Preview: Michigan State

Being an East Coast native, I could never really submerge myself in all the fun that is Sparty week. I was an outsider to an in-state rivalry but always had a strong appreciation for the passion given the way my other Michigan friends freaked out during this week. Whether it be parents or siblings or high school friends, they always had somebody to text and taunt. I knew it meant a lot to them. I knew it meant a lot to the team. And therefore, as a fan, damn it it means a lot to me.

My main source of hatred for Michigan State comes not from childhood connections but rather from the team itself, most notably their coach. There's plenty of reasons not to like Mark Dantonio--his comments after the '07 game in response to Hart, his connections with Ohio State, the way he threw Winston and Rucker right back on the field after they had both spent IN-SEASON TIME IN JAIL--but the thing I hate most about him is the way he hides behind his faith to justify certain actions. Maybe it's because I'm not particularly religious. We all know there's a fine line on how coaches teach their players a lesson but Dantonio too often points to his religion for "guidance" on several questionable decisions. He defends that he's protecting his players by not cutting them loose and making sure they receive support from their teammates on the football field. A noble and conveniently self-serving cause if you ask me, shrewdly hidden behind a sensitive topic difficult for people to criticize. It's not surprising that Dantonio came from Tressel's coaching tree; Tressel at times, even during his demise, was actually praised for being a loyal coach to his players, too loyal some said. Yes, these men have TOO much moral fiber. That's right. Neither taught perhaps the most fundamental lesson in football: playing is a privilege, not a right. Academics, community service, basic decency and respect--these apparently come second to seeing the field.

ANYWAY, to the actual game:

THE OFFENSIVE MATCHUP I'M WATCHING IS... Denard/Shaw on the edge vs. Sparty OLBs. One of the nice takeaways from NW was Borges' willingness, again, to make adjustments and go with what works. When Fitz/Smith continued to get stuffed inside, him and Fred Jackson decided to switch it up with Shaw, who brought good speed to the edge when he bounced to the outside. DT Jerel Worthy will likely make it another frustrating day running between the tackles. Look for Borges to continue being creative and spreading the defense out horizontally. I'd love to see more of the speed option from Minnesota. Will Denard actually make the pitch?

THE DEFENSIVE MATCHUP I'M WATCHING IS... Edge blitzes vs. Sparty tackles. The injuries on Michigan State's offensive line have been well-documented. They are not good. But that doesn't automatically mean an easy day for our line. The defensive line, as a unit, has improved with each game but the pass rush, especially getting pressure with only 4, is still a concern. Mattison will be his creative self with various blitzes but Michigan will need to capitalize on them to not let Cousins ever settle. Look for Kovacs/Ryan/Roh (white trio!) when they overload on one side and test Sparty's inexperienced and young tackles.

IF I HAD ONE WISH ON SPECIAL TEAMS IT'D BE... No more 40+ yard FG attempts. Don't push your luck, Hoke. Gibbons hitting consistently under 40 yards is already a vast improvement from what we're used to. Anything 4th-and-reasonable that is at would-be 40-50 yard FG distance I'd like to see us go for.

I AM WORRIED ABOUT... Denard's footwork, particularly throwing off his back foot. This is pretty much all I worry about. I try to avoid putting this here on a weekly basis but after NW, it deserves another shoutout. I've said it before: Denard's picks are the only thing that can put this team is a really bad spot. I rather have him throw for 100 yards and 0 INTs than 300 yards and 2 INTs any day.

I AM COMFORTABLE WITH... Roundtree. Welcome back to the offense, kid. And welcome back to the Shortest Group Of Receivers: Hemingway (6'1"), Roundtree (6'0"), Gallon (5'8") and Dileo (5'10"). Hemingway is clearly our most reliable receiver and biggest threat but adding Roundtree to the mix will be a nice boost to unexpectedly high production out of Gallon and Dileo.

I AM EXCITED ABOUT... Hoke shaking Dantanio's hand at midfield after a win and whispering in his year "we're baaaaaack".

BOLD PREDICTION... Shaw will have a big day. What we saw from Shaw in the 2nd half against NW, we should see early on in the 1st half against Michigan State. He will be a midfield horse: not necessarily in the goaline packages but an 8-12 carry, 50-80 yard day, grinding down and frustrating the defense so that the base offense can operate.

ALMOST FORGOT... If we run any sort of special teams fake play successfully, it will almost have to be called "Big Giants". Also, no matter what question the on-field reporter asks Hoke after the game, even if it's about how he felt the defensive line performed, he will answer "THAT PLAY IS CALLED BIG GIANTS", double-point at the sky and run off the field.

GAME PREDICTION... The countdown clock resets. Michigan comes out hot and sustains a 10-point-ish lead for most of the game. Sparty mounts a semi-late 4th quarterback comeback before a Cousins' turnover seals the deal. Several closeups of Dantonio's face in the last 2 minutes please. The only way to end a 3-year losing streak against an in-state rival is doing it in heartbreak fashion. I hate the Paul Bunyon trophy but I want it. Michigan 31-27.

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