players won't ad lib to keep teams honest. I've been there before as a player. I don't suggest a move toward a Memphis style free for all, but going backdoor or making defenders that cheat on screens pay would make this good team excellent. Remember when Mateen and Mo Pete would just give that look? A defender cheated on a screen 2 times in a row, then mo pete would either go back door for the lob or cut back on the screen for a 3...oh the old days, when basketball was an art and not robotics. Izzo likes you to run the play, but he also likes results. Some people look at a play on paper and see limitations. Others see a starting point with options to make gambling defenders pay.
2. The biggest reason for the OSU comeback was defense. OSU went to a zone trap in the full court. MSU couldnt' break it cleanly, and used a lot of time and energy even when they did break it. That is discouraging (but better to know now than March). MSU's defensive rotation could be likened to a group of decapitated chickens trying to defend the Globe Trotters. MSU was 3 seconds late (but not for lack of speed, it was mental) to each pass and OSU always found the right man. It was only a stretch of the game, 12 minutes or so in the middle, but it was ugly.
3. OSU followed their perfect passing with clutch (and sometimes disgusting) shots. I mean, who hits off balance 3's while defended? A couple I can deal with, but it seemed like the circus was in town.
Finally, I cannot tell you how disgusted I am to watch MSU fumble around like paranoid and jittery crack heads trying to do something rather routine...inbound the basketball. Can we not spend 3 minutes a week on this to work out the kinks? Suton should NEVER be throwing a pass into the backcourt from the free throw extended area. We should never be inbounding the ball TO SUTON where we know he is about to be double teamed 30 feet from the basket. We did both. Multiple times. We seriously have not run an inbound play this year, that I've seen in the games I've attended, where I wasn't on the edge of my seat. We take nearly the full 5 seconds running around doing nothing, then make a haphazard and dangerous pass to 1. someone that shouldn't have the ball in the open floor, and/or 2. a place on the floor that shouldn't be necessary. Our standard inbound in the front court (even under the basket!!) is to throw the ball to a guard in the backcourt. Well, even a flippin idiot schmuck like me can see where this is going. It happened against GVSU (and honestly, it was the difference in the game) and again against OSU. We gave up a basket (and a foul against GVSU) the other way.
This team has all the skill, coaching, and talent necessary to be great. Unfortunately we get in our own way when we can't execute common skills. Basics we need to work on:
- dribbling in the open floor (press break and travels as evidence)
- talking/rotating on defense (most of the talk goes on after the play, when Gray yells at someone because Gray didn't know where he was supposed to be)
- Free Throws (or at least when it matters, excluding Walton)
- Using what's not written in a play to our advantage (anticipate the defenders anticipation)
- Inbounding (something, anything)
Briefly, Indiana continues to win games they should lose. They aren't great but have 2 great players. Both Illinois and Minnesota should have beaten IU. It's a matter of time I think. Wisconsin meanwhile just keeps winning--and MSU only plays Wisconsin in Madison this year. That game could decide whether the BigTen title will be outright, shared, or non-existant for MSU.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Iowa Basketball and other related rants
First, I have to start with a rant. Eddie Hightower is a moron. He and his crew called one of the more disgusting games I've seen in quite some time. At one point he called 4 straight travels. The replays revealed that there might have been 1, a stretch if there were 2. Later in the game there was a blatant walk by Morgan. No call. Just off the charts drunk-howler monkey-corkyretarded bad.
That said, both teams played like crap and honestly no one deserved a win. They both should have an asterisk next to this game. *1/2 win **2 losses
The BigTen Network gets on my bad side already by, in a move that could only be explained by dipping into the ESPN2 cameraman talent pool, SHOWING ME THE PERSON THAT JUST SCORED A BASKET FOR 15 SECONDS after the basket is scored. What does that mean? It means that a fastbreaking team, say...MSU for instance, is now all the way down the floor and there is either A.) a foul, B.) a basket, or as in the case of the Iowa game C.) a turnover. Meanwhile I'm watching the remarkable skill set of Joe Blow as he backpedals down the floor. That's what I tune in for. THAT is what I went to a bar for, since Comcrap Cable doesn't carry BTN. Thank you BigTen Network, for continuing the sucky coverage I used to get for free (see: $100+/month) on ESPN2.
Finally to the game. It was bad. In this one I have to give the credit to everyone, and I do mean everyone. Izzo sucked. Neitzel sucked. Walton sucked. Morgan sucked. Suton...well, he was Suton. Also not listed, but just as sucky: everyone.
No defense. None. Honestly, the only reason that it wasn't a 30 point loss was Iowa's overall crappy and talentless nature. I give 50% of the fault to the team and 50% to the refs. We shot 4 freethrows (I'll hit on that later) while Iowa shot, I believe, 29. It's hard to play defense when you don't know what is a foul and what is not.
Offense. Just wow. Worst game I've ever seen. Neitzel was BAD. Morgan traveled more than he wowed. The team shot around 28% for the game, but what made the difference (because yes, despite that % they could have won the game) was the amount of turnovers and the times at which they occurred. It seemed like about 50% of the possession we didn't even get a shot off. Now factor in the 28% and you have 14%. We scored, by my very rough math, on 14% of our possessions. That's an overstatement, but not by much. We really had no offense at all. No offensive rebounds and no inside out game. More on that to come.
Izzo didn't snap them out of it. He didn't seem to makes us of timeouts. He didn't find an effective lineup. It was a mess. He can't play the game and I don't second guess his prep work, but in game he's been so-so. We NEVER score out of timeout anymore. Hell, we're lucky to inbound the ball to our own players. If we inbound the ball, to our own player, in the front court...WEW! That's like a little victory.
The refs truly ruined our rhythm and offense. Iowa played "good defense" according to critics. I saw handchecking and holding 30 feet from the basket. That has always killed MSU teams (except with Mateen who had strength, poise, and handles). Ref's forced MSU to run an offense from 30 feet with their backs to the basket. Shots didn't fall. Travels, moving screens, and bad passes made for empty (shotless) possessions. It was disgusting and troubling. There wasn't one good thing to take from the game. It is something you never would have seen from any other team I can remember. Even in big losses we've had single players have good games. No one played well. No one played decent.
People who sucked: the coaches, the captains, the players, the refs. Other than that...well probably Gus too...but other than...oh right, Iowa's team as well...I think that's it...oh the BigTen Network. They were horrible too. So was Trippers. Smoking needs to be outlawed in public. Or there should be true smoking sections (see: chambers).
Here's to whipping on Ohio State to get the taste out. Something tells me the slide continues in a tight one. OSU is good as a team and has one of the most polished freshmen big men the BigTen has seen in a while. Oden (last year for OSU) was just dominant on the interior. This guy Kushtafalksjlakjt (good faith effort on the spelling cause I don't really care) can step out and hit a longer shot, makes moves in the lane, and finish at the line. He's going to be good. Suton should have a tough night.
That said, both teams played like crap and honestly no one deserved a win. They both should have an asterisk next to this game. *1/2 win **2 losses
The BigTen Network gets on my bad side already by, in a move that could only be explained by dipping into the ESPN2 cameraman talent pool, SHOWING ME THE PERSON THAT JUST SCORED A BASKET FOR 15 SECONDS after the basket is scored. What does that mean? It means that a fastbreaking team, say...MSU for instance, is now all the way down the floor and there is either A.) a foul, B.) a basket, or as in the case of the Iowa game C.) a turnover. Meanwhile I'm watching the remarkable skill set of Joe Blow as he backpedals down the floor. That's what I tune in for. THAT is what I went to a bar for, since Comcrap Cable doesn't carry BTN. Thank you BigTen Network, for continuing the sucky coverage I used to get for free (see: $100+/month) on ESPN2.
Finally to the game. It was bad. In this one I have to give the credit to everyone, and I do mean everyone. Izzo sucked. Neitzel sucked. Walton sucked. Morgan sucked. Suton...well, he was Suton. Also not listed, but just as sucky: everyone.
No defense. None. Honestly, the only reason that it wasn't a 30 point loss was Iowa's overall crappy and talentless nature. I give 50% of the fault to the team and 50% to the refs. We shot 4 freethrows (I'll hit on that later) while Iowa shot, I believe, 29. It's hard to play defense when you don't know what is a foul and what is not.
Offense. Just wow. Worst game I've ever seen. Neitzel was BAD. Morgan traveled more than he wowed. The team shot around 28% for the game, but what made the difference (because yes, despite that % they could have won the game) was the amount of turnovers and the times at which they occurred. It seemed like about 50% of the possession we didn't even get a shot off. Now factor in the 28% and you have 14%. We scored, by my very rough math, on 14% of our possessions. That's an overstatement, but not by much. We really had no offense at all. No offensive rebounds and no inside out game. More on that to come.
Izzo didn't snap them out of it. He didn't seem to makes us of timeouts. He didn't find an effective lineup. It was a mess. He can't play the game and I don't second guess his prep work, but in game he's been so-so. We NEVER score out of timeout anymore. Hell, we're lucky to inbound the ball to our own players. If we inbound the ball, to our own player, in the front court...WEW! That's like a little victory.
The refs truly ruined our rhythm and offense. Iowa played "good defense" according to critics. I saw handchecking and holding 30 feet from the basket. That has always killed MSU teams (except with Mateen who had strength, poise, and handles). Ref's forced MSU to run an offense from 30 feet with their backs to the basket. Shots didn't fall. Travels, moving screens, and bad passes made for empty (shotless) possessions. It was disgusting and troubling. There wasn't one good thing to take from the game. It is something you never would have seen from any other team I can remember. Even in big losses we've had single players have good games. No one played well. No one played decent.
People who sucked: the coaches, the captains, the players, the refs. Other than that...well probably Gus too...but other than...oh right, Iowa's team as well...I think that's it...oh the BigTen Network. They were horrible too. So was Trippers. Smoking needs to be outlawed in public. Or there should be true smoking sections (see: chambers).
Here's to whipping on Ohio State to get the taste out. Something tells me the slide continues in a tight one. OSU is good as a team and has one of the most polished freshmen big men the BigTen has seen in a while. Oden (last year for OSU) was just dominant on the interior. This guy Kushtafalksjlakjt (good faith effort on the spelling cause I don't really care) can step out and hit a longer shot, makes moves in the lane, and finish at the line. He's going to be good. Suton should have a tough night.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
New Year New Post
I had the distinct honor of watching both a great individual effort by a pair of Spartans, and a terrible, horrible team effort in MSU's last game against Minnesota. I leave the game knowing a few things:
1. Raymar Morgan, especially against smaller lineups (and with Neitzel in the game) is unstoppable
2. Kalin Lucas is probably setting the bar too high (average fan will hate him later in the season when he only scores 10 and we lose a game) but is playing very, very well
3. When Neitzel comes around we are going to be very dangerous
4. Tubby is going to put the Gophers back on the map, and soon
Raymar still reminds me of Magic. He's tall yet agile, can run, has great hands, and he just finishes. Shots that have no business going in, quick releases, and a smile bigger than his head just have me thinking Magic. The other night Raymar cleaned up around the basket, scoring 31 points--mostly within 6 feet of the basket. If he could shoot free throws he would have had 35 easily. He also has to stay out of foul trouble. He picks up some seriously stupid fouls from time to time in the open court. Raymar will continue to do well so long as teams dedicate man coverage from the locker room to the floor on Neitzel. Offensive rebounding and Morgan will benefit most from double teams and scheme defenses on D.Neitzel.
Lucas is still playing very, very well. He's been less of a driving threat and more of a spot up shooter recently, which is nice to expand his game and help the bigs (and beats the shot clock, and softens the blow of Neitzel's 0-6 3 point shooting nights) but he still needs to take it to the basket. We need to draw those fouls. We need to get easy passes to the bigs off penetration to get them confidence. He's also setting himself up for fan outrage later in the season. He's bound to have a few down games...he is a freshman...and he's set the bar quite high. Lost in all this is how well Walton is playing. His defense and assist to turnover ratio isn't sexy to talk about, but he's quietly all big ten pg quality.
I thought it was his playing weight. The papers seem to think it's his wrist. Izzo is done making excuses and now says he's shooting bad and he has no idea why. The point is, we are looking pretty good w/out Neitzel doing squat. I mean, his shooting is just bad. Izzo pointed out that he's shooting a career high % from the field, but honestly, he misses everything. He had a nice runner in the lane last game...and that's about it. He missed all 6 of his 3 point shots. Some badly. Most pretty wide open. Once he comes out of this, once he finds a swagger (he's pump faking and passing up shots he would have taken without thinking last year) we are going to be very, very good. I hope he turns it around in time for Lucas to have a fall off, cause again, you can bet a freshman playing this well is going to slump at some point.
The Gophers should be pretty bad. I mean honestly, talent wise at least, this is the worst Minnesota team is 5 years. They really just don't have a lot of talent. Tubby has them playing hard, smart, and within their means. They play defense. They hit 3's. They go inside and exploit mismatches (see: Goran Suton vs anyone with a pump fake and quick first step). They created TERRRRIBLE defensive rotations for MSU (the WORST part about last game was watching about 4 plays where people either slipped to the basket unguarded or had open 3's unguarded. Completely unguarded). Tubby will make them a winner is less than 5 years. I expect a Gopher share of the BigTen once he has his own recruits. I also think Weber (Illinois) might be gone soon. They lost at home to Penn State this week and are just playing erratic basketball.
Bo Ryan is still a turd and still looks like Moe from the Simpsons.
Um, there's a phone call for Oliver...um...is Oliver Clothesoff here? No? What about Amanda Hugenkiss? Can I get a Amanda Hugenkiss?
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