It is a tough pill to swallow (and I'm glad I didn't watch it live) to see a winning drive snuffed out so close to a season turning win. But after this last weekend I am confident this team can turn it around anyways, with a LOT of work on two things.
1. pressure from the d-line
2. better deep coverage at the corners
Seeing the replay of missing a WIDE OPEN Caper in the endzone is heartbreaking. Knowing that, had you not been blocked on an extra point, you win the game with a field goal. Too many close calls and one really, really big mistake (throwing an interception on 2nd down with plenty of time and inside the 20) were the difference.
The Caper replay just ran again on the news. It looked like one of those moments where, as a basketball player, you're wide open for the game winner and you almost can't believe how open you are. You start thinking, "am I really this open?" and "is this real...something isn't right." Meanwhile you get caught between doing what you've been practicing since you were 6 -- just shoot the damn thing and win the game -- and second guessing what in the hell is going on. Then you chuck up an air ball on some awkward, off balance, halfway between a jumpshot and a 22' skyhook mess of a shot. Although Cousins throw wasn't that ugly that was the scenario. Big eyes, disbelief, overthrow.
His eyes got big. No one can blame him. The interception was bad, but again, he looked like a veteran QB all day long. I can't blame the kid for a couple things when, to be honest, he looked really good. Nichol should be done.
The defense was up and down. Some good run stops and the first sack on Clausen this year (1 sack: 1 injury ratio not looking good for emu resiliency) were good. The coverage at the corners (including the real game clincher -- the dropped, gift wrapped interception) was weak at best. I will say the "game of inches" thing applies because at least the corners were in the highlights. Each time it was a matter of inches between batting the ball and a ND receiver jumping into our band. Which, by the way, is ohhh sooo classsy.
Things don't get any easier going to Wisconsin, home for ummm, and on the road to Illinois. I still think MSU can win the BigTen. I mean that. We play Michigan at home, Penn State at home, and OSU is off the schedule. OSU doesn't look that good anyways. If we win at Wisconsin, control CT Lil Man Tate*, and keep Juice in the pocket MSU can be 3-0 before the schedule eases up for a while.
Then again the opposite could be true. Wisconsin could run the ball and chew up clock, punting and throwing to the tight ends 11 times per quarter and kicking a 3ft field goal on every possession, winning 18-14 or something. Followed by ummm and iLL scrambling and rambling to wins. In the sophisticated words of our peers: it could continue to suck.
I see a big win against Wisconsin, by two + scores.
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