I'm firmly convinced that the staff did look ahead to Oregon. Not in the respect that that is why the Western game was closer than some would have liked (catch the ball 3 more times and have realistic special teams and that game is 45-17).
But in the absolute amount of players that played, in particular on the O-line, D-Line and RB. The Western game was never in question, no one in that stadium ever felt that game was in danger for MSU. The coaches had a basic game plan and rotated a lot of players.
You don't beat the ducks in a shootout (even if the score gets a shade high). When teams like OSU and Stanford have beaten them in recent years you contain the QB and punch them in the mouth over and over.
With our stable of RB's, that O-line and our D-line... you beat them by running the ball and our D-line has to dominate, and more accurately contain the QB. They can pitch and catch all they want between the 20's, but Cox will be fine on the corner inside the 20's and his experience as a safety will only help to contain the QB.
If we want a seat at the big-boy table... and can't beat them at home, without M. Mariota, and with a QB with less than a month experience at Oregon (yes I know he has experience, but time with players matter) and with MULTIPLE first round picks on our O and D-lines... then we don't belong at the big boy table.
Marcus Mariota was a 1st round QB... we are the ones with potentially a 1st round QB this year.
I suspect they put up some decent yardage, but those yards won't translate to points as often as you think.
Punch them in the mouth. Over, and Over, and Over.
Gruff Sparty 33 Quack Attack 24
But in the absolute amount of players that played, in particular on the O-line, D-Line and RB. The Western game was never in question, no one in that stadium ever felt that game was in danger for MSU. The coaches had a basic game plan and rotated a lot of players.
You don't beat the ducks in a shootout (even if the score gets a shade high). When teams like OSU and Stanford have beaten them in recent years you contain the QB and punch them in the mouth over and over.
With our stable of RB's, that O-line and our D-line... you beat them by running the ball and our D-line has to dominate, and more accurately contain the QB. They can pitch and catch all they want between the 20's, but Cox will be fine on the corner inside the 20's and his experience as a safety will only help to contain the QB.
If we want a seat at the big-boy table... and can't beat them at home, without M. Mariota, and with a QB with less than a month experience at Oregon (yes I know he has experience, but time with players matter) and with MULTIPLE first round picks on our O and D-lines... then we don't belong at the big boy table.
Marcus Mariota was a 1st round QB... we are the ones with potentially a 1st round QB this year.
I suspect they put up some decent yardage, but those yards won't translate to points as often as you think.
Punch them in the mouth. Over, and Over, and Over.
Gruff Sparty 33 Quack Attack 24
