MSU FOOTBALL "HOPING TO WIN vs. EXPECTING TO WIN"
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The Spartans' football game with the Wolverines played out much like the loss to Boston College. In both games, it appeared that MSU outplayed their opponent. In both games, there was a kick return blunder, and in both games, gadget pass plays helped their opponent win.
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On the surface, things looked pretty good for MSU statistically. The Spartans had more passing yards and total yards, and in the rushing yards category, a stat that usually decides these games, MSU had a 163-119-yard advantage, with Nate Carter having a spectacular game. The Spartans also converted 8 of 15 third-down conversions and had a whopping 37:05 to 22:55 Time of Possession advantage. All things pointed statistically toward a Spartan victory, but there were problems. Little things that end up being big are the difference between winning and losing. When things go wrong, some teams maintain the course, expect to win, and avoid costly penalties, sacks, and self-inflicted wounds. Other teams, like MSU, appear to be playing well, better than their opponent, but you almost are waiting for the other shoe to drop. They hope to win, and because of that, they make mistakes. Let's look at some of those mistakes. You only need to understand the first and last series to get the picture.
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MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
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FIRST SERIES:
1. Foster missed a block that could have sprung Chiles for a TD.
2. 1st and Goal: Foster took a misdirection pitch and went wide instead of cutting it back upfield.
3. 2nd and goal: Foster got a good block, but no one blocked the cornerback for the RB going around the left end.
4. Third and goal is a bootleg, a late release by Velling, and he is covered. (Three receivers are dragging right; if Marsh pulls up and cuts back left, he is open).
5. Delay of game
6. A missed FG.
An eight-minute drive comes up empty.
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LAST SERIES
1. LT Ramil got beat, and Chiles was called for intentional grounding.
2. On a 2nd and seven-play, Ramil got called for a critical false start.
3. On 2nd and 12, Chiles led Velling too much.
4. On 4th and 5, Ramil was beaten, and the defender chased Chiles going right—when he threw, like the first series, three receivers were in the same area.
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PROBLEMS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAME
1. TE Colston Loveland was left wide open twice for touchdowns, both on blown coverages from Malik Spencer, once on a half-back option pass, who otherwise had a good day and intercepted a two-point conversion.
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2. MSU was on its own 39 with 23 seconds left in the first half when left tackle Stanton Ramil got beat off Chiles blindside by Josiah Stewart and was chased down with backside pressure rolling right and fumbled the ball just before the first half ended, leading to a Wolverine field goal. Those are psychological killers going into halftime. MSU should have had momentum with the blown 2-point conversion by UM; instead, UM got the momentum back with the field goal and got the ball for the third quarter.
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3. Linebacker Jordan Turner got called for targeting and was lost for the remainder of the game and the first half of the Indiana game.
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OBSERVATIONS and QUESTIONS
1. Does the staff trust Chiles? Granted, UM challenged MSU to run the ball and play two high to prevent big plays, but Nick Matsh could be seen open many times. You still have to attack vertically occasionally to keep defenses from jumping short routes.
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POST-GAME SKIRMISH
I watched the Illinois-UM post-game press conference a week ago and could not believe how whiny Coston Loveland acted and the poor body language. So it was not surprising to me to see Loveland headbutt Anthony Jones and start the whole skirmish. It was clear they pushed each other twice, and Jones's hand may have come up high once, but it was not a slap, as some disingenuous UM fans claim. And during one play, Jones's hand was high on Loveland's facemask, but not underneath it, and again, that was during an actual play. I've watched the Clown Car theatrics of UM football since the Mid-70's, and as Mark Dantonio famously once said, "I finally find a lot of things they do amusing." Whether it's a stake in the ground from Joe Bolden or Devin Bush carving up the field with his spikes, or Jemele Hill writing the Wolverine program was classless for refusing to shake hands after the 2001 game, I've finally realized the Wolverine program feels inferior even in victory, and therefore if the Spartans are the Little brother on the street, that has to make the Wolverines the Little sister on the block.
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GREAT QUOTE FROM NATE CARTER
"There's no doubt we should have won this game. There's no doubt we were the better team." Carter was brilliant with 118 yards rushing with a TD and added 56 yards receiving vs UM's defense. Carter has bought in; now, MSU needs others to buy in 100%.
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MOVING ON TO INDIANA
To sum up, a great Indiana football team comes to town, and it would take a great effort to beat the Hoosiers. Curt Cignetti has them playing solid football in all three phases, but a lot will depend on their quarterback play. However, the most crucial thing will be MSU's approach. Will they be hoping to win or expecting to win? And in college football, there is a vast difference. More mistakes are made when you hope to win, and the buy-in is not quite 100%. When you expect to win, you know it's only a matter of time before things go your way and there will be fewer turnovers, penalties, and blown assignments. Just ask the guys in Ann Arbor. Your Spartans outplayed Boston College and Michigan and should be 6-2, but they have to learn how to finish, and that will always be based on the expectations they have for themselves.
---
The Spartans' football game with the Wolverines played out much like the loss to Boston College. In both games, it appeared that MSU outplayed their opponent. In both games, there was a kick return blunder, and in both games, gadget pass plays helped their opponent win.
---
On the surface, things looked pretty good for MSU statistically. The Spartans had more passing yards and total yards, and in the rushing yards category, a stat that usually decides these games, MSU had a 163-119-yard advantage, with Nate Carter having a spectacular game. The Spartans also converted 8 of 15 third-down conversions and had a whopping 37:05 to 22:55 Time of Possession advantage. All things pointed statistically toward a Spartan victory, but there were problems. Little things that end up being big are the difference between winning and losing. When things go wrong, some teams maintain the course, expect to win, and avoid costly penalties, sacks, and self-inflicted wounds. Other teams, like MSU, appear to be playing well, better than their opponent, but you almost are waiting for the other shoe to drop. They hope to win, and because of that, they make mistakes. Let's look at some of those mistakes. You only need to understand the first and last series to get the picture.
---
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
---
FIRST SERIES:
1. Foster missed a block that could have sprung Chiles for a TD.
2. 1st and Goal: Foster took a misdirection pitch and went wide instead of cutting it back upfield.
3. 2nd and goal: Foster got a good block, but no one blocked the cornerback for the RB going around the left end.
4. Third and goal is a bootleg, a late release by Velling, and he is covered. (Three receivers are dragging right; if Marsh pulls up and cuts back left, he is open).
5. Delay of game
6. A missed FG.
An eight-minute drive comes up empty.
---
LAST SERIES
1. LT Ramil got beat, and Chiles was called for intentional grounding.
2. On a 2nd and seven-play, Ramil got called for a critical false start.
3. On 2nd and 12, Chiles led Velling too much.
4. On 4th and 5, Ramil was beaten, and the defender chased Chiles going right—when he threw, like the first series, three receivers were in the same area.
---
PROBLEMS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAME
1. TE Colston Loveland was left wide open twice for touchdowns, both on blown coverages from Malik Spencer, once on a half-back option pass, who otherwise had a good day and intercepted a two-point conversion.
---
2. MSU was on its own 39 with 23 seconds left in the first half when left tackle Stanton Ramil got beat off Chiles blindside by Josiah Stewart and was chased down with backside pressure rolling right and fumbled the ball just before the first half ended, leading to a Wolverine field goal. Those are psychological killers going into halftime. MSU should have had momentum with the blown 2-point conversion by UM; instead, UM got the momentum back with the field goal and got the ball for the third quarter.
---
3. Linebacker Jordan Turner got called for targeting and was lost for the remainder of the game and the first half of the Indiana game.
---
OBSERVATIONS and QUESTIONS
1. Does the staff trust Chiles? Granted, UM challenged MSU to run the ball and play two high to prevent big plays, but Nick Matsh could be seen open many times. You still have to attack vertically occasionally to keep defenses from jumping short routes.
---
POST-GAME SKIRMISH
I watched the Illinois-UM post-game press conference a week ago and could not believe how whiny Coston Loveland acted and the poor body language. So it was not surprising to me to see Loveland headbutt Anthony Jones and start the whole skirmish. It was clear they pushed each other twice, and Jones's hand may have come up high once, but it was not a slap, as some disingenuous UM fans claim. And during one play, Jones's hand was high on Loveland's facemask, but not underneath it, and again, that was during an actual play. I've watched the Clown Car theatrics of UM football since the Mid-70's, and as Mark Dantonio famously once said, "I finally find a lot of things they do amusing." Whether it's a stake in the ground from Joe Bolden or Devin Bush carving up the field with his spikes, or Jemele Hill writing the Wolverine program was classless for refusing to shake hands after the 2001 game, I've finally realized the Wolverine program feels inferior even in victory, and therefore if the Spartans are the Little brother on the street, that has to make the Wolverines the Little sister on the block.
----
GREAT QUOTE FROM NATE CARTER
"There's no doubt we should have won this game. There's no doubt we were the better team." Carter was brilliant with 118 yards rushing with a TD and added 56 yards receiving vs UM's defense. Carter has bought in; now, MSU needs others to buy in 100%.
---
MOVING ON TO INDIANA
To sum up, a great Indiana football team comes to town, and it would take a great effort to beat the Hoosiers. Curt Cignetti has them playing solid football in all three phases, but a lot will depend on their quarterback play. However, the most crucial thing will be MSU's approach. Will they be hoping to win or expecting to win? And in college football, there is a vast difference. More mistakes are made when you hope to win, and the buy-in is not quite 100%. When you expect to win, you know it's only a matter of time before things go your way and there will be fewer turnovers, penalties, and blown assignments. Just ask the guys in Ann Arbor. Your Spartans outplayed Boston College and Michigan and should be 6-2, but they have to learn how to finish, and that will always be based on the expectations they have for themselves.
