I'm fully expecting a similar game to last year tomorrow against Purdue, meaning a really tight first half. A big part of the issue with the game last season was that Purdue changed their offense coming into the game. I think we'll see a similar change tomorrow in East Lansing. Purdue just switched to a new QB - for what seems like the 10th time in the last 2 seasons - and with that we are likely to see significant changes to how that offense is run.
Purdue had 4 first half possessions last year:
Drive 1: 7 plays, 58 yards - FG
Drive 2: 5 plays, 15 yards - punt
Drive 3: 7 plays, 81 yards - TD
Drive 4: 8 plays, 72 yards - TD
Purdue scored 17 points on 4 possessions, but MSU lead at half 24-17. MSU was able to regroup and make adjustments to the new scheme at half. Purdue's first 4 possessions of the 2nd half looked like this:
Drive 1: 3 plays, 8 yards - punt
Drive 2: 3 plays, 3 yards - punt
Drive 3: 6 plays, 16 yards - punt
Drive 4: 5 plays, 9 yards - lost fumble
I am expecting a similar first half to last year's game, with a modified offensive scheme and the need to make halftime adjustments to fill the holes and close the gaps that will come. Hopefully the 4th quarter is more like what we saw last week against CMU instead of that Purdue game (that failed fake punt deep in MSU's own territory helped give Purdue a quick score in the 4th as well), but I think it will start off closer than what most are expecting. MSU pulls away in the 2nd half.
Purdue had 4 first half possessions last year:
Drive 1: 7 plays, 58 yards - FG
Drive 2: 5 plays, 15 yards - punt
Drive 3: 7 plays, 81 yards - TD
Drive 4: 8 plays, 72 yards - TD
Purdue scored 17 points on 4 possessions, but MSU lead at half 24-17. MSU was able to regroup and make adjustments to the new scheme at half. Purdue's first 4 possessions of the 2nd half looked like this:
Drive 1: 3 plays, 8 yards - punt
Drive 2: 3 plays, 3 yards - punt
Drive 3: 6 plays, 16 yards - punt
Drive 4: 5 plays, 9 yards - lost fumble
I am expecting a similar first half to last year's game, with a modified offensive scheme and the need to make halftime adjustments to fill the holes and close the gaps that will come. Hopefully the 4th quarter is more like what we saw last week against CMU instead of that Purdue game (that failed fake punt deep in MSU's own territory helped give Purdue a quick score in the 4th as well), but I think it will start off closer than what most are expecting. MSU pulls away in the 2nd half.
