Not So Good
I like to make predictions after the game, because I find that I am right more times than not.
Let’s dissect today’s Michigan State loss to previously 2-6 and 0-5 in the Big Ten Purdue.
Three things are glaring, as is always the case with MSU’s games this year.
1. Playing Calling and Game Plan
Purdue was 11/17 on third down conversions. Wow! Why could a team that couldn’t move the ball against any other school, be so effective against MSU? The answer is Chris Smeland and his ridiculously awful defensive game plan. He rarely blitzes and when he does it is never on third down. Painter, Purdue’s inexperienced quarterback was able to pick the defensive apart on both the passing game and running the option. Smeland’s players looked as if they have never seen the option, although, they have one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the Big Ten as their signal caller. I’m pretty sure DE Michael Bazemore was about as confused as he has ever been. It’s not his fault, it’s that the defense wasn’t prepared. Smeland should be gone. His defenses in the last three years have been one of the worst in the Big Ten and his inability to have his team ready to defend is inexcusable.
The Spartans like to get out to a fast start. The game against Northwestern they went 3 plays and 75 yards for a TD. Today against Purdue, it was 4 plays for 68 yards. After that, the offense was pretty stagnant. Actually, that’s too polite. It was pathetic. The play calling is so predictable. If there is a package in which there are 3 TE, MSU will run it. If Kellen Freeman-Davis moves in motion in a shotgun package, it will be a draw play. There is absolutely no creativity. I counted three straight drives in which MSU ran on third down and three; each time they were denied a first down. If the Spartans want to go to a bowl game (which they won’t) they have to GAME PLAN NOT FIRST SERIES PLAN.
Finally, MSU looked like MSU under Bobby Williams. A drive that started at Purdue’s 34-yard line ended with a punt after 4 straight penalties on the offensive line. This along with a missed field goal deflated the Spartans already fragile psyche.
2. Special Teams
Oh Lord. Please, for the love of College Football Saturdays, find a place kicker. This walk-on Haughey player may be a feel good story, but he can’t kick 26-yard field goals either. When MSU steps on the field they are already at a disadvantage because it is either touchdown or bust. This is way too much pressure on the offense, an offense that has to put up amazing numbers (although they didn’t today) to compensate for a poor defense with poor defensive game plans.
And as bad as the placekicking has been, the punting has been just as poor. Well, not really, but Brandon Fields has not performed well at all. John L. Smith says it’s because of all the pressure for being a Pre-Season All American. That’s a bunch of non-sense. HE’S A PUNTER. His job is rather simple: don’t suck. He doesn’t understand his job.
3. Can’t Win Big Game
John L. Smith never won a big game at Louisville. He has not one a big game at MSU. Against MSU’s rivals (U of M, Notre Dame, Penn State) he is 3-5 including 0-3 against U of M. He is 0-2 against Ohio State, even though both games he should have won. He is 0-1 in bowl games (he never won a bowl game at Louisville). This year on Homecoming (a big game for any school) he lost to Northwestern in an embarrassing rout, 49-14. Currently he is 11-11 in big ten games. Is that what Ron Mason and MSU want? Is that what MSU fans deserve? This team is far too good to be 5-4. MSU should have beat U of M, Ohio State and Purdue. Losses like this are intolerable. If MSU wants to move to the upper echelon of the Big Ten in football, a change may need to be made.
I like John L. Smith’s style of football. I like the spread. Moreover, I am not one to call for the firing of a coach. But if MSU does not make a bowl game for the second straight year, with a team that could have easily competed for a Big Ten title this year, something needs to be done. One thing for sure is Chris Smeland needs to go. Week in and week out the defense looks bad and that is a reflection of poor planning.
John L. has done some nice things, I like his recruiting and I like his style of play, but he needs to game plan better and realize these losses are his fault and not the players.
Well, next up is Minnesota. MSU won’t win this game. They can’t stop the run and if they try, the much-improved Cupito will light them up through the air. Then MSU has Penn State in the season finale. That will be a HUGE GAME. Maybe John L. Smith can win the HUGE GAME; because it has become obvious he can’t win the big ones.
Let’s dissect today’s Michigan State loss to previously 2-6 and 0-5 in the Big Ten Purdue.
Three things are glaring, as is always the case with MSU’s games this year.
1. Playing Calling and Game Plan
Purdue was 11/17 on third down conversions. Wow! Why could a team that couldn’t move the ball against any other school, be so effective against MSU? The answer is Chris Smeland and his ridiculously awful defensive game plan. He rarely blitzes and when he does it is never on third down. Painter, Purdue’s inexperienced quarterback was able to pick the defensive apart on both the passing game and running the option. Smeland’s players looked as if they have never seen the option, although, they have one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the Big Ten as their signal caller. I’m pretty sure DE Michael Bazemore was about as confused as he has ever been. It’s not his fault, it’s that the defense wasn’t prepared. Smeland should be gone. His defenses in the last three years have been one of the worst in the Big Ten and his inability to have his team ready to defend is inexcusable.
The Spartans like to get out to a fast start. The game against Northwestern they went 3 plays and 75 yards for a TD. Today against Purdue, it was 4 plays for 68 yards. After that, the offense was pretty stagnant. Actually, that’s too polite. It was pathetic. The play calling is so predictable. If there is a package in which there are 3 TE, MSU will run it. If Kellen Freeman-Davis moves in motion in a shotgun package, it will be a draw play. There is absolutely no creativity. I counted three straight drives in which MSU ran on third down and three; each time they were denied a first down. If the Spartans want to go to a bowl game (which they won’t) they have to GAME PLAN NOT FIRST SERIES PLAN.
Finally, MSU looked like MSU under Bobby Williams. A drive that started at Purdue’s 34-yard line ended with a punt after 4 straight penalties on the offensive line. This along with a missed field goal deflated the Spartans already fragile psyche.
2. Special Teams
Oh Lord. Please, for the love of College Football Saturdays, find a place kicker. This walk-on Haughey player may be a feel good story, but he can’t kick 26-yard field goals either. When MSU steps on the field they are already at a disadvantage because it is either touchdown or bust. This is way too much pressure on the offense, an offense that has to put up amazing numbers (although they didn’t today) to compensate for a poor defense with poor defensive game plans.
And as bad as the placekicking has been, the punting has been just as poor. Well, not really, but Brandon Fields has not performed well at all. John L. Smith says it’s because of all the pressure for being a Pre-Season All American. That’s a bunch of non-sense. HE’S A PUNTER. His job is rather simple: don’t suck. He doesn’t understand his job.
3. Can’t Win Big Game
John L. Smith never won a big game at Louisville. He has not one a big game at MSU. Against MSU’s rivals (U of M, Notre Dame, Penn State) he is 3-5 including 0-3 against U of M. He is 0-2 against Ohio State, even though both games he should have won. He is 0-1 in bowl games (he never won a bowl game at Louisville). This year on Homecoming (a big game for any school) he lost to Northwestern in an embarrassing rout, 49-14. Currently he is 11-11 in big ten games. Is that what Ron Mason and MSU want? Is that what MSU fans deserve? This team is far too good to be 5-4. MSU should have beat U of M, Ohio State and Purdue. Losses like this are intolerable. If MSU wants to move to the upper echelon of the Big Ten in football, a change may need to be made.
I like John L. Smith’s style of football. I like the spread. Moreover, I am not one to call for the firing of a coach. But if MSU does not make a bowl game for the second straight year, with a team that could have easily competed for a Big Ten title this year, something needs to be done. One thing for sure is Chris Smeland needs to go. Week in and week out the defense looks bad and that is a reflection of poor planning.
John L. has done some nice things, I like his recruiting and I like his style of play, but he needs to game plan better and realize these losses are his fault and not the players.
Well, next up is Minnesota. MSU won’t win this game. They can’t stop the run and if they try, the much-improved Cupito will light them up through the air. Then MSU has Penn State in the season finale. That will be a HUGE GAME. Maybe John L. Smith can win the HUGE GAME; because it has become obvious he can’t win the big ones.
posted by az at 4:44 PM
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