MSU v IU : woo...hoo?

I would be lying if I said I was looking forward to this game. I would also be lying if I said MSU football has been watchable.  The defense has been somewhat better than good, but nowhere near great.  The offense has been every bit as bad as people have complained, and then some.

I'm waiting for Gholston and company to have a breakout and truly harass a QB.  I'm waiting to see the corners and safeties frustrate the QB and come up with multiple picks, tips, breakups, and blitzes.  So far the defense has been very good at controlling the scoreboard (most points have come on short field scores because of the offense) but not individually dominant.  Almost a bend don't break mentality.  Everything comes together when you get a push on the defensive line; the QB has less time, he gets worried, he dumps quick passes, the corners and safeties can play more on talent and instinct than discipline.  That hasn't happened much yet.

I'm waiting for the offense to show some life, period.  The problem is the same on both sides of the ball: the lines aren't getting any push.  The offensive line has been abysmal.  So routes aren't crisp, throws aren't always great (or are perfectly placed and timed but too hard for new receivers) and the running game earns every inch.  This was supposed to be the strength of this team between talent and depth.  Neither the talent nor the depth have proven to be quite as good as advertised.

Indiana is an interesting team.  I mean, I'm sure Indiana is an interesting team.  Right?  Let's just agree that something interesting is going on down there in Hoosier land.  Their best (and only) hope this year, QB Tre Roberson, was out early with a season ending injury.  Sort of like the Hoosier's without Jimmy Chitwood.  It isn't pretty.

Things to watch this week: who is the best team in the B10?  Watch Purdue, Ohio State, and Nebraska.  The best team in the B10 is between the winner or OSU/Huskers and Purdue, should they beat mushagain.  And I truly think Purdue will beat mushagain.

Back to the game at hand.  Teams score on Indiana at will.  I mean, they gave up 85 points the last two weeks, including allowing 41 against Ball State.  Make it:

MSU - 38
Hoopsters: 17

MSU v THE Braxton Buckeyes

Gameday is in town and I love the location. Beaumont Tower is a great backdrop, and a perfect distraction when Desmond Pupu is attempting to string together words and sentences into complete thoughts.  Speaking of Dezmund, he just can't help but take a shot at MSU. Either MSU missed on its receivers recruits or it can't develop them. Well, they've dropped some passes. A lot of passes. But I'm pretty sure none of them has enough experience yet -- either by virtue of being behind 4 seniors last year or being redshirt/true freshmen this year.

Face it Desmond.  You weren't posing for the Heisman, you were dancing.  Also, you dropped that pass.

I like MSU's chances to break out a little today on defense. Braxton will get his, and probably equally on the ground and in the air, but the defense will also make some plays.

The difference will be in the return games and breaking up passes at the corners.

Short and sweet today coming off my last debacle of a prediction.  OSU is strong and deep, but not there yet.


MSU - 20
OSU - 17

Eastern Michigan

Yup. Eastern Michigan. Mike Hart. Ron English. EMU 120th against the run out of 120 teams.

MSU coming off a bad performance on offense and a mediocre performance on defense.

LeVeon Bell looking to get on track.  Receivers hoping to, well, receive.  MSU defense with 2 sacks on the season and looking to double that, by halftime.

Not much else to add.

MSU - 45
EMU - 17

UPDATE: Glen Mason? Really? He is basically John L. Smith on happy pills. All the unpredictable nonsense chitter-chatter but all of it happy, all the time.

Gameday!

Welcome back!  And just in time for another installment of Nightgame Notre Dame No Shame in the Game.

And LeVeon is gonna be the night train.  He may start off slow, but by the end of the 3rd quarter, he'll be running downhill.  Bell for 110 yards on 33 carries, with a 4th down conversion.

The big test will be whether the offensive line can give Bell the line of scrimmage.  If he's caught in the backfield as he takes the ball, he isn't quick enough laterally to avoid the tackle.  Although he's strong enough to shed tacklers he has to get his feet going before the second man arrives.  Second, the line has to protect Maxwell long enough to run medium length routes.  Not necessarily deep, but it can't come down to all tight end and running back dumps or heaves for receivers to run under.  Maxwell will need time.

I'm also anxious to see if White (NT) and Allen (LB) can pick up their game.  White takes over in the middle  this season as the dominant force now that Jerel Worthy is in the NFL.  Last season Allen was the sack leader for a very good defense, with 11, but has yet to come up with a tackle for loss this season.  White could help with that by drawing more attention.  Also, there is reason to believe the defense has been pretty vanilla so far, limiting the LB blitzes in early games to keep a few tricks in the bag.

I'm also anxious to see how Rush (DE) and Gholston (DE) can limit Notre Dame's athletic QB Golson.  Although his skill set is similar to that of Russel Wilson (not a marriage of athletic gear families) I think it might actually lead to more sacks if Golson leaves the pocket.

Manti Te'o had a rough week, and it doesn't get any better matching up with Bell and Sims.  MSU players call Spartan Stadium "The Woodshed."  My guess is both QB's get sacked today at least twice.  Because I think Golson will move outside the pocket, that could lead to a defensive back or defensive end picking up a fumble and running it up the sideline.  Whereas Maxwell is much more likely to take his hits in the pocket, in a pile, with any potential fumble recovered by a lineman.  I like MSU to win the turnover battle.

Trick plays?  Sure.  How about "Twitter Giants?"  MSU tweets its way to a win by sending out the All Tweet Team, captained by you're complaining about playing time already? Deanthony "Aretoo" Arnett.  The trick is when they tell Arnett to go in the game for a triple reverse qb throwback ... and then throw the ball to Fowler on a slant whilst Arnett roams around in the backfield staring at his map.

Make it:

MSU - 28
ND    - 17

Mic Check 1-2, 1-2

Its been a while, friends.

I'll be back tomorrow with a football related post.

I'm also working on a blog that explores the AWESOME responses you get when you try to sell things on craigslist.  Pure gold.