Preview -- Michigan State at Iowa
by Pete Rossman on Nov 11, 2011 12:52 PM CST
in Michigan State Spartans Football
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YOUR MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS vs. THE IOWA HAWKEYES
KINNICK STADIUM, IOWA CITY, IOWA
TV: ESPN2
Hey, there's a football game going on this weekend as well! A pretty big one at that, since this game will go a long, long way in deciding who makes it to the Big Ten title game from the Legends division. If you (grudgingly) recall last year, the Spartans were bombed out of Iowa City almost before the game began, losing 37-6. That defeat marked 21 years since Michigan State last won against the Hawkeyes on the road, which is now the streak leader after MSU's victory in Happy Valley last season.
This preview will be a bit truncated due to other things going on today, such as A BASKETBALL GAME ON A FREAKING AIRCRAFT CARRIER. Regardless, there will be a few bullet points. You can find them after the jump.
IOWA ON OFFENSE
- James Vandenberg will be the first drop back quarterback Michigan State has faced in a while, and he's a good one. He ranks in the top 20 nationwide in passing efficiency, has completed 62.6% of his passes so far, and has a sparkling 4.5 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio. The recipient of the plurality of these passes so far has been Marvin McNutt. The converted QB has 57 catches for 959 yards and 9 touchdowns so far this season. You may remember him from 2009 when...you know what, I don't remember anything about him in 2009 at all, nope. The only "7 got 6" play that happened in Spartan Stadium history was the one Keith Nichol caught against Wisconsin last month. MOVING ON:
- Strange stat -- Iowa only ranks 10th in the Big Ten in rushing yards, yet they have the top individual rusher in Marcus Coker. Coker's averaged 5.2 yards a carry to the tune of over 1,100 yards on the season and 12 touchdowns. While Angry Iowa Running Back Hating God taketh, he also giveth, much like a gardener pruning away dead branches so that the live ones may flourish. Back to the point -- the MSU front seven must stop Coker, the only other significant running yardage Iowa's had this season have been on Vandenberg scrambles/runs.
IOWA ON DEFENSE
- Iowa's had a middle of the road rushing defense so far, ranking 7th in the Big Ten at 159.6 yards per game and 63rd in the FBS. The front four is highlighted by Broderick Binns; he leads the team in tackles for a loss (8.5) and is tied for the team lead in sacks (4.0). He will be a player I'd prefer Michigan State to block rather than not block. It looks like there might be some running room available, if the game plan is to stick with the ground game this time around.
- The pass defense has been the weakness of this Hawkeye team this year. Iowa ranks 10th in the Big Ten in pass yards allowed per game (233.9), 9th in pass defense efficiency, and 11th in pass completion percentage allowed (64.0%, only behind Minnesota's 66.9%). Remember Micah Hyde, Marcus Hyde's brother and he of the lateral interception return for the touchdown last year? He's still here, and leads Iowa in interceptions with three and passes defended with nine. Shaun Prater is still around as well, so even if the Iowa defense looks statistically weak, there's plenty of players still around to bring up bad memories for State fans.
- Mike Meyer is a very good college kicker. He's made 13-17 field goals so far this year, including 4 of 6 from 40-49 yards and a 50 yarder. Eric Guthrie's the punter. He averages 41.7 yards a punt, and has put 11 of his 29 kicks inside the 20 compared to one touchback.
- Jordan Bernstein and Micah Hyde are the kick and punt returners respectively, and they're decent -- Bernstein averages 24.2 yards a kick return, and Hyde averages about seven yards a punt return.
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The standard BHGP open-thread catch phrase after No. 7's TDs is
“McNutt in yo mouf!”
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Nov 11, 2011 1:51 PM CST up reply actions
Our Offense
On Paper we have more talent and should win this game…but the game is played on paper is it?
My God Roushar pleaseeeeee don’t abandon the run when we are averaging 4.5 a clip. Please give Bell 20+ carries. I know we have three good backs but changing them out every series is preventing them from getting into a rhythm. Baker has been awful let Bell wear them down through 4 quarters which HE WILL GIVEN the opportunity especially on the road.
Cousins cannot win a game on the road with his arm. I repeat Cousins cannot win a game on the road with his arm. I love Captain Kirk but he have seen his limits. He needs a good running game and use the play action to get the big play, and we have to mix up our sets. Nebraska was calling out our plays at the line, and even when we had Treadwell when we faced a talented defense we are way to predictable.
However, after that whole rant I see this game a lot like the Penn State game last year and I think were going to get it done somehow someway.
One by land, two by air
On the road, in a haunt that has demons, has not been an obstacle easily tackled. I am hoping for the ground game between the tackles, off right tackle and fewer sweeps given a chance in the first three or four series.
The coaches must have confidence in the O-line getting the tough three yards on the ground when the chips are down, and doing it a few times before a good play action really opens up Roushars’ vertical passing game.
I am very glad Iowa beat Michigan, and not just because it's Michigan.
Playing at Kinnick the week after they lose is always a nightmare.
This game doesn’t scare me nearly as much as Nebraska did. I think we’ll have had time to refocus, and I don’t think Iowa is as good this year as they were last. A difficult game, but I’ll reverse Pete’s pick exactly: 24-17 for the good guys.
I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left-hand side.
Bradley-Terry rankings for college football and basketball: because there aren't enough computer rankings already.
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