You come away happy with a victory in any debut, but it’s the little things that leave you unsettled as a Spartan fan. Certain things are football fundamentals 101, such as, lining up correctly, knowing your assignment, and catching the football. There were many positives from week 1 and areas for growth as well after watching MSU come away with a 38-14 victory over WMU.
Offensively
By definition, a receiver, has to catch the football. BJ Cunningham had a rough game with three drops. He has to be a force this season because of his ability to dictate coverage. He requires safety help, but if opponents do not respect your ability to finish, defensive game plans will change. Mark Dell quietly had a great game with six receptions for 81 yards. None bigger than a 37 yd reception in the 4th Quarter on a “sluggo” route (slant & go) to secure the victory for the...
I have always been the glass is half full kind of guy. Last year I predicted the Gridders to have a much better record than 6-7. But was I that far off when you give away two games to CMU and Iowa in the final 40 seconds of the affairs? Furthermore, it is always hard to anticipate youthful indiscretions culminating in 12 Spartans unable to participate in their Alamo Bowl Game loss to Texas Tech. There certainly was room to grow this off-season and why I think the 2010 Spartans are the most improved team in the Big Ten.
What I Like Offensively
Kirk Cousins was one of the top passers in the Big Ten. Over 60% in his completions and he learned valuable lessons in situational play about protecting the ball such as last years costly interception on the 4 yd line in South Bend. Oh, I forgot to mention another “gimme” game, make that three. There is no other QB in the Big Ten I would want leading my...
Completions
Mark Dantonio was somewhat reflective at his weekly press conference after the big comeback victory against Purdue. He specifically identified the number seven as a number of significance concerning his squad. He quoted from the Bible that "seven" refers to completion. We all know the analogy; God created Heaven and Earth in his likeness in 7 days and said it was good. The Spartans are striving for their seventh victory of the season this weekend, thus completing their 2009 season. After diving under the hood of this week’s opponent, Penn State, it also identifies what it is going to take to beat the Nittany Lions.
COMPLETIONS, A LOT OF THEM! Kirk Cousins has to be the key player in this matchup. His numbers on the season back up his good decision making. Kirk has thrown 17 TD's and only 4 INT's, plus he is completing passes at a very efficient 61% rate. MSU must throw on first and second down...
Jim Miller
Spartan Sports Network
When you take a peak at the Purdue Boilermakers your early thoughts are they must be rebuilding. They have a new coach in Danny Hope who, with his new moustache, looks eerily similar to former coach Joe Tiller. They have some new schemes defensively jumping in and out of hybrids. Some 3-4 and 4-3 base defenses. They also have some young players who are finding their way along with some solid senior leaders who continue to play hard and continue to surprise.
Purdue started the year 1-5 losing close games that easily could have gone in their favor. Sound familiar Spartan fans? They currently sit with a 4-6 record (3-3 Big Ten like Spartans) needing two victories to keep their Bowl aspirations alive. When you think they are down and out, they play their best football. Four weeks ago they shocked everyone and logged a victory vs Ohio State followed with a victory versus Illinois a week later. Then,...
Jim Miller
Spartan Sports Network
How do you explain the unexplainable? It was only fitting on Halloween that MSU found itself in a "Paranormal State" versus Minnesota. They had been spooked! All the signs were there. Gopher fans dressed as Goblins for the game, a full moon lit up TCF Bank Stadium, and the officials dressed up in their best Halloween costumes as well. They were pretending to be of all things, OFFICIALS! There was plenty of sloppy play by both teams along with some bad officiating that leave the Spartans searching for answers.
To many Spartan fans, the outlook appears bleak. Two weeks ago MSU was playing for the top spot in the Big Ten and now sit at 4-5 hoping to reach a Bowl. It has to start there. They are Bowl eligible and it is a nice carrot to motivate your team. Playing good football is always the goal, but to get rewarded with a Bowl game would heal some Spartan wounds....
Jim Miller
Spartan Sports Network
I was hoping to explore MSU's final hurdle this week depending on the outcome of last week’s match up versus Iowa. It will have to sit in a holding pattern as I communicated to all Spartan fans that it depended on the outcome of the game. The Spartans did "Show up" in a huge ball game. They played well enough to come out with a victory, but MSU faithful come away shocked and disappointed again after another gut wrenching loss.
Head coach Mark Dantonio touched on the 7 stages of grief during his weekly press conference. Even he was still trying to sort out when his team will cross that final barrier declaring the turn around of the Spartan Football program. They inched one step closer to this reclamation project with how they played last Saturday night. The final stage of grief is "acceptance and hope". Accept this coach for his class, coaching ability, and...
Jim Miller
Spartan Sports Network
It is time for a Michigan State Football Team to handle a "Big Game". It does not get any bigger than Saturday night’s battle against the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes. The opportunity to take over the drivers seat in the Big Ten, control your destination, and send another message about the Spartan program are the main reasons it does not get any bigger. It has to happen!
Under Mark Dantonio's guidance, Michigan State is back on the map. They have been competitive in all games with the exception of four. Those four contests just happened to be similar situations the Spartans find themselves in this week.
Let's take a look at those games. I would think we would all be in agreement that MSU's participation in Bowl games the last two years have been "Big Games". By definition they are "Big Games", being a "Bowl Game” and what they can...
About Jim
Entering his third season as analyst for the Spartan Sports Network, Jim Miller was a three-year starter for Coach George Perles at Michigan State.Read More
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MSU IS 1-0
After one game, did the Spartans live up to pre-season expectations?