The King

MSU's OC knows what to do when the D is ZONED in on their RB... sweep motion, use the flow against the team, cutback. ding ding

how about we use some jet sweep motion of our own, that would be nice. we were using it all the time a couple weeks ago. if they are gonna send everyone after ameer...

How do you make that call? Didnt they emphasize that a couple years ago that it has to be a CLEAR signal ABOVE your head?

Mixed feelings? Maybe because... The dude had 45 fumbles, 15 lost, and 27 interceptions prior to his senior year. Also, I don't want to hear the argument that "well, we recovered the other 30 - THIRTY - fumbles that he had" because you know what that does? Puts us behind the sticks, forces us to punt, changes our offensive identity, three & out, etc. This was all in 40 games. He averaged more than a fumble per game...crazy. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Tommy is the better QB (not necessarily the better player) - better leader, manages the team better, keeps us on track re: down and distance, makes better decisions and doesn't go hero mode and he is now healthy. Maybe thats why our offense / playcalling is better than it has been in the past ... I'd be curious to see our average drive length w/Tommy vs. Taylor. Those fumbles hurt, a lot, and I was on record saying we'd never win anything meaningful with him at QB because of that - and to be fair - he wasn't the only one with fumble issues, but 45 fumbles in 40 games? Sheeeeeshhhh. With that out of the way, I'm not necessarily worried about MSU's defense this week. More worried about Connor Cook. MSU's defense didn't look stellar against Oregon and I think the attrition has really affected them - the Ducks have an explosive offense, but they got flat cooked in the 2nd half. I like the fact that they had a bye week also, because I think that will hold back their defense a little bit as they'll slowly progress throughout the year. Ameer has always had success against them and they loaded the box before. Should be a good game.

But we didnt. A win this Saturday trumps a loss to Texas any day. That doesn't change the fact that it was the biggest game Bo has coached to date. The important ce of that game, despite the outcome, was much more significant than this game. Its not even debateable. This game won't determine the conference champion. This game really is just a great conference matchup that has little impact on our season goals. Its not the end all be all that the CCG was/is. Maybe I understood the question differently than you, but going into the 2009 championship game...that was much, much bigger than this game. Knowing what we know now, that we lost, yeah winning this game would be the better outcome, but not the more important game... I honestly don't even see how this is debateable.

Undefeated Nebraska = playoffs. There just won't be 5 undefeated teams. One loss Nebraska - if we lose to MSU @ MSU and beat them in the CCG, we are in the playoff IF there are multiple 2 loss teams. All things being equal, we won't make it. Started the season ranked too low, that's why I hate these garbage pre season rankings.

No, not even close to the Big 12 championship game against Texas and Colt McCoy. We coulda finished top 10, in a BCS game, and screwed Texas out of a natty game.

I'd be shocked if we were blown out by MSU. They'd need to put up 40+ and they couldn't do that against a pretty mediocre Oregon defense, granted they've put up huge numbers against smaller schools, I just don't see them putting up 45 against us, between both teams running the ball, chewing clock, and them not having the overall team speed to get deep on us really. All of that said, we can still lose, just not in a blowout fashion, IMO. And..... Michigan States defense is worse than it was last year, by a considerable margin, based off of what I saw in the Oregon game. Limit turnovers, run the ball, play good D.

Good post. The other reality, that you do not mention, is that we might just be a better team than we were before, which is entirely possible. Our coach has matured quite a bit, he is more of a leader and also has taken a new approach with the media as well as trying to "lighten" up a little bit. Maybe a little Tom Coughlin in him. Team chemistry and leadership has improved. Our offense is better. The playcalling is better. We haven't been turning the ball over (I can't attribute it to luck as you do, I attribute it to being the game of football and people drop INTs and sometimes the ball bounces for you rather than against you, and with Taylor as our QB in the past, maybe we just had bad luck - he did fumble - A LOT). OR maybe its not luck at all, and its a numbers game. We haven't put the rock on the ground as much so we don't worry about the ball bouncing back to us or straight to the other team, don't need luck when you don't fumble the ball constantly. Our defense is a year older and they know the system, night and day difference from last year. While we aren't the greatest defense, we've never really had a offense that can lean on the defense and the defense can lean on the offense when need be. This is something that is relatively new for Bo, of course it is still early in the season and injuries can change that as it has in the past, but it does look promising. So while we haven't proven anything yet, we haven't NOT proven to be anything either. We're 4-0 and that's all that we could have proven up to this point regardless of anything else. So the reality is this, we don't know what we are, other than we are a 4-0 team that has looked different in numerous aspects while winning these games (turnovers, playcalling, special teams, to name a few), so while the 4 loss "threat" still looms, so do numerous other outcomes that do not involve us losing 4 games at all. The only reality that matters, is that we are 4-0, when we are usually 3-1 at this point in time. That's the reality that matters.

Correct. I think it's still technically "peso" because he has more run responsibility as well/sets an edge on run blitzes as well. And just saw the thread calling out Randy Gregory LOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Nah, people are flipping Banderas waaaaay too much flack. He played a pretty decent game and only had a few missed assignments...just like Cockrell and just like Gerry tonight (who missed coverage twice and didn't wrap up 3 times). But hey, he's a good scapegoat. Scapegoat? I wonder if Bo Pelini and Papuchis think he is the scapegoat too, because they benched his ass for a reason. Also, ironic you speak of Gerry not wrapping up 3 times, because Banderas either A) completely misses the tackle B) is too slow to catch the guy to tackle, or C) doesn't wrap up. He might be the worst tackling linebacker we have at this point. At least Gerry is decisive and wants to hit someone asap. Bando literally hits nothing but air half the time he tries to tackle. He isn't tthe only one who missed assignments, nor will he ever be the only one, but boy he did NOT have a good game at all. At. All. And the coaches reflected that by playing Roach. Gerry played a helluva game after being chewed out by Bo, anyhow. Cockrell struggled - which is why I say Kalu is probably gonna be the starter soon.

Also, good post. I didn't mean to pick any negative from your post. Spot on. Also, Miami's speed could have killed us. It was a game where our offense literally saved us. Bo's bend don't break scheme could have been foiled in these types of games in the past but our offense kept answering. We were able to commit to stopping the big play. I didn't mean to understate how good Ameer is, he is REALLY good. I didn't explain my point very well, but despite how great Ameer is, Randy Gregory is probably on par with him for his importance to our defense & and I know a lot of people will probably disagree, because Randy won't get all the awards Suh has, but there is a reason he is gonna be a top 5ish pick, but he belongs up there with Suh and Ameer, as the cream of the crop, in the last 10 years or so. Also, agree with you, but I think you saw that our secondary is no joke, especially Kalu/Gerry/Mitchell/Davie/Rose... As I mentioned before the game, wasn't concerned with their WRs, but their RBs, thought they'd try and get Duke matched up with Cooper/Bando/Santos all game and target that, which they did a little bit but KUDOS TO SANTOS for stepping up (and I've been mighty critical of him, as well). Side note: Corey Cooper, certainly knows what he is doing, but man he takes some questionable angles and he is slow. Banderas slow.

Banderas should lose about 15 lbs before he can play again. He is slower than hell and not physical either. Its a shame to think what this defense could be with Mike Rose. Randy Gregory is good, real good, and I don't think people appreciate him enough. Miami started running AWAY from him. Finally showed a back bone. Didn't let Miami get into our heads and break us mentally. Ameer is good. Beck called the game he should call every game. Opened up the playbook a little as well. Pelini made good adjustments switching to zone from man early in the game. Finally, I think fans that continue to be worried about fast WRs probably learned that they shouldn't be. All those miami fans told us we should worry about Coley and Dorsett and they did nothing, because once again, we hardly ever get beat deep. Yay 2 high safeties, Brock Guard mentioned this during the game. Our corners are good and Kalu is gonna be a beast. He should be starting soon. There is a reason teams targeted the RB/LB matchup all the time. I'd give Courtney love a look at mike before I throw Banderas out there again. Man was that bad. Miami speed was negligible.

Ameer Santos, Gregory, roach. In that order. Secondary played great per usual.

This is probably really dumb on my part, but I go play action pass and take a deep shot. Quick TD, defense back on the field...I like how fired up the defense got on that goal line stand.

I agree our second half adjustment will be important, but Miami is not a second half team. Have you seen the offensive production? Not good. They aren't a first half team either lol there OL is BAD