After watching, digesting, and absorbing the stat lines, higlights, and indeed, Saturday's game itself, one has to wonder where the Michigan State team of these past 2 months was in Iowa City. In a truly absymal performance, MSU displayed few, if any, of the qualities that propelled them to success over the first eight weeks. They were outrushed by 131 yards, turned the ball over three times, and faced a 30-point halfitme deficit, most definitely un-State like numbers.
But,watching the game delivered more definitive notes about their play than any box score ever could. Almost from the start, the Spartans looked sluggish, slow, and uninspired. The fact that the defense was gashed mercilessly during a game-opening,12-play, 80 yard Hawkeye TD drive speaks to this fact. Following an ill-timed 3-and-out and an Iowa field goal, one might have expected the Kirk Cousins-led offensive unit to settle in, put together a drive, and turn the gears towards an eventual comeback. But, in uncharacteristic fashion, Cousins threw a poorly-placed ball for what was officially only his second pick of the season. Thanks to an Iowa lateral, this play led to the first direct points off a turnover for the Spartans this year.
Even after enduring a shocking 17-point first quarter on defense, a glimmer of hope still shined for the feisty Spartans. After all, MSU had shown the ability to come back from such a deficit just last week, right? Yet, the classic Spartan fire that has become such a part of this year never ignited. Michigan State could only trade punts back and forth before scoring their only points in the fourth quarter. Coach Dantonio and his team will undoubtedly bounce back, despite this setback. Dantonio himself noted that football is a tough game, and "when you get hit in the mouth, you've got to get back up".
Today's game certainly qualifies as a shot to the Spartans' jaw, and maybe their collective psyche. Now,MSU will have to respond against Minnesota next week, and in the meantime, endure national criticism from experts and doubters alike. But, this group will bounce back, and next week, as always, they'll keep playing.
--Beau
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Michigan State-Iowa Preview
Here we stand, just 2 days from what could be the biggest regular-season Big Ten game in Mark Dantonio's time here. For the first time since his arrival, MSU is ranked in the BCS Top 10, and has achieved their highest national poll position to date. With the chance to gain an even firmer grasp on the conference title, this game has major implications for Michigan State's postseason aspirations. Dantonio talked about eventually bringing the Spartans to this level, and if his team leaves Iowa City victorious, he'll be one step closer.
But, as with any conference game, a win will not be easy. As I mentioned on Tuesday, Iowa's defense presents a stern test-the unit is tied for 20th in the country with 12 overall picks, in addition to ranking 11th in terms of points per game allowed. 2 of those interceptions have even gone back for touchdowns, and that's potentially worrisome, as MSU has yet to experience that this year. Looking at specific players who might pose a threat to the Spartans, Hawkeye defensive end Adrian Clayborn has totaled a sack in the past three contests, and had a 10 tackle game against Penn State-although the Nittany Lions are struggling this season with a 4-3 mark, they're still a Big Ten opponent, with Big Ten-caliber players.
I'm particularly intrigued to see how Spartan tackles J'Michael Deane and D.J Young handle his pass rush, as MSU's line has yielded 16 sacks on the year.
Looking at the Hawkeyes offense, QB Ricky Stanzi keys an offense that averages 33.7 points and 413 total yards. In fact, Stanzi ranks 2nd in the NCAA's top division with a whopping quarterback rating of 174.9, a figure surpassed only by unbeaten Boise State field general Kellen Moore. With a completion percentage nearing 70% (he's completed 68.9% of his throws officially), and only 2 picks, Stanzi has proven himself to be an effective game manager. It'll be particularly interesting to see if the Hawkeyes attack freshman Darqueze Dennard with Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Stanzi's favorite target in regards to scoring strikes (Koulianos has caught 8 TD's this year, all from his starting quarterback).
But, statistics and comparisons on paper can only take a team so far. Something tells me this Michigan State squad won't heed the analysis delivered on SportsCenter or College GameDay-they'll just go out and play. As Coach Dantonio says, on Saturday, "Winner takes all."
--Beau
But, as with any conference game, a win will not be easy. As I mentioned on Tuesday, Iowa's defense presents a stern test-the unit is tied for 20th in the country with 12 overall picks, in addition to ranking 11th in terms of points per game allowed. 2 of those interceptions have even gone back for touchdowns, and that's potentially worrisome, as MSU has yet to experience that this year. Looking at specific players who might pose a threat to the Spartans, Hawkeye defensive end Adrian Clayborn has totaled a sack in the past three contests, and had a 10 tackle game against Penn State-although the Nittany Lions are struggling this season with a 4-3 mark, they're still a Big Ten opponent, with Big Ten-caliber players.
I'm particularly intrigued to see how Spartan tackles J'Michael Deane and D.J Young handle his pass rush, as MSU's line has yielded 16 sacks on the year.
Looking at the Hawkeyes offense, QB Ricky Stanzi keys an offense that averages 33.7 points and 413 total yards. In fact, Stanzi ranks 2nd in the NCAA's top division with a whopping quarterback rating of 174.9, a figure surpassed only by unbeaten Boise State field general Kellen Moore. With a completion percentage nearing 70% (he's completed 68.9% of his throws officially), and only 2 picks, Stanzi has proven himself to be an effective game manager. It'll be particularly interesting to see if the Hawkeyes attack freshman Darqueze Dennard with Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Stanzi's favorite target in regards to scoring strikes (Koulianos has caught 8 TD's this year, all from his starting quarterback).
But, statistics and comparisons on paper can only take a team so far. Something tells me this Michigan State squad won't heed the analysis delivered on SportsCenter or College GameDay-they'll just go out and play. As Coach Dantonio says, on Saturday, "Winner takes all."
--Beau
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The NBA and Michigan State-Iowa
It seems that every year, when the calendar reaches late October, everything comes together for sports fans like myself. The NBA regular season, the MLB World Series, the NHL, and college and professional football are all in full swing, and the viewing possibilities are endless. LeBron James, fresh off of his newest Nike commercial, and fellow Heat newcomer Chris Bosh highlight Miami's trip into the Garden, and Kobe Bryant and the Lakers take on the newly-returned Yao Ming later tonight--I like the Lakers to win that one.
While Kevin Durant seems to be the consensus pre-season pick for MVP, Dwayne Wade gets my vote, as I believe he'll be the driving force behind the Heat's attack. His point production will undoubtedly diminish compared to last season's 26.2 average, but his role as a catalyst for their offense shouldn't be undersold.
Looking ahead to Saturday's showdown in Iowa City, Mark Dantonio recalled both the 2008 and 2009 contests with the Hawkeyes at his Tuesday press conference, and stated that Michigan State has a great deal of respect for them-as they should. He went on to say that the Hawkeyes front four is perhaps the toughest the Spartans have faced this season, and that with Iowa, the core of the team starts with their defense. To be sure, the black-and-gold's starting eleven have yielded an average of only 15.7 points per game-this places them just outside the NCAA's top 10. On offense, O'Brien Award semifinalist Ricky Stanzi has delivered 16 touchdown passes, and his favorite target, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, has half of those scores-that could be a potentially troublesome combination for the Spartans.
Keep checking back here for specific position battle breakdowns and more from the world of sports later this week.
--Beau
While Kevin Durant seems to be the consensus pre-season pick for MVP, Dwayne Wade gets my vote, as I believe he'll be the driving force behind the Heat's attack. His point production will undoubtedly diminish compared to last season's 26.2 average, but his role as a catalyst for their offense shouldn't be undersold.
Looking ahead to Saturday's showdown in Iowa City, Mark Dantonio recalled both the 2008 and 2009 contests with the Hawkeyes at his Tuesday press conference, and stated that Michigan State has a great deal of respect for them-as they should. He went on to say that the Hawkeyes front four is perhaps the toughest the Spartans have faced this season, and that with Iowa, the core of the team starts with their defense. To be sure, the black-and-gold's starting eleven have yielded an average of only 15.7 points per game-this places them just outside the NCAA's top 10. On offense, O'Brien Award semifinalist Ricky Stanzi has delivered 16 touchdown passes, and his favorite target, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, has half of those scores-that could be a potentially troublesome combination for the Spartans.
Keep checking back here for specific position battle breakdowns and more from the world of sports later this week.
--Beau
Sunday, October 24, 2010
College Football Wrap-Up and BCS Rankings
Even after yesterday's Michigan State game, the day in college football still had plenty to offer in the way of surprises. For the third straight week, the top team in the land fell, as Oklahoma got off to a sluggish start and never recovered. It's not often that you'll see a special teams breakdown off of the opening kickoff, and much less from the No.1 team in the country.
Although the Sooners would go on to put together several long drives, they still came out on the wrong end of the box score.
In the SEC, Cam Newton ran wild in leading Auburn over LSU, and at this point in the season, he's my pick for the Heisman. Closer to home, Michigan State was aided in the Big Ten conference race by Wisconsin, who delivered the first conference defeat of the season to Iowa. Suddenly, next weekend's trip to Iowa City, while tough for sure, looks less imposing.
Saturday's results were brought into clearer context by the newest BCS rankings, and it appears that in the eyes of the computer system, Oregon will have to do more than just win football games decisively. For the second straight week, I was surprised to see the Ducks in the second slot despite another victory.
While top-ranked Auburn's win over previously 6th-ranked LSU was impressive, I disagree with their jump up to No. 1. Granted, they've emerged from the nation's toughest conference unblemished so far, but it's a shame the BCS still doesn't account for margin of victory in its process.
Thanks to the aforementioned LSU loss and a stumble by the Sooners, MSU finds themselves fifth-ranked. If the Spartans want to move up, they'll need a loss by TCU before anything else. They have a prime opportunity to move past them in 2 weeks, when the Horned Frogs visit 8th-ranked Utah.
The unbeaten Utes have the best shot to knock off Andy Dalton and Co. before the season draws to a close, but until that time, MSU can help its cause by taking down the Hawkeyes on Saturday.
Look here later this week for a breakdown of the Spartans' road trip to Iowa City.
--Beau
Although the Sooners would go on to put together several long drives, they still came out on the wrong end of the box score.
In the SEC, Cam Newton ran wild in leading Auburn over LSU, and at this point in the season, he's my pick for the Heisman. Closer to home, Michigan State was aided in the Big Ten conference race by Wisconsin, who delivered the first conference defeat of the season to Iowa. Suddenly, next weekend's trip to Iowa City, while tough for sure, looks less imposing.
Saturday's results were brought into clearer context by the newest BCS rankings, and it appears that in the eyes of the computer system, Oregon will have to do more than just win football games decisively. For the second straight week, I was surprised to see the Ducks in the second slot despite another victory.
While top-ranked Auburn's win over previously 6th-ranked LSU was impressive, I disagree with their jump up to No. 1. Granted, they've emerged from the nation's toughest conference unblemished so far, but it's a shame the BCS still doesn't account for margin of victory in its process.
Thanks to the aforementioned LSU loss and a stumble by the Sooners, MSU finds themselves fifth-ranked. If the Spartans want to move up, they'll need a loss by TCU before anything else. They have a prime opportunity to move past them in 2 weeks, when the Horned Frogs visit 8th-ranked Utah.
The unbeaten Utes have the best shot to knock off Andy Dalton and Co. before the season draws to a close, but until that time, MSU can help its cause by taking down the Hawkeyes on Saturday.
Look here later this week for a breakdown of the Spartans' road trip to Iowa City.
--Beau
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The Izzone Campout and Michigan State-Northwestern
After attending last night's Izzone campout at Munn Field with thousands of fellow Spartans, I highly doubt that there's a college student section as loyal and as phenemonal as the Izzone. Even through freezing temperatures and rain, I didn't hear one complaint-every participant was simply extrarordinarily excited to be there, and that's what makes the Izzone the best student section in the country.
With the 2010-2011 squad and Tom Izzo in attendance, the atmosphere was terrific, and I'm now extremely excited to see this team come together in terms of chemistry. They have great leadership coming back in Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers, and Draymond Green (captains for this season, anyone?), and as always, Coach Izzo will mold the Spartans into a tough squad through one of the nation's toughest pre-conference schedules.
While the men's basketball team doesn't kick off their season for a few weeks yet, Spartan Nation had something to cheer about today with a thrilling 35-27 come-from-behind victory over Northwestern. In spite of running for only 105 yards on the ground and trailing by 10 at halftime, State pulled off the win by doing what they've always done-playing with toughness and focus. In outscoring the Wildcats by 25 in the 2nd half, MSU received 3 huge scoring strikes from Kirk Cousins, and two fantastic efforts from Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham. Cunningham's improbable go-ahead touchdown is one that'll be talked about for quite a while around East Lansing, and when Cousins, Dell and Cunningham are all on target, that trio is one of the best pass-catch combos in the Big Ten (if not the top one).
The defense performed well enough considering the patchwork array of players shuffling in and out from the sidelines, and Isaiah Lewis and Mitchell White were two surprises in terms of play. If MSU wants to advance to 9-0 on the season, contributions like these will need to continue to occur. Depending on how the rest of tonight's action shakes out, I see a jump of probably one spot, based off of the assumption that LSU's luck has finally run out,but several other games could impact the Spartans' BCS standing, including #1 Oklahoma's primetime tilt with Missouri.
For a more in-depth commentary on today's MSU-Northwestern game, see lansingonlinenews.com, where I've provided more of my own insight into their victory. Check back here tomorrow for a college football wrap-up and analysis of the new BCS rankings.
---Beau
With the 2010-2011 squad and Tom Izzo in attendance, the atmosphere was terrific, and I'm now extremely excited to see this team come together in terms of chemistry. They have great leadership coming back in Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers, and Draymond Green (captains for this season, anyone?), and as always, Coach Izzo will mold the Spartans into a tough squad through one of the nation's toughest pre-conference schedules.
While the men's basketball team doesn't kick off their season for a few weeks yet, Spartan Nation had something to cheer about today with a thrilling 35-27 come-from-behind victory over Northwestern. In spite of running for only 105 yards on the ground and trailing by 10 at halftime, State pulled off the win by doing what they've always done-playing with toughness and focus. In outscoring the Wildcats by 25 in the 2nd half, MSU received 3 huge scoring strikes from Kirk Cousins, and two fantastic efforts from Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham. Cunningham's improbable go-ahead touchdown is one that'll be talked about for quite a while around East Lansing, and when Cousins, Dell and Cunningham are all on target, that trio is one of the best pass-catch combos in the Big Ten (if not the top one).
The defense performed well enough considering the patchwork array of players shuffling in and out from the sidelines, and Isaiah Lewis and Mitchell White were two surprises in terms of play. If MSU wants to advance to 9-0 on the season, contributions like these will need to continue to occur. Depending on how the rest of tonight's action shakes out, I see a jump of probably one spot, based off of the assumption that LSU's luck has finally run out,but several other games could impact the Spartans' BCS standing, including #1 Oklahoma's primetime tilt with Missouri.
For a more in-depth commentary on today's MSU-Northwestern game, see lansingonlinenews.com, where I've provided more of my own insight into their victory. Check back here tomorrow for a college football wrap-up and analysis of the new BCS rankings.
---Beau
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Michigan State-Northwestern Preview
In terms of Saturday's game, Michigan State teams of old might have had their hands full when venturing into Ryan Field, one of the stranger places to play in the Big Ten. MSU's 2006 contest, in which the Spartans had to pull off the largest comeback in NCAA history, is evidence enough of this stadium's truly bizarre atmosphere.
However, these 2010 Spartans are clearly above and beyond your typical State squad, and I would be surprised if Coach Dantonio doesn't have his troops ready for battle. That being said,there are some weapons to account for on the opposite sideline. Senior QB Dan Persa has completed 78% of his passes this season, an extraordinarily impressive number,and part of the reason he possesses the NCAA's fourth-highest QB rating. To top this off, he's Northwestern's leading rusher, although with only 295 yards and no gains longer than 22, it's safe to say that Greg Jones and his teammates should be able to keep him in check. However, he has thrown for 300 yards in 3 games, and 250 in 2 others, while tossing only two picks in 6 starts.
However, these 2010 Spartans are clearly above and beyond your typical State squad, and I would be surprised if Coach Dantonio doesn't have his troops ready for battle. That being said,there are some weapons to account for on the opposite sideline. Senior QB Dan Persa has completed 78% of his passes this season, an extraordinarily impressive number,and part of the reason he possesses the NCAA's fourth-highest QB rating. To top this off, he's Northwestern's leading rusher, although with only 295 yards and no gains longer than 22, it's safe to say that Greg Jones and his teammates should be able to keep him in check. However, he has thrown for 300 yards in 3 games, and 250 in 2 others, while tossing only two picks in 6 starts.
With Chris L. Rucker still suspended after he waived his arraignment Tuesday, it appears Darqueze Dennard will again start in his place. After last week’s game, though, it looks like the young Dennard can more than adequately fill Rucker’s green-and-white Nikes-I expect another rock-solid performance from him.
In terms of the Wilcats' defense, Kirk Cousins and his backfield mates should be able to put up solid numbers--the Wildcats' starting 11 did give up 347 passing yards to 2-5 Central Michigan, after all. Northwestern's special teams also look suspect-Stefan Demos has missed five FG's and 3 extra points, and the Spartans might be able to employ a FG block to great effect at some point.
As always though, the game will hinge on the Spartans' toughness at the line of scrimmage, and their ability to exert their will over both the Wildcats' offensive and defensive lines. So far, MSU has done this in each and every one of its games, and not been tripped up yet in racing to a 7-0 start. If they want to remain relevant in the Big Ten and BCS picture, they'd best not falter now.
---Beau
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The NFL and Northwestern-MSU
After 7 weeks of NFL action (including byes), we're starting to see a relatively clear picture emerge. At least in this state, I think we can all agree that while competitive, the Lions just make too many mistakes to win (witness Drew Stanton's last-gasp interception), and that might be the case for some time. In terms of divisions, the Lions' own NFC North might be one of the weaker ones across the league. The second-place Packers boast a loss to the Redskins, who, while more competitive now than at the season's start, are simply not as good as predicted, and the first-place Bears just fell to the Seahawks while giving up 6 sacks. Jay Cutler finds himself running for his life every time he drops back, and its clear that their situation might not improve unless they add both depth and skill to the offensive line.
The Cowboys continue to come up short despite the wealth of talent on their roster, while the Vikings seem to be improving after knocking off Dallas. In terms of the weekend's primetime games, Tennesse looked steady with Kerry Collins at the helm from the second quarter on in their defeat of the Jaguars.
Looking ahead to Saturday's Spartans-Wildcats battle in Evanston, Northwestern seems to be a consensus pick in terms of the least-skilled 5-1 teams across college football. They possess narrow victories over Central Michigan and Minnesota of all teams, with the one-point win over Minnesota the weaker of the two. Most recently, they lost to 4-2 Purdue going into their bye week. As always, Northwestern's spread offense could give the Spartans trouble, but if the secondary's performance last week against Illiois is any indication, MSU should be able to withstand their aerial attack.
Check back here for specific information on Northwestern's offensive and defensive threats later in the week, and my own prediction for the Spartans' 4th Big Ten contest.
--Beau
The Cowboys continue to come up short despite the wealth of talent on their roster, while the Vikings seem to be improving after knocking off Dallas. In terms of the weekend's primetime games, Tennesse looked steady with Kerry Collins at the helm from the second quarter on in their defeat of the Jaguars.
Looking ahead to Saturday's Spartans-Wildcats battle in Evanston, Northwestern seems to be a consensus pick in terms of the least-skilled 5-1 teams across college football. They possess narrow victories over Central Michigan and Minnesota of all teams, with the one-point win over Minnesota the weaker of the two. Most recently, they lost to 4-2 Purdue going into their bye week. As always, Northwestern's spread offense could give the Spartans trouble, but if the secondary's performance last week against Illiois is any indication, MSU should be able to withstand their aerial attack.
Check back here for specific information on Northwestern's offensive and defensive threats later in the week, and my own prediction for the Spartans' 4th Big Ten contest.
--Beau
Sunday, October 17, 2010
BCS Rankings Breakdown
The first BCS rankings of the season have created an even murkier-than usual national champioship picture at this point of the year. Oklahoma sits at No. 1 after demolishing Iowa State 52-0, and taking down Texas by 6 the week before that. The Sooners were able to make their jump based primarily off of Texas's 20-13 win over 5th-ranked Nebraska on Saturday, a game in which the Longhorns held Taylor Martinez and Co. to only 202 total yards.
Oregon, who sits atop the Associated Press poll, came in at No. 2, a slight surprise given the fact that Oregon had a bye week, and thus the opportunity to watch the drama unfold-the Ducks in my mind did nothing to deny themselves the top spot. Among other slight surprises, LSU finds themselves at #6 after a 22-point victory over McNeese State, although I feel the Tigers' frequent miscues and inexplicably chaotic coaching by Les Miles are bound to catch up with them.
Previously top-ranked Ohio State was penalized rather severely with a nine-spot drop in both the USA Today and BCS standings, and a 10-spot slide in the AP rankings. As such, Michigan State now finds themselves tied with Iowa atop the Big Ten standings, and in reaching the AP's #8 spot, the Spartans have cracked the Top 10 for the first time since 2003. In addition to their high position in the USA Today poll, MSU comes in at No. 7 in the first edition of the BCS rankings, a worthy spot considering what the Spartans have done in starting 7-0. The Spartans have a point gap to make up should they hope to surpass LSU, but MSU will have plenty of opportunities to do so in the coming weeks.
Look for more here later on Michigan State-Northwestern and the NFL later this week.
--Beau
Oregon, who sits atop the Associated Press poll, came in at No. 2, a slight surprise given the fact that Oregon had a bye week, and thus the opportunity to watch the drama unfold-the Ducks in my mind did nothing to deny themselves the top spot. Among other slight surprises, LSU finds themselves at #6 after a 22-point victory over McNeese State, although I feel the Tigers' frequent miscues and inexplicably chaotic coaching by Les Miles are bound to catch up with them.
Previously top-ranked Ohio State was penalized rather severely with a nine-spot drop in both the USA Today and BCS standings, and a 10-spot slide in the AP rankings. As such, Michigan State now finds themselves tied with Iowa atop the Big Ten standings, and in reaching the AP's #8 spot, the Spartans have cracked the Top 10 for the first time since 2003. In addition to their high position in the USA Today poll, MSU comes in at No. 7 in the first edition of the BCS rankings, a worthy spot considering what the Spartans have done in starting 7-0. The Spartans have a point gap to make up should they hope to surpass LSU, but MSU will have plenty of opportunities to do so in the coming weeks.
Look for more here later on Michigan State-Northwestern and the NFL later this week.
--Beau
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Michigan State-Illinois Recap
Another week, another victory, and another hurdle cleared. MSU now finds itself one step closer to national prominence after a 26-6 victory over Illinois on Homecoming at Spartan Stadium, and what's more, this team showed almost as much toughness as they displayed in their triumph over the Wolverines last weekend.
The Spartans overcame a slow, sluggish first half to score 23 unanswered points-so far, MSU has been able to overcome almost any difficult situation this year, including today's predicament. Even when Michigan State ran for only 93 yards and threw for just over 200 (extraordinarily low numbers when compared to their previous averages), they still delivered a 20-point victory, which says a great deal about this team's character and talent. They received contributions from special teams in the way of four Dan Conroy field goals, and shut down a fast-paced Fighting Illini spread offense. Both of these bode well for the squad's upcoming Big Ten games.
In talking to ESPN's Jemele Hill (during the Shine Lecture on Sports Journalism Ethics at MSU this past Friday), she stated that Michigan State "would have to guard against the letdown....that traditionally comes after the Michigan game," and that the Spartans would have to play with the same physicality and emotional investment that propelled them to a win in Ann Arbor. After today's result, its apparent that MSU was able to do both of those things, and in the process set up themselves up for a potentially promising opening position in the BCS polls.
The BCS rankings debut tomorrow at 8:15pm on ESPN-look here for more reaction on the polls and the latest college football and NFL scores.
--Beau
The Spartans overcame a slow, sluggish first half to score 23 unanswered points-so far, MSU has been able to overcome almost any difficult situation this year, including today's predicament. Even when Michigan State ran for only 93 yards and threw for just over 200 (extraordinarily low numbers when compared to their previous averages), they still delivered a 20-point victory, which says a great deal about this team's character and talent. They received contributions from special teams in the way of four Dan Conroy field goals, and shut down a fast-paced Fighting Illini spread offense. Both of these bode well for the squad's upcoming Big Ten games.
In talking to ESPN's Jemele Hill (during the Shine Lecture on Sports Journalism Ethics at MSU this past Friday), she stated that Michigan State "would have to guard against the letdown....that traditionally comes after the Michigan game," and that the Spartans would have to play with the same physicality and emotional investment that propelled them to a win in Ann Arbor. After today's result, its apparent that MSU was able to do both of those things, and in the process set up themselves up for a potentially promising opening position in the BCS polls.
The BCS rankings debut tomorrow at 8:15pm on ESPN-look here for more reaction on the polls and the latest college football and NFL scores.
--Beau
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Welcome to the new Beau Knows!
As I'm sure you've no doubt noticed, Beau Knows has undergone some basic design changes. It's my sincere hope that these variations will result in a more visually appealing and reader-friendly set-up, and attract new readers. The content and coverage of the blog will remain the same, however, and you can continue to expect my best effort in terms of covering Michigan State football and other topics I find relevant and interesting.
If you have any comments, tips, or suggestions for improvement to either the blog's content or design, please don't hesitate to make your opinion known! I appreciate any and all comments!
Thanks, and for a mini-preview of this weekend's MSU-Illinois football contest, read on below.
--Beau
If you have any comments, tips, or suggestions for improvement to either the blog's content or design, please don't hesitate to make your opinion known! I appreciate any and all comments!
Thanks, and for a mini-preview of this weekend's MSU-Illinois football contest, read on below.
--Beau
Michigan State vs. Illinois Mini-Preview
I'll start by saying that this week's test is potentially just as big as last week's game. Now, allow me to back up this claim. After resoundingly defeating the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Michigan State has jumped to 13th in the Associated Press poll, and 11th in the ESPN/USA TODAY poll.
With this sudden ascent comes even greater exposure, more national attention, and increased pressure from fans, alumni, and students to deliver a victory. As if these added conditions weren't enough, this weekend is Michigan State Homecoming, which provides both a boost in atmosphere and the sense of urgency that accompanies this game.
Throw in the suspension of starting corner Chris L. Rucker for a drunken-driving arrest this past Sunday morning, along with the announcement that untested freshman Darqueze Dennard will take his place, and you have the key elements in a green-and-white pressure cooker.
On the other side of the field, Ron Zook leads the dangerous Illini into East Lansing fresh off of a 33-13 defeat of Penn State. Illinois is potent offensively,as Mark Dantonio notes here. Redshirt freshman QB Nathan Scheelchase makes plays on the ground and through the air, just as Dantonio says, and RB Mikel Leshoure is statistically impressive (2nd in the conference in rushing yards per game). The loss of Rucker will definitely be felt in both run and pass defense of these two threats specifically. On the other hand, if Dennard plays with the speed he's known for (he posted a personal-best of 10.88 seconds in the 100m at the Georgia Olympics, according to milesplit.com), he should be able to account for this loss.
The true test for these Spartans will come in their ability to block out the distractions that accompany controversy, and deliver a win. If these Spartans play with the conviction we've seen from them this season, they should leave the field victorious on Saturday.
--Beau
With this sudden ascent comes even greater exposure, more national attention, and increased pressure from fans, alumni, and students to deliver a victory. As if these added conditions weren't enough, this weekend is Michigan State Homecoming, which provides both a boost in atmosphere and the sense of urgency that accompanies this game.
Throw in the suspension of starting corner Chris L. Rucker for a drunken-driving arrest this past Sunday morning, along with the announcement that untested freshman Darqueze Dennard will take his place, and you have the key elements in a green-and-white pressure cooker.
On the other side of the field, Ron Zook leads the dangerous Illini into East Lansing fresh off of a 33-13 defeat of Penn State. Illinois is potent offensively,as Mark Dantonio notes here. Redshirt freshman QB Nathan Scheelchase makes plays on the ground and through the air, just as Dantonio says, and RB Mikel Leshoure is statistically impressive (2nd in the conference in rushing yards per game). The loss of Rucker will definitely be felt in both run and pass defense of these two threats specifically. On the other hand, if Dennard plays with the speed he's known for (he posted a personal-best of 10.88 seconds in the 100m at the Georgia Olympics, according to milesplit.com), he should be able to account for this loss.
The true test for these Spartans will come in their ability to block out the distractions that accompany controversy, and deliver a win. If these Spartans play with the conviction we've seen from them this season, they should leave the field victorious on Saturday.
--Beau
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Glory Achieved...
Today's victory represents a milestone moment in Spartan football history. For the first time since 1967, Michigan State has defeated Michigan three years in a row. For the first time since 1999, the Spartans are 6-0. And for the first time in perhaps the history of Michigan Stadium, the fourth quarter was punctuated with chants of "Go Green! Go White!' as the seconds ticked off of a resounding Michigan State win.
As soon as I heard the yells of ecstatic Spartan fans over the ABC commentary, I got goosebumps. But before that moment, it's key to remember that this Michigan State team put forth a tremendous effort today, and although the final deficit was 17, it took a good deal of work.
It took a strong defensive effort to hold the country's leading rusher to 84 yards, and even more work to put themselves in position to intercept three of his passes. It took a bruising effort on the offensive line to allow State to rush for more than 250 yards, while that group continued to demonstrate their versatility in pass protection. And it took a great deal of toughness to go into the Big House and emerge victorious.
I'm sure that Coach Dantonio has never been prouder of his team, and he has great reason to.
Michigan State demonstrated all the hallmarks of a truly GREAT team today. They ran the ball effectively throughout the game. They threw the ball extremely well. They got defensive stops and neutralized Michigan's top offensive threats. They committed no major mistakes and didn't let penalties kill periods of major momentum. And once again, they showed toughness and heart, classic Spartan traits.
While this game is certainly a defining moment, it definitely isn't the end of the road for this squad, and something tells me more milestone moments are on the way.
GO GREEN!!
--Beau
As soon as I heard the yells of ecstatic Spartan fans over the ABC commentary, I got goosebumps. But before that moment, it's key to remember that this Michigan State team put forth a tremendous effort today, and although the final deficit was 17, it took a good deal of work.
It took a strong defensive effort to hold the country's leading rusher to 84 yards, and even more work to put themselves in position to intercept three of his passes. It took a bruising effort on the offensive line to allow State to rush for more than 250 yards, while that group continued to demonstrate their versatility in pass protection. And it took a great deal of toughness to go into the Big House and emerge victorious.
I'm sure that Coach Dantonio has never been prouder of his team, and he has great reason to.
Michigan State demonstrated all the hallmarks of a truly GREAT team today. They ran the ball effectively throughout the game. They threw the ball extremely well. They got defensive stops and neutralized Michigan's top offensive threats. They committed no major mistakes and didn't let penalties kill periods of major momentum. And once again, they showed toughness and heart, classic Spartan traits.
While this game is certainly a defining moment, it definitely isn't the end of the road for this squad, and something tells me more milestone moments are on the way.
GO GREEN!!
--Beau
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Michigan Week Continued...
The mood here on campus is definitely one of anticipation. Every person I've talked to is extraordinarily excited about the game, and with the battle that awaits on Saturday, I wouldn't have it any other way. In my opinon, the Spartans' upcoming contest is one of the bigger games in coach Mark Dantonio's career here. This game has major Big Ten title race implications, as an early loss to either side would damage their chances for the rest of the way, particulary with an upcoming Spartan slate that includes Iowa.
Kirk Cousins and the rest of the Spartans said all the right things during press conferences this week, and I've included the link to some of Cousins' Tuesday comments here: http://ow.ly/2P6UD
If coach Dantonio continues to call on Cousins to mix in as much play action as they have in the past 2 weeks,we'll be able to affectively freeze the Michigan linebackers and secondary, and even if Dantonio choses to pound the ball frequently, I believe that over time, our smashmouth style of play will wear Michigan down.
Until the Spartans enter the Big House on Saturday, we'll have to wait and see, and in the meantime, the anticipation will continue to build..
--Beau
Kirk Cousins and the rest of the Spartans said all the right things during press conferences this week, and I've included the link to some of Cousins' Tuesday comments here: http://ow.ly/2P6UD
If coach Dantonio continues to call on Cousins to mix in as much play action as they have in the past 2 weeks,we'll be able to affectively freeze the Michigan linebackers and secondary, and even if Dantonio choses to pound the ball frequently, I believe that over time, our smashmouth style of play will wear Michigan down.
Until the Spartans enter the Big House on Saturday, we'll have to wait and see, and in the meantime, the anticipation will continue to build..
--Beau
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Michigan Week...
Here we are, 4 days from what I've dubbed the Saturday to end all Saturdays. Denard Robinson and the undefeated Michigan Wolverines lay in wait in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines' Heisman Trophy candidate has already racked up 1,008 yards through the air, and 905 total yards from scrimmage in 5 contests. He presents the most formidable offensive threat that Michigan has, although they possess a potentially dangerous back in Vincent Smith, who's scored four touchdowns of his own despite 45 fewer rushing opportunities.
The Spartans will first and foremost have to shut down Robinson, and I believe he'll be the primary focus of their gameplan this week. He's rushed for more touchdowns than he's thrown, which means that the Spartans will need a sideline-to-sideline defensive effort from their linebackers,and steady "stay at home" play from defensive ends Denzel Drone and Tyler Hoover, along with a hopefully healthy Colin Neely.
The Spartans' secondary will also have to play at a high level, as is always necessary to win against Michigan. While his numbers aren't spectacular, WR Roy Roundtree has tallied almost half of Robinson's completions and been on the receiving end of 2 Robinson scoring strikes, and caught over 8 passes twice.
More on the game and specific position battles later in the week.
GO GREEN!
--Beau
The Spartans will first and foremost have to shut down Robinson, and I believe he'll be the primary focus of their gameplan this week. He's rushed for more touchdowns than he's thrown, which means that the Spartans will need a sideline-to-sideline defensive effort from their linebackers,and steady "stay at home" play from defensive ends Denzel Drone and Tyler Hoover, along with a hopefully healthy Colin Neely.
The Spartans' secondary will also have to play at a high level, as is always necessary to win against Michigan. While his numbers aren't spectacular, WR Roy Roundtree has tallied almost half of Robinson's completions and been on the receiving end of 2 Robinson scoring strikes, and caught over 8 passes twice.
More on the game and specific position battles later in the week.
GO GREEN!
--Beau
Sunday, October 3, 2010
A Signature Win for the Spartans!!
Saturday's Michigan State victory over Wisconsin represented a huge program win for coach Mark Dantonio. The Spartans were able to successfully deal with the adversity presented by the last-second change of plans in Dantonio's health, and in doing so showed resiliency and toughness in my opinon. They continued to pound the ball as they have all season, and showed an impressive mix of run versus pass against a legitimate Big Ten defense, while managing to deal with 2 early turnovers and 3 giveaways total.
Don Treadwell demonstrated the same gutsy play-calling in key situations that Dantonio has, running a tricky option pitch to Larry Caper on an early fourth-and-one, and calling an over-the-top play action to B.J. Cunningham to seal the victory.
State also received an impressive special teams TD from Keshawn Martin, and didn't allow any big plays on kickoffs or Aaron Bates' lone punt.
The victory sets up a huge, nationally televised showdown in the bowels of Ann Arbor with the Michigan Wolverines and highly touted QB Denard Robinson. The Spartans will need to hit him early and often to neutralize his running abilities.
I'm positive that coach Treadwell and the rest of his staff will have the team ready to play a full 60 miniutes, because Saturday's game will require a wire-to-wire effort.
--Beau
Don Treadwell demonstrated the same gutsy play-calling in key situations that Dantonio has, running a tricky option pitch to Larry Caper on an early fourth-and-one, and calling an over-the-top play action to B.J. Cunningham to seal the victory.
State also received an impressive special teams TD from Keshawn Martin, and didn't allow any big plays on kickoffs or Aaron Bates' lone punt.
The victory sets up a huge, nationally televised showdown in the bowels of Ann Arbor with the Michigan Wolverines and highly touted QB Denard Robinson. The Spartans will need to hit him early and often to neutralize his running abilities.
I'm positive that coach Treadwell and the rest of his staff will have the team ready to play a full 60 miniutes, because Saturday's game will require a wire-to-wire effort.
--Beau
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