Big game for both teams. Sparty's are top 10 ranked and have already beaten Boise State at home, and handily beat CMU at their place. So our schedules are similar in terms of strength. MSU has a devestating RB in the Bell kid who is an absolutle load. They also have a typical Dantonio defense, very tough. We are the underdogs in this game, but only 3pts which since it's at MSU means the gamblers see this as an even matchup. Kelly has said that everybody will be healthy for MSU, and Cierre Wood of course will be back. We will really need Kapron-Lewis Moore at 100% and Jamoris Slaughter the same to be able to handle the MSU running game. Their QB is a new guy, but so is ours of course. Night game in prime time on ABC, goes to show you how irrelevant ND football is...
I don't know what the over/under on this game is but I don't see it being very high scoring. Both teams have front 7s that are tough on the run. Both teams have inexperienced QBs. The Spartan passing attack was not very good against Boise St. It comes down to the O lines and turnovers.
ND <t>I was feeling confident about this game until we played purdue. Not I'm not sure. It will be a close game and we will be lucky if we pull this off. I like Golson but he still has a lot to learn. I think the defense can keep us close but we can't afford any mistakes on offense if we are gonna win this one.</t>
I'm worried about our corners on the island. We're going to have to load the box. If we don't, that RB from MSU will beat us. Hell, he beat Boise single handed. We'll have to take him away and dare that new QB to beat us in the air.. hopefully, there won't be too many open receivers.
My exact feelings Corey. Hopefully the Irish will show a lot of improvement from the Purdue game. GO IRISH PJ in Jersey
I know it doesn't belong here but I saw a post in Purdue thread about someone not seeing the replay. It is on universal right now.
The Spartans are a six point pick. This is the game where we find out how good we are. If our CB play is not improved we will have a real tough time in this one.
:idea: I agree with George. I've said all along, that this is the game where we find out how good we are. The concerns are still QB and cornerbacks. We'll see...
It's being reported that Manti Te'o's girlfriend passed away this week from leukemia. Nothing has been said about his status for the game.
Jesus, that's just awful... As for the game.. something that I've been wondering about.. If Golson runs for 100 yards, we win this game. MSU will rotate in and out of 2 deep and cover 1. I would almost like to see his hot read for cover 2 to be the draw if something isn't immediately wide open... A mobile QB can give a defense like this a problem. I'm worried about the young QB making mistakes in progression. The MSU defense is going to try and 'trick' him into throwing into 2 dep. There's a way to beat that and he can do it. Just food for thought.
:idea: I don't think much of MSU's pass rush. Golson should have time to think and throw. Let's just hope that he doesn't think too much...
Michigan State's defense is good enough that, if they choose to, they can take something away from you. Granted, this is a quite young Boise St team but we've seen other young Boise teams before and almost never do they have the run totally taken away from them the way Sparty did. I'm speaking strictly of the numbers game here. A lot of this will fall onto our offensive line. Base on base, if we can't establish the run, we're in a lot of trouble. If we can run, that forces them to roll the safety up in and out of support. This is something that they want to do anyway in a multiple look set to confuse Golson. Bringing either safety up in run support should be suicide because we have 2 human buildings that can take you to the house on either side of the field in the form of our TEs. Defenses, not being big fans of giving up big plays or TDs will generally 'pull the umbrella' in that 2 deep set showing run support but dropping back 7 or 8 into pass coverage. This is the greatest weakness of Tommy Rees (yes, worse than his arm). A defense will pull the umbrella and literally concede that 7 yard cushion to fall back into zone pass coverage. If you have an athletic QB, the best option if there isn't a WIDE OPEN WR in zone, is to simply pull it down and take the 5 to 7 yards. Rees simply cannot do this, unless the cushion is much deeper than 7 yards. It's frustrating, and disheartening for a defense to execute perfectly, yet still give up 7 yards on a play. With a QB who can run, we should take this every time. If we can force them to commit 7 to 8 defenders to stopping the run, we're going to (or should) have someone in man and wide open. Now we're dictating to them how the game will be played. Sparty, in years they've won (which is something like 10 of the past 15 seasons) have been able to dictate the tempo of the game to us. This is just me, but I'd like to keep their defense on the field. I want to run them sideline to sideline and defending the deep third constantly. I want to nickle and dime them to death. I want to keep their offensive line (the one unit truly capable of controlling the game) on the sideline. We'll commit (hopefully) to stopping the run with success. Obviously, we want to put them in a situation where they must pass to beat us. Not only do we want to do that, but we only want to give them so many opportunities to do so (thus the emphasis for patience and ball control). It's boring football, but that's how you beat Sparty (and most everyone).
I think it's going to be a tough hard fought game. I think the slugfest with Purdue was good for this team after the cruise with Navy.
According to multiple media outlets, the grandmother and girlfriend of All-American linebacker Manti Te’o passed away this week in his native state of Hawaii. Te’o's girlfriend lost her lengthy battle with leukemia less than a day after his grandmother died. Irish head coach Brian Kelly would only acknowledge that Te’o had lost “some people very close to” him when asked by local media Thursday. Kelly also confirmed that, despite the toll it's taken, Te’o will play against the No. 10 Spartans this weekend.
Kelly also said that they are working on getting him back to Hawaii. It may happen during the off week following the Michigan game. I read that Hawaii is 800 miles farther from South Bend than Ireland.
Looking forward to this game....good measuring stick for both. I expect a game where "big boy pads" are in order... Good luck to the Irish but Go Sparty!
I completely agree with Corey. Stack the box and make Maxwell throw the ball on defense, and tell Golson to tuck and run if nothing is there early on offense. Sounds simple, doesn't it ? )