Michigan State-Nebraska Preview: Q&A with Corn Nation
by Pete Rossman on Oct 28, 2011 5:30 AM CDT
in Michigan State Spartans Football
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For part of today's preview (I'll have overall thoughts and a prediction later this evening) I did a Q&A with the good people over at Nebraska blog Corn Nation. My questions are in italics.
Ricky Smith - I’d give it about a 6. For the first half of the year, a solid 8 to 8.5, but after Ohio State, he seems to have settled down, has hung onto the damn ball and has made better decisions.
Mike: Personally, about a 3. Mostly around press conferences. I’ve seen him mature quite a bit this season on the field.
Jon Johnston: I’ve been more frustrated with our new offensive coordinator Tim Beck than Martinez. The Wisconsin game is a good example. After Martinez threw two interceptions that resulted in 14 Badger points, Beck comes right out at the start of the second half and has Martinez throw again. Result, interception, and another Badger touchdown. Like Mike and Ricky have said, Martinez has matured a lot this season. He’s made better decisions, he slides when he’s going to get hit hard, he’s done a better job of ball security. He’s still a work in progress, but he’s getting there.
On that same scale, how pleased have you been with Rex Burkhead's play?
Ricky: I’d give him about an 11. See what I did there? I made it more than 10. That’s how pleased I am. He’s a freak. We haven’t seen a north/south runner with his type of shifty moves in a long time. Oh, and he can pass out of the Wildcat and formation and I think he also builds churches, heals lepers and brings peace to all nations in the off-season.
Mike: Make it a 8. Most any play, he seems to find 3 to 5 extra yards. Absolutely solid. The only thing I wish he did was take a play to the house. Almost always, a safety runs him down.
Lavonte David is a beast. But who else should MSU keep an eye on while Nebraska's on defense?
Ricky: Keep an eye on the corners. Alfonzo Dennard (Ed. note -- cousin of MSU corner Darqueze Dennard -- Pete) has been slow to come back from his injury, but he’s usually all over the field. Don’t sleep on Stanley Jean-Baptiste. This game is his baptism by fire. Get it? Baptism? Baptiste? Good lord, I’m hilarious. Reilly has nothing on me. Seriously, he’s going to be a good one. Just hope he’s a good one on Saturday. I guarantee you that Mr. Cousins will be picking on him all day.
Mike: I’m hoping it’s Cameron Meredith. I’m sure you would agree that Kirk Cousins doesn’t pose much of a rushing threat, so Meredith won’t need to worry about Cousins scrambling out of the way. He’ll be able to rush full-speed...and he’ll need to, because if Cousins has all day to look for his receivers, it’ll be a long day for the Huskers.
Jon: I would hope that defensive tackles Baker Steinkuhler and Chase Room can step up and have a good game in stopping the run. Michigan State’s offensive line hasn’t done all that well in the run game this season, and that battle will be the key to this game.
The Huskers haven't had many tackles for a loss or sacks this year. Is this due to the scheme?
Ricky: I think it’s due to youth in the secondary. For the first half of the year, they were really green. A lot of their sacks in the past were because the QB had no one to throw to. That happens when you have 5 NFL guys back there (I’m including the nickel and dime guys, too.)
Mike: What Ricky said. The last few years, Nebraska’s been able to play man coverage and not have to worry about coverage. That’s allowed the defensive line time to make plays and to blitz safeties and linebackers to create havoc. With the lack of experience in the secondary, receivers have been open and it’s been difficult to manufacture pressure.
Jon: A little bit of scheme. Nebraska normally plays in the gaps and the defensive tackles are to plug holes, not necessarily charge up field. The idea is to avoid giving up big plays. It’s not just the secondary, though, the defensive line hasn’t been as good as advertised either.
MSU hasn't played in Lincoln since 1996. Please refresh us on the game day atmosphere.
Ricky: It’s red. Very red. Could be loud, but mainly red.
Mike: I don’t know how intimidating it’ll be...especially with an 11 am kick. But it’s typically a friendly affair. We’ll welcome your fans before the game, scream at each other during the game, and shake your hands afterwards. We’re just happy to have escaped the train wreck known as the Big XII, so we’re happy to be here, and awfully curious about the new surroundings.
Lastly, this is where I ask you for an obligatory key to the game and a prediction.
Ricky: If the Huskers can stop the run (never a given), then I think they have a chance. Cousins is good...really good...but he’s the kind of QB that the Husker defense - in years past - have feasted on. I think this is our defense’s breakout game. I’ll also be very, very interested to see what our OC, Tim Beck has cooked up for this game against this defense. It’ll be a fun one. NU-28 MSU-27.
Mike: I’m hoping there’s a letdown for Michigan State after defeating Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin this month. But I can’t bet on that. And Nebraska’s been too inconsistent. Can Nebraska win? Absolutely. But my best guess? Sparty 34, Huskers 24.
Jon: Homer pick. Nebraska gets out to a fast start and forces Michigan State to play from behind. The Spartans make too many mistakes on the road, and Nebraska pulls out a win by pounding the ball away in the fourth quarter. Huskers 28, Spartans 24.
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One more question
Does Nebraska have any wide receivers on the roster?
Kidding aside, all I’ve heard about going into this game is T-Magic, Spartan D, Burkhead, Cousins, Rocket, LaVonte David, and OMG LEGENDS DIVISION TITLE ON THE LINE!!!! If any Corn Nation folks are checking in, I’d be curious for your take on the guys who might actually be able to catch the balls thrown by Martinez.
"It was worth it. Every needle, every dose of medicine that I've taken. That's why you play the game. A chance to be on a Final Four team, a chance to win championships." Delvon Roe
Sure if they can get the ball
Kenny Bell is super fast, 80 yard reverse run last week. Brandon Kinnie is a big, athletic, and solid receiver. Kyler Reed is a fast TE/Slot kind of guy, a tough match-up. Barry Turner is a very athletic freshman who, if he catches the ball is very exciting to watch.
As a whole I believe the receivers are above average in the conference, but not one guy really stands out because a lot of dudes play those positions.
Passing isn’t their strength, not because of lack to talent, just lack of consistency. In the past couple of years there have been 2 or 3 games where the passing game just clicked and they went off (it goes the other way at times, too).
It looks like it might be pretty breezy tomorrow, so I don’t know if throwing the ball is going to be the answer.
Heh, just amused at the manufactured bulletin board material provided by our goofy QB.
actually
earlier this season, as I was watching this year’s receivers, I came to the conclusion that this may be the first time (maybe ever) that we have receivers (multiple!) that are actually receivers.
we’ve typically maybe had one guy who was a good receiver, or a good receiver and tight end, but this year… between Quincy Enunwa, Brandon Kinnie, Kenny Bell and Jamal Turner – they’re an impressive group. They each have some different strengths.
Now… if we can get them the ball. :)
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
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by Jon Johnston on Oct 28, 2011 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
How's everybody feeling about this game?
On paper I think this is a game we should win. By FEI rankings we’re 5th and Nebraska is 37th. Nebraska has a great running attack, but we’ve completely shut down one dimensional teams. Defensively, Nebraska has really struggled defending the run. Their run defense is similar statistically to Michigan and we ran all over them. Plus, they’ve lost Crick and another rotation DT to injury.
Despite that, I just don’t have a great feeling about this game. Maybe it’s b/c we’re playing on the road, or maybe it’s b/c this will be our 4th straight big game, or maybe it’s b/c this is the game Nebraska plays a full 60 minutes. Hopefully I’m wrong about how my gut feels.
To answer your question
I feel like I did before the Notre Dame game, which troubles me.
Away games...
Have always been close for Coach D’s teams here. This year we’ve only scores 23 points in our two away games. I’m expecting a close game but if we can score 24 or more I think we’ll win. Our keys to the game will be our o-line play and stopping the Nebraska’s big plays. I’ll be confident if we get an early lead and quiet down the home crowd.
However… UN is a solid team and I would not be surprised if they pulled out the W. So to answer you question, I’m feeling cautiously optimistic about the game…
"We were a little fat and sassy" -Tom Izzo
by itsalwaysunnyinEL on Oct 28, 2011 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions
I think MSU is the better team, but we need a strong start.
ND, UM, UW all scored TD’s on their first drives before the D made some adjustment. On the road, against a tough team, I think we need to stop that first possession.
Also, the D has to play assignment-sound football. Misdirection plays have been our biggest weakness this year, and Nebraska runs a lot of them.
"Everyone who drinks is not a poet. Maybe some of us drink because we're not poets." - Arthur Bach
Great point
RE: importance of stopping UNL early.
As great as this team’s D has been, letting each opponent open the game with a score is playing with fire, and will eventually haunt this team. It’s a habit that needs to be broken today.
I'm about 50-50
I think on paper we are the better team, but we’ve had such a brutal schedule to date that I’m worried about a let-down. Plus, it’s an away game and home field counts for something. I think on a neutral field in a week when they’d played Minnesota the week before and we had played Indiana, we beat them.
Unfortunately for us, they did play Minnesota last week, while we played one of the best teams in the conference. I guess I expect us to be a little emotionally drained after the past three games and fear an underwhelming performance. Still, assuming we perform up to our capabilities I think we win.
by TheCrestedHelm on Oct 28, 2011 11:24 AM CDT reply actions
If Coach Dantonio is building (or has built) the program we hope he has;
then this is a game we win.
This is no disrespect to NU-L. Great program, great talent, great traditions.
While it never easy to go into Lincoln and win, all of the tangible factors point to an MSU win.
Still, and I know transitivity never holds in college football, we beat (and controlled for a large portion of the game) the only team that beat NU-L handily.
I mean you could just as easily point to UM beating ND, while we lost to the same ND and beat UM handily.
A BIG Part of the program is team chemistry
Another intangible is the team being able to pull together when push comes to shove. MSU’s defense has done that for the most part of this season. To win this game away, we’ll need the offense to pull this one out and it may come from another quasi in-tangible and that would be coaching and play calling has to keep a rhythm through the fourth quarter.
Huskers will struggle, might pull out win
Yes, I’m a husker fan, and I want to welcome any and all of you that are coming, have come to Lincoln to the state. I have circled this game since the beginning of the year as the game we need to have a fast start, and never let up. Do I think it will happen? Not with our defense. I believe Martinez will be able to do his 4-7 yard passes like he has much of the year, and pick his time to take a deep attempt to Kenny Bell. You guys are wonderful at stopping the run, but so have other teams been. I am hoping Martinez plays as well as he did at OK State last year, but I am not sure. I am predicting a 34-21 MSU win. Good luck, and enjoy the game.
Husker fans legendary hospitality is a great addition to B1G...
A few of your compatriots have expressed doubts because the black shirts are not up to snuff. Let’s hope for a good competitive game, no injuries and a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ victory.
Agreed. Even the tone on this board...
compared to the weeks of smack-talk and buffoonery leading up to ND and UM (and before/after a couple others) is pretty impressive. I’ve always thought pretty highly of Nebraska (L. Phillips aside), thanks to the team and fans for bringing a class (and solid) program to the B1G. Looking forward to the game… Go Green.
by Withshieldoronit on Oct 29, 2011 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
I have a couple of friends that have been in Lincoln since yesterday afternoon, they texted me that they’ve never been treated so well by opposing fans, anywhere, ever! I feel like once I personally experience it myself, Lincoln hospitality will move past Madison & even Minnesota in my book.
With that in mind, Go Green!!!!!1
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