Michigan State 30, Florida Atlantic 17: Afterglow Thread
by LVS on Sep 11, 2010 2:27 PM CDT
in Michigan State Spartans Football
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PrintIn front of a rather somnolent crowd at Ford Field, Your Spartans upped their record to 2-0 with a victory over the Florida Atlantic Owls. MSU went up early, took a 20-7 lead at halftime, and then produced a thoroughly mediocre second-half performance. The defense struggled mightily in third down (FAU converted 7-16) and fourth down (2-2) situations, and was repeatedly gashed for chunks of yards by FAU's tight ends and underneath receivers. Oh, and the tackling wasn't the best, either. If you have visions of Kyle Rudolph putting up 100+ receiving yards next week, well, you're not the only one.
But it wasn't all bad. Edwin Baker was outstanding, rushing for 183 yards and a touchdown on only 15 carries. Le'Veon Bell was also very good, with a bad fumble excepted. The offensive line was great in run blocking, and did a fairly good job of giving Kirk Cousins time to throw. The defensive line was also better; Jerel Worthy and Colin Neely had good games. Most notably, Dan Conroy was outstanding: 3-3 on field goals, and they weren't chip shots either (41, 44, 50). Kevin Muma was also much better kicking off this week. Any concerns about the kicking game should be alleviated.
Anyway, it wasn't all pretty, and without Howard Schnellenberger's bizarre decision to kick a field goal from the 2 yard line late in the fourth quarter, it could have been an ancy finish. But it's still a win, and a helluva lot better than last season's week 2 result. What impressed or disappointed you about the game today?
Also, there's a great afternoon of football ahead; feel free to use this as an open thread for those games.
GO STATE.
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A win is a win
Should been better though. I’m kinda worried about next week though.
by Jdoyle84 on Sep 11, 2010 2:30 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Rating the Spartans (0-10)
QB – 5 – another bad INT at the worst time… think ND last year.
RB- 9
OL – 8
WR – 7 – Where the heck was Nichols?
TE – 7
DL – 6 – Seriously, we should have had a lot more pressure on their QB.
LB – 7
DB – 6 – Why can’t we defend the short pass? I had flashbacks of CMU with every short pass they completed.
Champ of the game – Ed Baker
Chump of the game – Pat Narduzzi
Underneath receivers and tight ends are more on the linebackers than the DBs.
PP-TPW.
The Only Colors
Correct
FAU kept running wide open TE drags / crossing routes and RB swing passes, until MSU moved Norman out of the tackle box into basically a 4-2-5.
Good question re: Nichol
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Sep 11, 2010 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Good
I just missed it. Poor attention for detail when it comes to football.
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Sep 11, 2010 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions
In the first Q, MSU ran almost exclusively "Ace Big" formation...
…that is, 2 TE sets, so only 2 WRs which were mostly Dell and Martin.
He also dragged the safety deep on the long Celek reception
Not much of a surprise...
Every team MSU plays can tear them apart with the short passes – not just a CMU thing. How about Northwestern or even Minnesota last year?
Also – Defensive Backs continue their trend of attempting to tackle what seems like every play without the use of their arms. It’s so annoying. Every frickin play it looks like they’re trying to go for some fancy highlight type hit rather than wrapping the man up and making sure he goes down.
One DB had a couple impressive plays....
Trenton Robinson showed an ability to make a good break on the ball and had a couple of nice pass break ups. He should start giving CLR lessons.
chump of the game
is it too early to start calling for narduzzi’s ouster?
Man looks in the abyss, there's nothing staring back at him. At that moment, man finds his character. And that is what keeps him out of the abyss. -- Lou Mannheim, Wall Street
Why do you think he was chump of the game?
It’s not like MSU lost because they couldn’t make a stop.
RE: Narduzzi
Given a higher caliber opponent and a similar game plan (this is on Narduzzi), we would have been destroyed. Also, MSU struggled to stop them. How many 3rd and longs did we give up? More than I care to see… I’ll take our athletes over FAU any day, so to me, the failures on D have to be coaching and the game plan. ADJUST your game plan if they are killing you on the inside. Again, we all watched CMU do this all game last year… and they pulled it out.
by moorhead1976 on Sep 12, 2010 8:00 AM CDT up reply actions
I disagree that the defense has shown failures so far this season.
I think you’re looking at it from a “glass half empty based on what happened to the glass last year” perspective.
Does MSU’s defense out-scheme the opponents? Generally, no. Narduzzi says he relies on “MAKE PLAYS”. This year the defense really has better athletes who are more likely to make plays. We have also seen hints of unusual schemes — DEs dropping back into under coverage being the obvious example.
I really don’t think Narduzzi would use his best game plan against FAU, nor would he use a similar game plan against a higher caliber opponent; right now he’s trying some things out to see how they work, and saving his best schemes for later.
I also believe it takes better players to allow unusual schemes, something we really never saw last year. Scheme and Talent, like recruiting, is a “chicken-and-egg” proposition. It takes talent to run schemes that allow the talent to succeed and allow different schemes. And so on. The talent this year is improved over last year and will get even better next year as MSU gets some of the high-potential recruits (Gholston, Bullough, Isaiah Lewis) onto the field.
Think about this. Remember when Chris Smeland was the DC? He had every scheme in the book. Crazy blitzes, wacky zone coverages, the “everybody standing up and milling around before the play to confuse the offense as to who was rushing”. Those defenses were as bad or worse than Narduzzi’s. Do you really want to go back to that?
As for the CMU loss: with benefit of distance and hindsight, I believe that the CMU loss was a complete fluke. The fact that the CMU game was as close as it was was on the defense (CMU scored on 50% of their drives). But the way it ended — the perfect onside kick, CMU’s drive to get into field goal range, and the offside penalty giving them two chances to kick a game-winning field goal — was like hitting a hole-in-one. A good amount of skill and a whole lotta luck.
If you believe the CMU loss was a fluke, you have no memory of our history whatsoever.
This happens to us all the time. That one had slightly less footgun than most, but absolute defensive FAIL in the fourth quarter has been an MSU tradition since time immemorial.
Any scheme that involves letting the opponent walk right down the field, leaving them a 4th and goal which they should have gone for for a chance to get within one score, is a bad scheme. (On a side note, if an MSU coach kicked a FG in that situation I would consider it grounds for immediate firing.)
RE: Failures
The two games we have played so far this year are against weak opponents. Did we lose, no, but if we would have played teams with more talent, we would have. This defense hasn’t been able to show dominance like they should against weak teams. It concerns me that we have kids that were “highly recruited”, but aren’t ahead of the guys that played last year (Linebackers aside).
I think we can all agree the D was pretty bad last year. Little to no pressure on the opposing QBs leaves our avg to below avg DBs hung out to dry. We can stop the run… we did last year. That is not the issue. The issue is pass coverage. Minnesota (416 pass yrds) and CMU (352 pass yrds) had their way with us. Michigan almost beat us, and they were pretty pathetic. Iowa beat us through the air when it COUNTED. I’m all for giving people chances, but you can’t tell me Narduzzi calls a good game. He calls a predictable game. Go back and read the quotes from the Minnesota game.
Overall, what we have now is a lot better then Bobby or the cowboy. I don’t think it’s wrong of me to expect more out of the D considering we have one of the best Linebacking corps in the nation and some good young talent. It surprises me how we don’t dominate the weak teams and at times can’t keep up with the rest of the conference.
Lack of motivation for weak teams is a coaching issue. Lack of adjustments during a game is a coaching issue. Playing your best and following the game plan to perfection, yet still getting beat (OSU/PSU style) is lack of talent…
by moorhead1976 on Sep 12, 2010 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions
What's your basis for saying that "we would have lost"?
The two games we have played so far this year are against weak opponents.
The two teams we played through 2 games last year were against what should have been weaker opponents. CMU and a crappy ND team.
Did we lose, no, but if we would have played teams with more talent, we would have.
What’s your basis for saying that? Because FAU and WMU had 20 sustained drives between them capped by turnovers or missed field goals?
MSU is a net zero on turnover margin. +1 vs WMU, -1 vs FAU. So they didn’t win these games by luck.
This defense hasn’t been able to show dominance like they should against weak teams.
What constitutes dominance in your mind? Shutouts? Less than 100 total yards?
It concerns me that we have kids that were "highly recruited", but aren’t ahead of the guys that played last year (Linebackers aside).
Such as?
How about Le’Veon Bell? Will Gholston? Max Bullough?
Also, on the FAU depth chart:
*Isaiah Lewis (true FR) is #2 at free safety.
*Darqueze Dennard (true FR) is #2 at Field Corner.
*Mylan Hicks (true FR) is #2 at Boundary Corner.
Really, the only situation I can think of that might fit your assertion is Chris L. Rucker.
If you want to be bearish and base your prediction of this upcoming season solely on the defense’s performance last year, go ahead. Just remember, past results are not an indicator of future performance.
RE: would have lost
Boxes 1 and 2: I believe this years opponents are weaker than last years, and the wins we picked up this year indicate that.
Box 3: Dominance is exactly what it implies. Think Alabama vs. PSU. Alabama dominated a good PSU team. I believe we should dominate a WMU and FAU in the same fashion.
Box 4: All the kids you list with the exception of Bell have had little impact on the game. The starters from last year kept their job. They were avg at best last year, and haven’t shown dramatic improvement. Heading into the season, I thought we would see more of Lewis and Gholston already based on their recruiting rankings and hype. Maybe that’s unrealistic.
As far as my bearish prediction, I am using this years performance against subpar opponents as my basis. I do believe there are similarities to last year, which is why I mentioned them, but the performance this year is what I am concerned about. I hope I am wrong and you are correct, but the way the D played didn’t give me warm fuzzies heading into our big ten season.
by moorhead1976 on Sep 12, 2010 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Cosign...
…all from the good CPT, except for the Bell part.
Le’Veon was notably unhighly recruited, being a two-star recruit on Rivals, with his other offers coming from EMU, Bowling Green and Marshall. Which makes his success all the cooler.
by witless chum on Sep 13, 2010 6:00 AM CDT up reply actions
RBs made the line look good.
I agree with most of our ratings, but I didn’t really think the OL played that well. Cousins got hit a lot and most of the success running the ball was because of great efforts on behalf of the RBs. I would be interested to know how many yards each had after the first hit.
I like Bell a lot, but I would give Baker the majority of the carries from here on out. He has a quicker first step and hits the hole at full speed.
One thing I'd note in this vein
is that the play where Bell fumbled started going bad because the right guard completely missed a block.
Es gibt keine Freude wie Schadenfreude
Inexpicable decision by Kelly
To swap Crist out at QB for a freshman after an impressive opening drive leads to a pick, Michigan TD.
James Madison beats VT
Rece Davis called it “James Madison’s best work since the Federalist Papers”.
JMC SUCKS!
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ROCKS!!! WOOOOO!!!
Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!
by KJ@theonlycolors on Sep 11, 2010 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Psh, I've got a degree from them too.
Urban & Regional Planning ’05. /overeducated
PP-TPW.
The Only Colors
You're all wrong!
Communication Arts and Sciences Forever! Impact 89FM! What, What!
by intrpdtrvlr on Sep 12, 2010 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Same here
Except when I got mine it was called JMCD. My Dad teaches in the College of Social Science so I should have both bases covered.
by Con-T on Sep 11, 2010 4:34 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
PTCD -- Post Traumatic College Disorder?
I used to live in Case with all the earnest JMC types.
Although I can’t say I ever did much with my Social Science degree.
Complaints
against receivers the linebackers (Gordon, I think I caught you) and secondary were sitting back too much. They need to start breaking on the ball and moving downfield to get some momentum into their tackles. Too often, they were sitting back trying to avoid whiffing on tackles and instead just getting run over for first downs by receivers.
And whoever #23 is on special teams: c’mon man, you gotta be able to block a punter.
Es gibt keine Freude wie Schadenfreude
COUSINS!
QB-I can’t believe how bad Kirk Cousins has played the great running game should have opened up the pass even more from last year and he has more experienced WR’s and still can’t do shit I don’t get it!
LB-Linebacker seem like they are playing well making stops up the middle on run plays but need to be quicker covering the short passes.
WR-Keith Nichol didn’t catch a ball the whole game which I don’t understand. Nobody on MSU has more than 2 receptions because Cousins is sucking so bad.
SECONDARY-Trenton Robinson looked good, CLR wasn’t terrible against FAU’s best receiver but could have done better, Marcus Hyde should have had another interception.
We're going to beat ND next week.
Their offense is absolutely putrid, and the defense is no great shakes, either.
PP-TPW.
The Only Colors
Roger that.
I am optimistic about this season. Our defense is not nearly as bad as conventional wisdom and better than last year. We are going to sneak up on some people.
by CPT Hoolie on Sep 11, 2010 6:35 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
No idea what would make anyone think that the defense is better than last year after our first two games. We couldn’t get FAU’s offense off of the field. Similarly to last year, if our offense doesn’t score 30 points, we are not going to win many games.
Why do you say MSU couldn't get the FAU offense off the field?
FAU had 10 drives and scored on 3 of them, a 30% success rate. 4 of the 7 unsuccessful drives were 3-and-out.
In addition, 2 of those successful drives came after MSU had already run out to a 27-7 lead.
(By comparison, MSU had 11 drives and scored on 6 of them, a 54.5% success rate.)
Well...
It wasn’t too bad when their starting QB was actually in there. He played a half and one drive and they put up 24 points.
I’m worried about their short passing game, but it’ll be their first road game in what should be a tough environment for a night game. I think we win, but I don’t feel super confident about it.
If we can get the passing game going, which was very good last year, to compliment our running game we can put up a lot of points on them.
Trenton Robinson
I don’t know what everyone was watching on this thread. Maybe you are evaluating Robinson relative to the rest of our defensive backs.
He is one of the biggest culprits of our DBs not wrapping up, he was caught over-pursuing multiple times with the most noticable being against a TE.
Johnny Adams by far is the most solid DB and after him, there is a huge drop off. It is going to be a long year.
Kicker Impressive
A first year kicker still worries me under pressure, but he looked great today! Definitely earned his scholarship.
Game was blacked out in the Burbs
From what I heard, an OK effort. Cousins had another ND-like gaff at the 1. FAU long drives concern me.
Conroy may be the difference against ND, however, their D-Line and secondary seem vulnerable. This game is pivotable to the season and we better beat Kelly now.
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